After a short time offline, the Preacher’s Pen is back and ready to go. The time offline was spent moving the website and all related files to a new webhosting company. This downtime allowed for a quick cleanup of files and various pages. Now, we are ready to grow the website and reach more people in more ways.
Beginning last year, I resigned from local work and entered a period of refreshment and renewal. After a short hiatus from local ministry, I entered the opportunity for local work with the Gadsden Church of Christ in Gadsden, Alabama. In a few weeks, I will share with you my thoughts on why I took a break and why I decided to enter local work again. It will be a heartfelt look from a minister’s eyes. Other upcoming posts are:
When God Says “No”
Living 6 Months on 3 Months Emergency Fund
When Starting Over is Just Right
What I Really Think of Essential Oils
How to Make a Life
Ten Ways to Enjoy Church
Why Are You Waiting?
As I have grown in my life over the past year and re-entered local ministry, the Preacher’s Pen website is back and ready for action. Steps have been taken to improve the speed and the format of the site. Over the next few months, various resources will be added; a few of them are listed below.
Future Releases:
April 1st – The New Preacher’s Pen Podcast
On April 1st, a new Preacher’s Pen Podcast will be launched as a weekly tool to educate, motivate and inspire others for better service in the Kingdom of God. This podcast will be available on iTunes and other podcast formats. Stay tuned for more information.
April 6th – A New Sermon Podcast
A sermon podcast will begin on April 6th. This will be different than the weekly Preacher’s Pen Podcast. The Sermon Podcast will feature the lessons presented on Sunday morning. This podcast will also include a link to the sermon outline accompanying the podcast in the note section.
May 1st – A New Preacher’s Pen Photo Section
A photo section will be made available on the Preacher’s Pen website to provide photos suitable to PowerPoint backgrounds and to be used in other ways. The photos will be available for free in a digital format, but possibly available at a low-cost in a print.
June 1st – The Preacher’s Pen Store
One June 1st, we will open, for the first-time, the Preacher’s Pen Store. This store will feature a variety of resources, books and others items. More details to follow.
As you can see, there are many things taking place behind the scenes of the Preacher’s Pen. I hope that you will be a part of these efforts by sharing them on your social media profiles (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc.).
Thanks for being a part of the efforts to share the best message in the history of the world.
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children…”
(Deuteronomy 4:9; ESV)
I have been blessed more than I ever deserve. Throughout my life there God has placed people at various times and in various places to remind me of the gifts and the blessings given to me. My grandparents have been one of these powerful and motivating blessings.
Last June, my grandmother got better. (Click here to read more) I was blessed to spend her last three weeks on this Earth with her. For those finals days I constantly joked with her about taking her to WalMart, put her in a scooter chair and letting her drive around. She would roll her eyes and smile. After a series of joking around with her, she got serious, very serious.
“You need to get back in the pulpit.” She said.
When she spoke those words, I had been out of the pulpit for over 9 weeks. I had resigned at the beginning of the year, but stepped away from the pulpit at the end of March. I knew she was going to talk to me soon; she just needed the right moment. When she spoke, I nodded in agreement and told her that “I knew.”
“You know where you need to be. Stop messing around with those other things.” she continued.
Since leaving the ministry, I had been involved in insurance and sales. The secular work had gone alright, but not as expected. Her words struck a cord with me; but not one of frustration, but one of humbleness.
My grandmother had been one to let me know what she thought, even if it frustrated me. She was always there when I needed her and here she was again, telling me what I needed to hear.
I think she knew that I would be back in the pulpit soon, but she wanted to make sure I knew her thoughts.
Today, she would be happy. After over six months of a much needed step back from ministry, I am back in the place that I love.
She is happy, because she is better and I am here.
I have been blessed with grandparents who let me know what they thought and how much they cared. Before my grandfather passed away in 1996 some of his final words to me were, “Tell ’em what they need to hear.” He meant ministry and I knew it. I know he is happy.
In 2004, I was blessed with another grandfather, when my grandmother remarried. I was blessed with my “Grandfather Part #2.” He has always encouraged me to stay where God intended me to be and where my gifts can best be used.
I am blessed.
While my grandparents have been a pivotal part of my ministry, I am happy. I am happy to be where I am and happy to be where I need to be with a loving, supportive congregation who, together, will begin to change the world.
Thank you for allowing me to share some of my grandmother’s (and grandfather’s) final words with you. Below are a few things I needed from my grandparents and they provided them. I share them with you today, so you can pass along a lasting legacy to your grandchildren.
Grandparents: Leaving a Legacy
No Matter What, Care for Your Grandchildren – My grandparents, grandmother in particular, always stood by me in my decisions, but she also let me know what she thought of them. I know that her influence is one of the reasons I am where I am today.
Share Your Heart – My grandparent’s shared their hearts with me. They let me see a glimpse of where I stood in their life. I am thankful for the way my grandmother spoke with me about our family and let me know what I could do in the future.
