Everybody Down!

I was pastor of West Maple Street Baptist church for three years. It was my first church, a seminary church with some great people. The church had at one time been a First Baptist but the church as a whole moved to a new location and left behind a small group of people to keep the church going there. Shortly after First Baptist left, the city closed off the street and made it a dead end. Once a major thoroughfare now it was a dead end traveled only by those who were going to the Elementary School beside the Church and who lived on the street. The building was old and literally falling in. there was no air conditioning and in the summer we fanned ourselves with hand held fans compliments of Koonst Funeral homes.

On any given Sunday we would have to ask people to move for fear the ceiling over them would fall in-literally. Many times we would clean up some fallen ceiling before service.

One Sunday night I was preaching to a pretty good crowd. Among the congregation was Miss Cleo. Cleo was in her seventies, a delightful lady. She had what I would call a beehive hairdo, rising at least a foot atop her head. It was summer time and the windows were open and most wanted near one to catch as much of a breeze as they could.

I was really getting into my sermon when Miss Cleo jumped to her feet and hollered at the top of her lungs “Everybody down! There’s a bat flying in here and don’t let it get in your hair or you’ll go crazy!”

Everybody began to scramble and people were hitting the floor. I stood there a moment in total disbelief. Then I spotted it a small bat swooping and flying like it was crazy. I hit the deck behind the pulpit. There we were a room full of people all sprawled out on the floor with hands on our heads hoping the bat didn’t find its way into our hair (yes I had plenty then) and cause us to go crazy. I had heard my Grandma say that once when I was a kid throwing rocks up in the air watching bats dive toward them. But here I was, a husband, Father, and Pastor curled up on the floor fearful of my sanity with a hundred others.
Finally someone from underneath a pew yelled for one of the Deacons “Hiram, kill that bat before it bites one of us!”

Hiram got up and left. He came back with a broom. While we were all laid out, there was Hiram trying to swat a sonar directed bat. Finally he knocked it down and reached down with a gloved hand and picked it up. It couldn’t have been two inches long and six inches in wing span. He took it out and let it go.

Everybody began to get up and dust themselves off. There was such a sigh of relief. Needless to say service was pretty much over. We all laughed a nervous laugh had a prayer and dismissed. One little boy said to his Mom as they were leaving “Mom I didn’t know Church could be so much fun! Can we come back next week?” One man said as he left “Preacher there’s not been this much excitement in this church in twenty years. Maybe we need to turn a squirrel loose next week!”

What a night, what excitement, what fear, hearts beating fast and grown men and women lying on the floor hoping to keep their sanity. It was quite a night. Oh that we would today experience excitement, fear, hearts beating out of our chests, men and women grasping there heads in total wonder as we let the Holy Spirit have His way in our lives. Give me the Holy Spirit any day. Then again maybe a squirrel…. God bless you!
Father help us to get excited out of our heads over You and Your love for us. Let our lives be filled with fear, filled with awe in the light of who You are. Help us to experience You in a way that will cause us to say. “I didn’t know it could be this way! Can we come back?” To you be all glory and honor. In Christ’s Name. Amen

walking, marching, running...

Roger Uren has been walking toward Zion for some time. On Monday he started marching to Zton. At 10:45 PM He ran into the arms of Jesus! Free at last! Thank God Almighty! Free at last!

Focus!

Sunday was a great day! Six people prayed and asked Christ to be their Savior. Four or five expressed a desire to follow Christ in baptism. To Him be praise.

I showed a video at the beginning of my sermon at 10:45, unfortunately it was not available at 8:30. Hopefully you will be able to watch it here.

The video was about Dick and Rick Hoyt. Rick was one of three children born to Judy and Dick Hoyt. Due to complications, Rick was born with Cerebral Palsy. The Hoyt family made a decision to raise Rick as normally as possible. He went to regular school and graduated not only from High School but college. He communicates with a special computer. They did not try to protect Rick from life and taught him and worked with him to meet life head on. Wow that's inspiring.

At 15 he told his family he wanted to run a marathon. His Dad, not a runner, began training and he and Rick have been running ever since. Not just marathons but even an iron man event. These parents were determined to give their children the best-themselves.

