The challenges of church is truly an across the board experience for staff and members. Honesty in church is often seldom heard as most are afraid to make a truth statement because of the way it will be viewed by those observing. In church last week I heard a great statement of truth that touched my heart in a very refreshing way. The Minister of Music has been asking for, recruiting, and seeking out new members for the choir. This week he announced how happy he was for those who had recently joined the choir and he expressed his public thanks. Any one who has ever been a church choir member knows that it is special when others join that particular ministry. It’s encouraging for those who have been singing their hearts away from the choir’s position because you feel the value of your ministry and service is seen by others and the importance of your work is valued and others want to help. Not a bad feeling for any church member involved in any church ministry.
The statement made by our Minister of Music was that he was “so excited about the new members who had recently joined, and he decided to pull out some old music only to realize that the new members didn’t have clue and those plans would need to be scrapped for the moment”. Now, I’m smiling deep inside as I write because those types of comments are just not typically shared on a Sunday morning in worship. It was very refreshing however.
It’s refreshing because of the honesty involved that included the great news of exciting involving others who are stepping up and the honesty of the situation that with growth new challenges develop, even for staff members who lead. So often in church, when we talk about growth and change, we think about it from only a church members position and we hardly ever consider the changes involved for the staff that are leading the effort.
Have you ever consider the challenges facing a new staff member that has just joined your churches leadership team? The adjustments from moving ones family is more then enough challenge for the average family, add on to that, the new friends their children must begin to develop and having to establish who you are again, what you believe, and let’s just add on to the list of challenges saying goodbye to all your favorite things and attempting to build new traditions is no easy journey.
Sure we can be friendly, we can offer assistance and we can even provide answers, and take them to our favorite spots, but still the real test is one that only time can provide. Seldom do we consider the change that we as church members can levy against our current leadership when we offer our suggestions without anytime for consideration or input from their point of view. Even when our church leadership has been around for sometime it is easy to forget that they too may need time and planning.
The honesty and straightforwardness of the testimony of my churches Minister of Music has me in the biggest smile. In Southern Baptist life, most folks don’t really look at the Minister of Music as a real Minister. They will describe them as the “music leader” or even as the “song leader” but rarely as a Minister like the Pastor. Personally having filled both roles I know this from first hand experience, but I also know as a Pastor when the entire staff is seen as the Representatives of Jesus, His servant, and His leadership, a church can really rock. I’m glad I heard the encouragement of the day, from the spoken word of God’s Music Man!.
Until then
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Growing Faith....with a horse
Struggling issues of religious faith can often be either a motivating factor in an individual’s life or that same issue could be the final step in a journey looking for answers. Faith, the Bible says is to believe without seeing. Faith in others is most often demonstrated after it is observed through patterns of actions and words matching up. It could be that you are reading this and in some fashion of honesty admit to yourself that you have not only held others to these two different positions of faith, but maybe you can even admit you have practiced both for all the world to see too. If the latter is you, then you have an inner struggle of faith that maybe we can work on that will not be an end to all, but rather a step in your continuing journey of faith.
Those who read this column regularly know I write and share from not just my heart but from my own experiences. It is never an easy thing to open up your personal life for review and critique by others but I have discovered that great Biblical truth that “truth will set you free”. For those that are at the current status of about to give up on religious faith, the easiest thing to write is “hold on” but maintaining a handle on things can be a stress upon our fingers, hands and wrist. I’ve never been much of one for arm wrestling. I’ve had folks tell me it’s all about leverage and position, in addition to the mindset not to allow your wrist to bend. Exerting muscle strength with focus and determination is no easy task. Risking the chance you may end up with a broken arm that will just snap under the pressure is not the way I want to spend the next 8 weeks either, so I’m tempted to never even enter the contest.
