Flat tire!

I went in to my office on Tuesday and listened to my messages on the answering machine. To my surprise there was a message from Costco telling me that my new tires were in.....I didn't order new tires! I instantly put 2 and 2 together and surmised that someone from church had seen my bald tires and decided to surprise me with new tires. I went to service on Wednesday night publicly thanking whoever it was that bought me 4 brand new tires. I even declared that God was taking care of me and that He knows exactly what I need. I woke up this morning to go to Costco to have my new tires put on. I dropped off the key and gave the guy my cell phone to let me know when he was done. As I was walking through Costco I received a phone call from the store."It can't already be done....could it?" The voice on the other end was somber... "Mr. Goats we need to speak to you in the tire department." I immediately went to the tire department and they informed me that the tires that were ordered were not for my car.... there had been a mistake. a person in my church had ordered some binders for their ministry about 6 months ago and they used the church ATM and used my contact information.....well, when they ordered their tires earlier this month....they changed the ATM but not the contact information. The man in the tire department apologized and then asked if he could have the other persons number so he could inform them that their tires were in. Needless to say, the ride home from Visalia was long, lonely and yes... even tearful. How and why could this happen? I didn't ask for this!!! There was nobody to blame....it was honestly no ones fault. My mind went to last night when I publicly declared that "God was good"! I felt a bit stupid. Then I took my own advise and practiced what I have preached so many times....I began to count my blessings and praise the Lord for what I DO have. I am not entitled to one thing regardless of what those prosperity preachers spew. I deserve hell. I deserve to be judged. but I'm not. I don't need tires to be reminded that my God is watching over me!

Crash or Splash?

I was reading in 1 Corinthians where Paul is talking about if I do all kinds of good stuff but don't have love, I have become a clanging cymbal. Being the professional, highly talented and profoundly skilled drummer that I am, I understood. Cymbals make a loud impression. I have found myself measuring my effectiveness in life by what I have been doing "Loudly" and visible. Cymbals don't resonate very long... just ask some people at my church what I preached 2 weeks ago and you'll get looks like that cat had just before I ran over it the other day... you get my point. Cymbals, when played out of context with the music and the song, can be the most offensive, obnoxious, annoying thing you will ever hear. I don't think Paul was diminishing doing good stuff, but done without love.... I can be real annoying and a big turn-off to people who have any inkling of becoming a christian.

I feel reborn

For some reason I feel like I've been reborn.
I feel like I have had God put a new freshness in me. I am excited. I just spoke to my state administrative bishop and told him that I see myself at Heritage for quite some time. My daughter turned 2 today and is going with momma to begin preschool tomorrow. I have the best wife, the cutest kids and I pastor a sometimes quiet yet always deadly (to the devil) church. I have seen God recently change the lives of people who have begun being a part of our church. God has caused me to rethink what is "church", why do we do what we do? For whom do we do what we do for. It is by the blood of Jesus that I am able to accomplish anything. One of my best friends is an 80 year old man named Loyd who's deceased wife was my 2nd grade teachers aid. I went through a season of deep soul searching concerning my vision and what I want to see God do with me, my family and my church. I see a church who has existed for 60 years turn to a group of people who see people who need to be loved and who see Jesus as their source. I see a church who doesn't lean on methods or empty formalities but see the power of Jesus as a life changing force. I see my family getting out of debt once and for all. I see a marriage that is burning with passion and I see children who love Christ and isn't afraid to tell people about it. I see some old relationships that I used to value be rekindled. I see God using me more outside the pulpit than in it. I see Jesus coming back real soon and I see an urgency rising up in me that acts like it!
I want to be real! I don't want to conform to the stereotypical image of a preacher... I want to function with an anointing that is genuine and undeniable. I want to spiritually reproduce myself and lead other to Jesus. I prayed with a woman in a tax office last week. She broke down and asked if I would pray for her. I put my arm around her and prayed for her right there. I walked out of there thinking..."man, I wished that happened more often!".....why can't it? Instead of using tomorrow to rearrange my office... I just might consider some new ways to get out there. The last time I checked, there wasn't anyone needing someone who cared hanging out in my office.