A Hot Dog, a Pickle, and a Chocolate Milk

Last night I spent the evening at one of my favorite places – the Carrier Dome.  I went to the Syracuse Men’s Basketball game against Notre Dame.  I had enjoyed dinner and a huge Orange win against a rival team with three brothers in the Lord.  It was a great night.  I had met the guys downtown and now I was headed home alone. 

On the way home I was driving up the Onondaga parkway and it hit me – that craving for a local favorite.  When we moved here in the 90’s, I learned quickly of Heid’s hot dogs.  I convinced myself that a coney hot dog, a half a pickle and a small chocolate milk would be the perfect ending to the night.Then I reminded myself I really didn’t need it, and to not stop would also save me a couple of nickels.  I quickly thought – it’s not that much and hey – why not?  So I rounded the corner coming into the village only to see the lights still on at Heids. 

I found it strange that no cars were in the lot, but they definitely looked open – lights on inside and out.  I pulled into the parking lot, got out of my car, walked to the door, and much to my slight dismay and somewhat greater disappointment, the door was locked.  Not only that but an employee saw me at a distance and shook his head no.  They were closed. 

Walking back to the car I was slightly saddened – but then it hit me.  What if that was eternity and you got locked out of heaven!  Pardon the connection and I mean no disrespect but here was what I was thinking.  I had a great sandwich for dinner.  I didn’t ‘need’ more food.  Not being able to go inside, might have been a blessing in disguise and saved me a little money.  However, there will come a day with a different destination that will be forever, and I don’t want to be locked out. 

The good news is you don’t have to be locked out.  That’s why Jesus came.  He’s the door.  Jesus said, ‘I am the door.  If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.’  - John 10:9.    This is not about a hot dog, or a pickle or a chocolate milk.  This is about eternity. 

The door is open.  Walk through the door trusting Jesus for forgiveness of sin, and the promise of eternal life.  It’s life’s most important decision. You will never regret it!  Eternity is for real.  Eternity is a long time.  To wait until this life is over is too late.  The door is open.  Trust Him now! 

Blue Bloods

Ok I admit it.  I’m hooked.  The show Blue Bloods has got my attention and I watch it rather regularly.  I’m old enough to remember watching Magnum P. I. and Simon and Simon.  Today it’s Law and Order and now Blue Bloods.  Oh, I’m sure there are more, but I’m drawn into the plot, the themes, the family dynamic, the stories, the plea for justice and the making of a deal. 

On a totally different note – but in some ways related - I’ve been reading a book given to me recently.  A quote I read yesterday has grabbed my attention.  In fact I’m still thinking about it today and was drawn back to it.  There’s a reason people get arrested.  The law has been broken.  A price has to be paid.  The gospel is a powerful story of righteousness, justice, law, and amazing grace.  So – here is the quote that got me.  You can find it in John Piper’s book ‘The Supremacy of God in Preaching’ – page 29.

The keynote in the mouth of every prophet-preacher, whether in Isaiah’s day or Jesus’s day or our day, is “Your God reigns!”  God is the king of the universe.  He has absolute Creator rights over this world and everyone in it.  But there is rebellion and mutiny on all sides, and his authority is scorned by millions. So the Lord sends preachers into the world to cry out that God reigns, that he will not suffer his glory to be scorned indefinitely, that he will vindicate his name in great and terrible wrath, but that for now a full and free amnesty is offered to all the rebel subjects who will turn from their rebellion, call on him for mercy, bow before his throne, and swear allegiance and fealty to him forever.  The amnesty is signed in the blood of his Son.

I’ve never been more grateful for the cross of Jesus Christ.  He paid my debt.  I owe Him everything.  The offer still stands for all who trust in Him.  Blue bloods may be just a television show, mirroring everyday life.  The gospel is for real, and paid in full by the blood of Jesus.  Trust Jesus today!

When the Kids Grow Up

 Last Friday night was an interesting moment for me.  I was home alone.  That’s not always a bad thing.  I love people, but sometimes solitude refuels my soul.  For some reason, Friday night was too quiet. 

My wife was headed to New Hampshire, where she and four other ladies from Northside would lead a women’s conference for a church there.  My heart is thrilled at all the ways God uses her.  I’ve been to that church and ministered as well, and I knew they were in for a great time, and would be a blessing from the Lord for that congregation.  Higher Ground Baptist Church is only eight years old, and already making a huge kingdom impact. 

Our youngest daughter was babysitting and would be gone for the evening.  I enjoy time hanging out with her.  Thankfully, we had an amazing late lunch date after she got out of school and before she went to babysit.  I love her, and I cherish these last couple of years before she heads to college.  Our conversation was never more meaningful than it was over that lunch Friday.  

Then I began to think about the rest of the family.  There’s our Ohio family – our oldest daughter, her husband and three of the cutest kids I’ve ever seen in my life.  Oh how I love them.  I’m looking forward to seeing them in a few weeks.  There’s our Delaware family – our son and his wife.  They’ve just found out they are expecting their first child next summer.  I love them so much as well.  There are days I wish Dover was just an hour away.  There’s our Virginia family – our next daughter, her husband and their son.  I love their love for Jesus, for each other, for people and for life.  There’s not a day goes by it seems that I don’t miss them all. 

Friday night the house was very quiet.  My heart was full of gratitude and memories.  It seems like just a couple of days ago we were moving to Liverpool and they were 8, 5 and 2 with no knowledge yet of our youngest.  Humanly I was sad – because I missed them.  Spiritually – I am grateful for all that God has done and is doing.  In fact, I’m grateful beyond words. 

