Archive for August, 2011
A Salvation Conversation August 4, 2011
Someone asked me the other day about whether or not I knew my father was in heaven. I told them I was confident and then they asked me if I knew his salvation story…and as I shared it with them I wanted to honor my father AND Jesus who saved him by sharing that story with you.
(I took my dad to lunch back in about 2002 because I was incredibly burdened for him and wanted to know that he knew Christ…and he told me the following.)
My mom and dad had a very rocky relationship…and then I was born (when my mom was 39 and my dad was 38!) When I was about two years old my mother decided to begin going to church and taking me (thank God for godly mothers!!!) My dad decided to do the typical male thing and send us to church while he did more important things…like sit at home! :-)
One evening he got home from work and poured himself a drink (he told me he was a very heavy drinker at the time) and sat down in the living room…and after doing so my mother informed him that the pastor and a deacon from the church she had been visiting were going to come by for a visit.
My dad lost it! He told me, “Perry, I cussed your mother out and told her that I didn’t want a damn preacher in my house.” BUT…he didn’t forbid it, he simply told her that he would allow it to take place this one time…but it was to never happen again.
The preacher and the deacon showed up and sat down in the living room to chat. (I don’t even know the name of the church…all I know is that it was a Baptist church somewhere in Whittier, CA where I was born and we were living at the time.) My father told me that the preacher shared the Gospel with him and my mother…and that on that evening both my dad and my mom received Christ. (I can still see his face as he shared this story with me!) Within several weeks they both went public through baptism…and although I do not remember it he told me that I was on the front row of the church when they were baptized.
I’ve got to be honest…my father did not always follow Christ; in fact, when we moved back to SC (when I was four) he became involved in a church and because of a very unfortunate incident in the church walked away. (I am more convinced than ever before that when someone walks away from church it is impossible for them to maintain an intimate walk with Jesus!) As I reflect on his life I can now see the pain, struggle, and conviction that he wrestled with during those times.
When I began NewSpring Church in 2000 my dad was there…and when we went to two services he would attend both. One of the privileges I had as a pastor was being my dads pastor…and I literally saw a prodigal son come home the last few years his mind was right.
So…today, as I’ve said before, there is an amazing sense of peace and joy because I know He is in heaven. And…I know NOT because I assumed but because I really did care enough to ask.
Anyone in your life that you are unsure of? I would challenge you with the hard truth that praying for them is easy…if you want to know…ask them!
Thank you for allowing me to wrestle with my struggles this week on this website. It has been awesome to write out my thoughts and I appreciate you all taking this journey with me.
Five Things The Lord Is Teaching Me Through My Fathers Death August 3, 2011
#1 – Eternity is reality, everyone is going to die and spend eternity somewhere…and there is amazing peace when you know that someone you loved has been made new and is in the presence of Christ. (Hebrews 9:27, James 4:13-17)
#2 – Everyone grieves differently…and grief is a very natural and perfectly acceptable thing for us as humans to feel. However, as there is a season for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) I cannot allow the death of someone I love to rob me of the life that I have left. I will always feel a deep sense of loss in regards to my dad…but grief is not a place for me to stay but rather a season I must go through…and there IS joy on the other side. (Psalm 30:1-5)
#3 – Romans 8:28 is true…even when I don’t feel it. As I’ve said before maturity in a believer is marked by when we choose to trust what God’s Word says rather than the way we feel. Doing this isn’t always the easiest thing (as I’ve discovered the past several days)…but the FACTS of God’s Word are way more reliable than my FEELINGS! This has been a struggle for me…but at the end of the day I know God is good, that He gives good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:7-11) and that He is near everyone when they hurt (Matthew 5:4).
(Knowing all of the theological answers does not remove the emotional pain…but it does help me to deal with it one step at a time!)
#4 – Relationships with other people should not be taken for granted. I had no idea when I walked away from my dad on Saturday, July 23 that it would be the last time I saw him alive. I told him that I loved him…that was the last words he heard out of my mouth and for that I am extremely grateful. (As I recall those were the last words I spoke to my mother before her passing as well.) We should NEVER assume that people know how we feel about them…and IF there is someone in your life, ESPECIALLY a parent, then you should do all that you can do to make that relationship right! (You may need to stop reading right now and break off a phone call…life is too short to live with bitterness and regret!)
#5 – I am so thankful for an incredible wife and daughter, unbelievable friends and an amazing church. This world will crush someone who tries to face it alone…and our core value of “I can’t do life alone” has never been more real to me that it has been this past week.
Revelation!!! August 2, 2011
It all begins THIS SUNDAY…I CANNOT WAIT!!!
A Letter From Pastor P To NewSpring Church August 2, 2011
Howdy NewSpring Church, five things I would love to share with you today…
#1 – The past two weeks in our church have been unbelievable as we’ve seen over 150 people surrender their lives to Christ in our “Stories” series. As we often say around here, that NEVER gets old!
#2 – I am still in awe, overwhelmed and thankful for all that Jesus did at the Gauntlet. (There are lots of pictures on our Facebook page if you want to check them out.) Words fall way short of describing all that took place…and the worship service we had on Thursday night was, hands down, the most amazing worship experience I’ve ever had the privilege of being a part of…I wish everyone could have experienced it. While we were at the Gauntlet we saw over 120 teenagers surrender their lives to Christ, 288 go public through baptism; however, I believe the most amazing work that took place at the Gauntlet has yet to be seen and I am praying that the fire the Lord began in everyone that attended will absolutely consume our church and our communities.
#3 – THIS Sunday we begin our series in the book of Revelation that we have creatively titled, “Revelation!” We will literally spend eight weeks, mostly in the first three chapters, digging into God’s Word and discovering how the church really hasn’t changed that much in 2,000 years…and neither have the people in it! I’m super pumped about this series and honestly believe it is going to be the best one we’ve ever had!
#4 – I’m asking EVERYONE at NewSpring Church to continue to prepare for August 21 by doing two things…first of all do EVERYTHING you can to get as many people as possible who don’t know Christ here on that day as we are going to be extremely intentional about sharing the Gospel and calling for a public decision. (AND…if you’ve asked people before and they refused then ask them again! God didn’t give up on you…and maybe He wants to pursue them through you pursuing them!) Second…pray with me and BEG GOD to save people on that day. Seriously church…let’s pray like we’ve NEVER prayed before and then sit back and watch God do what only He can do. It’s going to be an amazing Sunday.
#5 – On a personal note…I can’t thank each of you enough for the outpouring of love, prayer and support you have shown to Lucretia, Charisse and I in the recent passing of my father. It has hit me way harder than I imagined. My dad wrestled with Alzheimers the last eight or nine years of his life and watching him digress was brutal. I thought I was prepared for “the call” that informed me of his passing…but I wasn’t…it literally took my breath away. I have laughed and cried, rejoiced and reflected…and while the pain is very real and I feel a deep sense of loss, the thought of him smiling and laughing in the presence of Jesus without a walker and having a mind that is brand new brings me a tremendous sense of peace. I felt the Lord tell me Sunday morning as I prepared for our services that “there is not one single tragedy that will not be made right on the other side of eternity. Everything is made right in the light of Christ.” So…like I said…thank you all so much, you have been “the church” to me in this tough time…and for that I am thankful.
I love my church!
See you Sunday!