FROM A TROUBLED PASTOR

As I read through several news outlets this morning two things are very clear--this country is going to hell fast and American's are going insane!

Next, as I made my very short stroll down my FB timeline (Twitter and Instagram too), I was reminded that America's churchians don't even care that our country is going to hell. It appears their answer to our community's southward trajectory is to pretend it doesn't affect them.

I hurt for pastors and leaders who are trying to build the kingdom of God with folk who care more about their work, making money, and buying more junk than they do ministry. They toss and turn at night, trying to figure out how to work with nearly nothing while the "church folk" drown in senseless, never ending drama, wasting nearly every dime on the temporal (but can't afford to tithe).

I hurt for real Christians who have a desire to make a difference, but have leaders that care about nothing more than numbers, money, titles, Mercedes Benzes, and popularity.

God, if you don't intervene ...

Church, if you don't wake up ...

And to those that are spiritually alive ... Keep on keeping on! You're our only hope!

A troubled Pastor,
David Lamb

BEING THANKFUL IS A CHOICE

Hab 3:17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

In 1620, 102 Pilgrims had come to this continent to build a new world where they would be free to worship God. Soon fifty-six died due to starvation, disease and the cold winter. However, they did not give up. In 1621, 46 Pilgrims and 91 Indians met to give thanks for a bountiful harvest and for the preservation of their lives.

They had every reason to be depressed and discouraged, but they chose to give thanks. The book of Habakkuk was written against a backdrop of apostasy, judgment and unbelievable hardship. It was written during a time when Jehoiakim, the King of Judah, led the people back into idolatry and away from the Lord. As a result, God is preparing to judge the nation. Habakkuk is having trouble understanding why God would use a heathen nation like Babylon to punish His people. He cannot understand why God doesn't just purge their sins and draw them back to Himself and to righteousness. There are similarities between Habakkuk and Job. He argues his case, but in the end he realizes that God is not to be worshiped merely because of the temporal, material and physical blessings of life, but simply for who He is. Thus he ends his words with a song of thanksgiving to God for who He is and for the unchanging benefits that belong to those who know Him! Habakkuk has reason to fret and question, but he chooses instead to be thankful.

Keywords of these verses include, ''although'' and ''yet.'' Habakkuk is saying, ''I don't understand all that is happening to me and the nation of Judah, but in spite of it all I choose thanksgiving. I want to use these verses to show that regardless of how things may look on the surface, we have a reason to choose thanksgiving.

GOD, HELP ME! I'M A PASTOR!

PASTORS (AND SPOUSES): I've been gripped with an incredible burden for you. I have a strong feeling that some of you are struggling more than usual right now. I read a couple days ago that being a pastor is one of the top four hardest jobs in America (President of the United States, a university president, and a CEO of a hospital were the other three).

First of all, I know how you're feeling. I know how depressing it can be when the people you've basically sacrificed your (and your family's) life for seemingly don't care-I think every pastor feels that way at some point. It can be frustrating when you pass the offering plate and you know there isn't enough there to pay the bills and you'll be the one that has to cover the difference which means your children go without. That is compounded a thousand times when you know they're spending money left and right on everything else. It can knock the life out of you when you are giving it everything you have to build the church and the people that claim to be members of your church won't even show up to service (much less throw their life into the ministries of the church). I know how it feels to have nearly every person you love and depend on walk out on you. I feel you. God does too.

But I want to tell you a few things that I think will help you:

1. STOP TAKING IT PERSONAL. STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP! People are free-willed moral agents. You can't make them love God. If the love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit can't inspire people to commitment and faithfulness, what are you going to do? 

HOW ARE YOU DOING? Are you doing your best? Are you living holy? Are you staying connected to God? Are you preaching the Word? You can only do what you can do. Despite your unintentional god-complex, you're not responsible for other people's walk with God. 

Furthermore, for the most part, the people love you. It's God and His Kingdom their hearts are cold toward. They don't want you to suffer. They don't want you to hurt. They just don't understand that your life is wrapped up in the church and when the church suffers, you and your family suffer. They honestly don't connect the two. When they withhold their tithes, you take it personally because it's you that doesn't get paid. It's easy to be angry and even bitter about that. DON'T BE! Again, it doesn't cross their minds that they are hurting you. They just aren't kingdom minded. 

YOU WORK FOR GOD, NOT THE PEOPLE! HE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU!

