Grace

Things, They are a Changin’…

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard of Cracker Barrel Restaurants rebranding initiative. I must say, we’ve finally found something that everyone can agree on: no one likes the new branding that Cracker Barrel came up with!

Conservatives and Progressives/Liberals alike have lamented the corporate change. There are several reasons I’ve seen over the past week. Those reasons include a loss of nostalgia and identity, The redesigned logo removes the iconic image of a man leaning on a barrel—an emblem of Southern charm and the chain’s heritage—leaving just the words “Cracker Barrel” on a gold background. Critics say this erases the brand’s sentimental value.  

There is also the sense of perceived sterility and blandness. Many called the new logo and updated decor “cold,” “sterile,” or “soulless”—in stark contrast to the warm, cozy atmosphere long associated with Cracker Barrel.  

As with everything else these days, there are those who note the political undertones of the move and the backlash that followed. Conservative figures widely criticized the change as an example of “wokeness,” while others accused the company of abandoning tradition to appeal to diversity, equity, and inclusion agendas. Even California Governor Gavin Newsom mockingly added fuel to the fire, reflecting deep political polarization surrounding what many consider a benign design change.  

And let’s not forget the financial consequences of the rebrand. Cracker Barrel’s stock plunged nearly 15% in one day, erasing an estimated $100 million to $195 million in market value. 

I’d say someone didn’t really think that decision all the way through.

Let me say that my family used to love Cracker Barrel. We came to love it when we moved to Kentucky for seminary. Cracker Barrel was a welcome stop on the 12-hour drive between seminary and our home in Louisiana that we would make several times each year.

The biscuits and the cornbread muffins were always warm. The hospitality was always cordial. The atmosphere was inviting and the food quality was consistent. We always knew what we were going to get when we stopped at a Cracker Barrel.

We don’t go to Cracker Barrel anymore, though. We stopped going before the rebrand. We stopped going because the last three times we went to Cracker Barrel, the food simply wasn’t very good. And, they started serving alcohol, too! Not that the alcohol really matters. We go to restaurants all the time that sell alcohol, but there was something that stung me when they made that move. It’s probably more my issue than Cracker Barrel’s, but still…

So? Why such the pushback on Cracker Barrel? I think it’s because Cracker Barrel represents a memory. It was Grandma’s kitchen with biscuits and gravy, and rocking chairs on the front porch. The rebrand stripped away everything the company represented to its customers, all in the name of “relevance” and “modernization.”

I’m not so sure it’s not the same struggle the Church/church faces, too. We want to reach the next generation. We want to be relevant. But sometimes, in the process, we risk losing the very soul of who we are.

Some churches throw out every hymn, every tradition, every symbol of the faith, hoping that a sleek, modern design will attract people. But what happens? People walk in and say: ‘This doesn’t feel like church anymore. It feels soulless.’

Now, don’t get me wrong—change is necessary. We must preach the Gospel in the language of our day, but the Gospel is still the Gospel. The method of the message may change, but the message must never change. Or, just like Cracker Barrel discovered, we can’t throw away our heritage and expect people to follow. People are hungry for warmth, for story, for authenticity. People are hungry for Jesus!

Are we giving them Jesus, or are we giving them some warmed over, feel-good-get-your-God-moment and sending them back out into the world? The Church/church just needs to give the people Jesus every time they come.

Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2:15: ‘So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you.’

Notice, Paul isn’t saying never change. He traveled culture to culture, adapting his methods to reach people, but he never threw away the core. He held fast to the Gospel, even as he adjusted his approach.

So here’s the lesson for us as a Church/church:

  • Change is fine—but it must not be an erasure.
  • We can add new songs, new ministries, new outreach—but not at the cost of losing the warmth of fellowship, the truth of Scripture, and the centrality of Jesus Christ.
  • People don’t come to church for flash and logos. They come because they’re looking for a family, for hope, for soul, for salvation.

So the next time you drive past a Cracker Barrel (or hear someone complaining about the new logo) remember this: What the world is truly longing for is not sleeker branding, but something real, something rooted, something alive. And friends, that’s exactly what the church can offer, if we hold fast to Jesus Christ while speaking His love in a way this generation can understand.

I sure do wish we could all agree on that!

Until next time, keep looking up…

Nine Things For a Church in Transition…

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So, I’m pastoring a small congregation these days. As I reflect on my past leadership as a vocational minister, and I think about where God is calling me to lead as a bi-vocational pastor, I’ve sought to define the necessary actions that will help our congregation be faithful to God’s calling for this stage in our life.

What stage is that? I can’t actually answer that question, but if I attempted to provide an answer, it would be the transitional stage. We are a congregation that is in transition. We’re meeting in a storefront. I would define that as transitional. The storefront can’t be our permanent home unless we are content to be who we are where we are, and I don’t believe the Lord ever wants us to be content with who we are where we are, so we’ll see how that plays out.

We’re also transitional in our mission. As a congregation that was displaced from its property, there is a time of defining who God is calling us to reach with the Gospel. Our “target” now is not who the “target” was a year ago, because our storefront is located in a different part of the community. We’re in transition in figuring this out.

We’re also transitional in our worship style. The Lord has provided us with some amazing musicians to lead us in worship, and working to their strengths has made us adapt from a more traditional worship style to a more “contemporary” worship style. It is definitely a transitional time for the congregation.

One other transition the congregation is facing is in leadership. No, not in finding new leadership, but in understanding what it means to have a truly bi-vocational pastor. How does the congregation provide leadership in tandem with a bi-vocational pastor? Certainly a transitional aspect of life for the congregation.

These transitional aspect of congregational life have forced me to consider this question: What are nine things we MUST do to be faithful as a congregation in this time of transition? In no particular order, here are the nine things I’ve defined as necessary to navigate the transitions:

1. Biblical Teaching/Preaching

This almost goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. Let me clarify what I mean: I mean keeping the message simple without all the smoke and mirrors, sounds and light shows and video driven illustrations. It’s not about flash, it’s about truth and the Gospel message is a simple message for everyone. Keep it simple. Preach the Bible. Preach truth. The fluff is a distraction from the truth.

Technology is great, and it can really bring a “Wow” factor to worship, but in this transitional time, we need to let God wow us, not the technology.

2. Participatory Worship

Traditional worship (and by traditional I mean pretty much every church worship service these days) has become more of an observation exercise than anything else. Folks show up, sit in rows, listen to singers perform and preachers preach. Worship has become more performance than anything else.

Nope! Worship is meant to be a participatory experience. From music, to prayers, to preaching and teaching, to communion. All of the body of Christ is meant to participate in worship. Participatory worship will be another way that we encounter God, and we need to encounter Him over and over again during this period of transition.