In this world we can get so distracted that we relinguish our role as parents to media and to self determination. Children need their parents and love spelled T-I-M-E.

Our focus needs to be on Christ first, foremost.

In the up and coming weeks I am going to look at Biblical knowledge in parenting, intimacy in the midst of parental responsibility, Boundaries that must be set consistently, strategy and structure for successful parenting and team work necessary for the family to succeed in a world that wants desperately to redefine the family. That is quite an undertaking but a necessary start. I am dedicated to helping families become what God desires them to be.

Father, it is hard sometimes to stay focused in a world of voices. Each calling "Come this way" "do This" "Do that". Help us hrough Your Power and strength to re focus and stay focused on You and Your Way. In Christ. Amen

Good job faithful servant!

Ted Stone dies during fourth walk across country
From staff and wire reports

Ted Stone, an anti-drug activist from Durham, died Sunday during his fourth "Walk across America" to spread awareness of the hope that substance abusers can find in Christ. He was 72.
Stone and his ministry partner, collegian Sean Reece, were driving to speak at a church just north of Nashville when Stone became unconscious. He was taken by ambulance to Skyline Medical Center, where he died around 3:30 p.m.

The Davidson County medical examiner determined he died from cardiovascular disease, Associated Press reported.

Stone became an evangelist after serving four years in prison in the 1970s as the result of drug addictions. He spent 29 years in ministry and was the founder of Ted Stone Ministries.
Stone walked across the country three times telling substance abusers of the hope they can find in Christ. His previous three walks across America included a 3,650-mile trek in 1996 from the Capitol steps in Washington southward to Jacksonville, Fla., and westward to Los Angeles; a 3,550-mile trek in 1998 from the mayor's office in San Francisco eastward to Virginia Beach, Va.; and a 1,700-mile, south to north trek in 2000 that began in Nueva Laredo, Mexico, and ended in Detroit at the Ambassador Bridge leading into Canada.

Though a battle with colon cancer in 2002 took a toll on his body, he so fervently believed in the cause that he pressed on to start a fourth walk across the nation, starting in Chicago June 19 with an expected end in Pensacola, Fla.

In 2005, Stone launched HIS Way, a treatment and recovery program designed for implementation in the local church to prevent recovering drug abusers from relapsing into old lifestyles after they express an interest in following Jesus.

Stone was a longtime member of the board of visitors at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest and was a trustee at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
He is survived by his wife, Anne Fuller Stone, three daughters, Ellen Sichina of Shelby; Carole Doll and Lisa Hilliard, both of Apex; and five grandchildren.

Why this story?

In June I was attending the Southern baptist Convention in Greensboro NC. Pastor Keith Whitener of Idlewilde Baptist was with me. As we were leaving the Colesium I saw Ted. He was a Brother in the Lord and a good friend. I hollered out his name and he turned and saw me. "Why haven't you had me at your Church, Raymond Johns?" He hugged me and introduced his young protege traveling with him. I intoduced him to Keith and we talked for a while. He had such a passion to share the hope of Jesus Christ and the freedom He gives.

He also looked like he needed to be in a hospital. I asked him how his health was and he was very optimistic though his appearance said otherwise. He didn't want to talk about that, he wanted to talk about his up and coming walk across America for Christ. He gave me some info and said he would like to come to the church and speak. I told him I would live to have him. I told him about Celebrate Recovery and he said he loved that ministry and would love to talk to those who came. We agreed to keep in touch when he got close to NC. We shook hands and left. One month later he is with the Lord. What a way to go! Faithfully fulfilling the mission and commission of of our Lord and Savior. He would not stop. Sickness couldn't stop him no more than the devil tried to as a young man. Age couldn't stop him and it still hasn't stopped his mother.

