From the Pastor

Connect v.2.2 From the Pastor http://shelbycrossings.com/ Want to get pastor Ken's wit and wisdom delivered fresh every week? Subscribe to his blog using the RSS icon below.]]> en-us Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:50:46 GMT kenletson@shelbycrossings.com brianfulton@shelbycrossings.com Got Church?

"I rejoiced when they said unto me, 'Let's go to the house of the Lord.' " (Psalm 122:1)

I had a conversation recently with a Christian friend who told me he didn't really need to "go to church." He said he often read the Bible, prayed with his wife, and was involved in a ministry, so he didn't feel the need to attend church on Sunday. Needless to say, I disagreed.

But it's obvious that a large segment of our society--including many people who would describe themselves as Christians--don't feel it's necessary to regularly attend church. And perhaps many more who do attend, do so more out of a sense of guilt and duty than of joy and celebration of God's love.

Why do you attend church? Or, if you don't attend much, why not? It's a question worth asking, and worth answering. There are several reasons for regular participation in congregational fellowship and worship. And yes, part of our motivation is a sense of faithfulness and obedience--we are called in Scripture to "forsake not assembling ourselves together."

But there are other reasons, some of which are downright selfish. For instance, did you know that surveys have shown that the best place in America to develop meaningful friendships is church? And in a culture of isolation and loneliness, who doesn't need genuine friendship?

And how about family life? A Gallup survey of American adults found that the activity believed to most strengthen family life is "attending church or religious activities together." In other words, the best thing you can do to keep your family strong is go to church together.

If that's not enought, there are also health reasons. A series of independent medical studies in recent years have determined the positive effect that regular church attendance has on a person's health. Researchers in one study found that those who attend religious services at least once a week have healthier immune systems than those who do not. Another recent study concluded that people who attend church on a regular basis have generally lower blood pressure than those who don't. Yet another survey conducted by researchers at the University of Texas found that those who regularly attended worship services lived an average of seven years longer than those who never attended.

In the most striking finding, Dr. Harold Koenig of Duke University Medical School has calculated that "lack of religious involvement has an effect on mortality that is equivalent to 40 years of smoking one pack of cigarettes per day."

We haven't even touched on the encouragement, hope and spiritual direction we get in a community of believers who are there to support us and lead us to a deeper level of faith in Christ. And yet, it's obvious, we really can't afford not to go to church!

"Church....it does a body good!" I hope to see you at The Church at Shelby Crossings this Sunday!

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=47141 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=47141 You Are What You Eat

I came across an old account this week of one of the weirdest stories I have ever heard, and it's true. It's about a Frenchman named Michael Lotito, who has a rather weird appetite. Let's just say he's into metal.

Lotito, who passed away in 2007, was an entertainer with the nickname Monsieur Mangatout ("Mister Eat Everything"), who happend to like to eat things made of steel. At the time the article was written several years ago, he had eaten eleven bicycles, seven shopping carts, a metal coffin, a cash register, a washing machine, a television, and 660 feet of chain.

Lotito says it wasn't easy eating his first bicycle. (It never is!) "I started with the metal and moved on to the tires," he recalls. "It was really difficult to finish off the rubber. Metal's tasteless, but rubber is horrible." Later, Lotito learned to swallow pieces of tire and frame together.

But none of that compared with his biggest meal: a Cessna. That's right, Lotito once ate an entire light airplane, 2500 pounds of aluminum, steel, vinyl, Plexiglas, and rubber. With a meal like that he would cut the metal into pieces the size of his fingernail and consumed about two pounds a day.

Most people would agree that Michael Lotito had an unhealthy appetite. (Some of us would go ahead and conclude that he was a nut!) But sometimes our own appetites, especially as they relate to spiritual things, are equally questionable.

For both good and bad, what we take into our lives has a great effect on our spiritual growth and health, or lack thereof. That's why the Scripture is full of refrences to our spiritual diets. We are told to, "like newborn babes, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow in respect to your salvation." (1 Peter 2:2). Hebrews goes on to tell us that our diet should grow from spiritual milk to meat as we mature in our faith. (Heb. 5:12-14) Jesus said that "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Luke 4:4) In other words, our spiritual diets are so very important to who we become as Christians. Truly, we are--or we become--what we eat.

So, what's on your menu for this week? I don't recommend metal or rubber, but I would suggest highly that you take some time to feed on God's word this week. More than anything, my prayer for you is that you would truly "hunger and thirst for righteousness" so that you may be filled.

On a different note, I hope you are continuing to "devote yourselves to prayer" (Col. 4:2) during this time we have set aside as a church to do just that. I am excited to see how God is at work in so many ways.

I'm praying for you, and I can't wait to see you this Sunday at Shelby Crossings as we join together to worship our Lord.

--Pastor Ken ]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=46748 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=46748 Eternity Here and Now

"If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would I get into heaven?" a man asked the children in his Sunday School class. "No!" the children all answered.

"If I cleaned the church building every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would I get into heaven?" Again, the answer was "No!" "If I never told another lie and never said another bad word, would that get me into heaven?" Once more, a resounding "No!"

"Well," he continued, "then how can I get into heaven?"

A five-year old boy shouted out, "You gotta be dead!"

Maybe not the deepest of theology, but there's certainly some truth there. No, you won't get into heaven because you do a bunch of nice things and stop doing all the bad stuff. The Bible is clear that "there are none righteous, no not one" and that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." That is, in and of ourselves, we would never have the ability to reach into heaven because of our good works.

But because of His mercy and grace, God allows us the opportunity to spend eternity in heaven through the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ, who sent to the cross on our behalf. "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 6:23) Our only means of getting to heaven is accepting the gift He has offered, not earning our way to paradise. We come to Him by faith, believing in His promise that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

The question for us--and for the little boy who answered the question above--is, when does eternal life begin? I would suggest that you don't have to wait until you die to experience the eternal blessings of a life with God, but that it is available now, even while you're alive. Jesus described it this way, in His own prayer to His heavenly Father in John 17:3: "This is eternal life, that they may know You." He was saying that the promise of eternal life is not just about a quantity of life--that we live forever--but a quality of life, that of knowing God and enjoying His presence in our lives. This--knowing God--defines what eternal life is.

That's why we were created, to live in right relationship with our Creator and to enjoy the blessings of His favor every day. So you don't have to sit around till you die so you can enjoy the "abundant life" that God offers, but you can start now. Eternal life for living people...what a concept!

I hope and pray that you know God and have experienced the joy of forgiveness and hope that comes only through a personal relationship with Him. If you haven't, we'd love to talk to you further about that and help lead you to trust Jesus Christ as your personal Savior so that you can begin enjoying the blessings of life everlasting in the here and now.

I'm praying for you, and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=46465 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=46465 A God of a Second Chance I saw on the news that today marks the 65th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. Two days later, on Aug. 8, 1945, a B-29 dropped a second bomb on the city of Nagasaki, effectively ending World War II.

I remember reading an interesting account about a Japanese civilian who had been in Hiroshima on the day the bomb was dropped, and survived the blast. He decided that there was no future in Hiroshima, and the next day, he moved. To Nagasaki. Of course, a day later, he experienced his second atomic bomb!

The article I read reported that after surviving his second nuclear blast, he did not talk much about the experience. I can well understand his reticence. The old line, "out of the frying pan into the fire" surely was his experience.

I have tried to imagine what it would have been like to have made the decision he made. You have just gone through a horror unlike anything you've ever experienced. Somehow, you lived through it. So, you move away, hoping never to experience another, and relocate yourself right onto the target of a similar horror. My guess is he probably never felt confident about another decision he made the rest of his life.

Though some would say this guy had the ultimate in "bad luck," I'd say this was one man who was truly blessed! How many people could say they lived in two cities that had atomic bombs dropped on them--and survived! It's a story of a second--and third--chance at life. I don't know how his life played out, but I sure hope he made the most of the extra opportunities that were providentially given to him by this survival.

God is still in the business of giving second chances, even if we don't see something as obvious as a nuclear explosion to recognize it. That's what the gospel is all about--that Jesus Christ paid the price so that we could have a new beginning.

The apostle wrote that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come" (2 Cor. 5:17). By His grace, God delights in giving us a fresh start. Be sure you make the most of yours!

I'm praying for you, as I hope you are for me, and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday at Shelby Crossings.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=46217 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=46217 In God We Trust?

You may have seen the news this week that a federal appeals court ruled against a lawsuit to remove "In God We Trust" from our nation's currency, dismissing claims from a Texas atheist that the phrase was unconstitutional. The lawsuit had called for the government "to destroy or recycle all circulating currency and replace it with new currency without religious inscription."

Congress approved "In God we trust" for the nation's currency in 1864, and made the phrase the official national motto in 1956. The Supreme Court has never decided a direct challenge to the motto.

I'm not sure how much difference such a symbolic statement like that makes, though I'm glad to hear of the court's decision. It often appears that people trust in just about everything else, especially as it relates to their money. With those four words so prominently displayed on all our currency, Americans have become more materialistic than any nation in the world. But it sure doesn't hurt to have that reminder staring at us whenever we handle money.

Like so many other things, I guess it's not what motto you profess on the outside, but what's going on in your heart that counts. It doesn't really matter how many times you say "In God We Trust," it only matters if you do.

That becomes especially clear when you commit yourselves to a time "devoted to prayer" (Col. 4:2) as we have at Shelby Crossings these past few weeks. There are so many things or programs or people that we are tempted to trust in--most notably, ourselves--but an intentional focus on seeking the Lord in prayer tends to bring to light how desperately each of us needs to trust in God, and God alone. I hope your time of devoted prayer this week has brought you to a new level of faith and trust in the Lord.

Listen again to the familiar words of Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Now, that's a motto to live by!

I trust that you're trusting in God this week, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday, as we gather together in His name. I'm praying for you.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=45878 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=45878 50 Days of Prayer

This past Sunday, I began a new 8-week sermon series on prayer, entitled "Lord, Teach Us to Pray." In conjunction with the series, I asked the Shelby Crossings faith family to join me in "devoting yourselves to prayer" (Col. 4:2) beginning last Sunday, July 18 through Sunday, September 5. That's eight Sundays--seven full weeks, plus one day---a total of 50 days. I do hope you and your family will answer this call to prayer.