2. DON'T BE TOO WRAPPED UP IN THE CHURCH. The church isn't your bride, she's the bride of Christ. You need to concentrate, first and foremost, on your own walk with God. Make sure you're alive. Make sure you're passionate toward Christ. You cannot allow other people to hinder your personal walk with God. When you do that you fall into the same category as the lukewarm laity. Secondly, focus on YOUR family. They love you. They need you. They'll always be there for you, even when others walk out. Don't lose your wife ministering to other men's wives. Don't allow your children to suffer while trying to build children's ministries for other kids. Find a good balance and then maintain it.

3. BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. A breakthrough moment for me was when I come to the conclusion that I may never be a megachurch pastor. We gauge success by numbers and that's suicidal. Most of us don't have the money an Elevation Church or Potter's House has. We can't afford million dollar audio/video equipment. Most of the time we do without a paycheck ourselves, much less spend $10 million dollars a year on staff. As bad as it crushes our pride, we may never break the 50, 100, 200, etc mark. We have to guard ourselves from thinking too highly of ourselves. We may not be as awesome as we think. Pastoring a church of 2,000 may be the death of some of us and we just don't know it--but God does. Be content with where God has you.

And probably, even more important than realizing you may never be megachurch pastors, you need to settle that even if it is God's will for you to have a large church in the future, it isn't where you are now. So instead of always trying to figure out why thousands aren't coming to the church, focus on the 30, 50,80,100 faithful that are coming. Do your best to teach and equip them. Be the greatest small church pastor you can be.

4. BEING A SUCCESSFUL CHURCH IS ABOUT INFLUENCE. A healthy church isn't necessarily a large church. A healthy, successful church is an influential church. Our churches should affect our communities in one way or another. We should have a positive effect in that we are healing and strengthening our communities, but it should also be known that we stand for righteousness and hate evil. To be SUCCESSFUL is to be INFLUENTIAL. If you only have 20 people, don't hide behind your four walls. Make as much of an impact as 20 people filled with the Holy Ghost can! Trust me! That's a lot! 

5. SUCCESS IS BEING IN GOD'S WILL. Success isn't about numbers. Success is about being in God's will. The "success" of other churches/pastors does not determine your success. And your laity's faithfulness (or lack thereof) doesn't determine YOUR success with God. You can be powerful and alive if NO ONE else is! You can have revival in your home if no one else around you wants it. Study the best you can! Preach the best you can! Sing the best you can! If you have one leader, equip them. If you only have one singer, equip them. Do the best you can with what you have and then let God sort everything else out!

YOU WORK FOR GOD! It's His Church. They're His people. He'll deal with them like only He can. You make sure that you're a Christian before you're anything else. It's hypocritical to lose your victory while watching the lives of all of those that don't have the victory! Live for Jesus. Work for Jesus. Be glad that you get to do anything for Him! We should be in hell right now, but for the grace of God.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

Have you ever missed your turn and had your GPS unit inform you that it's recalculating? Me, too, both while driving and in life!

For the most part, technology is awesome! Where would we be without it? On the other hand, I have lost a few things because of it. Do any of you know more than five phone numbers by heart? Yeah. Me neither. I have three phone numbers memorized: mine, my wife's, and the church's. I used to know a hundred, but it isn't necessary for me to memorize numbers any more because I have them all logged into my smart phone under the person's name.

I also have no idea how to get any where outside of Madison County. PRAISE GOD FOR GOOGLE MAPS! I follow my GPS. I don't pay any attention to landmarks or road signs. I follow the GPS! Without it, I'm pretty much lost regardless of where I am. That's terrible ... I know.

One of the beautiful things about a GPS unit (or google maps) is it won't allow you to go 127 miles past your destination. Have you ever got caught up listening to music, talking on the phone, or simply zoned out and drove 20 miles past your turn? Yep, me too! I love (and sometimes hate) the fact that when I overshoot an exit, the GPS unit is extremely stubborn. "Recalculating! Take the next left. Take the next left. Take the next left. Recalculating. Take the next left."

I know everyone of us have missed a turn here and there. We set out to achieve certain things, to accomplish certain goals, but we zoned out and overshot our exit. We feel as if we're useless or have lost so much time that we can't get caught up; we can't make it there on time. Although we've missed many turns, God is merciful! He'll RECALCULATE our route.

Many of you feel as if you've dropped the ball with your spouses and children ... maybe you have, but God's not finished with you! Perhaps you've wasted money and time on drugs and alcohol, hurt your family and friends. You've overshot your turn by 100 miles. If you can stop for just a second, you will hear the voice of God saying, "I'm recalculating the best route for you to get to where I intended you to go. RECALCULATING!"