3. Holy Spirit Led

One of my old mentors used to pray before he entered worship, “Lord, let something happen today that is not in the bulletin!” During this time of transition, we have to leave room for the Holy Spirit to move. We’re looking for flexibility not rigidity, allowing room for the Holy Spirit to move, even in our corporate worship.

That scares a lot of people, and it kind of scares me, too. It’s also a little bit counter to the argument that the Spirit works in our preparation for worship. Well, yes He does, but He can also lead in the present and we have to attune ourselves to His presence and moving.

4. More Fellowship Time

One of the reasons we have divisions is because we don’t spend enough time sharing meals together and doing activities outside the worship setting. No, I’m not talking about Sunday school or small group time. I’m talking about playing together. I’m talking about having fun together.

What does that look like? That’s yet to be determined, but it is necessary to navigating transitions in a healthy way. It will also help us define who God is calling us to be as a congregation.

5. Hear the Bible Again

I have to confess that I’ve been guilty of listening more to what other people say about what the Bible says than simply reading the Bible and letting the Bible say what it says.

Do you know what I mean? I mean I want to listen to what Billy Abraham says the Bible says than what the Bible says it says. Don’t get me wrong. Biblical scholars are great, and we shouldn’t be anti-scholarship, but often we hear 90% of what someone thinks what the Bible says and 10 of what the Bible actually says.

How about we start with hearing the Word and start with the Word we just heard?

6. Less Clock, More Connection

How did we ever come to believe that church/worship needed to be limited to one hour? Yes, I know the adage “The mind can absorb only what the seat can endure.” And, yes, I know there is the one guy always sitting in the back of the congregation checking his watch.

Seriously, we have to move past that mentality if we’re going to encounter the living God. Just when the Holy Spirit starts to move the preacher says, “Well, we’re out of time, so I’ll close.” I’ve said it many times. I wonder how often I quenched the Holy Spirit by making that statement?

Yup, I get hungry, too, but we can’t let our need to finish in an hour cause us to miss the Spirit.

7. Talk About Sin

I’m not talking about making every worship encounter fire and brimstone. I’m talking about acknowledging the reality of sin and acknowledging the destructive nature of sin. Sin has become unpopular topic in many churches these days. That’s unfortunate because unless we realize the destructive nature of sin, how can we know the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Who needs salvation when there is no sin?

8. Engage the Community Spiritually

We love giving backpacks and school supplies to kids. We love feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. We love, love, love meeting physical needs and we love to pat ourselves on the back when we do so. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. We are supposed to minister to the needs of others (read Matthew 25), but people’s greatest needs are more often spiritual.

What are we doing to engage our community on a spiritual level? What are we doing to address their spiritual needs? Those are questions we must ask during this transitional period of our congregational life.

9. Develop a Kingdom Vision

For too many congregations in transition, the vision is to simply stay afloat–to keep the doors open, to keep the bills paid, to hang on to the status quo. Transitional congregations must be intentional in developing a Kingdom vision–a vision for the future and for growth. It is about a vision for expanding the Kingdom of God, not about keeping people inside the walls of the church.

Developing a Kingdom vision takes time and intentionality. It takes patience and it takes relying on the Holy Spirit to move among us. Don’t rush it.

Conclusion

One would think I could come up with one more thing for the congregation to do in this transition. We like top ten lists, right? Honestly, though, anything I might add to the list above would really just dovetail off one of these nine, so I’ll leave the list at nine.

We could also spend more time unpacking each of the nine, but I offer them hear as conversation starters. I’d love to hear your feedback, and I’d also love to hear if you have any you would add to the list. Add them in the comments and let’s keep the conversation going.

Until next time, keep looking up…

The Message of the Cross…

/ pastorlynnmalone / 1 Comment

Here’s the verse I’ve been contemplating all week:

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1: 18 NIV)

Here’s the question I’ve also been contemplating all week:

Is the Church of Jesus Christ losing the message of the cross, and thus the power of God unto salvation?

Why do I ask?

No Crosses

It’s simple: there are some “Christian” bodies that no longer display the cross. I’m not going to name names. Why heavens! That would seem divisive, but you know what? Division in the body of Jesus Christ is exactly what the Apostle Paul was addressing when he introduced the message of the cross to the young church at Corinth.

So, yeah, let me name names.

Lakewood Church–that bastion of evangelical (?) Christianity in Houston, Texas–doesn’t display the cross prominently in its worship space.

They’re not the only one. Traditionally, Quakers do not display the cross (or any religious symbols) in their meeting houses. Additionally, many non-denominational churches have chosen to remove the cross from their worship spaces.

Why would they do that? They will tell you there are several reasons:

  • Some would say they focus on the resurrected Christ rather than the crucified Christ (this would distinguish them from the Roman Catholics),
  • Some would say that a focus on the cross is a form of idolatry and violates the second commandment,
  • Some argue that the cross wasn’t used broadly as a Christian symbol until 300 years after the time of Jesus, so why use it now,
  • Some say the cross is offensive to non-Christians, so to make non-religious people feel more comfortable, crosses should be removed.

It’s this last reason that gets me, and I’m wondering if it was what Paul was addressing as the first issue (among many) in their divisions of the Corinthian church.

The Offensive Cross

Look at what Paul says in verse 23:

23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

In the first century, crucifixion was the most shameful death imaginable — reserved for slaves and criminals. Romans themselves would never endure it.

So, telling people their Savior died on a cross was scandalous to Jews and nonsense to Greeks.

I fear that today people want a faith without a cross. We want inspiration without repentance, blessing without sacrifice. We want Christ without the crown of thorns. If that is what we want, that is what we’ll get, but we’ll miss the power of God unto salvation.

Paul says “the message of the cross…is the power of God.” Why is the cross God’s power? Because at the cross:

  • The penalty of sin was paid.
  • The power of sin was broken.
  • The holy love of God was displayed.

We should never be ashamed of the cross. It is where justice and mercy meet perfectly. The message of the cross changes lives.

Smarter than the Cross

Rev. Shane Bishop had a Facebook post earlier in the week wherein he identified four viruses affecting the contemporary church. The third virus is that “we are suddenly smarter than everyone else who has ever read the Bible.”

Our propensity is to read the Bible in light of current cultural trends and bend the Bible to fit the current cultural climate instead of allowing the Bible to form us in light of the current culture. Culture will always change. Always has. Always will. The Word of God never changes. It is the enduring truth of the ages. I believe this is what the Apostle Paul is saying to the young church.

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (1 Corinthians 1: 20 NIV)

We’ll never be able to outsmart God. Paul mocks our human arrogance. All our knowledge can’t help us find God. Our learning can make us clever, but it cannot make us right with God. Only the cross can do that! Education, without the power of the cross, just makes smarter sinners.