What does that mean? It means, first, that we start where we are. As we saw in last Sunday's message, prayer is something that can be learned. That's why Jesus' disciples specifically asked Him to teach them to pray. They knew it was something He did well, and it was something that was lacking in their own lives. So, if you feel like prayer is not one of your strengths, that's okay. Join us anyway, and allow the Lord to teach you, and grow you, in your prayer life these next six weeks.

Second, it means getting serious about prayer, and "devoting yourselves" to seeking God in prayer. That may mean that you set aside extra time by yourself each week to pray. You may want to devote special time in your small group to concerted prayer. You may even want to fast and pray one day a week, or more. I have no intention of prescribing what that means to you. I only hope you'll seriously consider the call to seek the Lord.

What, specifically, are we praying for? As a starting point, let me answer that with the words from 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." Let's seek Him diligently and see what happens from there.

I can't wait to see what God is going to do in the life of His people as we take seriously the call to prayer in the next 44 days. Will you devote yourselves to prayer? I will.

I'm praying for YOU, and look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=45874 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=45874 Too Busy (Not) to Pray

It was Martin Luther who once said, "I have so much to do that I must spend the first three hours of each day in prayer."

I came across that quote again this week during my preparation for our upcoming message series on the subject of prayer, which we'll kick off this Sunday at Shelby Crossings. More than that, I have been reminded of the truth Luther was communicating during our busy preparations for next week's Vacation Bible School.

No doubt, there's lots of important stuff to do to get ready to welcome the children of our community to our church campus next week, and present them a week's worth of fun activities and teaching times that will make an eternal impact on their lives. We have over sixty volunteers ready to lead and teach the kids through music, drama, crafts, lesson times and even recreation, and all that takes planning, studying, and lots of time-consuming preparation.

But if we do those things, necessary as they might be, with the best of motivations and intentions, and skip over the all-important communication and fellowship with the God we claim to serve, we will have truly missed the mark. "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain..." (Psalm 127:1) May the Lord help us not to do this "in vain."

Yet, so many of us live our lives that way every day--spinning our wheels, working hard, even planning diligently, but "too busy" to pray. We would all do well to listen to Luther's words and understand that in fact most of us are too busy NOT to pray.

So, whether you spend three hours or three minutes each morning, please don't miss the precious opportunity to invest your time into something eternal, through a life of concerted prayer to the Lord. There's no more important preparation we can make as a church--for VBS, for our Sunday worship services, or for anything else we do--than to give ourselves wholeheartedly to prayer. Let us pray!

I'm praying for you, and look forward to seeing you this Sunday--and all week next week for our Vacation Bible School. I can't wait!

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=45315 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=45315 The Heart of a Servant

Over the past few weeks, we have seen plenty of encouraging displays of generosity, sacrifice, and service in and around the Shelby Crossings church family. I have constantly been reminded of the apostle Paul's words from Philippians 2, about our call to consider others more important than ourselves, and about having the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who traded in heaven's glory for the life of a servant, even to the point of dying on the cross for the very ones who betrayed Him.

With that in mind, I picked up a little coffee-table type book I received a few years back as a gift from a Christian internet site that I had registered with. It's called The Gentle Art of a Servant's Heart, with art by Vincent van Gogh and quotations by Chuck Swindoll from the Beatitudes.

I wanted to share with you a few meaningful quotes from Swindoll, minus the van Gogh art. May God use them as He continues to mold our hearts into Christ-likeness.

"The attitude of being poor in spirit is one of absolute, unvarnished humility. It is the portrait of one who sees himself/herself as spiritually bankrupt, deserving of nothing...who turns to Almighty God in total trust."

"The person with a servant's heart--not unlike a child trusting completely in his parent's provision--is promised a place in Christ's kingdom."

"A true servant stays in touch with the struggles others experience. There is that humility of mind that continually looks for ways to serve and to give."

"In the ultimate victory the gentle will win. Believe that, servant-in-the-making! Be different from the system!"

"Servants with renewed minds have a perspective on life and power to live life that is altogether unique--divinely empowered. That explains how wrongs can be forgiven, and how offenses can be forgotten."

"True servants are merciful. They care. They get involved. They offer more than pious words."

"Servants who are 'pure in heart' have peeled off their masks. And God places special blessing on their lives."

"It is doubtful Jesus despised anything among those who claimed to serve God more than hypocrisy--a lack of purity of heart. It represented the antithesis of servanthood."

"We don't need more knowledge than we already have. All we need is the will to do what needs to be done."

I'm praying for you, and I hope to see you Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=44968 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=44968 What Happens in Vegas...

As you may already know, I have spent the past week in "Sin City." I never would have imagined when I wrote this column a week ago that I would end up in Las Vegas within a few days, and spend nearly a week here. But as the old saying goes, the Lord works in mysterious ways.

You probably are aware that one of our Shelby Crossings elders, Mark Young, and his family, were in a horrific auto accident last Saturday evening on their way back from visiting family in California. A tire blew on their SUV as they traveled down the interstate in the desert near the California/Arizona state line, and their vehicle flipped several times. Two of their children were ejected from the vehicle--and miraculously walked away. Mark had to be cut out of the passenger seat and was airlifted to a hospital in Las Vegas. He suffered a broken neck, severe lacerations on his head and burns on his arm and hand, and had to undergo several surgeries this week. He is still in the Trauma ICU, but by God's grace, he is on his way down the long road to recovery.

With the help of some generous friends, my wife Nan and I came out to Las Vegas on Monday to be here to support Mark and Maribel and offer help with the logistics of trying to get things settled so far from home. Along the way, we have watched our church family 2,000 miles away pull together to pray for and support the Young family in a way that has truly honored the Lord. In case you haven't seen it, you can check out the details in the "Praying for Mark and Maribel Young" group on Facebook. In that light, let me say, on behalf of Mark and Maribel and the kids, thanks so much for your intercession, for your financial support, and for your expressions of love and encouragement. You have been such a blessing.

Earlier today, I had a conversation with Mark, who was recounting what he remembered from the accident, during the time he was moving in and out of consciousness. He remembered being awakened by the sound of them cutting through the top of the Excursion to extract him from the vehicle, and the thought occurred to him that it didn't sound like the sound of heaven, so he must still be alive! Accordingly, he thought, God must still have him around for a reason. Much of what we've talked about the last few days has been what that reason migh be.

When you think about it, I guess that's true for all of us, isn't it? God still has us around for a reason, because He still desires to accomplish His purpose in, and through, our lives. The question all of us must ask, and answer, is...what's that purpose? Why in His sovereignty, has God left me here, and how can I serve Him while I'm still here?

Thank God that He has preserved Mark's life--and please pray that He continues His work of healing for him in this difficult time. And don't miss the lesson from this teachable moment, as you serve the Lord this week.

I count it a privilege and a joy to be your pastor, and I look forward to returning home on Friday, and to seeing each of you on Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=44697 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=44697 On Naked Cans and Denominational Labels Labels make us comfortable. I was reminded of that during a discussion in our midweek small group this week. We were talking about the days when my wife and I lived and worked at The King's Ranch as relief house parents many years ago. Every week or so the truck would arrive at the ranch with part of our "salary"--in the form of "dented cans and torn boxes" from a few area grocery stores. The stores would donate these items that they could no longer sell to help feed the needy children of the ranch, as well as the needy workers like us who served there.

From time to time, we would get more than a crushed box of corn flakes or a beat up can of vegetable soup. Those times, we would get a plain, aluminum--and unlabeled--can of food. Or at least you hoped it was food.

It was almost like Christmas morning when we were preparing to open a naked can to prepare for dinner. (I said almost!) Oh what anticipation! What was in the can? Was it some high-priced brand of peas or beans or corn that we would have otherwise been unable to afford? Or perhaps a bad generic offering that we wouldn't have wanted to purchase to begin with. Maybe one of those atrocious vegetables that make you wonder, who eats that stuff. It might be fruit cocktail or it might be hominy. Could even be Alpo! Inquiring mindsdid want to know.

Fun memories, actually. But it also reminds me, again, why labels do make us comfortable, because they tell us on the outside what's on the inside. Or, at least we think they do.

The topic of labels comes up regularly when I talk to people about our church. They want to know about what kind of church we are, and the name "The Church at Shelby Crossings" just doesn't give them enough information. Before they visit they are curious as to our beliefs, our style, our philosophy of ministry, our "flavor." Are we traditional or contemporary? Causal or formal? Conservative or liberal? KJV or NIV? Charismatic of....whatever is the opposite of charismatic? And what about denomination? Do we have one, and we're hiding it? Or do we not have one for a reason? Even those who are turned off by denominations want to know our "label" so they can know where we stand.

Whatever our labels, I would hope we at Shelby Crossings would continue to seek to be a Christ-focused, Biblically-rooted, Spirit-led family of believers who genuinely love the Lord and care about the people of our community. But the truth is, like the mystery cans of The King's Ranch, people will find out who and what we really are not by looking at the labels on the outside, but by seeing who we are when the can is opened.

I pray that the community of faith we call The Church at Shelby Crossigns would truly reflect the gospel of Jesus Christ to Calera and our surrounding communities, to His glory. I look forward to seeing you Sunday. Invite a friend!

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=44696 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=44696 Dog-Gone Excited

Ever felt "dog-tired" and just didn't want to get out of bed to go to church for Sunday morning worship? Sorry, but you're about to lose your excuse.

I read this week a story from a few years back about a dog in Portugal that rolled out of bed early every Sunday morning and never missed church. In fact, "Preta" the dog even walked 16 miles to get there.

Every Sunday for several years, the pooch headed out of her owner's home in the northern Portuguese town of Sobrado at 5 a.m., the newspaper Correio da Manha reported. A former stray, Preta--Portuguese for "black"--walked alone to a church in the neighboring village of Enmesinde to take her usual place next to the altar in time for the 7:30 a.m. service. Whenever worshipers stood or sat down, Preta did the same.