Brothers and sisters, God is recalculating our journey! You may not have been obedient in the past. You may not have paid attention in the past. You may have even intentionally took wrongs turns, going in the opposite direction that God wanted you to, but His mercy endures forever!

The Apostle Paul said:

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Only in Christ can we truly start over. Only through Jesus' mercy can we still make our way toward the mark that God has set for us. If you will choose obedience RIGHT NOW, you can forget the many wrong turns of the past. It may take you a little while to get there, but you can know that every turn you make, every mile you travel, is taking you to the will of God!

Be encouraged! God is RECALCULATING your journey!

Peace, Love, Hope,
David Lamb 

I CAN'T WAIT TO LOVE FACEBOOK AGAIN!

I love FB, I always have. For me, it is a vital part of "Go ye into all the world..." I'm able to preach and teach at the drop of a hat and be the one that drops it. I'm able to request prayer and immediately have a million people praying. I'm able to scan my newsfeed in order to make my prayer list fuller. I am often engaged in simultaneous conversations with half a dozen frustrated pastors from all over the country, sharing my opinion and experiences with them. I'm able to communicate with Pastor Heavens Kanduna about our churches in Malawi and Mozambique. I'm able to see what God is doing in other churches. I love that.

When I travel, I use it as a means of accountability, checking in at every state line. It allows my bride to know how close or far away her man is from home. It enables the saints of Revival Tabernacle to know when pastor will be back. LOL! I love that.

It gives me a chance to learn a little more about the people I love. It also gives me an opportunity to share my family and our life experiences with them, too. It helps me see life from another perspective. I get to visit places like Italy, India, Uganda, Spain, Nicaragua, etc through my friends. I love that.

I know it's weird, but I kind of like seeing brothers brag on their wives and children and proudly posting pictures of date nights and family outings. It gives me hope for America. I love that.

I like knowing when you kill a big buck or hook a 4 lb bass. I rejoice when you get a new truck or house. I like funny memes with witty sayings about things like us manly bearded men being superior to our smooth faced, effeminate peers. LOL. I like how you can make any picture or statement non-offensive by adding an LOL after it. You see how that works? LOL. I really love that.

I love Facebook, but not today or the past couple months; not since the election has gotten really nasty. I find myself not wanting to look at my newsfeed anymore. I know. I know. I need to toughen up. But actually ... I'm about as tough and thick skinned as can be. I can "not" care what you think in about .000000001 seconds flat (if I want to), but I typically don't want to. I actually like caring and feeling and do so deeply. The truth is very few things bother me and there's only a couple handfuls of people who's opinion of me really really really matters. The thing I love about FB is now the thing I hate about it. Oh, the irony. I'm learning too much about the inner workings of people's minds and hearts. It has made me want to withdraw from the Church world again, hiding out in my little corner of the Kingdom, doing my own thing, but I've already done that in times past and I found that to be a lonely place.

God is teaching me some very important things right now. And what's strange is He is using my little sister to illustrate these truths. She's beautiful, strong, funny, smart and make-blood-shoot-out-of-my-eyes liberal. She and I approach religion very differently which, to be transparent, sometimes hurts my heart. But ... I couldn't love and respect a person more than I love and respect her. She's the real deal. I overlook what I consider to be her flaws and, thankfully, she does the same for me. I love my sister's Facebook posts. Nearly everyday I get to hear about the hilarious antics of my amazing nieces. I get to walk along with her, struggle with her, fight with her. Sometimes she sumbits make-blood-shoot-out-of-my-eyes liberal comments that I roll my eyes and shake my head at. Sometimes she does the same thing at mine. Sometimes, when I make a really far right-winged, blazing, holier than thou comment, I intentionally remove her name from the recipients list. I don't want blood shooting out of her eyes when she's already having a bad day. My point is I'm invested in loving my sister. She's my heartbeat. We disagree on very important issues, but those issues are still secondary to our love, appreciation and respect we have for each other. We are invested in loving each other despite our individual flaws.

HERE'S MY LESSON: I think SOME of my friends' political statements are stupid, insensitive and, quite frankly, abusive. I've been disappointed at some of the things I've seen and heard. I get a little angry when my desire to maintain a pure conscience toward God and men is downplayed and mocked. I've wanted to put a rear naked choke on some of those that tell me they're tired of Christians fighting and calling each other names over this election, yet turn around and fight and call people names over the election. I weary with brothers whom I would never openly attack thinking that any political post I make is about them. 85% of the time I haven't had a chance to read what they've said. Folks are crazy right now. For reals! You can post John 3:16 and someone will say something about voting for Trumplestiltskin or Hillbilly Clinton. LOL. Yowsers.