God’s plan of salvation was designed so that no one could claim special “knowledge” that led to salvation. It can’t be earned through human achievement. It is available to anyone and everyone who receives it by faith…it is God’s gift.

Look folks, everything we have comes from God through Jesus Christ. Paul evens ends his initial plea for unity with that truth:

30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV)

Paul says Jesus is the source of any wisdom we attain. Paul says Jesus is the One who places us in right standing with God. Paul says Jesus is the One who sanctifies us, and that He has purchased our pardon. It all happened on the cross.

If the Church of Jesus Christ would find its unity, it must do so, Paul says, in the message of the cross.

We can’t replace the Gospel message with clever ideas or popular cultural trends.

We can’t water down the “offense” of the cross. The message of the cross will always confront our pride.

We must remember that we are nothing and we have nothing apart from the cross of Jesus. If we boast, let our boasting be in Him.

The cross of Jesus is the power of God. Let us never lose His power. Let us never lose the cross.

Until next time, keep looking up…

A Stroll Down Memory Lane…

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Due to some unforeseen circumstances, Vanessa and I took a flying trip to Morgan City, LA on Saturday. Morgan City’s Pharr Chapel United Methodist Church was the first congregation we served after I graduated from seminary in 1998. The unexpected trip became a stroll down memory lane for both of us as we rode around town reminding ourselves of our time there.

As best I recall, I haven’t been back to Morgan City since August 2013–almost exactly 12 years ago. I returned then for the funeral of a prominent member of the congregation who passed away. His name was “Boogie” Hamilton.

“Boogie” was a great guy. He was a local pharmacist who owned the Standard Drug Co., of Morgan City. As best I can remember, Standard Drugs was a family business that Boogie took over from his dad.

We drove by Standard Drugs yesterday (it was at the end of 8th St. right in front of Morgan City High School. It looked like it was no longer Standard Drugs. I know he sold the business to a fellow pharmacist when he decided it was time to retire, but that was what seems like a long time ago.

Boogie was faithful to Pharr Chapel. He was the “head usher” at the 8:30 a.m., worship service. He was always there on time to get things ready for the service and to line up those who would assist him with ushering for the day.

Better still, Boogie was a guy who took care of his pastor. Well, I can’t speak for all his pastors through the years, but I can certainly speak for this one. At least once a month, Boogie would call me up and treat me to lunch at one of the popular seafood restaurants. Knowing my love for catfish, also about once a month, he would show up at the church or the parsonage with five pounds of fresh catfish filets caught right out of the Atchafalaya River.

I know they were fresh caught catfish because I know where he got them. He got them (most of the time) from Lester Duvall, who was also a member of the congregation. Lester was a commercial fisherman. Lester, on several occasions, took me with him down the Atchafalaya to run his fish traps. I suppose he wanted me to see the lifestyle of the fishermen of the region. I never left a trip with Lester without some fresh catfish.

Boogie was also the guy who kept his ear to the ground for me. Boogie was such a long-time, prominent member of the congregation that if something was afoot, or if someone was upset, or if something needed to be addressed, he was the first to know. He was also (generally) the first to let the pastor know. He would always pass along that information quickly and without judgment on the situation. He just needed the pastor to know, so he made sure I did.

We drove by the church at 517 Federal Avenue. The congregation has cared for the facility very well. The “old” parsonage, that sat directly in front of the educational building on Federal Avenue is gone. It served as a rent house when I was pastor there. I never thought it was a good idea for a congregation to be in the rental business, but I was a young pastor fresh out of seminary, so I can honestly confess I wasn’t savvy enough to know how to approach that battle. It’s good to see one of my subsequent colleagues was savvy enough to accomplish that task.

We drove by the “new” parsonage (which is now actually the “old” parsonage) at 3013 Carrol Drive. We spent three years in that home. I’ll say it was one of the finest parsonages we have lived in through our years of vocational ministry.

The parsonage was a block off Lake Palourde, and a half a block from the levee of the swamp. We remembered the golden lab we rescued from the local pound. Shadow would jump the fence in our back yard and make his way to the swamp. We were forever looking for him. No matter what I did to the fence, he was able to jump over it or climb it to get out. Animal Control even picked him up a few times before we could find him. We ended up rehoming him before we left Morgan City.

Pharr Chapel was/is a great congregation. We had fruitful ministry there. Morgan City is/was a great place to call home. Unfortunately, it is also the only appointment that we requested a move from. It absolutely has nothing to do with the congregation or the community. We loved both. It had to do with family.

We were raising four children, and without going into detail, suffice it to say we were being challenged in our parenting skills. We thought a move closer to family might be helpful to our situation and better for our family. As it turns out, that wasn’t exactly the case, and our move from Morgan City remains one of the biggest regrets of my time in vocational ministry.

For all the good memories this stroll down memory lane evoked, there are a few regrets that surfaced, too. First, there is the regret of leaving fruitful ministry. The congregation was growing. Our faith community was thriving and reaching out into the community.

I was deeply involved in the community, as well. I served on the hospital ethics board and I was the go-to pastor for the two local funeral homes when they had a death and the family had no church connection. By my count, I officiated 37 funerals in the 36 months I pastored in Morgan City. It was in Morgan City that I developed a deep appreciation for the liturgy for funerals. When one performs more funerals for people you didn’t know than for ones you did, the liturgy becomes your friend.

In addition, the local radio station was located directly across the alley behind the church. I became friends with the owner, and through that friendship, became the color analyst for the Morgan City High School football games. Who knows? I could have been the next Vin Scully or Pat Summerall.

Next, I regret leaving (and subsequently not maintaining) the strong friendships we developed in our three short years there. I’ve already mentioned two that were meaningful to me, but there were others that were meaningful to both Vanessa and me together. There were several couples in the congregation who were at the same life stage as us. Our friendship just clicked. We shared Sunday school together. We shared meals together. We shared social functions together. We shared birthdays together. Vanessa even shared work together with two of them. We were, by my account, great friends.

I don’t know why those friendships diminished so through the years. Well, of course I do. First, time does that to all our relationships. We can add distance to that equation, too. We moved five hours away. Five hours is a long way when we were at the life stage (all of us) we were in. Of course, not long after we moved, Morgan City received an evacuation notice for an incoming hurricane. A group of those friends landed with us for two days in our new appointment. It was a fantastic time. Good friends, indeed!

I also want to lay part of the blame on the “system” of the United Methodist Church. It used to be (I don’t know if it still is) that it was drilled into pastors that when you leave a congregation, you leave a congregation. You don’t go back for any reason. You give the new pastor an opportunity to become the congregation’s pastor. Being the good company man I was, I sought to fulfill that expectation to the fullest extent.