Share your Spiritual Life – I know my grandparents are better because I know they have graduated to eternal joy. Their spiritual life is blessed because they held fast to the faith and their spiritual legacy will continue because of the lives they touched.
Begin today and share the love, the joy and the hope of the future with your grandchildren. Even if they will not listen, they know you care.
Like most football fans, I love a good rivalry which goes back years and becomes pretty intense weeks before the game. The Alabama – Auburn rivalry goes back years and is so intense, most know it as “The Iron Bowl.” Currently, Alabama leads the series 42-35 and there has been 1 tie. As the Iron Bowl on November 29th approaches, fans from both teams will begin debating which team is faster, stronger and better. This year, will be a first for my family and I, as each teams stakes their claim as the best football team in the state, we will watch the Iron Bowl as residents of Alabama.
You read that right – the Gallaghers are moving to Alabama!
I have accepted the pulpit position at the Gadsden Church of Christ in Gadsden, Alabama. The packing of many boxes, furniture and such will begin shortly as we seek to sell our home and finalize things in South Carolina. Pray for us as we make this transition over the next few weeks. It will be a big transition for the kids after living in South Carolina for the past nine years. We look forward to joining our Gadsden family to share the message and serve the people of Alabama and the world.
All I really want is to see you in heaven. I want you to be successful in this life, but so much more in the life to come. Success in this life is determined by human standards, but success in the life to come is determined by your life with Christ now.
The church is changing; some good and some bad – but always remember, the God side of the church is perfect, it is the human side that’s the problem. As humans, we desire to see change we want instead of changes we need. I desire that you be the change we need!
Stand firm on your convictions and stand with evidence in the Bible; not on the words of man. Believe nothing you read or hear until you following the Berean example (Acts 17.11). Check the Bible for the truth (John 17.17). Believe not the philosophies of man, but the words of an eternal God (Isaiah 55.8-9). Man’s ways will only take you to the ends of this Earth; God’s words take you to the unending life.
Strengthen the church. Be the strengthening factor in the church. While some will seek to separate the church from Christ, realize it cannot be done. When you separate the head from the body (Ephesians 1.22, 23), the body dies. The church cannot live without Christ. We need Him and the church needs you to tell others about Him and His church.
Looking at you now, I see the desire you have to follow God. You are readers, hearers and doers of the word even when the world challenges you the other way. Continue reading, listening, studying, and living the life you know is the life to live. Let not the world determine your choices. Let your knowledge of the Creator of the universe be your guide. Let the word speak today as it spoke in years past – it changed souls then and it will change lives today (2 Timothy 3.16-17).
Each day, reach for the prize ahead (Philippians 3.12-14) and put aside those things which are slowing down your spiritual life (Hebrews 12.1). Run the race so you may receive a prize, but let that prize be given to you by God and not by man (1 Corinthians 9.24; 2 Timothy 4.7-8).
Live your life in such a way you will see Jesus and we will see each other in the end.
Last night, the comedian side of me was tearful. A man whose antics, voices and expressions brought my home a thousand laughs was suddenly gone at the young age of 63. He had just celebrated his birthday a few weeks ago and now, he is gone. He brought our family laughs in Mork and Mindy, Popeye, Good Morning Vietnam, Patch Adams, RV and Mrs. Doubtfire, along with thousands of other guest appearances in shows and movies. His comedic genius was great and his desire to make others laugh was clearly seen in his life.
My heart breaks for his family. Losing someone in this world is difficult; whether you know their time is near or whether they pass suddenly. Mr. Williams’s departure comes as a new Night at the Museum is going to be in theatres soon. Those on the outside saw his career continuing with laughs and more of the wonder character of Teddy Roosevelt. His last publically posted words were to his daughter, Zelda, wishing her a happy birthday.
In the wake of this tragedy, news is breaking that Mr. Williams suffered with depression on and off throughout the years. While most find this odd that a man of a million laughs, millions of fans and a life most who dream to live would suffer from depression, a few others find this to be consistent. While at the time of this writing the speculation is suicide tied to depression, our hearts still break and our prayers still go out.
Before I begin, I do not write the following words from scientific theory, applied psychology or theological studies, I write them from personal experience; this is my heart.
Every day people around you and me are suffering from depression. Many of those you may see as “having it all together” are suffering from this dreaded illness today. This illness can manifest itself is many ways and at various times. Some see depression as someone who sits around and gloats in their trials, tribulations and sorrow; and while this may be true to some, the effects of depression are not always present in the public eye.
I know of preachers who suffer depression but publically are professional, loving and involved in everyone’s life. Inwardly, they are struggling with their own lives and the future of their family. Their lives are a service to others continually, but on the inside they are raging and suffering. They are struggling, but to whom can they go? Everyone looks to the preacher to solve their problems; the preacher is not supposed to have any problems.
