Born for more

So once again I find myself sitting here waiting for the "icy" highways to reopen so that I can get about my Fathers business! Yes it is Louisiana and we are hopelessly frozen in the ice cold grips of winter terror.  In reality, if someone in the state spills a glass of sweet tea with ice in it, schools close, bridges are shut down and the weather men take over the airwaves as if the zombie apocalypse has occurred. 

So I will take the time to consider and reflect upon my life and ministry.  If I were to have been asked 30 years ago where I would be and what I would be doing i am confident it would not have been here doing this. My childhood dream was to be a fighter pilot and go to the Airforce Academy.  On May 8, 1976 that plan was altered due to a motorcycle wreck that rendered me unfit for military service. It really is amazing when you consider that God takes the most unfit, unqualified, unholy things and people and totally repurposes them for His glory! 

Now while we are amazed at where we end up and how we got here, God is not surprised.  Why?  Because we were Born for so much more.  I was fortunate to be born into a loving Christian family.   We were raised in church and encouraged to follow our dreams. But as great as my earthly family is, my Heavenly Father had even greater plans for me.  

So here I am. In Shreveport Louisiana. I Pastor the church I grew up in.  Amazing. I get to be a part of the life journey for so many wonderful and inspiring people.  Amazing.  Ironically, considering that a motorcycle changed what I thought was my destiny, today I am the President of the Chariots of Light Louisiana Chapter Motorcycle Outreach ministry! God took the very thing that Satan used to hurt me, and now uses it to spread the Gospel light.  

Ain't God Good!

Honor

It was brought to my attention today that it has been WAY too long since I last blogged and that the world was in need of some more positive verbage!  I could not agree more!  So I sit here and reflect on all that God has done for me, and continues to do. 

I wanted to take  a minute and consider what it means to honor. I am blessed to be a part of an awesome outreach organization known as the Chariots of Light. Like most "biker gangs" we too have a hierarchy and structure of leaders, and members that exist to further the purposes and vision of the ministry. Inherent in the success of that venture is a code of honor and conduct that not only guides but drives each member to model Christ in our integrity, and behavior. 

Honor is something that is lost on many today. In a world that seeks its own at all costs and encourages dominance and aggressiveness in order to get what you want, a person who preserves honor, and walks inside the boundaries of God established hierarchy and structure will often be ridiculed and considered weak. I for one disagree.  There is nothing more powerful or inspiring than watching a person or leader as they exhibit honor and respect for another whether it is someone above or below them on the ladder of life. 

1 Peter 2:17 says this: "Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."

 My prayer is that I succeed in displaying Godly honor and loyalty to all who are above and below me. My family. My friends. My co worker. My God. 

To honor and serve....
Pastor Eugene

Pain, Progress, and Promise.

It is hard to believe that November is already upon us. As the year comes to an end and we prepare to celebrate the wonderful season of Thanksgiving and then Christmas, it causes me to reflect on the incredible progression that takes place when pain gives way through progress to bring promise!

In the last few weeks we have been blessed to witness the miracle of life in the arrival of Eleana Gorman to Keith and Nicole Gorman and Sophia Porterfield to Charlie and Crystal Porterfield. Their births are the culmination of much preparation, necessary pain, and ultimately the beautiful fulfillment of promise. I never cease to be amazed at the process of how such difficulty, can ultimately bring such beauty and joy.

Even as we celebrate Thanksgiving it is a time to remember the trials and hardships of our earliest American pioneers who came to a new land to be able to worship as they pleased. It was a difficult and deadly journey and the life they came to know in this new land was inhospitable and cost many of them their lives. And yet, in the midst of the pain and the hopelessness that must have been there, the light of hope and the promise of a better tomorrow caused them to be able to gather together, and share in that first Thanksgiving feast. Yes, America went through the trials and pains of the birthing process to bring forth new life and freedom to all.

Our church has been going through the pains of progression and change as well. We have experienced the difficulty of saying goodbye to some of the wonderful saints who faithfully served here for so long. We have experienced the pains of adapting and changing our ways of thinking and serving in order to present the never changing but life giving Gospel message to a new but equally deserving generation! Yes it has been difficult, but through it all I am reminded of the promises of God! There is a season for all things! He has not forgotten His promises!