I refused calls to officiate both weddings and funerals. I didn’t engage myself in conversations with former church members when they were upset that the new pastor didn’t do things the same way I did. Oh yes, there were the occasional calls back to friends, and the Christmas cards and what not, but the friendships withered. I know I wasn’t intentional in maintaining them.

Of course, the same can be said for every congregation we’ve served. Looking back over our years in vocational ministry, I regret not maintaining the relationships better after we departed. That’s on me. I’ve learned through the years that my wanting to “leave” a congregation well stemmed from my own insecurities about being perceived as a good “company man.”

This stroll down memory lane has taught me that relationships are more important than that. To have friends, we have to be a friend. I don’t think I’ve been a very good friend through the years. Oh, I have lots and lots of acquaintances, but very few friends. That, too, is on me.

We’ve never served a bad appointment in vocational ministry. I say that without equivocation. We’ve been blessed by every congregation…every last one. Each of them has been great in its own way, and I am proud (if a follower of Jesus can be proud) to have served each one. With that qualifier, I’ll say Morgan City/Pharr Chapel is absolutely at the top of the list.

Yeah, I’m probably getting myself in trouble with this blog, so I’ll just go ahead and beg forgiveness from all the other congregations I’ve served. This stroll down memory lane has challenged me to be more direct in building and maintaining friendships.

I’ve also come to realize that we pastors don’t need to be quite so insecure. You don’t want to return for fear of interfering with the new pastor? Get over yourself. Go back. Be in ministry to your friends. In the big picture, they won’t remember you for the friendship you developed. They’ll remember you didn’t minister to them in their time of need.

You don’t want a former pastor returning to the congregation you’re now pastoring? Ha! Get over yourself. You’re not the end all and be all of pastors. Give it time and extend the invitation to former pastors when requested. It’s the greatest ministry you can offer someone in their time of need–to affirm the relationship of a trusted friend. Besides, you’ll develop your own relationships that you won’t want to leave behind. It’ll be okay.

A lot of people will disagree with the two previous statements, but that’s okay. I’m old enough and secure enough now to not care. I’m going to be intentional in building friendships and maintaining relationships in the years I have left.

I’m grateful for the stroll down memory lane that Vanessa and I enjoyed yesterday.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Reflections, Course-Corrections and Deep Gratitude…

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It is early Sunday morning. I love the early morning hours. They are the best time for me to pray, reflect, read and give thanks. Sometimes I write. Sometimes I don’t. Trust me. Coffee is better at 4:00 a.m., than at 8:00 a.m.

This morning is different than most mornings. It is different, first, because I’m breathing different air than usual. Vanessa and I were able to slip away to Hot Springs, AR for a little R & R over the holiday weekend.

I’m drinking coffee in a rented house. I tell you, this Vrbo thing is nice. You can actually rent someone’s home when you’re on vacation! As nice as it is, I’m not sure I could rent my home to perfect strangers. Seriously, someone you don’t know poking around in your personal space? A bit frightening to me, but here I am doing it in someone else’s home. Go figure?

As I reflect this Sunday morning, I am reflecting again on how fleeting life is. Even these moments of reflection seem to be fleeting, too.

It is different, secondly, because I am holding a tension between sorrow and joy this morning. Not that there isn’t always some sorrow and some joy resident in our lives, but this morning the contrast is particularly striking.

The Paradox of Life and Death

The news is filled with reports from the hill country of Texas and the flash flooding from the Guadalupe River. The sudden loss of life. The tragedy of families searching for loved ones. The tales of heroism. The heart-break to hear of little girls missing in the midst of it all. My heart is broken for those little girls and their families, and also for the Camp Mystic staff who was responsible for their safety. These past two mornings have beef filled with prayer for all of them. Those prayers continue this morning.

In the midst of the deep sorrow, I am also experiencing deep joy at having a few hours to connect (re-connect) with our daughters. Kelsey and her husband, Matt, spent a couple of nights with us here in Hot Springs, and Brittney and our grandson, Lincoln spent yesterday and last night with us. They are our little girls, and I am grateful (eternally so) that we’ve not experienced the horror of losing one of them. While my heart sinks at what I sense those families in Texas are experiencing, I give thanks to the good Lord for our children and the blessings He has poured out on our family.

The devil wants to make me feel guilty for being so grateful, but I refuse to succumb to his tactics. We hold life and death in tension constantly, and this morning is no different. As the Book of Common Prayer (and the Methodist funeral liturgy) reminds us:

In the midst of life, we are in death; From whom can we seek our help?

The answer, of course, is that we find our help in the name of the Lord. As challenging as it sometimes is to do, I hold the tension between life and death by grace and with gratitude, trusting that the Lord will give us strength to face whatever life brings our way.

Missing Annual Conference

I’m also reflecting this morning on Annual Conference. Yeah, I know right? But I must be missing Annual Conference. I’ve had two dreams this week that I was Annual Conference. It’s probably because my Facebook newsfeed has been filled with former colleagues who were attending Annual Conference, and who have been sharing their “new appointments” on their Facebook pages. That reality has brought both good and bad memories. Again, with the paradox (irony?) that is life.

I must say that I haven’t missed Annual Conference very much since I surrendered my credentials in the United Methodist Church. I’ll admit that first June in 2020 was different, but it would have been different anyway because of a little thing called Covid. Beginning in 2021, though, I connected with the Evangelical Methodist Church, and have attended their iteration of Annual Conference since then…until this year.

Due to circumstances beyond my control (that whole life and death thing again), I was unable to attend this year’s “Journey” session. I missed Annual Conference, literally. I suppose, through my subconscious, I’m missing it figuratively, too.

What do I miss? I miss the collegiality. I miss the friendships. I miss the fellowship. I miss the laughter over meals shared. I miss the worship. I miss the singing. I miss the work of Annual Conference. I miss the slipping away to the book store (or to the mall, or the coffee shop, or the golf course, or wherever) when there was a boring report session. Yes, there is much I miss about Annual Conference. The quiet mornings of this weekend have been moments of reflection on that loss.

The quiet mornings of this weekend have also brought me joy as I’ve reflected on the goodness of God since I left the United Methodist Church in 2019. It was a pain-staking decision to surrender my credentials that year, but let’s just say there are many actions the denomination has taken since that time that have affirmed our decision.

There were other options open to me in 2019, one of which was the path of “retirement.” Honestly, if I’m asked by someone now about my situation, and I don’t want to get involved in a whole conversation, I will simply say, “I retired.” It’s easier than having to go through a long explanation about “surrendering orders,” and all that.