Once the service was over, she usually walked back home. Sometimes Preta would return in a car--but only with a human she knew. The congregation grew at the village church as many people came just to see Preta.

The story made me wonder, about a lot of things. Like, how did the dog know when it was Sunday? Did her owners attend church--and if so, why couldn't she have hitched a ride with them? (Or, were they of a different denomination than Preta?) And, what was so special about the church service that would inspire a dog to get up every week and make such a long walk?

It's my prayer that our worship services at The Church at Shelby Crossings would be so exciting, inspiring, encouraging, challenging and attractive that people from all around--young and old, black and white, churched and unchurched, man and beast!--would be willing to make whatever sacrifices are necessary to come celebrate the hope we have in Christ!

Is that unrealistic? Perhaps. But so is the good news of the gospel. It's still almost unimaginable that an awesome and loving God loves us so much that He sacrificed the life of His only Son to redeem us from the bondage and penalty of sin, so that we could live eternally with Him. But He did. And that's something worth getting up in the morning to celebrate!

I hope you don't have to walk 16 miles to be with us this Sunday at Shelby Crossings, but I do hope you'll be able to join us as we gather together to worship our Lord. I doubt we'll have a peculiar canine present to draw a crowd, but I do expect God to be there. And that's pretty "dog-gone" exciting!

I'm praying for you, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=44300 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=44300 Remotely in Control

While the television remote has been around for nearly sixty years, it has only been widely used in the last couple of decades. Some of us old-timers can actually remember having to get up and walk over to the television to change the channel. How pre-historic!

Actually it was in 1952 that Zenith introduced a remote called, appropriately enough, "Lazy Bones," which was attached to the television via a long cable. This wasn't a popular device as there were so few channels to change. Three years later, the "Flash-o-Matic" appeared--a flashlight that when shined toward light-sensitive cells in each of the four corners of the TV would perform different remote functions. This device proved to be a problem, however, if the television was placed near sunlight. The sun's rays would play havoc on the operations of the TV.

A group of engineers then developed the Zenith "Space Command," a wireless remote using ultrasonic waves, in 1957. It worked pretty well, except for its functons being affected by clinking metal, such as dog tags, and its high frequencies making dogs bark. In spite of its drawbacks, the ultrasonic remote was used for two decades until engineers discovered the infrared remote control. Now the infrared beam pointed in the direction of the TV gives viewers--especially male viewers--control of their television from the comfort of their easy-chair.

We humans do relish control, don't we? With the advent of such new technologies, we can now remotely control not only our televisions, but also our DVD players, sound systems, computers and car locks. I'm not even sure I would know how to operate our DVD player without the remote, and I don't know that my key has ever been used to open my car door (and it's a '98 model!)

There's just something about the awesome power of pushing a little button and gaining instant control of our environment. Some things, however, were never meant to be in our control, no matter how much we might wish otherwise. God, in fact, has a plan for each of our lives, and ultimately, that plan always involves our recognition that we are not in control, and that He is. It is submission to His will--His control--that is at the heart of true Christian discipleship.

I have to admit, I don't always like that; I'd much rather be able to control my situation, especially if I could just find a device that would allow me to change things I don't like with the push of a button. But that's just not the way life is.

The truth is, there is a comfort in allowing God to graciously control our lives, and a security that comes when we learn to trust His sovereign plan. What soul rest we experience when we don't have to worry about tomorrow. What peace we know when we realize we don't have to control our little world, not even "remotely." He is in control!

I'm praying for you, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=43809 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=43809 From D-Day to V-Day

We live between D-Day and V-Day. I remember studying that assessment of our Christian existence by theologian Oscar Cullman when I was in seminary. I didn't really understand it then, both because I wasn't that familiar with the military history of World War II and because I didn't have a grasp of the warfare that comes in living the Christian life. I understand both a little better now.

Cuhlman's point was surely more familiar to those of his generation who lived the agony, and the victory, of a world war. But with the 66th anniversary of the famous Normandy invasion coming up this Sunday, I was reminded of the truth he stated all the more.

For those who are "historically challenged," let me refresh your memory a bit. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the Allies launched the largest amphibious invasion in human history on the northern coast of German occupied France. It was one of the bloodiest battles ever for the Allied forces, with tens of thousands killed and injured For our generation, the horrific realities of that battle were brought to life in the opening scenes of the movie Saving Private Ryan.

More than anything, D-Day marked the turning point of the European war against Hitler's forces. In fact, many considered D-Day "where the war was won." The problem was, it took another 337 days of fighting, and thousands more lives lost, before Germany finally surrended on May 7, 1945. The next day, May 8, was declared V-E Day, to celebrate the victory in Europe.

What's the point for us as Christians? Jesus Christ "decided" our final outcome 2,000 years ago on the cross. That victory is assured, and secured for us, because of His sacrifice on that "D-Day" at Calvary. Yet, we still must face our share of spiritual battles--many of which we lose--as we await V-Day, when our Lord will return and receive us into Himself, forever to live in His peace.

So, hang in there as you faithfully "fight the good fight." We already know the outcome, even if sometimes the battle gets fierce. We win!

I hope to see you Sunday as we celebrate that victory together.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=43658 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=43658 On Men-Fishing

When Jesus called His first disciples, He invited them to "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19) Two thousand years later, we're still trying to figure out how to best do that.

Some folks go "fishing" by knocking on doors to share their faith. Others witness in their schools, work place or neighborhoods. Still others use social media like Facebook and Twitter to proclaim the gospel. But most just use the low-key approach, like wearing an initialed bracelet or putting a bumper sticker on their car.

Have you ever wondered what the "world" thinks when they see such things? One of the first things a good fisherman must do to catch fish is learn to think like a fish. But that may be harder than it first appears,especially when you're so isolated from the world that you forget what it's like not to be a Christian. As followers of Christ, we are called to be "in the world

, but not of it," and it's important that we understand the people God has purposefully placed in our path to impact with His gospel.

If you take a step back, you just might realize that the people around you have a different perspective on your religious expressions from the outside-looking-in than you do from the inside-looking-out. We would all do well to take a fresh look at how we are communicating

to those around us what it means to be a follower of Christ.

With that, I found this humorous top ten list (original source unknown) I wanted to share with you, with hopes that it might help you to understand the "fish" a little better as you seek to live out Jesus' Great Commission this week:

Ten Things People Won't Say When They See a Fish Symbol on Your Car

Look, let's stop that car and ask those folks how we can become Christians.
Don't worry, Billy, those people are Christians; they must have a good reason for driving 95 mph.
What a joy to be sharing the highway with another car of Spirit-filled brothers and sisters.
Isn't it wonderful how God blessed that Christian with a brand new Mercedes!
How come people who drive like that don't get thrown in jail? Son, that driver is a Christian and God probably protects him from getting arrested.
Oh, look! That Christian woman is getting a chance to share Jesus with a police officer.
No, that's not garbage coming out of their windows, Bert; it's probably gospel tracts for the road workers to read.
Oh boy, we're in trouble. We just rear-ended one of God's cars.
Quick, Alice, honk the horn or they won't know that we are Christians too.
Stay clear of those folks, Martha. If they get raptured, that car's gonna be all over the road!

Here's hoping your faith in Christ is contagious and that as you follow Jesus He will truly make you into the kind of fisherman that impacts your world positively with the gospel.

Have a safe and blessed Memorial Day weekend. I am praying for you, and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=43279 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=43279 Driving Scared

We had an interesting discussion about the things we fear this past Wednesday night in the small group that meets at my house. We discussed everything from sharks and pigs and crowded elevators to MRI machines and flying monkeys. I shared something that scares me a bit, and I'll go ahead and confess it here as well.

Sometimes, when I drive over a high bridge, especially over water, a weird sense of fear grips me. A knot-in-my-stomach, weak-in-the-knees kind of fear. Not all the time, but sometimes. It's not just a fear of heights, it's a fear of specifically driving over bridges. Very few things really frighten me, probably because I don't have sense enough sometimes to be afraid when circumstances would dictate I should. But driving over a high bridge can really do a number on me.

So I was comforted when I read an article a few years back that I am not alone, that there are many others who "suffer" with the same problem. Our group discussion got me to thinking about that article, and by the miracle of Google, I was able to find it. The article told of people who are so afraid of bridges that they will drive hours out of their way to avoid them. Others try to cross but have a panic attack in the middle of the bridge and can't go on, blocking traffic.

Because of this, the operators of some of the longest and highest spans in America now offer a driving service. On request, one of the bridge attendants will get behind the wheel and drive your car over the bridge. A few years back, Michigan's "Timid Motorist Program" assisted 830 drivers across the Mackinac Bridge, which is five miles long and rises two hundred feet above the water. At Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Bridge, which is over four miles long and also rises two hundred feet above the water, authorities took the wheel and helped over a thousand fearful motorists.

The truth is, bridges aren't the only things that cause fear in people's hearts. Whether it's an officially recognized "phobia" or just something we face every day that makes us a little nervous, fear is a natural human condition. Over 500 times, in fact, the Bible records God--or one of His messengers--telling people: "Fear not!" Why? Because obviously they were already afraid. Often, the admonition to no longer be afraid was accompanied by a promise: "...for I am with you."

In a terrifying situation the way to get over the paralysis of fear is to do like those motorists crossing the bridge--turn the wheel over to someone else. Turn the situation over to God and then trust Him to handle it for you. You may still have to cross that bridge, but you're not doing it alone, and God is the One in control.

Is there anything you are afraid of today? Something giving you a knot in the pit of your stomach? Making you nervous even to think about it? Just turn it over to the Lord, who will never leave you nor forsake you, and let Him handle things. He can. And will.

I'm praying for you, and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=43278 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=43278 Life Isn't for Cowards

In the days of the wild and woolly West, a lone cowboy went riding through the valley and came unexpectedly upon an Indian lying motionless on the road. His right ear was pressed to the ground, and he was muttering soberly to himself.

"Ummm," he said. "Stagecoach! Three people inside. Two men, one woman. Four horses. Three dapple gray, one black. Stagecoach moving west. Ummmmmm."

The cowboy was amazed and said, "That's incredible, pardner! You can tell all that just by listening to the ground?" The Indian replied, "Ummmmm. No! Stagecoach run over me thirty minutes ago!"