Experience can be a great tool for evaluating situations and conditions. My youngest niece, Morgan Alexandra Mills, wanted a horse to ride. The purchase was made and with a tender gentle horse what could go wrong, after all Lady had perfect traits rights? The evening was perfect for a horse ride and with my encouragement and assurance; my niece went for her first bareback ride. The only condition I had not prepared for was a barking down up from the creek that would spook Lady and with a jump not seen before, off my niece went, and old Uncle Tim could not keep her from falling which resulted in a broken arm right off the bat! Not the vision I had reviewed in my mind for the perfect memory that would last a life time. Rather I had to carry her with a visible broken arm that was first spotted by my father. Truth is, facing my brother and sister-in-law was much easier then my own dad. It was not the moment I had planned. A visit to the emergency room, a cast, not to mention the expense my “trust Uncle Tim” created.
This could have been the set back of all time for riding horses or loving animals on the part of my niece, but she didn’t let that happen. Now she’s never went riding with me again, but she did blame me either, which was nice. Rather she blamed it on a barking dog and she gave no negative credit to Lady either. For me, it was an experience I don’t want to repeat with those results. It is now a part of the journey we have shared together in life and we grew through. The best advice for religious faith is, “Don’t let one kick knock you out forever, and don’t let one victory set you up for the next fall”.
Until then
Those who read this column regularly know I write and share from not just my heart but from my own experiences. It is never an easy thing to open up your personal life for review and critique by others but I have discovered that great Biblical truth that “truth will set you free”. For those that are at the current status of about to give up on religious faith, the easiest thing to write is “hold on” but maintaining a handle on things can be a stress upon our fingers, hands and wrist. I’ve never been much of one for arm wrestling. I’ve had folks tell me it’s all about leverage and position, in addition to the mindset not to allow your wrist to bend. Exerting muscle strength with focus and determination is no easy task. Risking the chance you may end up with a broken arm that will just snap under the pressure is not the way I want to spend the next 8 weeks either, so I’m tempted to never even enter the contest.
Experience can be a great tool for evaluating situations and conditions. My youngest niece, Morgan Alexandra Mills, wanted a horse to ride. The purchase was made and with a tender gentle horse what could go wrong, after all Lady had perfect traits rights? The evening was perfect for a horse ride and with my encouragement and assurance; my niece went for her first bareback ride. The only condition I had not prepared for was a barking down up from the creek that would spook Lady and with a jump not seen before, off my niece went, and old Uncle Tim could not keep her from falling which resulted in a broken arm right off the bat! Not the vision I had reviewed in my mind for the perfect memory that would last a life time. Rather I had to carry her with a visible broken arm that was first spotted by my father. Truth is, facing my brother and sister-in-law was much easier then my own dad. It was not the moment I had planned. A visit to the emergency room, a cast, not to mention the expense my “trust Uncle Tim” created.
This could have been the set back of all time for riding horses or loving animals on the part of my niece, but she didn’t let that happen. Now she’s never went riding with me again, but she did blame me either, which was nice. Rather she blamed it on a barking dog and she gave no negative credit to Lady either. For me, it was an experience I don’t want to repeat with those results. It is now a part of the journey we have shared together in life and we grew through. The best advice for religious faith is, “Don’t let one kick knock you out forever, and don’t let one victory set you up for the next fall”.
Until then
Sunday, July 11, 2010
God Still Moves
In today’s high tech world, we’ve got gadgets for just about everything. If we don’t have a gadget then I’m sure we have an application that we can download onto our portable cellular devices that will allow us greater mobility and control of our lives right?
We’ve got widgets too….how could I almost forget about the resource that helps us put the other resources we like to use most at our finger tips for greater convenience. You can call yourself really high tech when you have yourself a special device or tool that enhances your already special stuff to the next level!
When email first was introduced, who would have imagined it could have been enhanced with so many special features that we just could not live without. Consider life without an “office assistant”, and all the special things we can do like planning ahead to provide you with an announcement we are unable to respond or I enjoy the ability to recall an email I’ve sent out. Sometimes I do that to my friends just so they will ask what I sent or what I needed. Life is so filled with things it’s hard to imagine the simply lives once lived just a few short years ago.