As you begin to plan for this season of Thanksgiving I want you to remember the promises of God. Remember the joy of our salvation that comes through the sacrificial life of Jesus and the resurrection promise that was fulfilled! Remember that God has blessed Life Tabernacle with New Life, new families, new babies, new vision, and a new hope for tomorrow and lets give thanks with a grateful heart!

I dearly love and appreciate each of you and I am honored to serve as your Pastor. I believe that our best days are yet to come and that we are going to see supernatural things!

In His Service,
Pastor Eugene

Banjo's and Bad Days

The other day I received an offer in the mail to try Sirrus XM Radio free for 3 months in my new truck. Well to say the least I was thrilled! I mean come on... its free! Who is going to turn down something that is free! Well actually I can think of a few times I wish I had said no to a "free" offer! I think I only have 11 years left to pay for the "free" subscription to Cluck.... the publication for all things pertaining to Chicken Lovers.

Anyway, as I browsed through the various channels available on XM Satellite Radio...I was thrilled to find the Bluegrass network! Now everyone knows that I love a little banjo picking and have tried to pick the old 5 string myself! As I listened intently to song after song of fabulous banjo and bluegrass music, I was in hillbilly heaven!

After awhile I switched over and listened to some great worship music, and then some talk radio. Truth is most of the time I am in my truck driving I do not listen to anything... but I just had to get my value out of this great "free" offer. The one thing that struck me today as I was driving was that no matter what bad things may be going in my day or at work or in life... every time I find the Bluegrass channel... and those banjo's go to rolling..... I find myself with a smile on my face and a skip in my step. I realized today that you cannot be sad.... and listen to the banjo!

The same is true as a born again child of the One true God! I cannot think of Him, His love for me, His grace, His mercy, or His Word... without finding myself smiling and finding joy! It was David in Psalms 51 that in the depth of his despair reminds us that our joy is found in our salvation! I am not going to ignore the fact that life is hard. Everyday we are all faced with many things that seek to steal our joy. Financial pressures, family issues, and a thousand other things can send us into the dumps of despair! It is in these times that we may find it hard to remember the joy that is supposed to be ours!

We need to remember that just like you cant listen to the banjo and be sad.... we can't remember the great things that God has done for us... and remain sad! Wow.. I get happy just thinking about it! And better than the "3 free months from XM Satellite Radio".... the joy that God gives to us is free... eternally free! So let me encourage you today. No matter what you are going through. Now matter what difficulties you may be facing.... tune into God and find the joy of your salvation!

Praying for all of you today! Love, Honor, and Service.
Pastor Eugene

I AM Number 1!

This past Sunday night I had the honor and privilege to be asked to speak to a Men's fellowship at a church in Marshall Texas. I took a few of my closest friends with me for the short 30 minute drive. Nothing like a little fellowship with Godly men!

Anyway, as we were driving on I-20 headed West, a white Toyota Corolla pulled up behind me and was determined to save gas by drafting me. Being the considerate driver that I am, I pulled into the next lane to allow him to pass. Apparently, unknown to me, pulling into the adjacent lane to allow someone to speed past you qualifies you for a special award. As the Toyota Corolla sped on past me, a white Ford Ranger whips out past me, and then darts in front of me so close that a seasoned Nascar driver would have flinched at the wheel! I turn to my traveling companions and they are as amazed as I was at the fact that he was so close to us that we could see the settings on his radio dial!

It was at this moment that I realized I was special. The Nascar wannabe driver in the Ford Ranger rolled down his window, stuck out his hand and began to signal very urgently that I was well... No 1! Now it is not the first time in my life that I have been awarded the "No. 1" waver, and I am sure it will not be the last! Over and over he waved that I was number one and even as he exited the interstate ahead of me, he was signaling my praises in his single finger salute!

Now any other man would have been inclined to want to return the honor of signaling that he too was a Number 1 driver but I refrained from exhibiting such behavior. I am sure it did not hurt that I was with fellow church members and as such felt the responsibility of setting a good example. We all laughed and continued on our journey to Marshall. What struck me the most was the overwhelming anger of my newest admirer.

Anger is a funny thing. I really do not believe that anyone wakes up with a goal to see how angry they can become today... or how many times can they blow up or throw a fit. Anger does not work like that. Instead, anger does not generally grow or increase because of careful planning or preparation. On the contrary, anger is one of those things that comes out of nowhere, totally ruining a day, a moment, a relationship, a life, a church, a family, or countless other things.