So here is my challenge to you and to me.  Cherish every day.  Welcome every season.  The kids come into our lives, and then they grow up.  It’s not bad it’s just different.  It’s change but I will welcome this season as well and thank God for all he is doing in each life.  Remember this – sometimes the quiet is the opportunity to reflect, rest and plan for the next season.  God has a plan.  God has a purpose.  God is faithful.  Praise His holy name. 

Memories on a Mountain

Ten years ago, my wife and I brought our son to college.  He would be a freshman at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.  It’s hard to believe that was ten years ago.  Our first trip back to see him was early in October.  We attended a gathering led by Jerry Falwell at Liberty and Thomas Road Baptist Church called Superconference.  God spoke to Kathy and me during those days and in the Charlotte airport waiting for our next flight, we wrote a document I still have on my laptop of 22 things we learned at that conference.  The last one read ‘We could do a conference like this at Northside.’ 

We continued the regular trips to Liberty and Thomas Road during our sons college years, and three years later – 2008 – I took my first Doctor of Ministry seminar and now I was a student here too.  We brought one of our daughters that August to Liberty.  Our son was a senior and our daughter a freshman.  Soon our son graduated and then our daughter, and then their Dad. 

Jerry Falwell walked this barren mountain almost 60 years ago believing God for great things.  He is with the Lord now, but his sons are doing an amazing job of fulfilling the vision God put in their father’s heart.  What has happened has been exponential as now Liberty has more than 14000 students on campus and more than 90000 online.  With more than 100,000 students it is the largest Christian University in the world. 

This week it has all come back so fresh to me.  I came back with one of the men on our staff and we are attending Thomas Road’s ‘Refuel’ conference.  It’s the ten-year later version of Superconference.  The conference is put on free of charge and the meetings have been life changing.  Each night I’ve been reminiscing and remembering the faithfulness of God. 

You see in July, that daughter who was a student returned  - called to serve on staff at Thomas Road.  Her husband transferred from the seminary he was attending to Liberty.  They now serve God on this mountain.  It has been a joy to see their lives close up this week and how God is using them.  In addition, our son who now serves a church in Delaware, came over to the same conference and it was a great joy to sit with him in many of the sessions.  I've also spent time with current students from Northside who are here studying and some were able to attend the conference.  

The hotel I’m staying at, I spent many nights at during my graduate studies here.  I’ve thought of all that God taught me during those days.  I’ve thought of the classes – the professors – the classmates – and friendships formed here. I met Roscoe Lilly here over lunch.  We had never met though we served in the same state.  We are friends to this day. 

I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Northside, the church where I have the privilege of serving, to my family, to my staff, and most of all to Jesus for the incredible love and support in this journey.  And now to think that we host a conference called Keep the Fire Burning that was birthed in my heart in a classroom here and does a similar thing for pastors across the northeast.  We are five years into that journey with the best yet to come. 

As I head back to Syracuse tomorrow, my heart is full with the goodness of God.  I’m blessed to know that He was working ten years ago, and He is still working today.  In fact, I’m confident the next ten will be exponential compared to the last ten.  To that end I dedicate my life to Him and the work of His kingdom for His glory.  I’m going home with memories on a mountain, ready to take some new mountains for the Lord.  It’s time to see more mountain moving miracles for the glory of God.  As Tom Mullins reminded us today, it’s time to shake the salt that the world can taste Jesus, shine the light so the world can see Jesus, and fill the city with the name of Jesus! 

Teach Us To Number Our Days

This week has been a week of ups and downs.  Monday I learned mid-afternoon of a very sudden death within our church family.  In a phone call later that night I spoke with a man who had just become a widower.  His wife of more than 25 years, had suddenly died.  One minute he was talking with her.  The next minute she was with Jesus.  He never saw it coming.  I sat in that home yesterday joined by two staff members, and we ministered to a grieving family.  They all know Jesus, so there was tremendous hope in that room.

Later in the day I received a call from a member who’s son is battling colon cancer.  Today we visited him.  At the age of 38, he is fighting for his life, with a supportive wife close by his side.  The pain in that room was palpable, but Christ was there too, and His peace was evident even in the midst of their storm.

Next, I went to a hospital here in Syracuse to make a visit to celebrate with a family.  A young husband and wife were rejoicing over the arrival of their brand new baby boy.  That man is one of my prayer warriors, who holds me up to the Lord daily.  What a thrill to rejoice with him over this great blessing in their lives. 

Later in the day, I went to visit my mother in assisted living.  I had some things to bring to her and when I arrived and was signing the logbook into the home, the receptionist said, ‘Hi, Bruce.  Your Mom is at Bible Study.’  She then pointed me in the direction, and as I arrived the gathering was just disbanding.  While visiting her she opened her Bible and asked me about a passage she had read earlier.  My Mom still wants to keep growing, and moving forward with the Lord even in her later years.  I love that.  I love her.

Now back to the start of my day.  My day started with my wife and I taking our youngest daughter to school.  She’s in 11^th grade.  It hardly seems possible.  It seems like a couple of years ago she was born.  Oh how the years go by . . . I’m going to blink and we will be taking her to college. 

I’m now back at my office and getting back to working on this weekend’s message.  This whole week and my day have reminded me that every day is a gift from God.  My challenge to you is to not get so caught up in whatever is on your mind or distracting you that you miss the blessings of the moment right in front of you.  Cherish every day. 

The Bible says, ‘Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.’  Psalm 90:12, HCSB