Monthly Archives: October 2022

So, the drag show is back on the schedule.

So, the drag show is back on the schedule. And, I came to the Cotton District Arts Festival anyway…

Originally posted on Facebook on Saturday, October 29, 2022.

So, the drag show is back on the schedule.

And, I came to the Cotton District Arts Festival anyway

because I'm an adult.

I wasn't for the drag show. I voiced my objection. It didn't go my way and I moved on. I'm not in a corner pouting like a child or scheming how I might impose my will on you in the future.

This is part of living in community. Sometimes things don't go the way you want but that's what comes with living with other people.

It's a price I gladly pay for our wonderful, vibrant community.

I came out today because Melissa and I wanted to be with our neighbors despite our differing positions on the issue and to prove that we can disagree, even staunchly, and still be friends, living peaceably together.

In my view, this drag queen business and that gigantic cross in…

In my view, this drag queen business and that gigantic cross in Starkville are much of the same…

Originally posted on Facebook on Friday, October 28, 2022.

In my view, this drag queen business and that gigantic cross in Starkville are much of the same thing.

I suspect it's not about inclusivity or faith, it's about power and making a public declaration about who has it.

Whether that's true or not, I don't really care, but what I do care about is how the struggle between these opposing constituencies risk cleaving the baby of our community in two. And, I wish one had the compassion and gentleness to forbear so that the baby could live. And, oh how I wish it were my fellow Christians.

Whatever your position, the community is not yours, it's ours.

We don't all believe or live the same and never will but we've got to learn how to live together, to share the same space and make it work just as well for one as any other without violating the harmony of the whole.

And to be clear on my position, I do not believe a drag performance at what has been widely regarded as a family friendly event is in keeping with that harmony. In my view, it egregiously violates the long-standing expectation for a family-friendly atmosphere.

At the end of the day, whatever your persuasion: gay, trans, straight, Christian or not, know this: I respect you, I value you, I want you with me, I want you near me and I want to be a good neighbor to you. If we can at least agree on that, we can respectfully work through anything –together.

A Common Problem With Christian “Witnessing”


Often the problem with our witness as Christians is that we don’t love the people we’re witnessing to.

My wife shared with me how as she and our son were leaving Walmart they were approached by two people saying, “What church do you attend?” And, after saying a bit more they handed her a flyer and invited them to their church.

She called me immediately after and said, “I guess they were well meaning, but why does it bother me so bad?”

I submit because there was no love.

Part of love is honor. And, honor is an acknowledgement of worth.

The spirit of this particular approach my wife experienced was, “You lack something that you need me to give to you.” It’s presumptuous, accusatory and dishonoring.

Now what would this encounter look like if it were someone I actually honored? What if it were Warren Buffett or Jeff Bezos I were talking to?

Now if this were Warren Buffett of Jeff Bezos, my approach would be one of honor and accommodation. I’d go to them rather than expect them to come to me. I’d clear my calendar and would make room for them whenever they could grace me with their presence in hope of just being in their company and getting some small shred of insight into how I might attain the wealth that they have.

For believers Jesus is our treasure. Ephesians 4:8 says “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men”. He distributed this heavenly wealth as precious expressions of His person to the redeemed, giving to some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, some teachers… (Ephesians 4:11-12)

The point being that there’s a potential of some insight into the unsearchable riches of Christ available through every person you meet that you won’t get any other way! Oh, what tremendous value and worth that person represents!

It would transform our ministry if we approached people in excited anticipation of what glimpse of Christ we may glean through them.

But first, we have to address that our values are misplaced and repent. A lack of honor is a dead give-away that we perceive a person lacks worth.

Jesus said our treasure should not be on earth but that when we value what He value and honor those He loves with even a cup of cold water, we’ll have treasure in heaven. Jesus thought that person you are talking to at any given moment was worth the cross.

Engage accordingly.

Honor all people. (1 Peter 2:17)

And for the record, I’m also preaching to me.

About the other night…

Originally posted on Facebook on Thursday, October 27, 2022.

About the other night…

I'm full of hope.

Ephesians 4 tells followers of Christ to walk worthy of our calling, with all humility and gentleness, with longsuffering, to bear with each other in love, endeavoring to KEEP the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

In the body of Christ, unity is not something we achieve –Christ through the Spirit has already done that.

Unity is something we defend.

