tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52973355265706468832024-03-13T14:52:33.412-05:00A Rev's BlogThe Sometimes Heady, Sometimes Off-Beat, Always Honest Ramblings of a Simple Mid-Life Pastor, Rev. John Franklin.Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-6982173117315851122010-12-27T10:43:00.001-06:002010-12-27T11:48:55.140-06:00What I'm Thinking about in the After-Days of Christmas<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">"...that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">(Paul via Ephesians/NASB)</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-34961063792793295582010-12-16T13:13:00.000-06:002010-12-16T13:13:55.442-06:00I-Tunes Link of the Day - "Christmas Time In Texas"<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/christmas-time-in-texas-single/id410286015">Christmas Time In Texas - John Franklin</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TQpk19kvAVI/AAAAAAAAAOs/esSd6Xx-7Xw/s1600/Christmas+from+the+Trail+Cover+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TQpk19kvAVI/AAAAAAAAAOs/esSd6Xx-7Xw/s320/Christmas+from+the+Trail+Cover+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-3203780150169276972010-12-15T19:04:00.000-06:002010-12-15T19:04:14.180-06:00What this Pastor's house sounds like tonight...Jordan wanted to do a little recording tonight, so we fired up GarageBand and set out on some of our favorite songs. If you've ever wondered what our house sounds like at just such a time... here it is... far less than perfect, way more than a little bit of love, just enough craziness to make me smile and laugh while I'm led through princess moments and pirate dreams!<br />
<br />
Who knew that this would be the great adventure?!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxUHndOoKDJn8qJ0fsxJZuGHSvhyhpch9l7eJxjIa4W5hg9z0evCp0C2P_C7sYld0nGRfAxMw4SNqvynDBRKA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-75003878658263631182010-12-07T19:00:00.002-06:002010-12-07T19:11:52.171-06:00Honeycomb and Memories...Tonight, the kids didn't eat all of their cornbread that Penny made to go with the perfect cold-weather soup; so in true Daddy fashion, doing my part to clean up after dinner, I broke out some of the honeycomb a dear friend of our family had sent over, and cut out just the right amount to cover up the bottom half of that piece of cornbread.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TP7XNE7ghaI/AAAAAAAAAOo/_Z_lFA8emtY/s1600/IMG00427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TP7XNE7ghaI/AAAAAAAAAOo/_Z_lFA8emtY/s320/IMG00427.jpg" width="320" /></a>The funniest thing happened right about the time I started thinkin' about the perfect culinary delight of nature that was about to hit my taste buds. All of a sudden, my mind took me back to Arkansas where my Great Uncle Raymond, the Assemblies of God preacher who kept bees and would give my granddad honey with the comb, used to live. I could feel the old seat of my granddad's pick-up; I felt a hug from my Uncle Raymond, that six-foot somethin' lanky old circuit rider, and rode horse-back between my other Great Uncle and my Granddad through the Ozark mountains. I could feel the tug of overalls, feel the fit of my hat, and hear the tall tales of mosquitoes that used to carry off un-warry riders in the hills. I could feel the warmth of folks who valued bein' heard by a young boy who loved them, and could see, like yesterday through thin fog, the old family guns, guitars, mandolins and fiddles they used to show me how to use.<br />
<br />
Ain't it somethin'... all in a bite of honeycomb. I hated to see it end.<br />
<br />
What a trail it is that we ride in this life! Why in the world would something so simple bring back something so rich?<br />
<br />
I don't know, exactly... but I sure am glad I got to go there tonight!<br />
<br />
Thank you, Peggy, for the honeycomb! I've missed those ol' boys for quite a while.<br />
<br />
In the peace of Christ,<br />
<br />
Pastor John<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-31377017174378982942010-12-07T13:56:00.000-06:002010-12-07T13:56:25.857-06:00Ridin' the Chimney Trail... just a taste<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyvYiY4Vx3wBcTtymfEWUkqXMSkiJTdaFV7bOJOvpE2PMpBubutf5FkAYw7maJrlTptDo5OuLFYv7jklSKNng' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">from the 2010 album, <b>Christma</b><b>s from the Trail I Ride,</b> by John Franklin</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">for CD's, contact revfranklin@me.com</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-142806604738017932010-12-07T10:46:00.002-06:002010-12-07T10:56:45.991-06:00The Main Thing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TP5kyQPfwSI/AAAAAAAAAOk/CJZLQyoGT4k/s1600/IMG00422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TP5kyQPfwSI/AAAAAAAAAOk/CJZLQyoGT4k/s320/IMG00422.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Charlie Brown is trimming a broken down little tree.<br />
<br />
Our Elf on the Shelf is moving all over the house, it seems.<br />
<br />
I'm laughing my head off at favorite Christmas movies like "Elf" and "The Grinch."<br />
<br />
Do we really have THAT MANY parties to go to, this year? Outstanding!<br />
<br />
We're running out of hiding places for presents.<br />
<br />
And finally, the wind keeps knocking down that one difficult piece of evergreen on the porch... hello again, ladder!<br />
<br />
It's so easy to get locked into the busy buzz of the holiday grind, and find ourselves in the frustration of Christmas, instead of in it's joy.<br />
<br />
JeeP is at the office with me this morning. Penny is making a hospital visit, and the sermon for Sunday is going to be cool, but has some facets which are clogging my brain... thus, the brain pause to write this blog.<br />
<br />
Do you know what I love about all the things I listed above?<br />
<br />
They all point me to Jesus if I'll just stop and let them.<br />
<br />