Dr. James Dobson used that illustration to open one of the chapters of his book, Parenting Isn't for Cowards. He said it reminded him of what mothers face trying to raise more than one rambunctious preschooler simultaneously. Many of you can probably identify. Perhaps you, like the Indian in the story, have found yourself lying flat on the floor muttering, "Mmmmm. Three kids. Dirty hands. Wet diapers. Mud on feet. Tearing through the house. Making me crazy! Help!"

But you don't have to be a parent to sometimes feel like you've been run over by a stagecoach. Sometimes that's just the way life is. We've got more pressures and stressors packed into our days than any generation in history, and most of us feel overwhelmed by it all every so often. And by the time you put your ear to the ground, it's too late. You've already been run over.

Dr. Dobson could very well have written a book entitled "Life Isn't for Cowards." For it isn't. Especially if you want to life your life for Jesus. It's just hard sometimes, just as Jesus Himself said it would be.

But take heart, for our Lord promised us that we can overcome even the most distressing of circumstances if we'll only trust in Him and not give up. I hope you'll do just that this week.

So, look out for those stagecoaches, and preschoolers, and whatever else that comes your way trying to run you over. And don't give up. God knows where you are, and He's not finished with you yet!

May He bless you richly this week as you serve Him. I'm praying for you, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=42808 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=42808 Happy Hallmark Day

The mother of Mother's Day would not like your plans for a store-bought card for Mom.

"A maudlin insincere printed card....means nothing except that you're too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone else in the world," Anna Jarvis once said.

Miss Jarvis, a teacher, was appalled to see what had become of her Mother's Day by the end of World War II. She died in 1948 after fighting the commercialization of the day she established.

This year, Americans are expected to send more than 150 million greeting cards for Mother's Day, and $200 million worth of flowers and plants will be delivered nationwide. Hallmark alone produces more than 1,400 different Mother's Day cards.

The first official Mother's Day service was held at Miss Jarvis' home church, Andrews Methodist, in Grafton, West Virginia, on the morning of May 10, 1908. West Virginia declared it an official holiday a century ago--in 1910--and Congress followed in 1914 with a declaration signed by President Woodrow Wilson.

Today, people from all over the world visit the International Mother's Day Shrine at the restored Methodist church where Miss Jarvis began a day to, as she wrote in 1908, "brighten the lives of good mothers. To have them know we appreciate them, though we do not often show it as we might."

That's still a worthy goal for the "holiday" 102 years later, to "brighten the lives" of mothers and "have them know we appreciate them."

To the many of you in our church family who are mothers--who work at what Dr. James Dobson calls "the most important job in the world"--please know that you are very much appreciated. May the Lord Himself brighten your day this Sunday (and all through the year) with the satisfaction that you are making an incredible impact for His kingdom.

We'll see you on Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=42586 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=42586 Coincidences Happen

Do you believe in coincidence? I don't. When you believe in a sovereign God who is active in the every-day details of life, you realize that nothing happens "by chance." He is in control, and, as if we open our spiritual eyes, we can recognize His work all around us each day.

Which brings me to an old quote I came across this week from Archbishop William Temple. I'm not sure if it was delivered "tongue-in-cheek," but it sure makes a great point. The archbishop said, "When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don't, they don't.

There is within that simple, yet profound, statement a recognition that God works His purpose in our lives as we pray. Things that would not otherwise happen, do happen--"coincidentally," the world might say--when we pray. And when we don't pray--coincidentally enough--they don't happen.

Quite frankly, I was convicted of that statement, because I realize that often I sit around and wait for things to happen, when God allows me the privilege of being a part of their happening by engaging in the ministry of prayer. There's no telling what "coincidences" I might have missed because I didn't pray.

With that in mind, I wanted to remind each of you to take seriously the Christian responsibility--and privilege--of prayer. I believe that prayer is the most important ministry each of us have as Christians.

As we approach next Thursday's National Day of Prayer, I hope you'll join in praying for our nation, that God would bring revival to our land. I also hope you'll pray for the ministry of The Church at Shelby Crossings. If you don't know what to pray, let me make a few suggestions:

Pray for God's protection for our body from the enemy's attacks, and for purity and unity in our church fellowship. Pray for the moving of the Holy Spirit in our church, not just on Sundays as we gather in worship, but as we are about our Father's business throughout the week.

Pray that the Gospel would go forth from our church, and that God would empower our witness, as He provides us "divine appointments" with those He would have us to reach. Pray for the Lord's provision of the financial needs of our church. Pray for our staff, elders and deacons, as well as all those who serve weekly in the ministry of our church, that the Lord would lead us, mature us, protect us, and use us for His glory.

I can't wait to see the "coincidences" happen at Shelby Crossings as we get serious about praying for God to do His work in His church.

I'm praying for you, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=42232 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=42232 Your Walk Talks

"Your walk talks and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks."

I received a story in my email box recently, supposedly true, about a woman who was driving down the road with her 4-year old daughter, and beeped the horn by mistake. The little girl turned and looked a her mother for an explanation for the unexpected honk. "I did that by accident," Mom said. "I know that," the daughter replied, "'cause you didn't say 'JERK!" afterward."

It's amazing how insightful little ones can be, and how easily they can figure us as adults out. Their impressionable little minds do pick up on what we do and say in different circumstances, and that is how they learn to respond to similar events as they grow up. We can tell them all we want, but what we show them is what really counts. As the old saying goes, there's much more caught than taught.

When you teach your children to be kind to one another, do they see that in the way you respond in a traffic jam? When you tell them to be honest, do they get the same message when the telephone solicitor calls and you're "not home"? When you teach them about sharing, do they see you do likewise with your precious "stuff?" They will imitate you more than you know.

Even more so, when you teach them to love God, do they see your love for Him in your daily life? Does your life truly communicate the priority of a personal relationship with Christ, or is that just Sunday talk? Do the core values you say you hold dear play themselves out in your daily decisions involving people and work and time and money?

I am a collector of religious cartoons, and one of my favorites is an old one I picked up years ago, that is so very simple. It's a picture of a little boy, who is obviously arriving home from church to see his dad, sitting in his favorite chair reading the Sunday paper. The look on the father's face says it all, as the child somewhat innocently asks, "What to know what I learned in Sunday School today, hypocrite?" Ouch!

The question for all of us is, does what we say and believe and teach match what we do and who we are? We must be careful, for we are being watched--not just by little eyes beneath us, but by the omniscient, omnipresent eyes of our Heavenly Father. My prayer for you is that those who know you best will truly respect you most, because your words and actions are consistent, and your life, both publicly and privately, honors our Lord.

I'm praying for you, and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=41833 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=41833 Show and Tell

I came across an old copy of a Focus on the Family magazine from several years that I had saved because of a real-life story on the back cover submitted by one of their readers. The story came from a Kristin Molstre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I'll let her tell it:

While I was clipping her toenails, my kindergarten daughter mulled over what to bring to school the next day for show and tell. When I finished hers, I clipped my own. My daughter was fascinated by the size of my toenails. The next morning I forgot to pack something for show and tell. I expected my daughter to be crushed when I picked her up. I cautiously asked her how her day was, and she replied, "It was just the best day, Mom!" Surprised, I told her how sorry I was that I forgot show and tell. "It's okay, I brought something really great. It's in my backpack." I opened her backpack to find my toenail clippings--all 10!"

I don't know about you, but the first thing I imagined when I read that story (other than "eww, gross!") was the look on the teacher's face when the little girl pulled out her mom's toenails for show and tell. Certainly, that story was the talk of the teacher's lounge before the day was over!

I also imagined the bright red color of a blushing mother's face when she thought about how the tale of her clippings was making its rounds at the school. All because a little girl was proud of the "trophies" she collected from her mother's toenail clipping, and was all too happy to share them with her little world.

Show and tell. An interesting concept. And a pretty good synopsis of our call as Christians to "show" the world the life-changing difference Christ makes in our lives, and "tell" them of His love for them. It all starts, I believe, with our being excited enough about the Lord and His grace to us that we can't help but want to "show and tell" others about the gospel.

Do you really believe Jesus Christ is the answer to the uncertainty and hopelessness of our world today? If so, does your life show it? And are you telling anyone about Him? "How can they believe if they have never heard about Him?" the apostle Paul asked. "And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?" (Romans 10:14, NLT). How, indeed?

My prayer for each of you is that your life and testimony for Christ is a memorable "show and tell" for the world around you this week. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=41713 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=41713 Death and Taxes

If you've looked at the calendar lately, you probably noticed that we're nearing the middle of the month of April. Thats right, next Thursday, April 15, is the dreaded annual deadline for filing your tax returns, if you haven't done so already.

I think it was Benjamin Franklin who first said that only two things in life are certain: death and taxes. This time of year we're reminded how certain taxes really are. The friendly folks at the Internal Revenue Service are pretty serious about collecting their cut of our hard-earned wages to fund our blessed government's endeavors.

So, the tax man cometh. Perhaps you have heard of the new simple tax form that some have suggested. At the top of the form you write your name and Social Security number. Then there are two lines with the simplest of instructions: How much did you make? and Send it to us.

For those last minutes filers, here are a few things you cannot do when it comes time to file your taxes. You cannot write off last year's tax as a bad investment. You cannot claim depreciation on your wife and children. You cannot deduct health club dues as a total loss. And the IRS won't buy the idea that if you spend it before you earn it, it's not really income.

Really, there's not much you can do about taxes (short of having six children!) but pay them. Even Jesus taught that we are to render to Caesar what is Caesar's. But then again, we can also vote to determine who our Caesar will be, depending upon how much he or she wants to tax us. That's a message for another day.

The good news of this season is that old Ben Franklin wasn't as wise as he thought he was. Taxes may be certain, but death? Not so much. For believers in Christ, we have hope when it comes to matters of life and death. That's what last Sunday's Easter celebration reminded us.

When Jesus rose from the grave He defeated death--not just for Himself, but for all of us who know Him. That truth from Scripture doesn't just apply on Easter Sunday; we live with the promise of the hope of the resurrection every day of the year.

