Friend Church at the Connie Maxwell Children’s Home

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This is how Friend Church spent part of our Christmas holiday. We do stuff like this all of the time!

Buddy

Discipline is the key to living a successful life. I suppose my working definition is doing the right thing in spite of feeling like doing what you want…then after a while it becomes normal, natural and feels right. For me, going to church is a discipline. When Sunday comes, I am in church…period. Two weeks ago, I was in China and I was in church. This past week I was on vacation, and when Sunday rolled around, I was in a local church. I can’t skip! If I even entertain not going, then everything in me rises to the top to attack my laziness. Something always, always happens when you go to church. There is an encounter with almighty God and when that occurs your life is altered to right living.

This past Sunday at Jekyll Island Baptist Chapel, there were 75 folks, mostly blue haired and well into retirement. Ten past the worship hour, trudging down the middle aisle (really the only aisle), came Buddy. Buddy was bent over, having a difficult time putting one foot in front of the other, and he finally made it to the 2nd row while the rest of us were singing some ’80′s praise song. The pastor transitioned to the announcements and like most small Baptist communities, he recognized the upcoming birthdays. Buddy’s birthday is in late August. Pastor Bill asked rather loudly, “Buddy, how old will you be?” And Buddy said, “96″. 

I kept my eye on Buddy the rest of the service.  As the soloist got up to sing an old hymn, I watched Buddy mouth every single word. When the pastor got up to preach, Buddy followed him in his Bible and listened intently. Then when the offering plate was passed, Buddy didn’t just drop in some money, no, he had an envelope prepared, I couldn’t see clearly what was written on the outside (it was none of my business), but Buddy had decided before he got there how much he would give. Perhaps I will never see Buddy again on this planet…but one day…one day I will see him on the other side.

Buddy, even at almost 96 lives a disciplined life.

Family Bible

It’s hard to explain, but I have a passion to see the Word of God placed in the hands of poor Chinese living in rural China. I believe God’s Word changes the world…period. We could give them food with our money, but after they eat it, then it’s gone. We could use our money to provide them the stuff that we think is important in America…like the latest fashions (my goodness they need clothes!), the latest technology, our love for entertainment, or some of our religious views (they had that and God got rid of it). No…the Bible is God’s Word and it’s sharper than any two-edged sword and it never, no never returns void. In other words, it produces, it convicts, it changes, and it will always be TRUTH.  I’m begging you, as friends, soon to be friends, heck, I don’t care if you don’t like me….but please give to buy Bibles for people in this world.

Here’s my latest attempt to convey my thoughts and heart…it’s a short video with The Blind Boys of Alabama with Willie Nelson singing an old time song. For more information on our next trip please see our website at Friend Church. www.friendchurch.com  

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Upcoming Trip

Tomorrow I will travel 28 hours to the other side of the world to give out Bibles in Asia. Because of the nature of the trip I cannot disclose my travel itinerary or with whom I am traveling. With less than 24 hours until I depart, I have started thinking of the purpose of the trip. I have begun asking myself why I go? Why do I spend this money? Am I having a bout of  travelers remorse? Does this trip and trips like these make me super spiritual? Maybe they elevate me to a new level of religious nirvana? Nooooooooo!

However, pride does creep in and….well you know what that does. God has given me a heart for the Word to be put into the hands of hurting, poor, and lost people.  My only prayer is that others catch this burden and desire and that you too will go with me and see what happens when give yourself away and more importantly when you give God’s Word away. It is more life changing than chasing more money or chasing that perfect job.

Give your life away…quit being selfish…open your eyes to the needs all around you today…I promise,  you will find exactly what you need!

Panama 2

New video blog…Student Mission Trip to Panama…

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Man of God

Numerous times in Scripture, Elijah is referred to as a “man of God” as well as his protege, Elisha. What ever happened to men of God?  Last week I was on a mission trip to Panama with our students from Friend Church, riding in the rear of the bus, hanging out with the kids, laughing and playing games, one young man remarked to another, “Pastor Greg won’t play, he’s a man of God.” It hit me…am I a man of God? Really? Am I even close to the man of God that David was? Let alone Elijah! I have been pondering it ever since.

I was involved in a business deal recently that resulted in an invitation for me to attend a worship service with a very popular, world renowned preacher. I was told that I would be given a front row seat with a pass to hang out back stage with the superstar and be given several minutes to meet and greet him. Are there any genuine, humble, yet bold, servant types seeking the face of God anymore?