And, I am so thankful for the leadership of men such as Vernon West, Orlando Trainer, Johnny Buckner, Tim Boden and Josiah Buckner who are willing to fight for it!

We're waging war on Satan's efforts to divide us. The gates of Hell shall not prevail against us! We're fighting towards each other and it's beautiful.

Join us.

“What is man that You are mindful of him,

"What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?" -Psalm 8:4 What…

Originally posted on Facebook on Saturday, October 22, 2022.

"What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?" -Psalm 8:4

What a glorious question!

Why does God concern Himself with us?

Why does He choose to involve us, to entrust His power to us and to make us the means by which He achieves His good and perfect will?

Why even bother given the trouble we seem hell-bent to cause?

Because we were made good…

"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

"Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day."
-Genesis 1:27,31

for good works…

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
-Ephesians 2:10

and we do it perfectly when we're in Him (like Jesus).

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
-John 8:29

But, WE have to see that and choose Him.

That's the case God's been making from the very beginning.

He's allowed us to make the disastrous choice of anything besides Him and to experience it's consequences so we could learn…

while simultaneously providing a path of redemption back to where every good and perfect thing is -Him.

No wonder that David concludes that Psalm,

"O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!"
-Psalm 8:9

Image source: Anton Jankovoy via Flickr

God provides.

God provides. "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse…

Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, October 9, 2022.

God provides.

"Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?"
-Luke 12:24

God provides for all creation. He feeds the birds but He doesn't drop the worm in their mouths.

God provides through means and mechanisms.

The means are abundant opportunity.

"O Lord, how manifold are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all.
The earth is full of Your possessions—
This great and wide sea,
In which are innumerable teeming things,
Living things both small and great."

"These all wait for You,
That You may give them their food in due season.
What You give them they gather in;
You open Your hand, they are filled with good."
-Psalms 104:24-25,27-28

The mechanism is the God ordained system to convert opportunity into sustenance and wealth:

Work.

"He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,
And vegetation for the service of man,
That he may bring forth food from the earth"
Psalms 104:14

#work

Would I seek after God if all I got was a relationship with Him?

Would I seek after God if all I got was a relationship with Him? To those who come after Him,…

Originally posted on Facebook on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.

Would I seek after God if all I got was a relationship with Him?

To those who come after Him, Jesus asks a sharp question:

"What do you seek?" -John 1:38

Imagine a relationship so marvelous that the other stuff no longer matters.

To that Jesus says, "Come and see." -John 1:39

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Luke 9:57-58

I believe the Word makes it clear that until we are ready to accept God on those terms: at the expense of all else, the abandonment of all else and satisfaction with Him alone, we will not receive Him.

God is the treasure. The question always before us is "Is God enough?"

We treat it like a four letter word but did you know that God…

We treat it like a four letter word but did you know that God ordained work as a blessing before…

Originally posted on Facebook on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.

We treat it like a four letter word but did you know that God ordained work as a blessing before the fall?

"Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it." -Genesis 2:15

We who are in Christ are not under any curse. Work is good and is one of our most effective opportunities for ministry.

We shouldn't just work. We should abound in good works.

Generosity is a part of God's character. And, if we are His image bearers this should be reflected in us and expressed in our work.

The Ministry Of Work

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com The Ministry Of Work

NOTE: This is a stub. It’s a raw outpouring of what came to me in a moment. There were points that were deeply helpful to me and I felt compelled to share it at this time, so I’m posting it before it is finished and will fill it out as more about “The Ministry Of Work” comes to me.

Ugh, another work day.

I found myself in a place where I was completely disenchanted with my work. I didn’t have any motivation. I didn’t want to do anything. I simply didn’t have the energy.

I felt bad for feeling bad. Am I being lazy? Am I depressed? Am I burned out?

This feels familiar. I’ve been here before. Experience teaches me to execute James 1:5.

So, I share my struggle with a fellow believer. I seek wise counsel. I pray.

My petition is singular, “I’m completely unmotivated. I don’t want to do anything. I’m not sure if I’m being lazy or if I’m depressed. What am I supposed to do?”

Then, I rest, not just rest from my tasks but I rest in the Lord, waiting, listening for His guidance.

The answer comes to me in that quiet place.

“Not what [you should do], who.”

