This past week my family went to the beach with my brothers and mother.  We love to get together once a year with all the cousins and hang out at the beach.  The guys get together and fish.  We caught about 15 sharks that were about 3 foot long and of course I hooked and landed the 2 biggest.  I landed two 40 inch Black Tip sharks.  Some guy working in Columbia at the state house that would probably be scared to be in the same boat with the shark said I had to throw back according to the rules and regulations.  He said they have to be 54 inches.  Not sure where he got that number but he was probably thinking to himself, “It is 54 inches they won’t even try to put it in the boat.”  My two boys caught 2 of the biggest sharks they have ever caught, put them in the boat, and my 5 year old kissed it before throwing it back. 

So I’m telling my church about this yesterday.  Then later in the service during the announcements I told them about our churchwide mission trip.  We are building a church facility in Rock Hill at New Kirk Baptist Church.  We send nearly 125 if our people and about 50 from other churches including those we have built in the past.  Awesome week.  You should sign up.  It only cost $50.  I thought about sending my kids because it would be cheaper than keeping them home!

Anyway someone visited our church this Sunday for the first time.  It was a young man and his two sisters.  They needed a ride home because they did not have a car and probably walked to church or had someone drop them off.  He misunderstood me during the announcement time and said, “How do you sign up for that week long fishin trip for $50?  I’d like to do that!”

I laughed when I heard it, then I thought. “He’s right.”  It IS a week long fishin trip.  Jesus told the first disciples who by trade were fisherman, “Follow me.  And I will make you fisher’s of men.”  He basically was saying, “Catching fish really doesn’t matter.  Follow me, and I will make your life matter.  Follow me, and you will make a real difference.  Follow me, and lives will be changed.  Follow me, and I will let you partner with me as I transform people.  Follow me, and you will make history.”

So today at work, you are on a fishin’ trip.

Life’s a Trip…Live It.

Today was a great day of worship.  We celebrated Harry Adkins 14 years of ministry here at First Baptist Church.  He has served faithfully, but has been called to the First Baptist Church of Kingstree, SC.  I’m sure that God will use his talents and gifts to establish a solid music ministry program among their church.  Here are some insights from today.

• About 10 men gathered to pray for me.  It was such a joy to hear their prayers and their hearts.
• The youth choir rocked today.  We are blessed to have such great teenagers.
• Several of you told me the message was for you today.  It was for me too!  Sometimes we get so busy that we miss out on a love relationship with God.  Revelation 2 is a wake up call for churches that are busy doing programs but forget about sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to what he has to say in his word and through your prayer time.
• Had lunch with Vivian and Jacque Ussery today in their home!  What a cool place.  It was built by his grandfather in the 40’s and has been completely renovated by the Ussery’s.  He has quite a collection of cool old stuff including many antique coffee grinders.  We talked about the marriage tune up at the Merge on Feb. 19-20.  It is going to be a lot of fun.  I hope you sign up.  Contact the church office today.
• It was great to see so many come and honor Harry at the reception.  There were several former youth choir members who came back.
• During our church council meeting today we heard several stories of how God is working through our ministries.  The jail ministry shared about the dad of one of our newest members, Art, who traveled from Spartanburg to perform magic tricks with a spiritual message.  The children’s ministry received a grant Trina applied for to bless the mentoring program.  The student ministry had a great parent/teen ski retreats.  The local missions group built a few wheelchair ramps.  The men’s ministry crew is gearing up for the Men’s Retreat on March 12-13.
• May God never remove our church’s lampstand from its place.  May our influence in the community and relevance continue to thrive.
• Saints win the Super Bowl!!  Sorry K.  She is a huge NFL fan and was pulling for the Colts.  I was pulling for the Saints.  Their name sounded more spiritual.
• God gets the credit!