Don't Give Up

This month marks 28 years for me in the same city, the same church. Most days I can't believe it's been that long! Also this month marks 3 years as lead pastor. I remember years ago thinking, "I could never speak every week." Yet with God's help I do it.

It humbles me to see the hundreds of folks that gather here every week as well as the nearly 200 C3 partners that were here Sunday night. How does it happen? The big answer is that "God gives the increase." But the other part of it is that we are partners together with Jesus as we plant, water, and care for the seedlings, the new believers and the trees, the more mature believers. And so much of that is not glorious but something you just keep doing. You keep at it. You go to the plate and keep swinging. You keep showing up. You keep studying. You keep preaching. You keep praying. You keep giving. You keep staying on your knees. You keep loving. You refuse to get cynical. You refuse to quit loving people. Bottom line??? Don't give up!

• How many churches have closed their doors because somebody gave up?


• How many marriages are over because they gave up?


• How much potential sits on the shelf because somebody gave up?


• How many kids are wasted because they gave up?

Don't give up! Don't quit! If you need to move, do it! If you need more training, do it! But don't give up!

Why I'm hopeful regarding our new President

We're into the first few weeks of a new administration. Those on the left are hoping he'll be the new man who will promote their agenda. Many on the right side of the spectrum are mostly dismal. While as a Christian, I can find several issues with which to disagree with our new President, I have been thinking about reasons to stay hopeful:

• I am hopeful because President Obama did not cancel his invitation to Pr. Rick Warren from his inauguration ceremony. This showed some courage on our President's part and I am hopeful that relationship will bear some fruit.
• I am hopeful because this President seems to be really in love with his wife. I see genuine affection between the two of them. What a different model for black America than rappers!
• I am hopeful because this President may inspire hope for those like himself who overcame being abandoned by his father, drug abuse as a teen, to become a law professor and eventually the President of the United States.
• I am hopeful because the majority of Americans did not allow color to be a deciding factor in this race. In my view, that is a good thing for a nation which 50 years ago still had different drinking fountains for blacks. Racism has been dealt a strong blow.

Our nation needs hope. I can see reasons for hope and although my trust is ultimately in God, I refuse to give in to fear.

Lastly, I am grateful for President Bush who has declared his faith in Christ, stayed true to one wife, and served our country for the last eight years.

By the way, I'm committed to pray for our president no matter what he does. That's not an option on the table. It's a commandment. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)