So regardless of your standing with the IRS, the tomb is empty, and your life doesn't have to be! May that truth affect how you live your life this week, even if you still have to do your taxes.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=41208 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=41208 Good Friday?

"Holy week" continues as we count down toward this Sunday's celebration of Easter. As I write this, it's Good Friday morning. Some of you are already off work today for the holiday weekend for Good Friday. Others are out of school. I noticed that even the New York Stock Exchange is shut down.

I heard on the radio the other day that the city of Davenport, Iowa has been in an uproar during the last week, after the city administrator officially designated that Good Friday (which had long been observed as a city holiday) was now to be called the "Spring Holiday." The city council and mayor eventually overturned the decision, changing the day back to Good Friday, but not before it caused quite a stir. Whatever it was called, the city employees got their day off.

However, I wonder how many of them have stopped to think today about why they are off work, or why their city offices are not open. And, I wonder how many Wall Street brokers have really reflected on why the stock exchange is closed down. Other than a paid off-day for some, what's so "good" about Good Friday?

It is a little ironic, to say the least. I've always found it kind of strange that we refer to the day on which the most important person in human history was murdered, as "good." The thought of a man brutally beaten beyond recognition, hanging on a barbaric cross with nails in his hands and feet, a crown of thorns piercing His head, and a spear thrust into His side, doesn't usually elicit the description of "good."

Good Friday can be good only because Easter Sunday is even better! Jesus Christ did die that cruel death on our behalf, but His crucifixion was not the end of the story. His victory over death and the grave is what gives us life, hope, peace--and our own victory through His sacrifice. As the apostle Paul wrote, "Death has been swallowed up in victory!"

This weekend as you celebrate Good Friday and Easter Sunday, I hope you'll take time to remember what Jesus did for you and me on Calvary's cross, and that you'll live your life in such a way that it will be worthy of such a sacrifice. "He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again." (2 Cor. 5:15)

Have a good Good Friday, and a great Easter Sunday! I am praying for you, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=40935 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=40935 Matters of the Heart

If you've traveled north on I-65 in the past few weeks, toward Huntsville, you probably discovered quite a traffic back-up in the Hartselle area. That's because the Alabama Department of Transportation had to close several miles of the northbound interstate after a massive sinkhole devoured a couple of the northbound lanes. News reports tell us that they hope to have the sinkhole filled and the road repaired within the next week or so, but for now you can expect some frustrating detours.

It reminds me of a few years ago, right after they opened the new Colonial Promenade shopping center in Alabaster, when large sections of the parking lot caved in because of sinkholes. It does make you wonder what road or parking lot may cave in next. I've driven on that stretch of interstate many times. What if the road had collapsed at one of those times when I was driving across it, heaving me into the abyss, never to be heard from again. What if?

Sinkholes are an interesting phenomenon. They are basically a geological problem, and occur for varioius reasons when underground streams either dry up during a drought or wash out during times of heavy rain, causing the ground at the surface to lose its underlying support. Mining can also lead to the same effect, especially when it produces voids beneath the surface of the ground and causes shifts in those underground streams. Suddenly, and often unexpectedly, everything just caves in, leaving people with the frightening suspicion that nothing--not even the earth beneath their feet--is trustworthy.

The truth is, there are a lot of people whose lives are like one of those sinkholes. At one time or another, you feel like you're on the verge of a sinkhole-like cave-in, just a moment away from a collapse that will threaten to sweep your entire world into a bottomless pit. It is what author Gordon MacDonald calls The Sinkhole Syndrome.

The question is, do we have something "solid" beneath the surface of our lives that will provide a strong foundation whatever comes our way? Or have we just spent most of our time and energy focusing only on that which is visible, while neglecting the subterranean matters of the heart?

It's an easy temptation, especially in a world that focuses so much on how we project a surface-level image instead of deeper, "below-ground" issues. But God calls us to do just the opposite, to make sure our heart is in order as our top priority. The challenge for us, as usual, is to go against the flow of our society and invest our lives more on internals than externals. When we do, we find that the matters of the heart are truly the heart of the matter.

My prayer for you is that God will shore up your life from the inside out, so that you will never have a cave-in, no matter how much pressure you face. When He fills your life, all the weight in the world cannot overwhelm you. As the old hymn reminds us, He is the Solid Rock.

I look forward to seeing you again at Shelby Crossings this Sunday as we gather to worship together.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=40934 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=40934 Changing Time(s)

Finally, it's starting to feel a little more like spring, bringing with it a monsoon or two, and the blossoms of new life all around. Trees will soon be budding, flowers blooming, new weeds sprouting in my yard--annual indicators of the changing of the seasons. And here at Shelby Crossings, there's a new excitement in the air as well. (Or is that just pollen?)

Of course, this time of year also means something else: the changing of the clocks. This Sunday marks the beginning of Daylight Savings Time, the day of the year when the "time fairy" sneaks into our homes during the cover of night and steals an hour of life from us. That's 60 minutes of our lives, simply vanished!

So don't forget to set your clocks forward an hour on Saturday night, and get to bed early so you can "beat the clock" and come well rested and ready for worship on Sunday. Don't sleep in, and put it off until Monday; that will only make your Monday worse, in more ways than one!

Most people I talk to think the time change and the whole Daylight Savings Time is a pretty dumb idea anyway. A few states actually refuse to participate, keeping their clocks the same year round. The spring time change sure does affect our moods and our sleep patterns, among other things. And did you know that Daylight Savings Time may be hazardous to your health?

Studies have shown a marked increase in accidents the week immediately following the spring time change, when we lose the hour of sleep. In a two-year study of Canadian traffic accidents, psychologist Stanley Coren of the University of British Columbia found that accidents jumped about 8 percent the Monday after the spring shift, perhaps because of the drivers' loss of an hour of shut-eye.

Coincidence? Perhaps not. Coren also noted a 1996 New England Journal of Medicine study that accidents dropped about 8 percent from normal the Monday after the shift back to standard time in the fall (and the gain of an extra hour of sleep). No one knows the correlation between those who had accidents and those who didn't go to church....but let me just say, you don't want to be one of those statistics!

So be sure to get a good weekend of rest, and make sure you don't miss worshiping with us at Shelby Crossings on Sunday. You might also want to be extra careful on the road this coming Monday. For that matter, maybe all of us should pay a little more attention to how we use the precious allotment of time we have been given each and every day. It is, after all, the time of our lives!

"Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV)

I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=40107 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=40107 Living in 'Wonderland'

You've probably seen the TV ads touting the release of the new movie Alice in Wonderland, scheduled to open across the country this weekend. It looks a little strange, which is pretty much what you would expect from something written by Lewis Carroll, directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp.

I saw that it was rated PG "for fantasy action/violence involving scary images and situations, and for a smoking caterpillar." I'll have to say, I don't think I've ever seen a smoking caterpillar before. I doubt I'll see the movie anytime soon--at least not until it arrives at the $1 theater--but I have always been fascinated by Carroll's book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

I don't know that I actually ever read the book, but I remember as a child hearing about it and was always struck by its characters. What was most appealing about the story of Alice was that it was so crazy. Masterfully crazy. The cast of zany and twisted characters tries to make Alice believe nonsense is actually good sense. The Mad Hatter. The Cheshire Cat. The Caterpillar. And my personal favorites, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the original Dumb and Dumber.

Today we live in a culture that reminds me more and more of Wonderland. And I'm Alice, looking around and seeing nonsense called reason, wrong called right, evil called good, and lies called truth. The issues are endless, from both a moral and cultural standpoint, where truth and good sense are daily turned on their head. And we as the church are expected to sit quietly while the Dumb-and-Dumbers of the world tell us what to believe, however non-sensical it may be.

Author George Orwell was more than just a writer of science fiction novels (remember the "futurist" 1984?). He was also an outspoken thinker, who knew that as truth was removed from our society we would be gullible enough to believe just about anything. When observing the world in which he lived, he once responded that "sometimes the first duty of intelligent men is the restatement of the obvious." If we as the church are truly going to be "intelligent" in our world of Wonderland, we need to do just that.

The moral of today's story? Don't buy the lies. Absorb yourselves in truth, the absolute truth of God's word, and be willing to "state the obvious" to a culture groping in darkness. Do not believe them when they tell you up is down and down is up, or when they say your Biblical morality is open to change and every wind that blows. Ground yourself solidly on a foundation of truth, and stand firm against the nonsense that is passed across daily as the "wisdom" of our world, even if you're in the minority. Sometimes--perhaps even all the time in Wonderland--you just have to go against the flow.

Here's hoping and praying that you and yoru family stand up and stand out for the God of truth this week, that you may truly be salt and light in a world gone crazy. May God bless your obedience and faithfulness.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=39636 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=39636 Needing God

You've probably seen the email that occasionally circulates around, telling the story of a group of scientists who got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.

The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost." God listened very patiently and kindly to the man. After the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this? Let's say we have a man-making contest." To which the scientist replied, "Okay, great!"

But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam." The scientist said, "Sure, no problem," and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.

God looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"

That silly story illustrates how much we take God's work in our very existence for granted. He is creator, we are His creation, and we are completely dependent upon Him. It is the nature of sin, more than any act that we do, to try to control our own destiny. Such an attitude of pride and and rebellion--the creature challenging the dominion of the creator--is what usually gets us into trouble the most. But that last statement--"You get your own dirt!"--reminds us how we ultimately depend on God for everything.

There is an old Latin term that describes the unique ability of God as creator. He creates ex nihilo, or, "out of nothing." That is, He is able to take nothing and create something. That is how He created the world those many generations ago, and even our most brilliant scientists today cannot duplicate that ability today. He is, after all, God--and we're not. That in itself should humble us from our pride and self-sufficiency and lead us to trust Him with all of our lives.

The great Protestant reformer Martin Luther too that truth and expanded on it even further. "God creates ex nihilo...out of nothing," said Luther. "Therefore, until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him." How very true.

I pray that you'll realize how very much you need God, and that you'll find the true joy of submitting your life to the One who created you, sustains you, and loves you so much He sacrificed the life of His only Son to redeem you.