In an age that tries to extract Jesus from His own birthday, He is still simply there... simply here... simply born, lived, died, and alive again to save us.<br />
<br />
While Buzz Lightyear has joined the safety brigade of our manger scene, the manger still holds only Jesus. <br />
<br />
While the lights on the tree were out and had to be restrung, the lights still point only to Jesus.<br />
<br />
While the commercialism of Christmas might make our heads spin and want to pop, that precious little gift will help me explain... you guessed it... JESUS to my little girl and boy.<br />
<br />
This year, I want to dive in to all of it more than ever. I want to swim in a sea of Christmas candy (even though my diet won't let me eat all of it), wondering in child-like awe at the clanging bells of Santa's sleigh... and to stop long enough along the way to look at what, or Whom, each part of this massive pageant of propaganda and presents points to... the one place it can really point to... the whole reason it all exists, Immanuel.<br />
<br />
Finding the "main thing." Sometimes we really do miss the forest for the trees, don't we?<br />
<br />
It would be silly to chop down the trees, hoping to find a forest in the end. Instead, how about we just pause ever-so-often and look at the big picture as it paints a mind-blowing portrait of God With Us... JESUS!<br />
<br />
May your Christmas be hilarious, fun, and full of hope... after all, forgiveness is a truly amazing gift!<br />
<br />
In the Peace of Christ,<br />
<br />
Pastor John<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-44835032602173511662010-12-02T16:29:00.000-06:002010-12-02T16:29:31.350-06:00"This Christmas Time of Year"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx_U7mjQjVMOntrn4ueWTpzFHqyjQSyd5op_HBN90HkbkaRshi5pAhtKwo_2KzV03T4zrdRTEIX_oITbMh4Qg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">from the 2010 album, <b>Christmas from the Trail I Ride,</b> by John Franklin</div><div style="text-align: center;">for CD's, contact revfranklin@me.com</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-9820032674507571402010-11-29T17:52:00.000-06:002010-11-29T17:52:56.622-06:00Lightyear - Magi Feud Continues... Shepherd Peace Accords Continue In TactIn the wake of yesterday's misunderstandings concerning reportedly "strange gifts and boxes" carried by three magi approaching the Nativity on our piano, hostilities enflamed again today between Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear and the Magi.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TPQ8PjrKfeI/AAAAAAAAAOg/Ayn-5EF_YJQ/s1600/IMG00398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TPQ8PjrKfeI/AAAAAAAAAOg/Ayn-5EF_YJQ/s320/IMG00398.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In an "I just got home and had to take a picture of this" report, Pastor John reported that the Magi continue to lose horribly by anyone's estimation.<br />
<br />
"I don't know how long these Magi can hang in there," reported the pastor-daddy, "I keep setting them up and bringing the parties to the peace table, but something they're doing is really setting him (Buzz) off!"<br />
<br />
In today's peace-talks, the Magi have reportedly agreed to open their gifts BEFORE entering the Nativity corral, and Space Ranger Lightyear has agreed not to knock them down before they even get close enough to at least see the Christ child.<br />
<br />
"We have high hopes for these peace-talks," said a Magi representative. "We see how well things are going for the shepherds, and we would very much like to enjoy that ourselves."<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-75588500137129903572010-11-29T09:12:00.002-06:002010-11-29T09:26:53.083-06:00Lightyear Protects Infant Jesus from Marauding Ne'er-do-wellsLast night, sometime between church and bedtime, there appears to have been a grave misunderstanding outside of the corral housing the Nativity on our piano.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TPPCFGnm-jI/AAAAAAAAAOc/0jva-krevkk/s1600/IMG00396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TPPCFGnm-jI/AAAAAAAAAOc/0jva-krevkk/s320/IMG00396.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Post bedtime accounts found Buzz Lightyear beside the baby Jesus, surrounded by fallen wise men, a camel, a donkey, and shepherds who were apparently thought to be threatening the safety and well-being of the baby.<br />
<br />
All parties were quickly revived and brought back to focus upon the central object of the Nativity after Lightyear examined what appeared to be "suspicious boxes" and "gifts" to verify their contents. The Space Ranger has issued an official apology, and promises to continue guarding the Nativity "to infinity and beyond." However, when told that the display was slated for storage after the holidays, he amended his plans to coincide with the proposed schedule.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-26180939238045117262010-11-25T00:00:00.003-06:002010-11-25T00:00:03.282-06:00Upon the Event of Thanksgiving...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TO2soXk42II/AAAAAAAAAOY/FUC5e8KEuTc/s1600/IMG00073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TO2soXk42II/AAAAAAAAAOY/FUC5e8KEuTc/s320/IMG00073.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">I am convicted, even un-done, that I have so little to give to the God Who saves me.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What could I do that might rise as incense before His throne?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What could I say that might please His ears and set His heart to smile?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What might I make with my hands that He might find recompense for His own blood?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In my poverty, I have but to give until all has been given, to the full measure of devotion and beyond if such might be His divine permissions in the life that is to come.