Ted knew Jesus and he picked up his cross, died to his own ambitions and followed his Master wherever He led and in the end He led him right on down the road to glory! I know Jesus must have said " We are home son, lay that cross down. You have been faithful. Come and rest a while." May it be so with us.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Acts 1:8 (NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Father thank you for the life and inspiration of Ted. Thank you that in a world of distractions he stayed focused on You and your mission. Help those of us reading this to be like minded and committed to following you. Help us to see the good in those we encounter and help us to share with everyone we meet the joy and freedom of salvation in Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord for Your love and grace. Amen

Preaching on the Parkway

I am so very thankful for this past Sunday. Pastor Max preached all three services and did an as usual great job. I appreciate him sharing how great our God is even in the midst of death.

I went with Travelin’ Light to the Parkway Sunday. We had 52 people, 31 bikes. I didn’t know a lot of those who went but boy did I love getting to know them. It was a very good ride. We stopped for gas in Shelby Sunday morning. I met two men there who wanted to ride with us. They both were Believers. One man had a son who was in a ministry. We talked a few minutes and the two said they would like to come check out CHBC and the ministries we have.

We went on up to Crabtree Meadows on the Parkway to have a picnic and some real food from the Word. I enjoyed speaking to those present, realizing that several did not have a relationship with Christ and several who because of things happening in their life had not been in church for a long time. I could not help thinking the whole way up, how much God in Christ loved everyone of the individuals riding.

I shared three important lessons after the picnic and before anyone could dose off! 1. The journey is never over, that’s the beauty of it. I shared how for some their lifethey think, is a journey and when they come to know Christ it like “well its over, I have done what I needed to do, it’s done.” But I explained that the journey of life really doesn’t begin until you enter that personal love relationship with Christ. He is the real deal. Hebrews 5:11-6:3 (NLT) “There is so much more we would like to say about this. But you don't seem to listen, so it's hard to make you understand. [12] You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. [13] And a person who is living on milk isn't very far along in the Christian life and doesn't know much about doing what is right. [14] Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right. [6:1] So let us stop going over the basics of Christianity again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start all over again with the importance of turning away from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. [2] You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. [3] And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.” (See 1 Corinthians 3:1ff).

2. There is Someone inside you, let Him out. I explained how when you repent of your sins and invite Christ into your life He comes in. All of Him. The Holy Spirit gives us gifts and abilities that we need to let Him express through us to build up others and His church and His kingdom. Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

3. When the passion comes, there’s no denying it. I explained again that it is about Jesus the real deal. That when you know Him and His forgiveness a passion to live for Him will drive us, lead us and consume us. Following Jesus takes us places we don’t always expect to go. I told the group “You didn’t know you would be in Church today but here you are.!” I went on to explain that Church is not a building but the people redeemed by Christ’s blood. I then explained how to know Christ and to make a new commitment and led in prayer.

While I was praying I heard a strange sound like the grinding of brakes. When I finished praying, I dismissed everyone to pack up and get ready to ride. Someone said, “Pastor Raymond, this man would like to speak to you.” I looked and it was the Park Ranger. I went over and he asked me “What is all this?” I told him who I was and what we were doing and he began to shed a couple of tears. He told me that he had listened as I prayed and that he was saved three years before. He had been to the Gulf Coast and worked in Disaster Relief and someone there had given him a motorcycle. He brought it back and started a ministry in his church with just six bikers. He shared some of testimony with tears and we rejoiced. He wants to bring some from his church here to learn about ministry and participate in the Bike Rally September 9. He liked the idea of riding with on some of our rides. We exchanged info and he praised God for our willingness to do such a ministry.

Later I learned of several decisions that some had made. I rejoice. I rejoice that CHBC is such a great Church that we will do ministry where people are. That we support ministry endeavors. I am thankful that God has blessed us with such great people that many decisions can be made both in the building and outside the building at the same time.

Everywhere we went people wanted to know about us and our church and we got to tell them about both but more importantly about Jesus who makes all things possible. God Bless you as you serve Him!

Father, I praise you for the decisions made at CHBC Sunday. Thank You for the message Pastor Max preached and for moving in such a way that many responded. Thank You for Travelin’ Light and using that ministry to touch many lives Sunday as well. Thank You for allowing us to be lights that can shine for You. For each one who reads this lead them to You and to Your Grace and Forgiveness and help them get involved using their gifts and abilities to build up others, Your Church and Your Kingdom. In Jesus Name Amen.