Miracle on Magnolia

mortgage burning serviceLuke 11:8 “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.”

We still serve a miracle working God.  On May 21, 2017, I stood before the church challenging them to pray a prayer with “shameless audacity.”  I thought I should give them an example of a shameless audacious prayer, so I said, “Let’s pray to have the building paid off by the end of 2018.”  I had just looked to see where our building fund was at the time.  We owed $242,103.18.  Could the church honestly pay off nearly a quarter million dollars in less than two years?  There was no way.  I know since 2007, the church had never paid off that much of the debt in 20 months.  Undaunted, I and others began to pray daily with shameless audacity for God to pay off the building debt by the end of 2018. I knew what was impossible for man was possible for God.

By July, God offered us an opportunity to refinance our loan through the Foundation of the Kansas Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists.  Refinancing immediately took a year off of our five remaining years, thus saving us thousands of dollars.  God began working quickly in this prayer. At the start of 2018, we owed $178,209.22.  I was not too confident but knew if we focused on it we would pay off more in 2018 than we did in 2017. Many faithful prayer warriors persevered in praying with shameless audacity.  Throughout 2018, we saw God do amazing things through His people.  There were many times I simply stood back and laughed.  We continued to see the total shrinking month to month.  You could feel the excitement in our church when we were below $100,000. God was at work.

We continued to pray with shameless audacity.  In our December business meeting, we voted to take General Offering funds at the end of the year to make up any difference.  Oh my goodness, God is going to do this, I thought.   However, deep in my heart, I wanted us to make the final loan payment without having to take any general funds. On December 1, 2018, our balance was $44,369,03.  Could God do this through our church?   We also set a challenging Lottie Moon Christmas Goal of $10,000 (For more about Lottie Moon).  I had told people if they could only give to one or the other, always choose to give to missions.

God worked a miracle through His people.  His people gave over $45,000 to the Building Fund, over $10,000 to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, and over $40,000 to our General Fund. I don’t think there are many churches our size that could accomplish that feat on their own.  Only God could do accomplish this.   We serve a gloriously great God.  In two years, God paid off $266,091.21 through our people.  He alone deserves all the credit. This proves there is nothing God can not do through his people when they are obedient to His call.  

As of January 2, our Building Loan with the Foundation is paid in full. We must now ask, “What’s next?’  Why would God answer such a shameless audacious prayer?  Being debt-free will free up countless resources to help our church have a global gospel impact.  I can’t wait to see what God will do during our next chapter.  Our purpose is not to pay off a building, our purpose as a church is to “Know Christ and Make Him Known.”  God is about to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can imagine.  And like I often tell our church, “I can imagine a lot.”

Join us this Sunday, January 13, 2019, as we celebrate and have a Mortgage Burning Service.  I know many people have faithfully been giving over these 15 years.  Join our celebration. We will begin at 10:30 am.  Stay for our barbecue luncheon after our service.

We are done, but we are not finished.  We have only just begun.  We have freed up thousands of dollars per year for Kingdom growth and gospel impact.  God will do great things.

Many people say God is no longer in the business of doing miracles.  As for me, I’ll choose to disagree with you.  First Southern Baptist Church is a testimony that God is still in the business of making miracles happen. To God be the glory from whom all blessings flow.

Election Ideas of 2018

Final ballot box

I’ll be out of pocket on election day, so I thought I’d remind you of a few simple things as election day draws near.  First, I’m not a big political activist.  In fact, I am very disenchanted with both political parties and our political leaders.  There are so many things in my life that hold more eternal importance to me.  However, I know the importance of Christians being involved in this process, praying for God’s wisdom, and voting accordingly.  Nonetheless, I wish most Christians would have the same passion for sharing Jesus with people as they do in sharing their political views.

I’ve never been more discouraged with how I see so many Christians treating politics these days. Too many Christians are responding, with what I feel, is hate and fear.  If I feel this way, how much more would a lost person feel?  If I did not know better, I would think Christians believed our eternal hope is somehow tied to our political systems.

As we approach Tuesday, here are 10 things to simply keep in mind.  (I think you will agree with these  they are simply here to remind us as the Election Day approaches.)

  1. We are citizens of the Kingdom of God first and citizens of America second.
  2. The United States is not the Kingdom of God.
  3. Our loyalty is to King Jesus first and foremost. Our allegiance is never to a political party or a candidate.
  4. Party affiliation is not a test of eternal security.  I have many “liberal” friends who stand securely in the righteousness of Jesus, just like me.
  5. Our hope is in the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary not the final ballot box on Tuesday.
  6. “Win or Lose” God will continue to sovereignly reign on His throne. We will never give the impression to a lost world that our hope is somehow tied to a political outcome. God will not be waiting with wringing hands to see the outcome of Tuesday’s election. He already knows.  His man or woman will win on Tuesday.
  7. “Win or Lose” we will never allow our responses to be motivated by fear or hate but always by love and compassion.
  8. Facebook will not be the avenue Christians will use to launder their political thoughts and positions.
  9. We will faithfully pray for whichever candidate wins.
  10. People, illegal or legal, are not political pawns but people God has given us to love and reach with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

On Wednesday, November 7th, our greatest concern, as it is every day, will be to shine brightly for Jesus Christ and represent Him well in a crooked and depraved generation.  I know this is a very hot-button issue.  Go to the polls and vote for whomever God’s leads you to vote. Don’t be afraid if the “other” candidate wins; by all means, don’t let the world think, even for a moment, our eternal hope is tied to the election. One other thing, unless it’s kind and to affirm the winning candidate, don’t say anything on Facebook for a few days. Remember, there will be a lot of scared and hurt people on Wednesday.  Let’s not add to their pain.

Finally, no matter the outcome, BE KIND, CHURCH.

So what do you think?  Let me know your thoughts.