Choosing to Quit

Yup! I quit! Call me a quitter if you want, but the reality is I didn’t quit ministry. I simply quit the United Methodist Church. (If we’re being honest, the UMC left me long before I left it.) I had no idea if it was the right decision then, but time has proven that it was a course-correction in my faith journey, and for that course-correction, I give thanks.

Had I chosen to “retire” in the UMC, I would now be limited by the same Annual Conference (that I loved so dearly) as to where I could preach the Gospel, or even attend as a worshipper. If a family member passed away, and that person’s funeral was in a congregation that disaffiliated from the UMC, I couldn’t (with integrity) participate in their funeral without fear of punishment (financially held hostage would be a better characterization). I’m not always sure what Jesus would do, but in that case, I’m pretty sure.

Yeah, I know…sour grapes and all that. I shouldn’t be chewing gum that I’ve chewed before, but the reflections of this weekend have been a reminder of the tensions in life. I’ve been both filled with sorrow and filled with joy…filled with grief and filled with anticipation…filled with heartache and filled with gratitude. In the midst of it all, there is grace–God’s grace. It is only by His grace that the tension is bearable.

So, I’m just going to hold on to Him. Won’t you join me?

Until next time, keep looking up…

Some Days Just be that Way…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

Did you ever have one of those days? You know? One of those days when you’re afraid to ask, “What can happen next?” Yeah! Friday was one of those days for me. I won’t bore you with all the details. Suffice it to say, I was glad when Friday was over. I swear, I thought it had to be Friday, the 13th!

Paul’s Bad Day

The Apostle Paul and his traveling companion, Silas, had one of those days, too. Actually, according to the Book of Acts and Paul’s own epistles, he had many of those days, but so do we. I’m thinking of one day in particular, though. It’s found in Acts 16.

Paul and Silas were minding their own business just preaching the Gospel headed to a prayer meeting in a town called Philippi when a demon-possessed slave girl begins following them shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved” (Acts 16:17). I’d say that makes for a bad day.

Now, that wouldn’t generally be problematic except that the slave girl was persistent in her proclamation (day after day, the text says) until Paul finally tired of hearing her. He rebuked the evil spirit and commanded it to come out of the girl (Acts 16: 18).

Now, here’s the rub: the slave-girl was the property of a couple of guys who were making money off her ability to divine the future. Paul’s exorcism cost them money, so they went to the leaders of Philippi and brought charges against Paul and Silas. I’d say that makes for a bad day.

From Bad to Worse

It was a day that would get worse. The city officials ordered Paul and Silas stripped, beaten and thrown in prison. So, it goes from bad to worse–once in prison, they were ordered to be put in the inner dungeon and their feet be clamped in stocks (Acts 16: 22 – 24). Didn’t want these guys to escape.

But wait! The day gets even worse! Around midnight (v. 25), there was an earthquake (not unusual for the city of Philippi, but still–today? Really?). Don’t ask, “What else could go wrong?” You might just find out! The day, for Paul and Silas, was definitely “one of those days” you’d as soon forget.

Actually, though, it was an unforgettable day, but for reasons other than all that made it a bad day. It became a day of transformation, and perhaps the best day in the life of a family in Philippi–the jailer who was tasked with guarding Paul and Silas in prison.

A Transformative Day

What made it a transformative day in the jailer’s life? I think it started with Paul’s and Silas’s faith. Paul and Silas had a faithful attitude in their lives. On a day when adversity slapped them hard in the face, Paul and Silas chose to go to church. Well, they didn’t actually “go” to church. They chose to “have” church in prison. They chose to pray and sing hymns in the face of their adversity (Acts 16: 25).

Paul and Silas chose to live in the hope they had in Jesus Christ. I guess they lived what Zig Ziglar would subsequently teach–“Attitude determines altitude.” When faced with adversity, we can exhibit hope, or we can exhibit hopelessness. Paul and Silas chose hope.

Now, by adversity, I’m not talking about the kind of adversity football and baseball coaches talk about. When you’re down by a touchdown, or when you’re a couple of runs down in the bottom of the ninth inning, that’s not adversity. It’s a game. Yes, you can show spunk and exhibit grit and determination, but a win or a loss is not generally going to impact the course of history. Pulling out a win is not overcoming adversity, Coach.

Adversity is hearing the news, “You’ve got cancer.” Or worse, “Your child has cancer.” That’s adversity!

Adversity is hearing the news, “You’re position is being phased out. We won’t need you anymore.”

Adversity is hearing, “I want a divorce.”

Adversity is losing a child.

Adversity is losing a home.

Adversity is being wrongfully accused.

Adversity is…well, you get the idea.

Here’s the thing, though. Adversity is a fact of life. Though we seek to avoid it desperately, it always rears its ugly head, and usually at the least convenient times. That’s because life isn’t fair, nor is life certain. Unexpected circumstances can bring adversity into our lives, or our own bad choices can bring adversity into our lives. Even the actions of others can (intentionally or unintentionally) cause us to face adversity.

Certainly, Paul and Silas did nothing to warrant their place in prison. The actions of others placed them there. Yet, they chose the hope of their faith over the hopelessness and injustice of their circumstances.

My friends, I’ve said all that to say this–May our first reaction in the face of adversity be to sing the Doxology:

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him about ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.”

Praise is transformative. For us…and, for others.

Yup! Some days just be that way. Friday was one for me. You know what, though. It’s Sunday! I survived.

Whatever we’re going through, we will make it through. Paul and Silas did. So will we!

Until next time, keep looking up…

Random Randomness Randomly Recorded…

/ pastorlynnmalone / 3 Comments

First, Happy Father’s Day! I hope all the fathers who read my blog have the best day ever. As a father myself, I can honestly say we don’t need a gift from our children today. Please realize that YOU are the gift. Your presence, your hug. your love, your wellness are all that matters to your dad. Give him those gifts and you’ll make his day.

I hit upon an amazing idea this week: ban all drive-thru windows. As I was sitting in a drive-thru (for an insufferably long time), I thought about how much fuel is wasted every day by us waiting in drive-thru lines. Not only that, but actually having to get out and go in to an establishment would help all of us with our personal interaction skills. If we want to save the planet, let’s start here.

All the world’s problems cannot be summarized by a meme. Meme’s simply reflect the shallow thinking most of our leaders utilize to make decisions. Just as our problems can’t be summarized by memes, neither can they be solved by them.

Solving the world’s problems takes hard work. No one wants to work hard anymore. Heck! No one wants to work, period. Everyone wants success, but everyone wants success handed to them. 98% of success is just showing up everyday.

Speaking of hard work: Moving is hard work. I don’t care if you’re moving from one room to another, it’s still moving and I hate it. I’m grateful I have the opportunity to do it, but I still hate it. Talk about cognitive dissonance!

