What I Love About the Church

This post was originally written for Preacher's Pen. Be sure to check out this awesome website by Chris Gallagher!

To me there is really only one answer to the question, "what do you love about the church?" It's the people. One of my earliest memories of church is being in bible class and learning the poem complete with hand signals, "Here is the church and here is the steeple, open it up and see all the people!"


Without people the church loses its purpose and reason for existence. In Romans 12:4-5 (NIV) Paul explains the church in this way, "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." The Contemporary English Version (CEV) says it this way, "A body is made up of many parts, and each of them has its own use. That's how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another." I love the thought expressed here, that while there are many of us we each individually make up the church.


I think sometimes we miss out on all that church has to offer because we have failed to understand this all important element of relationship in the church. Consumerism has turned the church into a business relationship where people search for the perfect organization with the most to offer. This was never what Christ envisioned when he established his body of believers on earth. It was only when I finally understood this aspect of the church that I was able to begin to fall in love with the church's people. I was never able to love a business model no matter how shiny it was but falling in love with people was something that just came naturally.


Granted, some people are easier to love than others but it is also true that some people need more love than others. I love the church because no matter how bad things get in my life here on earth I know that people's prayers are streaming heavenward on my behalf, no business model can replace that! I love the church because no matter how difficult things may become I know that there are real live actual people who care and who act because we share a common love for Jesus Christ.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:16-18)

Vacation Surprise

          Vacation is a great time of relaxation and renewal.  It is always good to get away from the normal routine, spend time with your family, and recharge the batteries.  My family along with Mom and Dad just returned from vacation Saturday.  We expected to return relaxed and renewed, however, what we found upon return left us humbled.  You see we missed the big storms that rolled through Waynesboro this week.  We had talked to several people back here at home and knew the extent of the damage left in the storms wake.  Fortunately, our homes were spared any damage from the winds, however, we expected to come home and have plenty of work to do cleaning up from all the scattered debris.

            We were absolutely taken aback when we pulled in to our driveway and saw that all the branches blown from the trees had been removed!  As we began to question our neighbors about what had taken place we soon discovered that members of our GREAT church family had taken it upon themselves to clean up for us while we were away.  You guys are awesome and an example of what church actually means.

            Thank You to the Sam Haines and Ronnie Mathis Families!  (For those of you who don’t know, these great people are Sam, Angel, Samantha and Cooper Haines, Ronnie, Shelia, Zack, Cassie, and Dawson Mathis.)

You make me proud to be a part of the family of God in Waynesboro.

Happy Anniversary!

Thirteen years ago today God blessed me beyond imagination by giving me Sheryl to be my wife. Sheryl has influenced me in more ways than I ever thought imaginable. She is my partner, my confidant, the love of my life, and the mother of my children. I value her counsel above all others because there is no one I trust more than her. Among my friends she has no equal for Sheryl is my best friend, no one else comes close. Thirteen years have flown by and my only regret is not stopping often enough to savor the simple moments. I can remember when I first contemplated asking Sheryl to marry me and the thought of being with someone for the rest of my life was daunting, to say the least. But today, as we eclipse thirteen years, "till death do us part" seems too close. I am thankful Sheryl and I share a common faith as I look forward to spending a literal eternity with her. I love my wife!

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

Proverbs 31

Happy Anniversary Sheryl!

Vacation

The family is ready for vacation! We are going to our regular getaway, Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. We leave today, flying from Nashville at 5:30 PM and returning on Tuesday. We always have an excellent time. We have gone so many times now that we are "experts" at navigating "the world." It's always good to get away and we expecially like going as a family. There are eleven of us all together, Mom, Dad, Me, Sheryl, our three children, my brother and his wife, and their two girls. It can get hectic with a big family like that, we often refer to ourselves as the Griswolds from the movie Vacation and Christmas Vacation and we take lots of Tylenol, just in case.

I'll try to blog some from Disney World so keep checking in, I'll probably post some pictures of me being silly as well. It'll be worth the look.

The Life of Ryleigh

Today is a special day.  The Butterfly Foundation is having it's annual walk from the high school to the town square in remembrance of Ryleigh Stegall and to raise awareness for the foundation.  Ryleigh's family started the Butterfly Foundation to help people in Wayne County who have children facing life threatening illnesses.  The Stegall family holds a special place in my heart and in my mind they are true heroes.  The following post was originally written on September 15, 2007 the day after Ryleigh died, I read it at her funeral and since then it has taken on a life of its own.  It remains the most read post on my blog by far with dozens of hits each month.  My intention is to "re-post" it annually in conjuntion with the Butterfly Walk.  Mitchell

Ryleigh Stegall's seven year battle with Leukemia ended Friday morning as she passed from this life and into the arms of God. Ryleigh's life ended quite similar to how it began, surrounded by family and friends, appreciative to God for blessing our lives with her life.