Share His love with someone else this weekend. I'm praying for you, and look forward to seeing you Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=39526 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=39526 Small Stuff

I heard someone say once that he had two principles that governed his life. Number one was, "Don't sweat the small stuff." The second one was, "It's all small stuff."

That's a pretty good way to live. I'm not sure how much you stress over little things, but it's never worth it. Except that how we handle the small things in life pretty much determines how successful we are with the big stuff. In fact, in the big picture it really is all small stuff.

Think about it. How many of us have ever been bitten by a lion or tiger, or stepped on by an elephant? Very few, I imagine. On the other hand, how many have been stung by a bee, bitten by a mosquito, or harassed by a fly? If you've ever spent the night with a mosquito hovering over your bed, you know how powerful small things can be.

Until a few years ago, there was an enormous pine tree that grew in the mountains of Colorado. It was only half grown when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. A close study revealed that it had been struck by lightning 14 times and survived centuries of Colorado's bad winters. Fires didn't kill it, nor did rumbling earthquakes. Many came to believe the old tree was indestructible.

Then it happened. It was done in by a bug--a little pine beetle that was so small you could crush it between your thumb and finger. A tiny insect proved more powerful and destructive than "earth, wind and fire."

One of the reasons small things are so important is because they lead to big things. That principle applies in so many areas, be it relationally, emotionally, professionally, financially....and spiritually. Life is basically made up of a series of small things--"it's all small stuff"--that, combined together, make much bigger things. How you handle the small bites of life will determine how you handle the big stuff.

The truth is, if you want to do great things in your life, you have to start with the small opportunities the Lord gives you each day, and do them in a great way. That may be simply sharing the gospel with a neighbor or co-worker, spending a few extra quality minutes playing catch with your son in the yard, offering a word of encouragement to a friend in need, or serving dinner to the homeless men at the Firehouse this week. Whatever the opportunities, however big or small, do what you can with what you have where you are.

Jesus said it this way: "Whoever can be trusted with very little things can be trusted with much." (Luke 16:10) I hope you'll be trustworthy with the "very little" things God gives you to do this week, and that He'll bless you with "much."

I'm praying for you, as I hope you are for me, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=38995 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=38995 All You Need Is Love

"All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!" --Lucy Van Pelt (from Peanuts, by Charles Schulz)

It was the Beatles who, more than 40 years ago, sang that "all you need is love." Of course, everyone from Barry White to Barry Manilow to Barry Gibb has been weighing in on the subject ever since, just as they were singing about love long before John, Paul, George and Ringo came on the scene. Everybody, it seems is singing about love, but like the weather, few people are doing much about it.

I bring this up as the day of the year approaches that is focused on "love" more than anything else: St. Valentine's Day. You can usually tell when the day is drawing near even without the benefit of a calendar--just check out the sweat accumulating on the brow of most married men who have no idea what they going to do for the big day. It's truly a Maalox moment for a Hallmark day.

The truth is, most people have no idea what they are celebrating when they talk of St. Valentine's Day. In reality, there is lots of confusion about the history of the holiday itself. We do know that there were two early Christian martyrs--both named Valentine--who were killed in Rome, supposedly on Feb. 14. In AD 496, Pope Galasius I named Feb. 14 as St. Valentine's Day.

Actually, like many other "Christian" holidays, Valentine's Day was probably a replacement for a pagan festival already in place on that date; it was called Lupercalia. That festival was intended to ensure protection from wolves. During the celebration, young men struck people with strips of animal hide. Women took the blows because they thought that the whipping made them more fertile. Now that's romantic!

So in 15 centuries, we've moved from that.....to this. Obligatory cards, flowers, candy, dinner reservations, and romantic weekend getaways, all for a price. I think some of us would just as well go back to the Lupercalia festival and make sure we keep the wolves away. Except for that part about the fertility.

The point here is--and yes, there is a point--that we shouldn't have to have a special day to celebrate and remember the love we have for one another, either sweetheart-to-sweetheart, or Christian-to-Christian. Jesus even said that it was love that would be the distinguishing mark of the genuiness of our commitment to Him.

"They will know you are My disciples by your love for one another," He said. Well, do they? May I suggest that in all of your Valentine's preparations this weekend(and yes, guys, it's time to start preparing!), you remember first how Jesus showed love, and that was by giving of Himself. That's what real love is all about.

So, have a blessed, love-filled St. Valentine's Day--and the other 364 days of the year as well. I'm praying for you, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=38622 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=38622 Blooming Where You're Planted A man was stranded on a proverbial deserted island for years. Finally one day a boat comes sailing into view, and the man frantically waves and draws the skipper's attention. The boat comes near the island, and the sailor gets out and greets the stranded man.

After awhile the sailor asks, "What are those three huts you have here?" "Well," the castaway answered, "that's my house there."

"What's the next hut?" asks the sailor. "That's where I go to church." "And what about the other hut?" the sailor asks one more time. "Oh, that's where I used to go to church."

That would be funnier if it wasn't so sad. We do live in a generation of church-shoppers and church-hoppers who are prone to switch churches at the drop of a hat, for one reason or another. Perhaps they were offended by someone, or disagreed with a decision made by the church body. Or maybe they didn't like the pastor, or the music, or the color of the carpet (or, in our case, the concrete floors). Whatever the case, it's pretty easy in our consumer society to think it's normal to move on when we don't like the "product" that's offered.

The difference is that church is more than the local franchise of God's larger corporation. It is a family, a connectedness of relationships, melded together by the Holy Spirit into a holy community that is the local expression of the body of Christ. Like any family, there will always be disagreements and conflict, which provides a great testing ground for seeing how our faith and Christian character operates in the real world--among other sinners like us. And the big truth most of us discover eventually anyway, when we do pack up and move, is that the grass is rarely any greener on the other side of the fence.

The reality is, there's something about commitment and faithfulness that not only reveals our character, it grows it. God calls us to persevere in tough times--and even in times that aren't so tough but aren't terribly exciting either--and to serve Him faithfully where He places us, even when we might just as well go somewhere else. No, that doesn't excuse complacency, nor does it give cause for just going through the motions, but it does remind us of the truth of the old cliche: "Bloom where you're planted."

The Church at Shelby Crossings, like any other church, is not perfect. We will always have our struggles, and we'll probably butt heads now and then. But God has supernaturally and sovereignly called us together to serve Him, and, in effect, this is where He has planted us together.

I want to encourage each of you to dig your roots deep into the soil of God's word, and to start blooming! You are an integral part of our minstry's fruitfulness, and I hope you'll commit to being faithful in our fellowship as we seek to carry out His will in this community.

There's not another church in this world that I would rather be a part of, or that I would rather have the opportunity to shepherd. I do count it a privilege to be your pastor. I am praying for you, as I hope you are for me, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=38488 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=38488 Borrring! I will admit up front that what I write to you today reeks of boredom. Actually, I came across an article recently on the subject of....boredom. It wasn't a terribly exciting article, as you might have guessed, but it did have some interesting facts on the topic, as well as some theories from some boring experts. Oh wait, those were boredom experts.

It seems that several authors have written books in the past few years about the dangers of boredom in our contemporary society. They claim that boredom fuels everything from extramarital affairs and drug addiction to coronaries and car accidents.

Curiously, boredom seems to be a modern ailment. The word didn't exist in the English language until after 1750, notes Patricia M. Spacks, author of Boredom: The Literary History of a State of Mind. "If people felt bored before the 18th century, they didn't know it," she says. But, once the concept had a name, it became universal. Philosophers ruminated over it. Teenagers whined about it. And psychologists churned out lots of research.

One of the more unexpected findings is that the best cure for boredom might be more boredom. Folks today have a lot more diversions at their disposal--DVD's, MP3's, PDA's and Internet access everywhere. But we might not be any better off. One of the great ironies of modern life is that "in an age when we have more entertainment available to us than ever before, there seems to be an epidemic of boredom," writes psychiatrist Richard Winter in his book, Still Bored in the Culture of Entertainment. Winters and other commentators believe society is so saturated with movies, TV, video games and advertising that people are losing their sense of wonder.

So, what is a Christian response to boredom? To begin with, as children of God, we should never be blamed for being bored, or for that matter, boring. Jesus said He came to give us life, and life more abundantly (John 10:10). That doesn't sound boring to me. Though many people have the impression that a life of faith is mundane and excitement-free, I would beg to differ. Jesus' call to committed discipleship is an invitation to a life of daily challenges and change, to incredible opportunities and possibilities, and to connect with the supernatural God of the universe. And that is anything but boring!

However, if you sometimes wonder if you're catching the epidemic of boredom, let me suggest a few faith-focused solutions, for some real-life "boredom busters":

1) Enjoy the mundane. The apostle Paul said, "Rejoice in the Lord, always. And again, I say, rejoice!" (Phil. 4:4) Boredom is a state of mind, more than it is circumstantial--and so too is enjoyment. Jesus said He came to put His joy in us, and that our joy would be complete (John 15:11). Learn the secret of contentment (that Paul explained later in that same chapter of Philippians): it's what's inside, not what's outside, that counts! Enjoy the simple pleasures--family, conversation, even eating! Which leads to...

2) Simplify your life. Have you noticed that more gadgets, toys and information don't satisfy your longings? The more you have, the more you want, and the more your dissatisfaction is magnified. Don't allow yourself to get sucked into the trap of thinking the world owes you constant entertainment, and don't just hurry from one activity to another, missing out on the meaning along the way. Take stock of the "wonder" in and around your life. "Be still and know that He is God." (Psalm 46:10)

3) Serve somebody. There's always something else to do, somebody else to serve. My kids know to never say, "I'm bored," because they will get one of two answers. One is, "It's not our joy to entertain you." And the second is, "If you need something to do, we'll find you something to do!" If you are complaining that your life is boring, I doubt you've looked very hard for something to do. Jesus said He didn't come to be served, but to serve (Matt. 20:28), and He called His followers to be servant-minded like Him. I don't know about you, but I just can't imagine Jesus ever whining about being bored. And neither should we who call Him Lord ever be bored, as long as there are people to love and serve and reach out to in the world around us.