I think it’s perfectly okay to celebrate the 250th birthday of the U. S. Army, even if the planned celebration happens to fall on a certain terribly despised person’s birthday. I am grateful for the U. S. Army, and for the men and women who have sacrificed for our nation. Why not celebrate such a momentous occasion?

I’m also reminded that the terribly despised person mentioned above is only despised by less than half the country. That means that more than half the country doesn’t despise him. We can’t live our lives mad at half the nation.

My statement of the above probably just angered some of you who read this blog. It’s okay to be angry with me. What’s not okay is for you to vilify me or demonize me. That’s what is wrong with our culture today.

Democrats and Republicans appear to be living on two different planets. What’s worse is there is no communication capability between the two planets.

Social media is the anti-Christ!

Why don’t we turn off social media and sit down over a cup of coffee and talk to each other about our hopes and dreams, our families, our future, our faith? We might make a little progress toward a better future.

I was reminded by social media that it is Annual Conference season. I miss Annual Conference (oh! how I make myself laugh sometimes!)! What I miss is the relationships that Annual Conference fosters. I didn’t get to attend a “Journey” session (Annual Conference) for my own denomination this year. I need some good, old-fashioned collegiality right now.

I might have more collegiality if I were a bit more collegial myself.

I’ve determined that I need saving everyday. Preaching on Paul’s conversion this week reminds me that even good, righteous holy people need Jesus. I’m the chief among them. I’m also reminded that I can be so busy doing God’s work that I fail to realize that doing God’s work and doing God’s will are not always the same thing.

Folks, we need to pray for Israel and Iran. People dying is never a good thing.

I suppose that’s enough randomness for one day. Happy Father’s Day! Oh, wait! I said that already.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Mid-life Mayhem…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

No! Not me. King David…you know? King David of Israel. It had to be mid-life mayhem. Some call it a mid-life crisis. It’s the only thing that makes sense.

What am I talking about? I’m talking about David’s tryst with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11 & 12), and his subsequent cover-up. Here’s how the encounter begins:

11 In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.

2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. 5 The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

According to the biblical chronology, David was somewhere between ages 49 – 56 when this event occurred (see here).

So, all week long I’ve been asking myself, “How could David do such an obviously wrong thing?” I mean, seriously, he is God’s anointed one, a “man after God’s own heart,” the poet of Israel, the one who was/is the foreshadow of Messiah. How does he fall, and so obviously and precipitously? It just doesn’t make sense. What could it be?

I thought, perhaps, it was boredom. Here’s David lounging around in the spring of the year, sleeping until afternoon, hanging around an empty palace (all his warriors are off at war). The proverb “idle minds are the devil’s playground” is true. Perhaps if David had been productively occupied, say out with his warriors, this might not have happened.

Maybe David had a sense of entitlement at work. You know? He was thinking, “I’m the King. No one says ‘No,’ to the King. I can do what I want.”

While it is true that Israel was governed by the Mosaic Law, and the Mosaic Law was very specific concerning the act of adultery, I wonder if David saw all the surrounding kings who WERE the law in their kingdoms, and thought, “I can make my own law,” or thought he wasn’t subject to the law. Yeah, it’s a stretch, but I’m trying to make sense of it all.

Some have suggested that it wasn’t a sin for David to be with Bathsheba. Under this line of reasoning, David instituted the practice of issuing a “conditional divorce” to soldiers going off to war in case they were lost in action so that their widows would be free to re-marry legally. Uriah was conditionally divorced from Bathsheba because he was at war. According to this reasoning, David’s sin wasn’t adultery, it was the murder of Uriah and its cover-up. I’m not sure I buy it, but it is an interesting perspective.

I’m not justifying David’s actions with these excuses. Just trying to understand his actions. Nothing justifies David’s actions. Nothing justifies our sin. Suffice it to say that this episode in the history of Israel and the life of David stands as a cautionary tale for all of us. May I share some of the cautions I’ve noticed as I’ve reflected on David’s actions?

Caution #1: Everyone is subject to the power of sin.

No one (not even David) is perfect. David had a human heart (even if it was one after God’s own) just like the rest of us. As the Apostle James reminds us:

14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1: 14 – 15 NIV).

Yes, David (up to this moment) has been the foreshadow of Jesus Christ, but this moment is the pivot of David’s life. Before this moment, the biblical writers portray only the triumphs of his life. He is anointed as king. He wins mighty victories over his enemies. The nation writes songs about him and celebrate his victories. He becomes king, and a good one, too. He shows mercy to his enemies. He reunited the Kingdom of Judah and the nation of Israel. He is riding high in Israel.

Events after this encounter are recorded as pure tragedy. He loses a child (the child born of this tryst), he has a son rape one of his daughters. Another son kills that son. Children revolt. David flees. He gets old and dies. Literally, the triumphs of David’s life turn to the tragedies of David’s life, and this is the pivot point.

Before this moment, David is (appropriately) compared to Jesus Christ. From this moment, David is contrasted to Jesus Christ, and we discover that even David needs Jesus, for even he is subject to the power of sin.

Even the chronicler of 1 & 2 Kings saw this as the pivotal event of David’s life:

5 For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life—except in the case of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15: 5 NIV).

Caution #2: Sin destroys everything.

David’s family fell apart. Uriah lost his life. Bathsheba lost her family and a child. Sin, this sin, destroyed it all.

Yes, David repented of his sin (see 2 Samuel 12 and Psalm 51), but repentance doesn’t negate the consequences of our sin. We are left with pain and grief caused by the brokenness of sin.

Yes, salvation in Jesus Christ saves us from the penalty of sin (Romans 6: 23), and he (along with John Wesley) says we are saved from sin’s power (Romans 6: 14), but nowhere does the bible indicate that salvation in Jesus saves us from the consequences of sin.

Caution #3: Everything is not enough.

David had it all. He was famous. Fame didn’t satisfy him.

David had success. He had won great victories on the battlefield and reunified the nation. He had brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. Success didn’t satisfy him.

David had great wealth. Kings from surrounding kingdoms were paying him. tribute money and he was adding his wealth to the treasury to build the glory of Israel–the Temple. His great wealth didn’t satisfy him.

He had everything, yet he wanted more.

The blessings of the economic realities of the United States of America has created a very comfortable environment for all of us. Our success has left us wanting more, more, more. In all our pursuit of more, we are moving further and further away from the Lord. We’re busy chasing anything to fill the emptiness only God can fill.

Caution #4: Anything might be legal, but not everything is moral.