I was looking at the church hymn the other day, God Moves in Mysterious Ways. Reading the words reminded me of the beauty and power of God in a way that was refreshing in this modern time of sophistication and electronic equipment for staying in touch.
God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform
He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm
You fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds you so much dread;
Are big with mercy, and shall break in, blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace,
Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.
Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.
Words of comfort that provide a real inner peace are so often hard to find. If your cellular phone doesn’t work, you must call an 800 number where you will be pressing buttons for a while, and if you don’t have your serial, model and warranty number handy with fax capabilities, then you might not even get to speak to a live operator for assistance.
In our fast pace world today there is a sure fact that is good to have as an anchor for a weary spirit. God moves in mysterious ways and if you and I will be still long enough to know Him, I am confident we will see clearly in time.
Until then
We’ve got widgets too….how could I almost forget about the resource that helps us put the other resources we like to use most at our finger tips for greater convenience. You can call yourself really high tech when you have yourself a special device or tool that enhances your already special stuff to the next level!
When email first was introduced, who would have imagined it could have been enhanced with so many special features that we just could not live without. Consider life without an “office assistant”, and all the special things we can do like planning ahead to provide you with an announcement we are unable to respond or I enjoy the ability to recall an email I’ve sent out. Sometimes I do that to my friends just so they will ask what I sent or what I needed. Life is so filled with things it’s hard to imagine the simply lives once lived just a few short years ago.
I was looking at the church hymn the other day, God Moves in Mysterious Ways. Reading the words reminded me of the beauty and power of God in a way that was refreshing in this modern time of sophistication and electronic equipment for staying in touch.
God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform
He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm
You fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds you so much dread;
Are big with mercy, and shall break in, blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace,
Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.
Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.
Words of comfort that provide a real inner peace are so often hard to find. If your cellular phone doesn’t work, you must call an 800 number where you will be pressing buttons for a while, and if you don’t have your serial, model and warranty number handy with fax capabilities, then you might not even get to speak to a live operator for assistance.
In our fast pace world today there is a sure fact that is good to have as an anchor for a weary spirit. God moves in mysterious ways and if you and I will be still long enough to know Him, I am confident we will see clearly in time.
Until then
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Mae Bingham - remembered for her faith and love
I find myself as I grow older reflecting upon my own life through the eyes of impact of others who have influenced me. Writing about people and their lives because of faith has become a task I enjoy and the comments of readers are certainly encouragement for my efforts in the goal of making our world a better place because of our faith in Jesus Christ.
Writing the name William Boyd Bingham, Jr., and mentioning a church known as simply Binghamtown, creates immediate name recognition and identity with a mountain pastor who served for 54 years proclaiming the truth of God’s Word. His faithful companion of life was his wife Mae, who never left his side, drove him thousands of miles and supported her husband in his calling to serve people in the name of Jesus. Family has always been extremely important to me, and Uncle “W” and Aunt Mae made a difference as a team and individually. In honor and memory of her passing on Friday, June 25, 2010, I want to share in celebrating her life of impact through this column.
As a child I remember being at Uncle “W” and Aunt Mae’s home riding ponies. Not sure why they had a pony, but I remember loving the opportunity to ride it. Actually I have a picture of my sister Bridget, my brother Jim, Jr., and I all on that pony riding around the church parsonage in Middlesboro. The fun memories of a child are never lost with age, and the love expressed by adults to children are also never forgotten. Aunt Mae will be remembered by many as the devoted wife of Preacher Bingham, but she was much more behind the scenes to so many, sacrificing for others, and exercising her Christian faith too.