Whatever matter we’re seeking the will of God for, we can know with certainty that the Father wants us to be like Him, to have His heart.

Everything good is in Him and His perspective on everything is perfect, so who is our Father and what is His heart as it relates to to work?

God is a giver.

God gives abundantly.

God gives so there is more than enough for everyone.

God in His wisdom creates means and mechanisms for the provision of all living things.

The means are His creation –natural resources and the mechanisms are the systems He’s ordained for the extraction and conversion of natural resources into provision for the care of His creatures.

And, one such mechanism God has given us to care for His creation and provide His abundance is work.

Lack, insufficiency, hunger and poverty are all a result of man’s corruption, exploitation and mismanagement of God’s creation.

When we fail to work for the benefit of others we steal, we rob the world of God’s loving provision through us.

“Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” -Ephesians 4:28

Lies block love.

Show me suffering of a man’s soul and I’ll show you a lie.

In the light of the truth of who God is and who I should emulate, I can see the lies that I allowed to creep into my heart and cause my dis-ease:

1. Work is just about getting rather than giving. (Salaries, titles, status)

2. We get our fulfillment or value from our work.

3. If I can’t do what I want to do, I’m not doing anything.

Work is more than just a means of feeding ourselves, it is also a means for expressing Christ (the heart of the Father), it’s an opportunity to minister His character to others, it’s a means of communicating who He is.

I don’t typically enjoy physical labor but there’s a work I do with delight –washing my wife’s car. I do the work with diligence, excellence and attention to detail. I love conveying the truth of God that she’s cared for and it gives me pleasure to think of her constantly riding around in a tangible reminder.

We should also look for the ways others are seeking to convey His person through their work and be co-laborers with them, especially when we’re unclear about or do not yet have any of our own.

We should be driven to make ourselves useful and be productive as God is productive.

“But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.'” -John 5:17

Sometimes, lethargy is due to causes less sinister than lies and disobedience, sometimes it’s due to being overwhelmed with complexity and decision fatigue, not quite knowing which thing to do or choosing which task would be the most profitable. But, what we know for sure is that some labor, any labor is more profitable than none. So choose something and get moving because it’s in the process of walking in faith that God provides for the next step.

Though I’ve hinted to it, I would be remiss in not emphasizing that a part of who the Father is and what His heart is as it relates to work is rest.

When we fail to properly rest, we fail to properly express who God is.

We should either be working or resting in preparation for work (which includes enjoying the fruit of our work). When we do it properly, we glorify God, we are revealed as sons of God and become vessels God uses to pour out His abundant and manifold grace in the world.

This newfound perspective of work not just as a task (what) but as a means to express God’s character (who), to be a giver as He is a giver and to be His vessel for His provision and care of His creation deeply encourages and revitalizes me. It places a high and challenging calling on all that we do.

Therefore,

“whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” -Colossians 3:23

Work.

Posted by Paul Luckett.

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Maintaining Focus

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com Maintaining Focus

I am grieved by the brokenness of the world and the suffering it causes.
I am often tempted to try to “save” or change the world.
But, that is not my charge.

The world will remain broken and grow worse as long as there is evil in it, that is, any way of thinking besides God’s.

I have one focus: to attend to my Lord’s house,
to see to the provision for those who are in it,
to maintain it as a safe place
and to seek His beloved, declaring everywhere the good news of His salvation from sin whose infection has caused a broken and dying world.

And, as we who are being saved enter His house, we wash each other’s feet so not to bring the filth that is outside inside.

My goal therefore is not to save the world but to lift up Christ and see people saved out of it:

To invite everyone to the courtyard of the knowledge of Christ,
To minister them into the sanctuary of relationship with Christ,
To lead them into the Holy of Holies of the Love of Christ,
To serve the House of God as a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).

Practically, that means to make the Love of God known not only in word but also in deed and truth (alḗtheia -sincerity): in how I serve, how I work, how I relate to everything –in how I live (1 John 3:18).

May I be found so doing until my Lord returns,
when “all enemies have been put under His feet” and evil is defeated completely (I Corinthians 15:25).
Then, by His power, there will be no more destruction, “for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” – Isaiah 11:9

I have decided to make all that I do in service to this: my Lord’s house. As Paul said, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2.

If it doesn’t further this, I have no part in it. #kingdomfocus #focus

Originally posted by Paul Luckett to Facebook here.

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