David may, in fact, have seen himself as the law of the land, and by a simple edict established anything as legal. But, just because something is legal doesn’t make it moral. When man’s law and God’s law come up against each other, God’s law will win every time. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But, ultimately, God’s law will prevail.

Perhaps David had already experienced this reality. We know that Genesis 2 is explicit in God’s plan for marriage–a man and woman become one flesh. Yet, David had 8 wives (at least 8!). Yes, it was legal, but legal doesn’t mean moral.

Yes, gay marriage may be legal. Legal doesn’t mean moral.

Yes, abortion may be legal. Legal doesn’t mean moral.

Yes, gambling may be legal. Legal doesn’t mean moral.

Yes, it may be legal for the United Methodist Church to seize all the property of the local congregation. Legal doesn’t mean moral (Yes! I went there!)

Finding Jesus.

As I always do, I need to find Jesus in these Old Testament accounts. Where can I see Jesus in this unfortunate episode in David’s and Bathsheba’s lives?

Well, Jesus is certainly present in their genealogy. Matthew’s Gospel mentions Bathsheba in Jesus’ family tree, so there’s the literal sense in which Jesus is present.

Beyond that, though, I see God’s sovereignty at work in all the brokenness of their lives. God’s will is accomplished (salvation comes through Jesus) even though David is disobedient and sinful. There is hope for me yet. All my broken, sinful attitudes and actions will not thwart God’s plan. For that I am grateful.

What a testament to God’s grace! It’s all grace, and Jesus came so that we might know the grace of God up close and personal. Repentance is grace. Forgiveness is grace.

What a great lesson to learn in mid-life (or at any other point in life). It’s a lesson I’m learning a little past mid-life, but I pray that I AM learning it.

Coming to understand the depths of God’s grace opens us to a new (or renewed) gratitude for Him. No, it won’t necessarily change my circumstances, but it will change my perspective and attitude. It can, literally, give me new life–God’s life in Jesus Christ.

Oh, that I should be so blessed.

Until next time, keep looking up…

“Move over Moron!” and Other Random Thoughts…

/ pastorlynnmalone / 2 Comments

So, I did a Facebook post that probably needs a little context. I posted the following on Wednesday:

“Well, honestly if you told me when I woke up this morning that I would have two old ladies in my shop talking about selling vintage pornography on the internet, I would have called the white coats for you. I would have been wrong! 😳😲 Interesting what you can over hear when you’re working.”

Here’s the context for that post. Most of you know I run an oil change shop (click here for coupons). I tell folks I run an oil change shop to support my pastoring habit. I don’t currently have a cashier, so that means much of my time is spent acting as the cashier.

One of those times was Wednesday morning. A customer needed brakes on her vehicle. She is a regular customer (thank the Lord for those!) who runs a resale shop in Ruston. Not long after, another lady came in for an oil change and sat in the lobby while the service was performed.

It was obvious the two ladies knew each other. They exchanged pleasantries and began talking about their businesses. The second customer, I discovered in overhearing their conversation, frequents estate sales and yard sales and sells her discoveries on her eBay store.

As the conversation progressed, the first customer shared about her recent purchase of an estate from a man who had passed away who had old Playboy and Penthouse (no, I’m not linking that information on my blog!) magazines going back to the first copies. The other customer chimed in that she had, in fact, sold numerous vintage pornographic magazines on her eBay store, and that they were quite profitable.

The conversation continued for several minutes until I finally interjected, “I’m sorry, ladies, but not in a million years would I have thought that I would overhear two ladies discussing vintage pornography in my shop today.” They just laughed.

The disconcerting part is after laughing, they just continued their conversation. Apparently, one of them had received $150 for a particular copy of an old Playboy. For them, it was strictly business.

No, I didn’t reveal to the ladies that I am a pastor. Why should that even matter? Our language and conversation should always be such as to be pleasing and appropriate. I’m reminded of the Apostle Paul’s counsel to the Colossians and the Ephesians:

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6); and

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).

Hey? If I wouldn’t talk about it in front of a pastor, I shouldn’t be talking about it all! That should be the standard for anyone seeking to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.

I’m not begrudging the ladies for their conversation, nor is this a judgement upon them. They were conducting business. It was a purely transactional conversation. The broader conversation I should have introduced was one of faithful discipleship.

I should have asked if they were followers of Jesus. Failure number one! I should have asked if they thought selling pornography on the internet (vintage or otherwise) was an appropriate way for disciples to make a living? Failure number two! Failure number three is the one that really got to me, though.

What was failure number three? You had to ask, didn’t you?

I’m going to say it’s the construction’s fault (couldn’t be mine, right?). There is construction on I-20 between my shop and my home and I have to traverse it daily.

The construction company, as always, gives motorists plenty of opportunity to merge to one lane, but as is usually the case, there are morons who choose to pass a mile-long line of traffic and rush up to the merge point–thus causing the mile-long line of traffic to come to a complete stop just so they can merge into the line.

I hate it! Seriously, are you so important that a mile-long line of already slowly moving traffic has to stop so you can be a mile further down the road? How self-centered! How narcissistic! How moronic!

On Wednesday afternoon, after a long and tiring day, I’m stuck in the traffic. I look in my sideview mirror and here comes another moron buzzing past the line. I literally roll my window down and yell, “Move over, moron!” out the window.

No, the driver didn’t hear me (he was moving much too fast), but that’s not the point. The point is my speech and thought pattern were completely inappropriate to the occasion. I was convicted of James’ words in his letter to the church:

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless” (James 1:26).

So, here on the very same day that I’m questioning the conversation of two ladies, I find myself convicted of the same issue. Major fail!

Some pastor I turned out to be–of course, I’ve told you before there is a reason I named my blog nottheperfectpastor.com.

Yes, I’ve repented–for failing to have a deeper conversation with the ladies, for not watching my tongue (even if no one hears me) and for calling (or even thinking) anyone a moron.

I’m eternally grateful for the forgiveness of our sin through the precious shed blood of Jesus Christ. I’m grateful that He extends each of us grace in our failure, and provides us another chance (and another and another and another) to grow in our discipleship. He knows I’ve got a lot more growing to do. He knows because I’m not the perfect pastor. I’m not the perfect pastor because I’m not a perfect person.

Praise the Lord for grace!

Until next time, keep looking up…

A Man After God’s Heart…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

Israel’s King David is (perhaps) the most well-known religious figure in the world besides Jesus Christ. He certainly is to the Jewish people and to most Christians. Honestly, to most Christians (and not a few Jews) he’s almost superhuman.