But I love them. I confident them. I respect them. The people I'm referring to are great men/women of God. They love the Lord. And if I think what they're saying is stupid, they probably think what I'm saying is stupid, too.

And what else should I expect?

My closest friends are strong, masculine, annointed, extremely flawed, alpha-male, female chauvinists. ---> LOL.They thunder when they speak. They speak and write passionately. I love their zeal even when I can't stand the subject matter that zeal is annihilating. My closest friends aren't "yes" men.

We all have character flaws. We all need Jesus. We need each other.

Samson was tied up by his own brothers and delivered to the Philistines. He broke free from the ropes that held him. He still didn't turn on his brothers; there were too many Philistines to kill. I've been freed from many of the ropes (traditions, attitudes, etc) that my Christian brothers and sisters have tied me up with in the past.

BUT I'VE GOT REAL ENEMIES TO FIGHT!

FOLLOWING THE PIED PIPER

I felt the Spirit quicken my heart. I had to rise and ask His design. My heart hurts. Oh, the burden!

Our young people! They are running hard toward hell. They march like mindless zombies. Their stride is in rhythm with the Pied Piper's, with Satan's hypnotizing melody. It is beautiful, but wicked. It is unlike anything they've ever known, saw, or felt, but it numbs them from feeling the sting of their conscience; the pull of the Spirit, checking them, convicting them over the crimes they've commited against God.

Even many of those that sit on our pews are dabbling in the forbidden. They move forward with a glazed expression upon their faces. They're oblivious to the thick darkness that moves upon our land; of the imminent destruction that looms near. Their eyes are blinded by the god of this world. While their life consists of little more than cell phones and social networks, Delilah rocks them into a deep coma. Like Samson, they will be afflicted.

To the luke-warm; the self-righteous pharisee; the hypocrite; the prayerless mother; the burdenless, Spiritless father: Will anyone try and stop them? Will anyone lift their voices, breaking the trance? Will anyone be alarmed? Will anyone break free from the steely cords that hold them, that have them entangled, making them slaves to this deceitful world and its diabolical ruler, long enough to make an eternal difference? Is there anyone who will pray; intercede for the souls of our youth?

God, wake us, shake us, break us before it's everlastingly too late. In Jesus' name, Amen!

THE PULPIT: PULLING MEN FROM THE PIT

1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

As a preacher, my greatest fear is dying and having won too few souls to the Lord. As Christians, I believe our unwillingness to reach for the loss will be taken much more serious by God than what we think.

Think about it like this: Let's say you and I have been friends for 40 years. During that space of time your grandmother, grandfather, mother, and dad all died of cancer. Let's say I was there at the hospital and funeral homes each time, grieving over your loss. But then you found out that I had known the cure to cancer all along, but did not share it with you or anyone else. What if you found out that I knew the cure to cancer while I stood over the death bed of your mother and cried with you? How would that make you feel about me? Well, we have the answer to this wicked world's disease! His name is Jesus. It is a sad day when Christians carry around the only known cure for sin, yet are too proud, fearful, or lazy to tell the world about it! Judgment will not befriend a man who either doesn't count Christ a valuable enough asset, or doesn't love the world enough to share Him with them.

WHAT IS THE PULPIT OTHER THAN A PLACE WHERE WE PULL MEN FROM THE PIT?

Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire;

We must get busy winning souls. That was the primary thing on Jesus' mind!

Lu 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Paul, too!

1Co 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

A friend of mine was delivered from a gross false dotrine that teaches that faith in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ is not sufficient to save a sinner from hell. 

Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

He was told by a preacher that is still imprisoned by that doctrine that he knew he was compromising/backsliding because he had started to preach Jesus and was trying to get people saved! Well, my friend isn't the only one to think the message of Jesus is the most important subject known to man:

1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Let it be said of me that I was a man who preached Jesus and tried to get souls saved! 

FACT! If you don't have a burden for the lost ... you aren't baptized in the Holy Ghost. The baptism in the Holy Ghost will give you an insatiable desire to see souls saved! (Acts 1:8)

FACT! If you don't care enough about lost souls to tell them about Jesus ... you don't have the love of God! Friends don't let friends go to hell. 

LET IT BE AS IT WAS WITH JOHN WESLEY: LET THE WORLD BE OUR PULPIT!  

Pastor Lamb