I just finished writing the Pastor’s Pen for Sunday. In it I make a reference to the importance of time and not wasting it. As I was writing I couldn’t help but think about last Sunday (7-21-24) when I couldn’t preach. So the following is what I wrote to myself. Perhaps it will speak to you as well:

It’s Sunday morning, a time when I would soon be leaving for church and looking forward to preaching. But here I sit in my recliner with my pajamas on. It’s another one of those days when I’m not able to preach – days that I dread. All I feel like doing is sleeping, but I can’t even do that. So I sit here listening to the sound of the neighbor mowing his yard – a sound I hate. Although that’s a minor matter I feel like screaming “SHUT IT OFF!.

To sum it up, I’m discouraged because I couldn’t preach. But I am disappointed with myself for not practicing what I preach. Let me explain. It’s easy to prepare a sermon on how we should behave when we are disappointed, it’s another thing to do it. At the moment I’m making a failing grade.

I tell myself, it’s not like I’m asking for fortune, fame, or something foolish. I just want to preach – what God called me to do.And, yes I know if God wanted me to preach this morning He would enable me to do so. But, for the moment, the disappointment is still here.

However, even as I struggle with this, I know there is a good side to the story. I am reminded that God is in control and I’m not. God forbid that the opposite were true. Another positive is that I’ve been through this before and I know from experience that God can turn it around and give me victory. He can help me to be disappointed without getting discouraged. I’ve lost track of the times He has done so.

But, there’s something else that I am forced to face in times like these. I’m talking about the fact that the best is yet to come. And, as the old song says, “There’s no disappointments in heaven”. Thank God for that! Another old song says, I’m home sick for heaven I’ve got a longing to go”. If you think it’s out of place to feel that way you need to read Rom. 8:18-23. Please do!

Yes I am home sick for heaven, but as it was with Paul, I glad to stay on this earth as long as I am needed. However long that might be is God’s business.As long as we are on earth we will face disappointments, but we must not allow them to discourage us to the extent that it deters us from our duty. God is bigger than all your problems, so trust Him to give you victory, even when it seems impossible. Think about it!  – HDS

David Stone  
Lakeway Baptist Church  
Humble, TX.

THINK ABOUT IT            7-12-24

THINK ABOUT IT             7-7-24
A story is told about an old American Indian who attended a church service on Sunday morning. The preacher’s message lacked real spiritual food, so he did a lot of shouting and pulpit pounding to cover up his lack of preparation. In fact, as it is sometimes said, he “preached up quite a storm.” After the service, someone asked the Indian, who was a Christian, what he thought of the minister’s message. Thinking for a moment, he summed up his opinion is six words, “High wind. Big Thunder. No Rain.”

I’ve been preaching ever since the “Church Growth Movement” started. I remember when pastors started using clowns, magicians, weightlifters, motorcycle trick riders, comedians, animals, and just about anything to attract a crowd. Then churches started having contest with other churches to see who could have the largest attendance, or the most professions, and baptisms. It’s easy to see how all this led to the “easy believeism” problem. 

Although some pastors warned them that “Whatever you have to do to attract a crowd is what you will have to keep doing to keep them”, few listened. That movement was followed by the “Seeker friendly churches”, which based their type of service on what surveys showed the people in the community preferred.

It’s no secret that people love entertainment, and far too many pastors cash in on it – giving people what they want instead of what they need. Consequently we have churches today that are filled with members who are addicted to religious entertainment. And as soon as they get dissatisfied where they are they start searching for a bigger show. And they can usually find a pastor who is willing give it to them.

If you knew how many sermons are designed and delivered in such a way so as to impress people it would, or should, make you sick to your stomach. Sadly, the average person doesn’t know what a good sermon is. Most are more concerned about the style than they are about the substance. Some like it loud, fast, romping, stomping preaching. Others prefer preaching that is a quiet, calm, lecture style.The truth is that good preaching can come in either style. Some of the best preachers I have ever heard can be found in both groups. Their preaching was good because it was from the heart, not an imitation of someone else. 

Years ago I was asked to bring evening devotional messages to the men students at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Mo. Later I taught classes at Central Baptist College in Cincinnati, Ohio. In both instances one of the first things I did was to remind the young preachers of this – “Be yourself. Don’t try to copy, imitate, some other preacher”. Admiration of a preacher has caused many young preachers to make a fool out of themselves by trying to imitate them. They often do it for the sake of trying to impress people.

I say all that with the prayer that none of us falls into the habit of judging every preachers motives and mannerisms. I simply want to remind you that we are not in the entertainment business. As preachers we are to exalt the Savior, edify the saints, and evangelize the sinners – not entertain people.

I AM AN AMERICAN 

I was born with many blessings, privileges, and opportunities, unknown to many. I’ve never known what it’s like to be hungry or to not be able to get medical treatment when it was needed. I was afforded the privilege of being able to get an education. I was raised in a neighborhood that was safe, where I could roam and play without fear of being harmed. I knew nothing about forced labor, unless you consider normal chores as such, and there is a big difference. Dad and mom provided everything I needed, so I never had to resort to begging or eating out of dumpsters. I could indulge myself in pleasurable activities such as hunting, fishing, and playing little league baseball, while children elsewhere had to live in squalor. Indeed I have been blessed far beyond what I am able to describe, blessings not enjoyed by most people in the world, blessings totally undeserved.

 In addition to all this, I had security. Not only the security of a loving family, but the security that comes from being protected by the greatest fighting force on earth, the United States Armed Forces! My favorite song in grade school was the “Halls of Montezuma”. It still sends chills down my spine when I hear it. 

As an American I’ve had countless opportunities. I was told at an early age, “This is America. You can be what you want to be.” Compared to the rest of the world my life was relatively trouble free. When I failed I had nobody to blame but myself. I was free and just about everyone was urging me to be the best that I could be. I didn’t always listen, but I had the opportunity because I’m an American. I’m free!

I am an American! I am a red-blooded, true blue, stand tall American and proud of it.Joy floods my soul when I see Old Glory wave in the breeze. My heart beats faster when we sing the National Anthem. Tears come to my eyes I hear the pledge of alligence. Wonder overwhelms me when I read the constitution. Gratitude springs up within me when I see those in uniform. Admiration is felt in every fiber of my being when I see our veterans. And my bloods boils with anger when I see disrespect for the flag and hear disparaging remarks about our country. I am an American and proud of it. If you don’t love it leave it! 

Because I am an American I will not give up, shut up, or tone down. My days on earth are limited and may be few. My duty is clear. I will do what I can, while I can, as long as I can, the best I can, to preserve liberty and justice for the next generation. Not only am I an American, I am a Christian and I will not give up hope, nor cease praying that God will continue to bless America.

 
Because I am a Christian American my heart breaks when I see what has happened to our nation. We are no longer the nation we were meant to be, nor the nation we used to be. We have drifted so far away from God it is only because of His grace that we haven’t been destroyed. Our only hope is a spiritual awakening and that starts with a revival among we Christians. Unless we return to the old paths the road ahead doesn’t look good. 

Change comes one person at a time and the best thing we can do to help our nation is to win souls to Christ. We do not exist to save American, but rather to carry out the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20. God help us to keep our focus there! HDS 

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E.
Humble, Tx. 77346