Aunt Mae filled the shoes for children who had no parents treating them just as her own children, if not even better. My Aunt, Imogene (Jean) Mills, stayed with Uncle “W” and Aunt Mae when they lived on Walnut Street in Pineville. Uncle “W” ran a grocery store where today stands the Bell Whitley Building before he became Pastor at Binghamtown. She lived with them in Middlesboro while attending Business School. Aunt Mae’s children at the time were Conley, Bonita, and Gary but one more was not a problem. Aunt Jean told me, “Timmy, Uncle “W” only made $225 a month and Aunt Mae would take me to school and pick me up everyday.” My mother’s memories include visiting the grocery store and presenting her glass of cracked walnuts and Uncle “W” always giving her a $1.00 upon every visit. “That was a lot of money back then”, my mother shared. During a revival at Young Grove on Road Fork in Stinking Creek, Uncle “W” was preaching and my mother started crying. Aunt Mae moved next to her and said, “Bernadine what’s wrong?” Mother said she realized she wasn’t a Christian and she would never see her mother and she wanted to become a Christian. It was Aunt Mae that went to the altar and prayed with my mother as she became a believer through faith at 15 years of age. My grandmother was only 19 years old when she died, my mother was just weeks old and Aunt Jean was 3 years of age. My heart is full of joy and thanks because my Aunt Mae lived a life of faith and she wasn’t afraid to be a supporter or to step out and lead.
Personally, Aunt Mae always encouraging me and her impact will never be forgotten. In eternity one day I will see her sweet smile and feel her soft touch again.
Until then
Writing the name William Boyd Bingham, Jr., and mentioning a church known as simply Binghamtown, creates immediate name recognition and identity with a mountain pastor who served for 54 years proclaiming the truth of God’s Word. His faithful companion of life was his wife Mae, who never left his side, drove him thousands of miles and supported her husband in his calling to serve people in the name of Jesus. Family has always been extremely important to me, and Uncle “W” and Aunt Mae made a difference as a team and individually. In honor and memory of her passing on Friday, June 25, 2010, I want to share in celebrating her life of impact through this column.
As a child I remember being at Uncle “W” and Aunt Mae’s home riding ponies. Not sure why they had a pony, but I remember loving the opportunity to ride it. Actually I have a picture of my sister Bridget, my brother Jim, Jr., and I all on that pony riding around the church parsonage in Middlesboro. The fun memories of a child are never lost with age, and the love expressed by adults to children are also never forgotten. Aunt Mae will be remembered by many as the devoted wife of Preacher Bingham, but she was much more behind the scenes to so many, sacrificing for others, and exercising her Christian faith too.
Aunt Mae filled the shoes for children who had no parents treating them just as her own children, if not even better. My Aunt, Imogene (Jean) Mills, stayed with Uncle “W” and Aunt Mae when they lived on Walnut Street in Pineville. Uncle “W” ran a grocery store where today stands the Bell Whitley Building before he became Pastor at Binghamtown. She lived with them in Middlesboro while attending Business School. Aunt Mae’s children at the time were Conley, Bonita, and Gary but one more was not a problem. Aunt Jean told me, “Timmy, Uncle “W” only made $225 a month and Aunt Mae would take me to school and pick me up everyday.” My mother’s memories include visiting the grocery store and presenting her glass of cracked walnuts and Uncle “W” always giving her a $1.00 upon every visit. “That was a lot of money back then”, my mother shared. During a revival at Young Grove on Road Fork in Stinking Creek, Uncle “W” was preaching and my mother started crying. Aunt Mae moved next to her and said, “Bernadine what’s wrong?” Mother said she realized she wasn’t a Christian and she would never see her mother and she wanted to become a Christian. It was Aunt Mae that went to the altar and prayed with my mother as she became a believer through faith at 15 years of age. My grandmother was only 19 years old when she died, my mother was just weeks old and Aunt Jean was 3 years of age. My heart is full of joy and thanks because my Aunt Mae lived a life of faith and she wasn’t afraid to be a supporter or to step out and lead.
Personally, Aunt Mae always encouraging me and her impact will never be forgotten. In eternity one day I will see her sweet smile and feel her soft touch again.
Until then
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