Kingwood UMC is going to Bridge City to do work.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Great video. About the head football coach of Appalachian State.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1137883230/bctid1435437082
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1137883230/bctid1435437082
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Discomfort with Race
The other night the movie Glory Road came on, and our Russian exchange student Lex and I watched it. It is a movie about a West Texas basketball team that won the national title, but also explores the state of race relations in the 1960’s. Glory Road" was inspired by a true story of Texas Western's Coach Don Haskins, who led the first all-black starting lineup team to the 1966 NCAA national basketball championship title. Coach Haskins goes to Northern cities to recruit talented black players from the streets to play for his team. Coach Haskins doesn't see color when he evaluates the skill of all of his players and chooses who plays in the game. With courage and determination, Coach Haskins changed basketball history, when his underdog team beats the powerhouse Kentucky. During the course of the movie there are points of discomfort as the ugly side of white American prejudice against blacks is shown.
I found it uncomfortable to explain to Lex what was going on. I explained that it was a different time. For those not living during this period it is difficult to understand, or even comprehend, but it was reality in America. For me as a Pastor, there is something that must often be done that is never pleasant. To face sin for what it is. Racism is a sin. It is a personal sin and it is a corporate sin, and until we face our sin we live in denial. The evidence of this being a sin to me rang true as I tried to explain to Lex what was going on.
During one part of the film the coach was able to push one of the players well beyond what seemed reasonable. The young man took it because he had no other options. As I explained to Lex, if this young man wanted a college education this was his only way. For a black man in the 1950-1960’s options on going to college were seriously limited. For this young man Coach Haskins offered his only option. So it became a real gut check for him. Together these men traveled a road filled with obstacles and self-discovery and ended up finding character. For me character is being able to stand in the fray and still do what is right, especially when it is unpopular.
Coming up soon the Men’s ministry will be showing the movie “Remember the Titans”. It is a great film laced with the same struggle—the struggle against social injustice and the struggle against our own demons. Christ died and was resurrected to set us free from sin and death. Consider these words from Galatians 3: “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
In our state of grace we must remember that taking a stand in a fallen world will cost us personally. So where do we find encouragement to “do the right thing?” We gain courage by being in bible studies together. Like the sport teams, they learned courage by working together. If you long for such fellowship, come and join one of our men’s groups. Gain encouragement and wisdom as we learn to stand firm living in a fallen world. So one day we can hear “well done my good and faithful servant.”
I found it uncomfortable to explain to Lex what was going on. I explained that it was a different time. For those not living during this period it is difficult to understand, or even comprehend, but it was reality in America. For me as a Pastor, there is something that must often be done that is never pleasant. To face sin for what it is. Racism is a sin. It is a personal sin and it is a corporate sin, and until we face our sin we live in denial. The evidence of this being a sin to me rang true as I tried to explain to Lex what was going on.
During one part of the film the coach was able to push one of the players well beyond what seemed reasonable. The young man took it because he had no other options. As I explained to Lex, if this young man wanted a college education this was his only way. For a black man in the 1950-1960’s options on going to college were seriously limited. For this young man Coach Haskins offered his only option. So it became a real gut check for him. Together these men traveled a road filled with obstacles and self-discovery and ended up finding character. For me character is being able to stand in the fray and still do what is right, especially when it is unpopular.
Coming up soon the Men’s ministry will be showing the movie “Remember the Titans”. It is a great film laced with the same struggle—the struggle against social injustice and the struggle against our own demons. Christ died and was resurrected to set us free from sin and death. Consider these words from Galatians 3: “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
In our state of grace we must remember that taking a stand in a fallen world will cost us personally. So where do we find encouragement to “do the right thing?” We gain courage by being in bible studies together. Like the sport teams, they learned courage by working together. If you long for such fellowship, come and join one of our men’s groups. Gain encouragement and wisdom as we learn to stand firm living in a fallen world. So one day we can hear “well done my good and faithful servant.”
Thursday, February 28, 2008
The Temple Mount
We just returned from Israel, and I must say that it was a great experience. Visiting the Temple Mount was particularly interesting. The Temple Mount is considered one of the most Holy sites by Jewish, Christian, and Muslim peoples. It is presently completely controlled by Muslims. In the 1st century it was the location of the Jewish Temple. We know from the New Testament that Jesus taught on the Temple Mount.