Anger. Rage. The fury of uncontrolled emotion exhibited in numerous situations every day and usually without any warning. Where does such emotion begin? It begins in the heart. Now you may find it hard to accept but the truth about anger is that is generally lies dormant in the base of a persons heart until just the right trigger is pulled then BAM! "Out of the abundance of the heart... the mouth speaks... the body exhibits... the destruction begins." Knowing that anger is a heart issues demands the best of "heart surgeons"... and that is Jesus! Jesus can change the very DNA of your heart! It does not matter if you were raised in an angry house, by angry parents! You can take on the nature of your heavenly father which is anything but angry!

" But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control against such there is no law!" Galatians 5:22 So the next time you find yourself receiving the "Number 1" award, remember that Christ is working in you a new way of living... and just smile and speak blessing!

Pastor Eugene
1 Peter 2:17

Overtime

It was Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals with Dallas leading the Oklahoma Thunder 2 games to 1. Game 4 was in Oklahoma City and Dallas fell behind immediately after the Thunder hits on their first 9 baskets! But despite the great shooting of Oklahoma and the numerous turnovers by the Mavericks, Dallas goes into the locker room at half time only down by 5 points.

The second half proves to be more of the same but Dallas eventually finds themselves outplayed and down by 15 points with only 5 minutes to play. Now I am not sure if it was the cummulative effect of an exceptionally hard day at work or the satisfying carbo load of fully loaded chili dogs or a combination of both, but I decided it was time to give up on Dallas! Down by 15! Go to sleep! It is hopeless!

Oh how many times in my life I have felt that way. Overwhelmed by the obvious obstacles in front of me or the enormous odds against me, I have wanted to give up and many times did. Hopelessness is a helpless feeling. Everything inside of you crying out for some kind of break, or change, or at least a glimmer of hope. You too may have been in that place of utter despair or worse yet, you may be faced with seemingly insurmountable odds even now. But let me remind you of this; with God as our source, we are never without hope! Paul reminds us in Romans that we may be pressed on every side, but we are not crushed, struck down but not destroyed! There is hope!

Yes, I gave up on any chance of Dallas winning and I went to bed. But today I am reminded... there is always hope and just like Dallas fighting back to win the game in overtime, we too must not give up the fight!

Living Supernaturally!
Pastor Eugene

Change

I never cease to be amazed at the way things are constantly in a state of change. It does not take a lot of effort to look back and on the last ten years and see the blur like change in so many areas! To many these changes fall into the context of progress or an improvement in the quality of life, and no doubt that would be true. In areas such as medicine and health care we have advanced to the point of finding remedies for so many things that were considered fatal only a few years ago.

Some of the greatest changes have been in the area of electronics. I can still remember the black and white television we had growing up. The turn dial on it went to 13 channels and if you wanted to watch a different channel you had to actually get up, walk over to the TV and change the channel! Today we have HDTV's in 3-D with theater quality sound systems with over 200 channels, blu-ray disc players and of course the 3 remotes it takes to control them all! Many call these advantages great progress but I see us progressing more and more to becoming lazy couch potatoes!

Where will all of this change take us? How much further can we advance in medicine, electronics and numerous other areas of constant change? In the midst of this culture of constant change, the church as we know it is also changing, and that is not all bad! Many churches have embraced the digital revolution and become effective at using the technology to communicate and minister to highly connected but busy audience. I believe that we as the church should use every tool within our ability to reach the lost!

But in some ways, change has invaded the church in areas that God never intended! There are many churches that are abandoning the power of the gospel and compromising the message to foster acceptance in a more liberal society. The end result is a church that really looks more like the world than a place of spiritual refuge. But in spite of this changing face of the church, we must remember that not all things change. Malachi 3:6 the Lord reminds us that He does not change!

God is the same yesterday, today and forever will be! In a world that changes its wants, desires and direction more times that a preteen girl changes clothes in a day, I am thankful to know that my God remains the same. No matter how much my world changes, no matter how much this society changes, no matter how much everything else changes... God remains ever faithful, ever present, ever loving, every merciful.

Love, Honor, Service,
Pastor Eugene