I hope and pray that as a child of God, you'll never get bored with your relationship with Him, or of your involvement in His church. I pray also that He will pour out His abundant blessings on your life, from the inside out. I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=37986 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=37986 A National Tragedy Today marks the 37th anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in the United States. Since that time, on Jan. 22, 1973, more than 50 million innocent children have lost their lives, a horrific figure that swamps all of the world's natural disasters combined during those 37 years.

I would consider myself pro-life, in every sense of the word. I have marched in the streets for the cause of life, I have voted for pro-life candidates, and have given my time and money to ministries that are on the front lines every day, fighting for the unborn--and their mothers. So, you might expect me to use this space today to rail against the evils of abortion and to say that it is time that we as the comfortable American church get on our faces before God for our nation.

However, I hope you don't mind if I use the occasion of today's anniversary to go in a slightly different direction. We are often naive when we deal with the subject of abortion, as if it is an "us and them" discussion. That is, the typical evangelical Christian who takes a stand in the public arena for life, and againstabortion, often acts as if it's the church against the world, the conservatives against the liberals, Republicans against the Democrats, or whatever other category of opponents you prefer.

But the giant reality is that often, we are....them. The person working in the cubicle next to you may be living with a hidden secret. Your neighbor across the fence may have made their own "choice." The friend sitting next to you in worship or in Bible study on Sunday morning may themselves have been one of those statistics.

The truth is, most every one of us--in the church and out--have been affected, either directly or indirectly, by the tragedy of abortion. You may know a friend or family member who was faced with an unplanned pregnancy, and did not choose wisely. Or, perhaps it was you, or your partner, who made that decision at an earlier time in life and have lived with the unspoken regret and grief and pain from which you feel you can never recover.

To each of you, the message of God's word is clear: His grace is sufficient for you, too. Regrets are normal, and grief is to be expected, but forgiveness is real, and God is still the God of second chances, no matter the sin. The apostle Paul said in Romans that "even while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' He even died to pay the penalty for the sin of abortion.

I do hope you can get involved in taking your stand for the unborn--whether it be in the political arena, adoption, caring for unwed mothers, or praying for God's deliverance for our nation from the scourge of abortion. I hope you want back down from speaking up for what is right, to be the salt and light in our culture He has called us to be, even on "uncomfortable" issues like abortion.

But I also hope you'll be one to reach out with compassion to all the victims of abortion, even if they are victims of their own choices. No sin is outside the scope of God's grace and love.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday as we gather together to celebrate the sacred gift of life (and life eternal) that God has given us. Have a blessed weekend.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=37707 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=37707 Wandering in the Snow Perhaps that title caught your eye, in light of the recent meteorological disappointments in our area of predicted snow that did not come to pass. No, I haven't had any occasions myself to wander in the snow myself of late, but I did come across a story that I found particularly intriguing, if only because it didn't turn out like I expected.

Famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright once told of an incident that seemed insignificant at the time, but had a profound influence on the rest of his life. The winter he was nine years old, he went walking across a snow-covered field with his reserved no-nonsense uncle. As the two of them reached the far end of the field, his uncle stopped him. He pointed out his own tracks in the snow, straight and true as an arrow's flight, and then young Frank's tracks meandering all over the field.

"Notice how your tracks wander aimlessly from the fence to the cattle to the woods and back again," his uncle said. "And see how my tracks aim directly to my goal. There is an important lesson in that."

Years later the world-famous architect liked to tell how this experience had greatly contributed to his philosophy in life. "I determined right then," he'd say with a twinkle in his eye, "not to miss most things in life, as my uncle had."

If you're anything like me, I suspect you'd already jumped ahead and figured out the "moral" of Wright's story, or at least you thought you had. How we should determine our goal and go for it, not letting anything get in the way. How we should be focused, prioritized, and intentional. Purpose-driven, we might say. But that's not what he learned, and in many ways, we would all do well to learn a lesson from the lesson Wright himself discovered on that snowy day.

Sometimes in your pursuit of a goal, a dream, a vision--or even "God's will"--you miss what He is doing in you life along the way. In fact, we often get frustrated by the "detours" we are forced to take because they are keeping us from going where we think we are headed, insteading of experiencing God and His blessings in the midst of our "wandering."

He's at work, even now, in your life. Have you noticed? I'm praying that you do see His hand at work in your life this week, wherever you wander, and that you see His fingerprints (if not footprints) all over your situation.

One other note: please continue to pray for Haiti, and the recovery efforts underway there even today.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=37354 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=37354 After the First of the Year I do enjoy the Christmas and New Year's holidays. What's not to enjoy about special times with my family, holiday traditions, lots of Christmas goodies, fireworks and football, and, of course, a few days off. It's a fun time of year, for the kid in all of us.

But what I dislike the most about the holidays is how much life is put on hold. Because of the busyness of the season, we tend to put off everything during the holiday season, until "after the first of the year."

I bet I've heard that expression a few dozen times since Thanksgiving, and I've used it at least that many times myself. With all the distractions--holiday activities, people traveling out of town, etc.--we've all learned that it can be fairly frustrating to try to get much done during the last few weeks of December. And so, our whole world is put on hold and we become unproductive while we wait till "after the first of the year."

Well....after the first of the year is here! No more excuses, no more procrastination. It's time to get back in the swing of things and start living intentionally again.

It may be that you want to get a consistent quiet time with the Lord again. Or maybe you've planned on getting involved with a small group, helping out with the children's ministry, or serving at the Firehouse. Or, on a different level, perhaps you've planned to go on a diet or exercise program, a financial budget or reading plan. There's not a better time to start than now.

As a church, it is my desire that the New Year will bring a new momentum for ministry, as we seek to live out our faith and reach out to our community with a new zeal and passion for Christ. That will not happen passively, however. It will happen because we choose to become who we say we are, and because we set in motion the things that constitute living God's will for our lives.

So I say, "Happy New Year" again to each of you. And welcome, 2010, the beginning of "after the first of the year." I believe God has great things in store for us, individually and collectively, as we serve Him in the year ahead. May He truly bless you and prosper you, and continue to grow you up in Him as He grows us deeper in our fellowship.

I'm praying for you, as I hope you are for me, and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=37038 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=37038 Resolution Revolution It's that time of year when a lot of folks make promises they can't keep. We call them New Year's "resolutions," because we are supposedly resolved in our hearts to change our ways, and improve ourselves as the fresh start of a new year approaches.

Or, you may be one of the many who have finally given up on making resolutions. I read this week that only 37% of Americans make New Year's resolutions any more, and that means that almost two out of three people are either satisfied with the way they are or don't want to fail again in 2010.

Of those who do make resolutions, they are usually pretty predictable. The number one resolution people make is to get control of their money. Next is to stop smoking, followed by losing weight and exercising more regularly.

It's not hard to figure out the general theme of all those typical resolutions--discipline. And perhaps that's why 63% of us don't resolve to do anything different, because we realize it requires discipline.

May I make a suggestion for a good New Year's resolution for 2010. Choose to take seriously the Scriptural call to "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness." (1 Tim. 4:7, NAS). Or, as the NIV translates that verse, "train yourself to be godly." In other words, make up your mind and resolve in your heart that by God's grace you will make the effort to get your spiritual life under control in 2010. I have a feeling that the other areas of your life will follow if you do.

It all comes down to getting your life in order, beginning with the priority of your relationship with God. That's the kind of resolution that can cause a revolution in every area of your life, and in the life of your family.

I pray that you'll make a renewed commitment to follow Jesus in the year ahead, and then follow through as you walk with Him day by day.

Have a safe and blessed New Year. I'll see you Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=36791 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=36791 A Big-Hearted Christmas On February 24, 1948, one of the most unusual operations in medical history took place in Ohio State University's department of research surgery. A stony sheath was removed from around the heart of a 30-year old man named Harry Besharra.

As a child, he had been shot accidentally by a playmate with a 22-caliber rifle. The bullet had lodged in his heart but had not caused his death. However, a lime deposit had begun to form over the protective covering of the heart adn gradually was strangling it.

The operation was a delicate one, separating the ribs and moving the left lung to one side. Then the stony coating was lifted from the heart much in the same way as an orange is peeled. Immediately the pressure of the heart was reduced, and it responded by expanding and pumping normally. "I feel a thousand percent better already," said the patient soon after the operation.

There is a parable of life here. It is so easy for our hearts to develop a hard protective coating because of accidents and incidents and injuries in our life. They are coated by the deposits of a thousand deceits and disappointments, hardened by the pressures and problems of circumstance. Inevitably, they become smothered and insensitive, choked out even to things divine.

Ever so gradually we find it easier to sneer than to pray. It becomes simpler to work than to worship. Self-satisfied, proud, often cynical, our hearts need a spiritual operation that only something so refreshing as Christmas can perform when we dare to surrender our hearts' burden before the cradle of Bethlehem. There's something about meeting the innocent babe in the manger that softens our hearts.

I am reminded of the story of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Dr. Seuss cartoon story which we've been watching since 1966. Why the Grinch was such a "mean one" and hated Christmas was up for much speculation in Whoville, if you will recall. It could have been that his head wasn't screwed on just right. It could have been that his shoes were too tight. But we knew that the most likely reason of all must have been that his heart was two sizes too small.

For all of us, in this busy and stressful time of year, we can miss the wonder of Christmas if we allow the trappings of the season to make our hearts hard, or even to shrink a few sizes too small. Here's hoping you have a big-hearted, joy-filled Christmas this year, with plenty of opportunities to be a cheerful giver and share the hope of our Savior with the world around you.

Merry Christmas!

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=36790 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=36790 Fear Not! "And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round them; and they were sore afraid." (Luke 2:9, KJV)

Have you ever been so fearful that it made you sore? I'm not sure if that's what the King James translation of that familiar verse about the Christian shepherds really means, but I do understand about being afraid. Perhaps you do too.

One particularly dark and stormy night, a mother was tucking her small son into bed. She was about to turn the light off when he asked in a trembling voice, "Mommy, will you stay with me all night?" Smiling, the mother gave him a warm, reassuring hug and said tenderly, "I can't dear. I have to sleep in Daddy's room." A long silence followed. At last it was broken by a shaky voice saying, "That big sissy!"