There are a few things visitors are prohibited from carrying up to the Temple Mount. No weapons, no alcohol, and no Bibles. You can tell that they are serious about security. There are guards with automatic weapons; there are metal detectors; and the guards search all bags. In the midst of our tour, when we had been there about an hour, a guard interrupted us to tell us it was time for us to leave.
I found it interesting that Bibles are not allowed on the Temple Mount. It made me consider those Christians who live in persecution. A close friend of mine told me that they were told not to pray on the Temple Mount and they were shadowed by two guards with automatic weapons. He said a man in their group prayed in Italian while they stood with their eyes open. It was an act of defiance.
In many ways Christianity is an act of defiance. It is an act of defiance against the forces and wisdom of this world. In Deuteronomy Moses passed on God's law to the people with these words: "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
Here in America we are free to have God?s word with us, yet the problem is that we often don?t read it. We are not under the intense persecution that Christians live with in other countries, yet we largely ignore God's word. I was asked to leave the Bible behind for one hour, but what if I was asked to turn in all of my Bibles? What if I could only read the Bible in secret? Would I? Would I live a defiant life in spite of persecution?
There is a reason the Muslims do not want the Bible on the Temple Mount. It is because the word of God contains power. Yet we sit by idly with the Bible close to us and don?t read the Bible. How much more sinister is that? We have access but we allow the cares of this world to crowd out God?s word. The cares of this world also stand opposing God's word; you decide which are more effective in stopping God's word from being known.
Rev. Patrick Evans
There are a few things visitors are prohibited from carrying up to the Temple Mount. No weapons, no alcohol, and no Bibles. You can tell that they are serious about security. There are guards with automatic weapons; there are metal detectors; and the guards search all bags. In the midst of our tour, when we had been there about an hour, a guard interrupted us to tell us it was time for us to leave.
I found it interesting that Bibles are not allowed on the Temple Mount. It made me consider those Christians who live in persecution. A close friend of mine told me that they were told not to pray on the Temple Mount and they were shadowed by two guards with automatic weapons. He said a man in their group prayed in Italian while they stood with their eyes open. It was an act of defiance.
In many ways Christianity is an act of defiance. It is an act of defiance against the forces and wisdom of this world. In Deuteronomy Moses passed on God's law to the people with these words: "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
Here in America we are free to have God?s word with us, yet the problem is that we often don?t read it. We are not under the intense persecution that Christians live with in other countries, yet we largely ignore God's word. I was asked to leave the Bible behind for one hour, but what if I was asked to turn in all of my Bibles? What if I could only read the Bible in secret? Would I? Would I live a defiant life in spite of persecution?
There is a reason the Muslims do not want the Bible on the Temple Mount. It is because the word of God contains power. Yet we sit by idly with the Bible close to us and don?t read the Bible. How much more sinister is that? We have access but we allow the cares of this world to crowd out God?s word. The cares of this world also stand opposing God's word; you decide which are more effective in stopping God's word from being known.
Rev. Patrick Evans
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Previeniant Grace
I always hear people saying they do not understand prevenient grace. It is simply the grace of God that moves before us. It is where God is at work preparing hearts and circumstances to come together for God's glory.
In the past few weeks I have had the pleasure of seeing and spending time with my cousin James. He came to see my father while he was in the hospital. During those stays at the hospital we had the chance to spend time talking. To tell the truth, James is a little older than I, so we never really connected as children, yet over the past few weeks we have connected. So, James and I spent time talking. He was also able to see me trying to prepare for the men’s retreat while taking care of my dad’s needs. We spent time talking about Genesis, and stories, and reading. We spoke about his job in which he travels, and which gives him the time to read in the evenings.
As we spoke I talked to him about one thing that gives me comfort whenever I start to consider that it is all “on me”. When crunch time comes and circumstances seem to be aligning to defeat the message I have in mind; I must remember God’s prevenient Grace. As I prepare lessons and sermons, I try to remember that God is at work in people’s lives. God is at work preparing hearts for a message. While I am preparing one message, God enables people to receive the message that they need. What is really interesting is that it happens all the time. When I first started preaching, this was not that long ago, I really got wound up. I worried that the message was all up to me, when in fact that is not true.
I am rereading a book by one of my professors in seminary, George Hunter. He has written several books, but one that interests me is “How to Reach Secular People”. In it he places the following question forward. “How do we effectively communicate the message of reconciliation and life to the secular un-churched people who have no Christian background, memory, or vocabulary, the millions who do not know what we are talking about?” This is a vital question. It is an intimidating question. He then makes this critical note after asking the question. “No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. (1Cor. 12:3b) We are rediscovering that if we will love “the Lord of the harvest” with our minds, as well as with our hearts, the Holy Spirit will often communicate through our best efforts.