Anyone who ever spent time with Ryleigh found themselves captivated by her strong personality. She had one of those smiles that could light up a room. With all of the things about Ryleigh that made her special, ironically, it was her desire to just be a normal kid that truly set her apart.

Ryleigh leaves behind her parents, Steven and Michelle, her sister Keerstin, and her brother Chandler, a close knit extended family as well as an entire community who loved her. At some point all of those who knew Ryleigh will ponder the question of "Why?" Why did Ryleigh have to bear such a burden? Why did she have to go so young? Why did all the prayers for healing offered on her behalf go seemingly unanswered? I will be first to admit that I have pondered these questions. While I may not be able to answer these questions, even to my own satisfaction, I do know that God holds the answer. Ryleigh now knows the answer and her smile continues to light up rooms.

We may wonder, "What if. . ." What if she had never gotten cancer? What if God completely removed it from her body? One thing I do know is that no one who ever knew her could imagine what life would have been like without her.

Steven and Michelle never let the disease that robbed so much from their daughter's life define her and neither did Ryleigh. This attitude, this determination, is what defined the life of Ryleigh, it is her legacy to us. It is not what happens to you in life that defines you, but rather it is how you choose to live.

We would all do well to choose to live the life of Ryleigh.

Circle of Protection

The Musk Ox seems to have more sense than God's family at times. When faced with danger, musk oxen form a circle with their heads and horns facing outward. In the center of this circle of protection, musk oxen place their young and weak. They gather for mutual protection rather that trying to go out on their own or running away. We can learn a lot from the Musk Ox. When things get tough, we have a tendency to withdraw from those who care for us the most. When trouble comes, instead of coming together to draw on our mutual strength, we stray from the pack and conjure up lame excuses to justify our actions.

We should all remember the old saying, "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven." As long as we are on this earth, Christians will make mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes will be embarrassing, not only to the person themselves but also to the church. Our tendency in such cases is to distance ourselves from the situation. We leave the weak ones outside the circle of protection to fend for themselves. Scripture tells us that we have an obligation to our brothers and sisters in spiritual need. "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:1, 2).

Young Christians are especially vulnerable to being abandoned in their time of need. Mature Christians should be the first to stand beside a fallen brother or sister. We need not be afraid to admit that we too have stood where they are standing. By doing so, we are not condoning their sin, but rather we are protecting them in a time of weakness. We are showing them that while perfection is not in our lot as humans, maturity is.

Jesus was not afraid to stand beside those who had fallen prey to temptation. In the case of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus stood beside her and became a one man "circle of protection." Not once did Jesus say her actions were acceptable, yet not once did Jesus act as if she was unworthy of his presence. On the contrary, once the protagonists had disappeared, those who delight in the fall of another, Jesus was able to show her the way to repentance. "Jesus declared.”Go now and leave your life of sin" (John 8:11).

Helping God's children in their darkest time of need is as close to being Christ-like as one can get. It was for this purpose that Jesus came to earth, and it is because of our sin that he suffered death on the cross. "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers" (1 John 3:16).

Distractions

It's been a while since I last posted and that is an understatement. Call it what you want, "too many irons in the fire," "worky work, busy bee," basically, I have let many distrations keep me away from what had become a form of therapy for me, blogging.

When I first started this blog I was afraid of getting too personal but I found out quick that the more personal I get, the better response I get from you. I also find blogging a great way to deal with stress. I can get things off my chest and out into the open. Since my dad's heart attack two weeks ago the topic of stress and healthy eating have been in the forefront, so I have commited myself to dealing with these two topics in my families life.

So I'll be blogging regularly again. One other way I have determined to deal with stress is through music. I have always been a fan of all genres of music, Rock, R & B, Pop, Country, etc. I just love good music.

Since Sheryl and I have an anniversary coming up February 24th we decided to combine Valentine's Day and our anniversary this year and bought each other iPod Nanos. We love them! I have also added a couple of neat widgets in the right column that shows what I have purchased from the iTunes website. I hope you enjoy this look inside my iPod.

So, what's on your iPod? Drop me a comment and let's compare.

"The Golden Compass"

As a rule I'm not one to pass judgment on someone or something unless I am satisfied I have the facts. Too often people rush to judgment with little or no information to support their claim and this can lead to many problems and even undermine a persons credibility in the future, i.e. The Little Boy who Cried Wolf. That being said I want too inform you of the new children's movie The Golden Compass, while I haven't seen the movie (it opens this Friday, December 7th) or even plan to see it, I have done a fair bit of research on the trilogy of books upon which the movie is based.

