Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, November 15, 2021.
Sometimes I'm frustrated by the things I still struggle with and it makes me wonder whether I've truly been born again.
But as I ask and seek about that, I find the key to properly evaluating my regeneration is not whether my old nature is still visited by old temptations but whether I now have a new nature indicated by a new heart with new yearnings for God and that confesses Jesus as Lord.
While I am a new creature, the old man remains. And, whatever we feed, we strengthen. Therefore, I starve the old and feed the new. I will never be completely free from temptation until I'm with the Lord but I can weaken the flesh and strengthen my ability to resist it.
Don't confuse this with the demonic talk of feeding the good vs bad wolves.
The wolves approach depends on your strength and your evaluation of good and evil. The new creature depends on God's.
Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, November 7, 2021.
In Week 45 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for my sweet nieces.
I'm the proud father of two boys that I wouldn't trade for anything, but I've always wanted a daughter too.
I believe girls offer something so unique and invaluable to the world that I'd willingly brave the hell of the teenage years again to invest in it.
Though I do not have a daughter of my own, I have a host of nieces and great nieces that I get to see grow up into amazing young women and make their mark on the world. But best of all, I have been given the distinct privilege of being a part of their lives. I'm grateful. #52WoG
*I don't have pictures of all our nieces, but we adore and are proud of every single one.
Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, October 18, 2021.
I struggle with tunnel vision. I will set my sights on an outcome at the expense of everything else.
I can be so focused on what I'm trying to do for the future that I lose what I have now: precious, irreplaceable time with loved ones and friends, enjoyment of the moment -life.
I must be careful not to make an idol out of my plans, putting all my hope and trust in them but instead "trust God who gives us richly all things to enjoy". (1 Timothy 6:17)
I repent.
So, here's some questions I've decided to ask myself daily to make sure that my stewardship of this wonderful gift called life includes enjoying it every day.
Originally posted on Facebook on Tuesday, October 12, 2021.
I don't know about #BelieveWomen, but I do listen and it makes me both sad and angry that women walk around in fear of being attacked or sexually assaulted. When I consider that women I love are subjected to this; my wife, mom, my sweet nieces, friends and sisters in Christ, my anger is multiplied by orders of magnitude. It's become something I am constantly aware of.
Just this morning, I arrived at the gym when it was still dark. As I pulled into a parking space, there was a young woman sitting in her car with the door ajar and her foot on the ground. It appeared as though she was still getting things together to carry them inside. When I drove up and she noticed that I was a man, she put both feet back inside the car and closed her door.
I understood the gesture right away. It was so brief and fluid that you would have missed it if you weren't paying attention or if you didn't care. I purposefully avoided any sudden movement that could be interpreted as aggression. I left my truck running with the interior lights on and the brake lights depressed to indicate that I wasn't getting out immediately. Shortly thereafter, she got out of her car and I was careful to stay put until she hurriedly made it all the way into the gym.
It is heartbreaking that this is the world she and other women live in, one where THEY KNOW THEY ARE NOT SAFE. A world that I, as a man, have contributed to by participating in a system of value that reduces people, women especially, to things to be used for our personal satisfaction and pleasure. I participate in this system whenever I look upon a woman and by reducing her existence to whatever physical attribute has caught my attention at the moment, taking the liberty to give myself visual access to her body with complete disregard for her as a person and lewdly imagining how I want to consume, use and discard her for my momentary enjoyment as though she were some worthless, disposable toy. All of this happens in a mere moment and with just a look. And every time it happens, it adds to the great swell of violence, lewdness and insecurity that women live in.
I repent!
"Lord, I deeply regret my contribution to the danger and insecurity that women suffer, the harm I have done and the separation I have caused between women and the truth of what You created them to be. Please give me Your heart that I may believe about them what You say. Help me, Lord, to see women as You see them: as co-rulers of the earth, co-creators, co-heirs, the other half of the same whole, fellow vessels through whom precious gifts from God flows. I ask these things to further the work of my elder brother, your Son, Jesus Christ to reconcile all creation, including women, to You. Amen."
The real solution to the problem of violence against women will take much more than tactics, it requires a change of heart and a whole new system of belief and value.
Originally posted on Facebook on Tuesday, October 5, 2021.
Belief is to place your trust in something.