George is touching on prevenient grace—that God moves before us. It is God who prepares hearts. George is also writing about being real. When I consider the size of the task, and I am being “real” I know I cannot do it by myself. I must rely on God to show up. So in moments of discouragement, in times of difficulty in preparing a message, I just need to remember that God is already moving. So then I lift my head and look for where God is moving and I become filled with encouragement.
In the past few weeks I have had the pleasure of seeing and spending time with my cousin James. He came to see my father while he was in the hospital. During those stays at the hospital we had the chance to spend time talking. To tell the truth, James is a little older than I, so we never really connected as children, yet over the past few weeks we have connected. So, James and I spent time talking. He was also able to see me trying to prepare for the men’s retreat while taking care of my dad’s needs. We spent time talking about Genesis, and stories, and reading. We spoke about his job in which he travels, and which gives him the time to read in the evenings.
As we spoke I talked to him about one thing that gives me comfort whenever I start to consider that it is all “on me”. When crunch time comes and circumstances seem to be aligning to defeat the message I have in mind; I must remember God’s prevenient Grace. As I prepare lessons and sermons, I try to remember that God is at work in people’s lives. God is at work preparing hearts for a message. While I am preparing one message, God enables people to receive the message that they need. What is really interesting is that it happens all the time. When I first started preaching, this was not that long ago, I really got wound up. I worried that the message was all up to me, when in fact that is not true.
I am rereading a book by one of my professors in seminary, George Hunter. He has written several books, but one that interests me is “How to Reach Secular People”. In it he places the following question forward. “How do we effectively communicate the message of reconciliation and life to the secular un-churched people who have no Christian background, memory, or vocabulary, the millions who do not know what we are talking about?” This is a vital question. It is an intimidating question. He then makes this critical note after asking the question. “No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. (1Cor. 12:3b) We are rediscovering that if we will love “the Lord of the harvest” with our minds, as well as with our hearts, the Holy Spirit will often communicate through our best efforts.
George is touching on prevenient grace—that God moves before us. It is God who prepares hearts. George is also writing about being real. When I consider the size of the task, and I am being “real” I know I cannot do it by myself. I must rely on God to show up. So in moments of discouragement, in times of difficulty in preparing a message, I just need to remember that God is already moving. So then I lift my head and look for where God is moving and I become filled with encouragement.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The Sun Still Shines
A few years ago I was catching a flight out of Houston for a business trip. We were having one of those typical Houston winters where it rains every day. After a few weeks you wonder: “Will the sun ever shine again?” It begins to creep into your mood. Well anyway, as the plane climbed upward I was surprised how quickly we broke through the overcast. We were above the clouds and the sun was shining brightly—brightly enough to make me squint. Just a few moments before I was trapped in a reality of clouds and rain, yet the reality was the sun was still shining, I just could not see it.
As I was driving home the other morning from the hospital and considering the reality of my dad’s illness, a song came on the radio. It was Amazing Grace, the one with Chris Tomlin. As I listened to the words and sang along, I realized that my dad would soon be stepping out of the rain, and joy was in my heart. For many years he has not been well. Age has reduced his mobility, and pain has become a consonant companion. But we are promised a new body, and God is true to his promises.
Faith is being certain of what we cannot see. It is not faith if we can see it. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 speaks of this. “Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
I had once lost faith that the sun was shining until I was in its blinding light. Now when I consider this passage I realize that faith and hope will pass away, because I will see with my own eyes. There will be no need of faith or hope, but love will remain. As I consider the rain in my life now, as I worship, I feel the Son on my soul.
“When we’ve been there ten thousand year, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.”
Rev. Patrick Evans
As I was driving home the other morning from the hospital and considering the reality of my dad’s illness, a song came on the radio. It was Amazing Grace, the one with Chris Tomlin. As I listened to the words and sang along, I realized that my dad would soon be stepping out of the rain, and joy was in my heart. For many years he has not been well. Age has reduced his mobility, and pain has become a consonant companion. But we are promised a new body, and God is true to his promises.