I bring David up because I’ve been meditating on his life, and particularly his calling (anointing as king) all week long. I’ve preached the passage before, and I’m preaching it again this week, but as I’ve studied and meditated this week, I just can’t seem to get to the “heart” of one particular passage of Scripture:

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16: 7 NIV)

I have been stuck on the phrase, “the Lord looks at the heart” all week. I’ve asked myself three questions all week long:

  1. What does the Lord see when He looks at the human heart?
  2. What did the Lord see when He looked at David’s heart?
  3. What does the Lord see when He looks at my heart?

The Context

I suppose I should set the context for the passage. It was the period of the Judges in Israel’s history when the people began clamoring for a King (1 Samuel 8). Samuel’s time as prophet/judge was drawing to a close and the people rejected his sons, who had been tapped to take his place. Samuel’s sons were corrupt and the people knew it. They wanted different leadership.

The lesson in that is be careful what you ask for. You might just get it. What the people got was their first king named Saul. Saul, who was “the most handsome man in all Israel–head and shoulders above everyone else in the land” (1 Samuel 9:2). Unfortunately this tall handsome guy turned out to be half-crazy and disobedient, and was ultimately rejected by God as King of Israel (1 Samuel 15).

Enter God’s call to Samuel to anoint another King in Saul’s place, and this takes us to the sleepy little town outside Jerusalem called Bethlehem where Jesse and his family keep flocks for a living. Jesse is the grandson of Ruth and Boaz (find their story here), and the Lord tells Samuel to go and anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the new King He has chosen for His people Israel.

Samuel is hesitant to do so (What if Saul finds out?), so the Lord tells Samuel to go to Bethlehem to offer a sacrifice and invite Jesse’s family to the sacrifice, and while you’re at it, take the horn of oil–kinda’ keep it out of sight until the time is right–and when I tell you, anoint a new King.

I could chase a rabbit here and explore the idea that God uses deception to accomplish His will, but that’s for another day. I’m just going to leave that thought right there because I really want to understand what God sees when He looks at David’s (and my) heart.

Samuel makes the trek to Bethlehem, invites Jesse’s family and begins to parade Jesse’s sons before the gathered body. Eliab, the oldest, is brought forward first. “Surely,” Samuel thinks, “this is the one.” He’s the oldest, so it’s got to be him, right? Wrong!

It’s then that the Lord announces to Samuel verse 7. See, Samuel just can’t get past appearances. Eliab is the oldest, perhaps the tallest, too. Samuel uses the same standard for David that was used for the previous King, Saul. Even the prophet/judge Samuel misses the mark. He does what we all are prone to doing–we like judging a book by its cover. The Lord says, “Not so fast!”

In order from oldest to youngest, seven of Jesse’s sons are brought to Samuel. All seven are rejected. Finally, Samuel asks Jesse if there are any more sons. “Yes,” he replies, “but he’s the youngest and he’s busy tending the flocks since you’ve got the rest of us here.”

“Send for him,” Saul says. “We’re not having supper until he gets here.”

David arrives. He is the chosen one. Saul anoints him as Israel’s next King. The Lord looked past his appearance and saw his heart.

This is where it gets really sticky for me. I (along with countless pastors in the past) have preached that there was something special about David’s heart. If we could just figure out what that was, we could learn how to be “people after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22).

Godly Character

Yeah, I came up with lots of good sermon material. I can easily come up with 10 characteristics that reflect David’s heart. All one has to do is read the Psalms:

Humility – Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. Psalm 62:9

Reverence – I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:3

Respectfulness – Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. Psalm 31:9

Trust – The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

Loving – I love you, O Lord, my strength. Psalm 18:1

Devotion – You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. Psalm 4:7

Recognition – I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. Psalm 9:1

Faithfulness – Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6

Obedience – Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Psalm 119:34

Repentance – For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Psalm 25:11

Yeah, that would make a great (and long) sermon. Hey, if I could just exhibit those characteristics, I’d be a great Christian. The Lord would see my heart and He’d just smile.

A Dose of Reality

But, there are two passages of Scripture that have given me “heart-burn” as I’ve prayed over this passage. The first is found in Jeremiah 17: 9-10:

The heart is deceitful above all things
    and beyond cure.
    Who can understand it?

10 “I the Lord search the heart
    and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
    according to what their deeds deserve.”

The second is in Romans:

There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3: 22b-24 NIV)

In light of Jeremiah 17 and Romans 3, I’m not so sure David had a great heart. I’m not so sure I do, either!

Yes, David could be all the things we talked about. He could have great faith and be wonderfully obedient. He could show proper reverence, respect and humility. He could be a great leader of people. He could be all those things, but he could also be an adulterer and murderer (2 Samuel 11). Let’s not forget that he was a less than stellar parent, too (2 Samuel 13-14).

I, too, want to say I have a heart after God’s heart, but then I look at my own heart and think, “Do I really?” No! I’m much like Rev. Alexander Whyte, who upon receiving great praise from one of his happy congregants, replied, “Madam, if you could see my heart, you’d spit in my face.”

Yes, being able to develop godly characteristics will always make me a better person, but being a better person will not save me. Only Jesus Christ can save me! How do I get from my sad, sinful heart to God’s heart? Only through Jesus Christ. He is the key. That must be what God sees when He looks at David’s heart. I pray it is what He sees when He looks at mine.

How so?

I take my clue from John Woodhouse, who translates the passage thusly: “For the Lord sees not as man sees, for man sees according to the eyes, but the Lord sees according to the heart.” It is a subtle, but major difference in this and the translation of most interpreters. In this rendering, it is God’s heart that He sees…meaning that David was chosen according to God’s purpose, just as Israel was “chosen” by God.

God views everything according to His own intentions and purposes. what I mean is that God’s choice is not on account of any peculiar fondness that he has for David—not because he has a particular liking to David, a liking that he doesn’t share for the other brothers, or that David has a peculiar and special quality which makes him attractive to God.

What it means is the fact that God, because he is God and because he is sovereign, is able to divinely select the one who is to be the king. And what it has to deal with is the fact of God’s electing (we Wesleyans hate that word) love rather than some notion of the suitability of a particular person.

Our Only Hope

It’s not that David’s heart was full of God, but rather that God’s heart was full of David. It was God looking through David’s heart to see Jesus Christ. It’s all about the place the man has in God’s heart rather than the place God has in the man’s heart.

I can only trust that when God looks at my heart, he sees Jesus Christ. If He doesn’t, I am lost, indeed, for only in Jesus Christ can I find redemption, reconciliation and salvation. He alone is my source of hope. I will put my trust in Him alone.

I’ve probably muddied the waters for everyone except myself, but I have, at least for myself, gotten to the “heart” of the matter. After all, every event in the Old Testament is leading us to Jesus. My own righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). I can’t depend on my own heart. I can only depend on the loving heart of God.

I want to be a man who has a place in God’s heart.

Until next time, keep looking up…