We all know what it's like to be fearful. Psychologists now list several hundred fears that officially qualify as "phobias." These include claustrophobia, the fear of closed places; acrophobia, the fear of heights; hydrophobia, the fear of water; peladophobia, the fear of baldness; and porphyrophobia, the fear of the color purple.

If this little exercise in psychological definitions bothers you, you may be suffering from calyprophobia, the fear of obscure meanings. Or maybe you're afraid of being afraid. In that case, you may have phobophobia, the fear of fear itself. (Apparently that was a weakness of FDR.)

The Bible is full of people who, like us, were afraid. Afraid of death, persecution, failure, embarrassment...or in the case of the shepherds, afraid of glowing angels appearing in the midst of their sleepy sheep in the middle of the night. All through the story of the "first Christmas" it seems, there were fearful people. And to each, the message was simple: Fear not.

To those shepherds, the angels proclaimed God's great cure for fear: the Gospel. "Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

Good news! That was the point of Jesus' coming, you know. A Savior was born, Christ the Lord. And because we now have our Immanuel--"God with us"--we never have to be afraid again. Joy to the world!

I must say this Christmas season that I count it such a joy to be your pastor. I pray that you and your family have a blessed Christmas, and a wonderful New Year. I hope to see you on Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=36332 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=36332 Stealing Jesus

You may remember the story from a few years back about a Gadsden church that had it's Nativity scene looted. It was in the newspaper and all over the nightly news as a sad sign of the times we live in.

The thieves walked away with figures of Mary, Joseph and a wise man, as well as a camel. They also stole the exhibit's centerpiece--a figure of the Christ child.

A cardboard sign in the shed covering the Nativity scene which read "Put Christ in your Christmas and in your life" was not taken.

Bethel United Baptist Church had displayed the same Nativity scene annually, without incident, for nearly forty years. Needless to say, church members were disheartened by the yule-tide pilfering.

"It broke my heart to think someone would steal something like that from our church," the church's custodian, J.T. Hollingsworth, was quoted in The Birmingham News.

Now, it would be easy to use this story to illustrate the depravity of our society, that some dastardly individual would stoop to such a low as to steal Jesus and Joseph and Mary--and a camel--from a church's outdoor manger scene.

However, I'm not sure that many of us don't do the same thing, figuratively if not literally, each year. When we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season--decorations, shopping, parties, and busy holiday schedules--and leave Jesus out of His birthday celebration, are we not also "stealing" Jesus from our Christmas?

So once again, like the sign left over a vacated manger scene in Gadsden, Alabama, let me encourage you to "Put Christ in your Christmas." It may be a cliche, but it's still true.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday--morning and evening--as we celebrate the glorious birth and life of our Lord. He is Immanuel, God with us. May He be with you today.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=36244 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=36244 A Wonderful Life

December has finally arrived, which means it's almost time for the annual showing of my favorite Christmas movie, It's a Wonderful Life.

Through the magic of re-runs (or a trip to the Holiday Film Series at the Alabama Theater), we can all make a visit back to the black-and-white world of Bedford Falls and experience a snowy Christmas Eve with George and Mary Bailey, Clarence the angel, and Bert and Ernie. (Rumor has it that the Sesame Street characters got their names from the movie's characters.)

What makes that movie so popular is still a mystery. When it was originally released in 1946 it was considered a box-office flop. It wasn't popular with audiences or with critics. It did get five Academy Award nominations but won none. And yet 63 years later it is considered a holiday classic.

There's a simple theme of It's a Wonderful Life that is consistent from first to last. Clarence sums it up perfectly in these words: "Each man's life touches so many other lives, and when he isn't around he leaves an awful hole."

How true that is. George Bailey got to find out the hard way. Many of us often wonder what life would have been (or would be) like without us around. But the fact is, we are around. For a reason. And God has called us to touch the lives of those around us. When we miss out on touching others, we too "leave an awful hole."

That's such a wonderful picture of Biblical community. Each of us are interconnected in so many ways, that if we are not around, we truly are missed. Whether we are reaching out to the lost and hurting of our world, or encouraging and exhorting our brothers and sisters in Christ, God has given each of us opportunities to impact the lives of hundreds around us.

The question is, in what way are we impacting them? Let us not miss the "divine appointments" God sets for us this Christmas season to reach out and touch someone with the love and life of Jesus. It might not make bells ring (or angels get their wings), but it sure will honor the One who came to give us "a wonderful life."

I trust you'll have a blessed weekend. I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we celebrate Jesus together.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=36243 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=36243 Just a Game?

The day upon which most of Alabama waits for 365 days a year has arrived. That's right, in case you were so fixated on Black Friday that you missed the news, it's time for the Iron Bowl, that much-anticipated gridiron contest between Alabama and Auburn.

From trash talk to expert predictions, the newspapers and airwaves and Internet message boards have been filled this week with pre-game reports, hyping the biggest annual event in our state.

Want to know my prediction for the game? Okay, here it is. There will be frenzy and excitement. There will be hype, and more hype. There will be a tremendous traffic jam. There will be lots of noise. And, as someone once described it, there will be 22 college students who need rest chasing each other around in front of 90,000 people who need exercise.

And then, when it is all over, players from both teams will gather together on the field for a little perspective-shaping.

There on the turf of Jordan-Hare Stadium, opposing gladiators, football enemies for 60 minutes, winners and losers alike, will lay down their arms, kneel together, clasp hands, and pray.

Perspective is everything.

I expect that like most of you I'll be in front of a television later today, watching the game. But I pray that each of us will have the same Godly perspective off the field that those players will have on the field when they join together and give thanks to their Heavenly Father.

For whatever the game's outcome, He is still God, and He has made us eternal winners through the sacrifice of His Son. Now that is something to get excited about!

Have a great weekend. Enjoy the game. And then join us on Sunday morning at Shelby Crossings for a real celebration! I look forward to seeing you there.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=36242 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=36242 Thanksgiving, Thanks-living

If you're like me, you can almost taste it already. The Thanksgiving holiday is just around the corner, and the anticipation of the annual turkey-day feast makes my mouth water just thinking about it. For many of us the memories of Thanksgivings past bring a warm feeling to our hearts, and perhaps a little phantom indigestion to our bellies. For others, it just means plenty of stress.

What that in mind, I hope your Thanksgiving this year isn't anything like Scott Nelson's. You've probably never heard of him; I hadn't either until I came across his story a few years back. His is the story of a truly stressed-out holiday.

Back in 1990, the 33-year old Nelson was charged with assaulting his wife on Thanksgiving Day. Apparently he became enraged that his turkey had not defrosted. So he went out in the parking lot of their apartment complex and threw the frozen bird and a pie on the pavement.

It gets worse. When his wife, Jackie, gathered up her child to flee, he hurled the frozen turkey at the car, breaking the windshield. Scott ended up spending part of Thanksgiving Day in jail, charged, I suppose, with assault with a dead(ly) turkey. He definitely lost perspective.

That's not hard to do this time of year, especially with all the trappings of the holiday season. When we do, we miss out on what Thanksgiving is all about. In our increasingly secular culture, it's easy to become ungrateful--not unlike the TV cartoon brat Bart Simpson. When called on to say grace in one episode, he prayed "Dear God, we paid for all this stuff ourselves, so thanks for nothing."

The reality is that Thanksgiving for the non-believer is one of the most perplexing days of the year. Why? Because giving thanks, by definition, requires that you are thankful to Someone. And as Mary Ann Vincent says it, "The atheist's most embarrassing moment is when he feels profoundly thankful for something, but can't think of anybody to thank for it."

Though Thanksgiving Day is not a distinctly Christian holiday, thanksgiving as an act is a major biblical teaching. Scripture is full of admonitions to give thanks, and examples of those who did. There is no more specific exhortation than the apostle Paul's words in 1 Thessalonians 5:17: "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

There it is in a nutshell. It is God's will for us to be thankful, in everything, even when times are tough. And, for whatever it's worth, it's not just mouthing words of Thanksgiving before we slice into the turkey, it's living life with an attitude of gratitude, day by day. Thanksgiving is thanks-living.

Here's hoping we don't miss the significance of the Thanksgiving holiday festivities this year. May we count our blessings, and make our lives count with hearts that are truly grateful for all God has done for us through Jesus Christ.

Oh, and one more thing: don't throw your turkey. You could get in a lot of trouble.

--Pastor Ken

]]> http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=36241 http://shelbycrossings.com/templates/default.asp?id=1570&PG=xCast&LID=06192&CID=36241 Happy Clean Fridge Day!

On my way in to the office this morning, I saw them hanging the holiday snowflakes on the light poles along Highway 31 in Alabaster. I also noticed the other day that Magic 96.5 has already started playing their non-stop Christmas music. And, as I drove through my neighborhood last night, it was hard to miss that one of my neighbors already has his Christmas tree up and decorated with bright lights.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Already?

It does seem that Christmas season comes earlier every year. Even Thanksgiving is viewed by many as little more than an opportunity for more Christmas sales. But as far as I'm concerned, November is still Thanksgiving month. I can only handle one holiday at a time.

But then I found out that I don't have to wait until the fourth Thursday in November to celebrate. There's more to November than I ever knew! Did you know that this month has also been officially designated as both Peanut Butter Lover's Month and International Drum Month? (Try celebrating both of those at the same time!)

It's a little late to celebrate now, but Nov. 3 was Sandwich Day, the birthday of John Montague, the Fourth Earl of Sandwich, creator of the world's first fast food. (Wonder if he ever used peanut butter?) Maybe we can begin now planning for next year's observance.

Or perhaps we could just focus our attention on tomorrow's big celebration. What's so special about Saturday, Nov. 14, you ask? It's National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, of course. I bet you've been waiting all year for this special day.

The truth is that for those of us who have been redeemed by a gracious God, every day is worthy of celebration. Why don't you take a little time today to celebrate the wonderful gift God gave us in Jesus Christ. You don't have to wait for Christmas to celebrate Jesus, and you don't have to wait 'til Thanksgiving to be thankful.

Happy today to all, and to all a good night.

--Pastor Ken

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