Faith is being certain of what we cannot see. It is not faith if we can see it. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 speaks of this. “Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
I had once lost faith that the sun was shining until I was in its blinding light. Now when I consider this passage I realize that faith and hope will pass away, because I will see with my own eyes. There will be no need of faith or hope, but love will remain. As I consider the rain in my life now, as I worship, I feel the Son on my soul.
“When we’ve been there ten thousand year, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.”
Rev. Patrick Evans
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Take Time to Sharpen
For some time now, Alex and I have been working on his car –a 1971 mustang that has some rust issues and needs to have some sheet-metal replaced. This task requires that we drill through the sheet-metal. I noticed after about 10 to 15 holes the drill bit would become dull, requiring more and more effort to get the drill bit to cut. So I purchased a drill bit sharpening tool. A short period of time later the drill was cutting like new; for about 15 holes. So, back to the sharpener and again the drill bit was cutting fast.
It actually saves time to stop and sharpen the drill bit. I have tried to cut metal with a dull drill bit: Not an efficient process. A dull bit will get real hot and finally stop cutting. It will get hot enough to burn your fingers, but the sharp bit does not get hot. It bites into the metal and produces shiny shavings of metal.
There is discipline in stopping the work and sharpening the drill bit. The same is true of my spiritual walk. I often think that if I could just finish cranking out my sermon, or my Bible study lesson, or what ever else I am working on, I could rest. Then I concentrate on the work but forget to sharpen the tools. Many of us learned this lesson in the business world through Stephen Covey’s book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. That lesson is true enough. Many of the classes I participated in while working in the business world often gave me a me new perspective and increased my effectiveness. Yet there is something different about ministry when compared to regular work. Being a Disciple is holistic in nature in that doing and being cannot be separated. I am not only a tool in God’s work of sharing the Word in a fresh way, I am also a tool that requires sharpening. While constantly sharpening tools, I myself am becoming a sharper tool.
Yet, I somehow lose the perspective that my work requires a sharpened tool. It is my encounter with the living God that sharpens me. The directions on sharpen drill bits say that as you sharpen the bit you should hear a ZZZZZ noise of the bit being ground against the grinding wheel. (No noise no sharpening.) I think if the drill bit had feeling it would not be a pleasant experience. But grinding is required if the bit is going to be renewed and returned to service.
The spiritual truth is there is always work being done on us. We are only effective as we are renewed by our constant connection with Jesus. There must be time set aside to be with God, through prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and other means of grace. In John 15 Jesus speaks in a grand metaphor of a grapevine.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”
The time that we spend in contact with God may often have the sound of metal being shaved off (ZZZZZZ), or it may be the sound of clippers making a firm cut (snip), but in either case it is a work in us that makes us fit for work in the world.
It actually saves time to stop and sharpen the drill bit. I have tried to cut metal with a dull drill bit: Not an efficient process. A dull bit will get real hot and finally stop cutting. It will get hot enough to burn your fingers, but the sharp bit does not get hot. It bites into the metal and produces shiny shavings of metal.
There is discipline in stopping the work and sharpening the drill bit. The same is true of my spiritual walk. I often think that if I could just finish cranking out my sermon, or my Bible study lesson, or what ever else I am working on, I could rest. Then I concentrate on the work but forget to sharpen the tools. Many of us learned this lesson in the business world through Stephen Covey’s book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. That lesson is true enough. Many of the classes I participated in while working in the business world often gave me a me new perspective and increased my effectiveness. Yet there is something different about ministry when compared to regular work. Being a Disciple is holistic in nature in that doing and being cannot be separated. I am not only a tool in God’s work of sharing the Word in a fresh way, I am also a tool that requires sharpening. While constantly sharpening tools, I myself am becoming a sharper tool.
Yet, I somehow lose the perspective that my work requires a sharpened tool. It is my encounter with the living God that sharpens me. The directions on sharpen drill bits say that as you sharpen the bit you should hear a ZZZZZ noise of the bit being ground against the grinding wheel. (No noise no sharpening.) I think if the drill bit had feeling it would not be a pleasant experience. But grinding is required if the bit is going to be renewed and returned to service.
The spiritual truth is there is always work being done on us. We are only effective as we are renewed by our constant connection with Jesus. There must be time set aside to be with God, through prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and other means of grace. In John 15 Jesus speaks in a grand metaphor of a grapevine.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”
The time that we spend in contact with God may often have the sound of metal being shaved off (ZZZZZZ), or it may be the sound of clippers making a firm cut (snip), but in either case it is a work in us that makes us fit for work in the world.
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