Faith is the certainty of an outcome based on a belief that results in action.
I believe:
– God is Love,
– that the Bible is divinely inspired and accurately represents God,
– that Jesus is God's manifestation, His Son, the Christ who has come to deliver us from the oppression of our corruption, from harming and being harmed and to give us true life through the knowledge of the Father
– and that there is nothing more pure, wonderful, powerful and true.
Therefore:
To the extent that I am able, I give up my life: my way of living, my pursuits, my value system, and put all my trust in Jesus, submitting myself as a servant to His Kingship, with the expectation that He will establish an eternal Kingdom of peace and righteousness for His people, and that He would provide a microcosm of that now through me by changing my nature, giving me His heart, instructing me in The Way of the Father, so that I live in such a way that glorifies and represents Him, that produces life and not death, that loves people and draws them into His peace, inexpressible joy and life everlasting which neither fail nor can be taken away.
Originally posted on Facebook on Friday, October 1, 2021.
Hell is intended for the demonic, not the lost.
I don't want to spread hurt or harm, do you? If not, hell is not intended for you.
Hell is reserved for enemies -those who promote darkness.
But, in the day of wrath, everything entangled with the demonic will be destroyed so to forever put away death and suffering and to establish righteousness and peace.
God reaches out to us for this very reason: so that we are not unconsciously allied with the enemy and fall victim to wrath that is not intended for us.
In His love, God provides instruction and the means to not only extricate us from darkness but to usher us into His marvelous light and life that truly satisfies through Jesus, His Son, the Christ.
What wonderful news!
This turns Satan's claim on it's head that God wants to keep you from something good. When in truth, God wants to give you the best (Himself) and keep you from harm! #gospel
Originally posted on Facebook on Thursday, September 23, 2021.
In Week 39 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for Clayton Richardson.
Mr. Richardson called me from an ad in the Yellow Pages for MR COMPUTER MAN and hired me to write a software program for one of his many businesses.
From the very start, Mr. Richardson was intentional about getting to know me personally. Our meetings around software requirements would sometimes spill into the lunch hour and Mr. Richardson would insist that I join him for a meal. More times than not, this led us to Lenny's Sub Shop as he was quite fond of their Philly Cheesesteak.
Over time, we started hanging out just because. He'd ask me about my family and was eager to tell me about his, especially his new set of twin grandbabies. As he was grinning at the thought on one particular day, he looked at me, his face became more serious, almost stern, and said, "Paul, if I could give you anything, it would be this: Find something to do with your boys -anything, and do it every week. I don't care if it's getting an ice cream cone from McDonald's, but do it without fail. If you do that, I believe it will pay big dividends in your boy's life."
He was right. The rituals Melissa and I put in place from heeding his advice are responsible for countless memories that our children cherish and talk about to this day. I was a new father when he shared this with me and it was one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received.
I called Mr. Richardson today to say, "Thank you". At 86 years old, he invited me out to eat again so we could talk more about our families. I'm grateful. #52WoG
Originally posted on Facebook on Thursday, September 16, 2021.
In Week 38 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for Mrs. Martha Jones.
If I had a theological quandary, I'd call Mrs. Martha Jones. She is the wife of my mentor, Dr. Gregory Jones, the greatest exegetist and expositor of the Word I have ever known.
When I'd be at their home at 5 AM for prayer and devotion, she was there.
When I'd be debating with Dr. Jones about the probative value of a passage late into the night, she was there.
When traveling with Dr. Jones to revivals in locations so remote they had to pump in sunshine, she was there.
Every Sunday, for every sermon, she was there taking the most in-depth and detailed notes of anyone in attendance -myself included.
Many ministers have studied at the feet of Pastor Jones but a doubtful few had as firm a grasp on the biblical grace theology that he taught as Martha Jones. She was a consummate First Lady and co-laborer in the Gospel. But, she was even more.
When I was new to the faith, wrestling mightly with sin; a whore, sexist, prideful and arrogant college student, she was there and welcomed me into their home as a son.
When I was alone, she was there and bid me to eat at their table.
When I did not have enough money to buy my newborn son diapers, she was there. Her and Pastor Jones not only opened their hearts to me, they opened their hands.