The author of the trilogy His Dark Materials is Philip Pullman, a professed agnostic, atheist, and secular humanist. Pullman lives in England and the first book in his trilogy Northern Lights(released in the U.S. as The Golden Compass) is the basis for this movie. The second book in the trilogy is titled The Subtle Knife with the third named The Amber Spyglass. Concerning the underlying purpose for his trilogy, Pullman has stated "My books are about killing God" along with "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief."

The movie and the book which inspired it are reportedly the least offensive of the three in the trilogy, a design to get parents to let their guard down and allow their children to read the books. In The Golden Compass book, one character who is an ex-nun describes Christianity as "a very powerful and convincing mistake." In the last book The Amber Spyglass the two child heroes participate in the dissolution of a senile, pretender God who has falsely passed himself off as the creator of the universe.

I hope this is enough to convince parents that this movie and Pullman's books should be avoided but we should not ignore their existence. If your children are old enough you should discuss this movie/book with them because it is most certain that other children will see this movie and be talking about it.

You can read more on this for yourself by clicking here.

Family Time

This weekend, John Austin, Dad, and myself had a "guys" weekend in Knoxville. We attended the Vols Basketball game Friday Night and the Football gave verses Vandy on Saturday. Enjoy the pictures, John Austin took them all, except the ones he is in of course!


A couple of Eric Ainge "Wannabes"


Enjoying the Basketball Game


Granddad and John Austin at the Volunteer Village


The "Power T" a Tennessee Tradition

John Austin said this was the "perfect" shot, ALL the cheerleaders AND the dance team on the court at the same time!
Photo Credits: All without him in the frame taken by John Austin Skelton

More Family Time

Saturday night the "girls" joined us to complete our family weekend. We went to the Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball game on Sunday afternoon which they won with a margin of victory over 30 points. Before the game the 2007 National Championship team was honored with the "Hoisting of the Banner!"

Hoisting the Banner 2007 National Champs

Waiting for Autographs

Future Lady Vol

Friends and Family

This has been a great weekend. Our weekend started before sunrise Saturday morning traveling to Lyles, Tennessee for a Cub Scout camping trip. I was amazed at the amount of people that turned out for this event, there must have been well over a thousand people. The campground at Cedar Crest was covered with a varying array of tents. The highlight of the weekend for my son was earning his shooting badge and his archery badge. He also excelled at roasting marshmallows, no badge for this skill though.

Early Sunday morning, once again before sunlight, we broke camp to get home in time to get ready to go to Midway church of Christ for Friends and Family day. This was our first return to Midway since leaving the congregation to become Family Life minister at Waynesboro. It was good to get back and see all of our brothers and sisters in Christ with whom we had grown so close.

Cary Crews, of the Wayne Furnace church, did an outstanding job preaching God's word. The food was great. I got to meet Frank Foust, Midway's new minister and his wife Linda. But most of all I enjoyed the handshakes and hugs, those displays of genuine love from one Christian to another.

One thing in life you can never have too many of is friends and family. God has blessed me with many loyal friends and the love of an awesome family!

Faith, Family, and Fireworks

For the past few years my family has worked together selling fireworks in order to fund our passion for Disney World. My family, my brother's family, and mom & dad, all basically give up two weeks of our lives to the heat of a tent so that we can spend one week with "the mouse."

It might sound crazy to most people but to us it makes perfect sense. We are a close family but its only when we work together that we truly get to see each other "shine." Each one of us uses our own special gifts to help make our little fireworks tent successful.

The bible tells us that this is the way the church works when we follow God's plan.

But God has combined the members of the body. . . So that there should be no division in the body; but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:24-25, 27

We are all different. We have different talents and abilities. The lesson for us as God's Family is to let him direct our efforts. If we do this then we will be successful.

Happy Independence Day!

Goodbye and Hello

How do you describe the sadness of goodbye coupled with the excitement of new beginnings? This very range of emotions is what my family is experiencing right now.

After four and a half years preaching for the Midway church of Christ we have all made some very close friends. These are the kind of friends you can depend on, the people you can lean on when times get tough. Leaving friends like this is scary. You don't leave friends like this without a lot of prayer and reflection. When it comes down to it, these people aren't just friends, they are family.

So how is it that we can possibly be excited about leaving family? The answer lies in the question. You see, we're not leaving family for something unknown, we are leaving family and moving to family. It's like the song we sing, "We're part of the family thats been born again, part of the family whose love knows no end."

To me the family aspect of following Christ is the greatest earthly blessing God could ever give.

Sure, there is excitement simply because I'm moving on to something new. There is also excitement about "coming home" to Waynesboro. But when I sit down and think about what God has laid before me it's all I can do to contain myself.

I have been given the charge to work with and build up families; to help other parents, like Sheryl and I, navigate their families through the mine field of society and come out on the other side spiritually stronger.

It is a big task, but I serve an even bigger God and he is able to sustain me.