I was reading Paul’s charge to his protege, Timothy in 1 Timothy 6, “…godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it…Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”

If I have learned anything about pastors, preachers and leadership in 20 years, I know I have learned this: Men of God are not popular. Many men of God are not liked. Men of God are rejected day after day after day in this world. Men of God find themselves lonely many times like Elijah. Men of God dream of Jesus coming back. Men of God are pursuing God like David. Paul tells young Timothy to go after right living, to be like God, to trust God, and to hang in there with gentleness. Where are the men of God? More importantly, are there going to be any more men of God?

A man of God doesn’t need a backstage pass, a man is ushered into the presence of Almighty God any time he wants with the simple words, “Dear God…”

Panama

My new video blog…

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Sweet Home…Part 2

For 3 weeks Friend Church has been collecting, packing, and sending relief supplies to tornado torn Alabama. We have focused on areas that have been overlooked, unknown, or left wanting. Our 2nd delivery was to Hackleburg, a place literally wiped out by the category 5 funnels. Upon arrival, we talked to Tom, our driver, about the conditions and he was crying over the devastation that he found and quickly had to get off the phone because he was getting sick.

I have been greatly encouraged as a pastor by my friends at Friend Church. Folks have stepped up and bought the much needed items to be donated. They have spread the word at their places of work, in their neighborhoods, and among their circle of friends. The stuff just keeps coming. Last Sunday, a new lady to our church caught me as I walked out and said, “God spoke to my heart today, and I want to challenge you. I will give $250 and if 5 more people give $250, then I will make my gift an even $500.” We put it out there and sure enough it was matched. Then someone else gave $250, and today we received several more checks.

You can still help. We are receiving goods today (Friday the 13th from 12-5pm). Also, we need plenty of folks to come help pack the truck at 7AM tomorrow (Saturday the 14th). We will have hot coffee at 6:45AM. It will take an hour or less to pack it, then we will pray for the driver and supplies, and then we will thank God for what He has done through our little effort. Thanks again to the friends of Friend Church and to the friends of God. 

Jeep

I ran into the YMCA today to grab a quick workout. I barely got in the door and saw the sign: In Memory of J. P. “Jeep” Rogers. March 22, 1920 – May 1, 2011. For 59 years, Jeep was an employee of the Columbia Y, and many of those years he was the boss. I saw Jeep every week for almost 20 years. He was married for 62 years (from what I recall). And every day, every day, he would come through the gym and watch my merry band of friends, Inflated Sphere Society of Columbia (ISSC) play basketball. Then after 5 minutes, he would move on down the hall.

I saw that I had missed the funeral that afternoon, so I asked the young lady behind the counter, “Hey, how did the funeral go?”  I know this sounds weird to most people, but that is normal preacher talk. We want to know if the music was good, if the minister presiding did a good job delivering the eulogy, etc. Her response was, “I guess about as good as any funeral could go.”  Okay, I understand.

Here’s my point: Jeep was a good man. He welcomed my wife, Missie to the board years ago. He helped our church when we wanted to do the largest Easter egg hunt on the east coast. I also remember the story Mr. Gene Broome (my friend who went to be with the Lord in August, 2009) related to me years ago about Jeep. Mr. Broome had to leave home when he was around 14 and lived at the YMCA (normal back in the 40′s). He told me that he was often late with rent and would sneak in and out hoping not to get caught by the guy at the front desk. However, that didn’t work too well. He was snatched up and taken to Jeep. Mr. Broome told me Jeep always let him slide with payment.

I hate I missed the memorial service of Jeep. I don’t know how the funeral went, but as I reflect a little I know how Jeep’s life went.  It went well. Thanks Jeep, for the memories and making the Y what it is today.

Sweet Home Update…Part 1

Our truck arrived in Dora, Alabama at 9:15pm, Sunday evening. Tom our volunteer truck driver did an excellent job in getting the 8,000 lbs of supplies there in timely fashion. Everything was offloaded and today, Michelle, our point person in the northwest part of the state went out delivering the water and diapers and wipes and flashlights we sent. As she went through Pleasant Grove, a town hit particularly hard, she talked to a rescue worker that had just found a 3 year old boy alive! He was found inside a freezer! The rescue worker asked the boy, “Son, how did you get in that freezer?” The little boy responded, “The man with the wings put me in there.”  Something for you to think about….we will send another truck this weekend.