As I grew in the faith, eventually accepting a call to the ministry, she was there overseeing my leading of Bible Study, Sunday School or corporate worship. She did not withhold correction and spoke the truth in love.
Mrs. Martha Jones was there and is as dear to me as Pastor Jones. I am proud to be their spiritual son. I am grateful. #52WoG
**P.S.** As a son, I ask you to join me in something. As many know, her husband, Pastor Jones, has gone on to be with the Lord. But, Mrs. Jones remains and has been quietly enduring grueling toil to provide for her household -alone. I am asking our fellow believers to join us in blessing Mrs. Jones to supply whatever she may lack (James 1:27).
A gift may be sent directly to Martha Jones via Cash App. Her ID is $island59
My prayer is that God would move on the heart of His people to bless Mrs. Jones whenever He brings her to mind so to affirm the love of God and supply all of her need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, September 12, 2021.
In Week 37 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for our son, Chris Luckett.
The first time I held our son changed me. I was in awe of this tiny human being. I took my index finger to inspect the tiny fingers of his little hands. He was squirming and his eyes were squinting, trying to adjust to the light he's seeing for the first time. As he settled in my arms, he wrapped his hand around my finger and proceeded to fall asleep. As I looked upon his entire hand wrapped around just one of my fingers, I thought, "This little person is depending on me." It was the thought that shook me to my core and changed everything. It was like an entire universe burst into existence before my eyes and I in turn suddenly became very small. It was the first time in my life that something was more important to me than me.
As he grew older, one of the things that stuck out the most about Chris was something he would consistently say as a child. Perhaps the most common question that school age children are asked by adults is, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" And, Chris would answer flatly, "I want to be me." This was his response, every single time.
Authenticity has been a pursuit of Chris' from an early age. His willingness to eschew the opinions of others, to introspect and decide for himself rather than assume the prescriptions of culture or those around him is nothing less that astounding. It demonstrates a courage and integrity that inspires me every day.
From the day he was born, God has used Chris to make me question the worthiness of worldly pursuits and to challenge me to live for something greater. I'm grateful. #52WoG
Originally posted on Facebook on Friday, September 3, 2021.
In Week 36 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for Rebecca Youngblood.
Occasionally during dinner time, Melissa and I would play the game "Would You Rather?" with our kids. We would go around the table and each person would pose a hypothetical situation to one another which would usually require everyone to choose one of two options. An example would be, "Would you rather get one million dollars right now or receive $20,000 per month for the rest of your life?" It's fun and provides insight into each other's personalities and priorities.
As a kid that grew up United Methodist, I participated in an organization called the Christian Council on Youth Ministries or CCYM. I was not a believer at this point but I didn't know I wasn't and I was mostly involved because it was the default. It got you out of the house, there were some cool trips and it was something to do. Notwithstanding, it was pretty demanding. There were weekly local youth meetings, quarterly district meetings, a summer and fall retreat (at good ole Camp Wesley Pines) and then youth functions at the Mississippi Annual Conference.
One particular year, I remember the name of our statewide Youth Director was Rebecca Youngblood. Honestly, that's all I remember which is odd given: 1.) my memory and 2.) how frequently and for prolonged lengths of time I would see her during many of these events. What I do distinctly remember was the peace, decency and order that presided over all of our gatherings. I remember one especially moving time during an annual conference that was being held on the coast. It was dusk and all the youth were gathered on the beach right outside the HoJo (Howard Johnson) Hotel. We sat in a circle on the sand around a fire and sang "How Great Thou Art".
On the last day of the conference, Rev. Youngblood gave me a black and white marble paperweight with a pewter inset that was the size and shape of a half-dollar coin. Inscribed on the coin were the words, "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace." Of all the thousands of sermons I've heard growing up, this phrase is one of the few messages that stuck with me. It's in my heart and I have that paperweight to this day. Her quite, faithful service imparted to me something that eloquent, passionate preaching or grand, impressive gestures could not.
So, would you rather be remembered for something impressive or know that you've helped someone but no one remembers your name? It is evident to me that Rev. Youngblood chose the latter. She and many others are like Joseph in the Bible, the earthly father of our Lord, of whom not much is spoken but the parts they played were greatly used by the Lord and pivotal. "And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor…" Today, I honor Rebecca Youngblood.