I know church members who suffer depression because they feel no one cares about them. How can this be, you ask? Easy. They are the ones that come and go in our assemblies without a handshake or a smile. They are the ones that no one gets to know because no one is sure how to talk to them. These members go home every Sunday and sit alone having left an assembly of joyful people.
I know of church members who do everything they can publically, but just as preachers, they are struggling with depression themselves. Every Sunday they put on the public face of prosperity so people will look to them as an example, not a case. Publically, they do “have it all together” but at home, at work and alone, they are questioning life and the path their lives are taking.
Many times, people who “have it all together” are the ones struggling the most. There are those who we know struggle but we do not know what to say or even what to do. They are the people on the prayer list who have been battling cancer for years, struggling with their marriage, trying to find a job, etc. Those are the ones we need to hold close as well.
There are people struggling with depression right now; some close to you and some far away. You will not be able to pull everyone out of depression’s pit, but you will be able to assist them. In the light of future events, many are telling others, “If you are thinking of Suicide call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.” I agree with their efforts because there are many who need professional counseling and help. However, giving someone a number may not help them. Sitting with them as they make the call will. Holding their hand as they suffer through the ups and downs of life will provide them with people around them to love and support them.
I am thankful the Lord gave us the church to depend on and strive for the prize together. This life is a constant battle and the awesome mind of the Lord gave us a community of people struggling through the same problems we do to love and support us, to pray for us and to help us in our time of need. How is your church family reaching out to everyone?
Here is how you can begin to help?
Get to Know Others – Break out of your church routine and get to know everyone. Church are a family, not a private club with your own table. Get up out of that pew and change pews ever week. Shake hands with people you do not know and get to know others. Want to have some fun? Walk up to someone and ask them their favorite color and why? Get the conversation started.
Stop Telling Others to Reach Out and Go to Them – We live in a lazy religious culture. We invite the community to church and never invite the church into the community. Jesus did not say, “Invite them and they will come,” He said, “Go into all the world…” There is a difference. The church building is not a “Field of Dreams” where we build it and they come; Christ already built it and we go to them.
Stop Just Praying for the Prayer List – Ok, before you jump me, you should pray every day, but why just pray? Why not use the hands, the feet and the abilities God has given you to serve those on the prayer list? I bet many of them will not see anyone during the week. So, why not cut their grass? Rake their leaves? Fix them dinner? Or just stop by to help clean their home if they will let you? Service is action, not words!
In the midst of a worldly loss, let us rise to the occasion!
Just my thoughts,
For those interested in the “Business Edition” of this article, you may go here.
Personal Note – This was not written as a cure-all, but as a start. There are thousands of people much more qualified than I to handle the situations others are going through. I am writing from personal experience. My prayers go out to those who are currently struggling through life and those who will struggle more. I encourage you to reach out.
As we turned off the paved road, the sign clearly marked the way and the gravel road told us we were getting closer. With the windows down, the anticipation grew as the sound of the car tires rolling over gravel filled the air. We knew we were close.
West Virginia Christian Youth Camp holds a special place in my heart because it is where the world stops and relationships grow. Free from the cares of the world, those present cling to each other because we know we are the motivation and encouragement we really need. This is the place where new relationships begin and “old” relationships continue to grow. Even though, many of us have not seen each other in a least a year, maybe more, the smiles across each face let you know how exciting it is to see each other again.
From the morning wakeup bell to the crackling of the evening campfire, each day is a blessing. The blessing is not within us to create, but it has been created for us, by a loving God, for us to cherish. It is this blessing which bonds us though Christ’s love to serve one another each week. The week is not about the team’s points score at the end of the week, but the blessing we can be to someone else.
This past week was a blessing to my family. We needed the refreshment and the encouragement.
While I was blessed with the opportunity to speak each evening, Carrie was blessed to teach the children of the staff who were too young to be a camper. Each time I spoke, the encouragement of my brothers and sisters in Christ was beyond motivating. To look out and see young people and adults taking notes, opening their Bibles and paying attention reminded me why I love that place so much. As Carrie taught the little ones, we were reminded how innocent and how truthful they can be and how excited they get when you teach them about the blessings of God.
Truly, this is a special place.
Personally, without this small camp nestled in the foothills of the West Virginia mountains, my life would probably look different. While I have a great upbringing at home, it was being around those of like precious faith that challenged me and motivated me. The challenge was simple, live for Christ every day and let your light shine. Others did it year after year and challenged each one to continue. The motivation was to serve others. The golden rule was the challenge of the motivation – if you want to serve others in the best way possible, treat them as you wanted to be treated; whether they like you or not. The challenge was great, the motivation changes lives and both bring hope of a better life.
I am thankful I was able to come back this year after a six year hiatus. This place has held a special place in my heart since I was 12 years old and I look forward to seeing the place it will hold in my children’s lives.