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In His Light, I have found my depravity; in His peace, I have found still waters; in His grace, I have found the pathway to Life.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Modern swells of pride and ingenuity find no fellowship with my soul and empty my cup, but the ancient movement to share in the fellowship of His sufferings in the spreading of His Gospel; to this my soul is drawn beyond explanation except that I can ride no other trail in the light of His fellowship.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I shall never fulfill to live so long as to repay His grace; and such is an unreachable goal. But to serve, and in serving, to somehow make Him smile Who has purchased me from depravity and death, Who has stayed me despite my failings; this my path, my lot, my happy sacrifice to Him shall be if God in His providence and kindness might grant it so to be.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">For Christ! For His Kingdom! For His Glory!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pastor John</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-30106668427065554122010-11-23T14:29:00.001-06:002010-11-23T14:33:47.335-06:00The Trail I Ride...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TOwk3WGECnI/AAAAAAAAAOU/9k-TlUM8EIQ/s1600/IMG00218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TOwk3WGECnI/AAAAAAAAAOU/9k-TlUM8EIQ/s320/IMG00218.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Oh, that I might live as a holy sacrifice to my God... that my life might breathe His vision... that the trail I ride might be His wake... that my legacy might be bereft of me and full of Him!</span></span><br />
<span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For Christ! For His Kingdom! For His Glory!</span></span></div><div><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">That somehow, in His grace, I might please Him in my sacrifice!</span></span></div><div><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Pastor John</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-73352743958406323372010-11-22T08:24:00.005-06:002010-11-22T08:30:13.440-06:00The Good StuffOver the past weekend, Penny got a burr under her saddle to decorate the house for Christmas. Of course, she was spot-on about it being the best and most opportune time to do so, given our pastoral holiday schedule, a.k.a. relative insanity for a month or so. Thus, in light of the wisdom presented, I settled in for the soon-to-come whirl and wush of activity clothed in evergreen.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TOp8_RGSIrI/AAAAAAAAAOM/YEkB3waqt3I/s1600/IMG00339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TOp8_RGSIrI/AAAAAAAAAOM/YEkB3waqt3I/s320/IMG00339.jpg" width="320" /></a>Fun was found in every opened box, every tug of evergreen, and every lighting of the tree. Before long, our home was draped in the beauty of Christmas as only Penny can do, and I began to feel the welcomed warmth of our home during one of my favorite holidays. I rearranged a little furniture and hung the green on the front of the house, retiring then to the kitchen to join my bride for a quiet conversation of pleasurable review in light of the transformation and the hanging of the mistletoe.<br />
<br />
For some reason, Penny walked back into the living room for a moment, and came back reporting a version of peace we had not all-together expected. I walked in after the report, and found JeeP sitting in the newly placed rocking chair, joyfully within the glow of the lighted tree, reading a favorite Christmas book with an awesome, contented look glowing from his face.<br />
<br />
"The good stuff" whirls around us all the time, doesn't it.<br />
<br />
James, writing to Christians under unthinkable persecutions, tells them that "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights, with Whom there is no variation or shifting shadow"(nasb/esv).<br />
<br />
Can you imagine any group in our history who could claim a relatively total lack of "good" things in their lives more than the early Christians?! Yet, James reminds them, encouraging them in their endurance for Christ, that God is pouring out good and perfect gifts upon them from Heaven!<br />
<br />
We are in the midst of one of the most difficult economies in generations. <br />
<br />
A once "Christian Culture" has shifted to a "Politically Correct" existence... attacking those who might dare stand upon the Truth of the Scriptures with venomous name-calling and vicious outbursts meant to sideline Truth in lieu of anti-Christian ideals.<br />
<br />
And yet, we are still yet to scratch the surface of the persecution of our early Christian fathers.<br />
<br />
For me, this past weekend, "the good stuff" was playing in the living room, reading in the rocking chair, and re-arranging carefully placed decorations as the lights of Christmas danced in their eyes.<br />
<br />
It would have been easy to miss.<br />
<br />
It came and went all too quickly.<br />
<br />
I don't want to miss even one of them.<br />
<br />
Oh, how beautiful the gifts of our Heavenly Father Who loves us! How magnificent His kindness! How warm the aspect of His attention! With Him, indeed, there is no change, no variance, no turning. In His grace He pours out His love, and as the troubles of this world simply come and go, the love of God goes on forever!<br />
<br />
Oh, that my life might be to Him a song of praise, a psalm of thanksgiving, and a novel of adoration!<br />
<br />
In the peace of Christ,<br />
<br />
Pastor John<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-55882190619079974082010-11-17T18:12:00.001-06:002010-11-17T18:12:56.434-06:00The Road Goes on Forever<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last week, about Wednesday, all roads began to lead to Loranger, Louisiana, the site of Weekend 31 - 2010; the signature women's retreat from our Women's Pastor and my bride, Penny Franklin.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I can still feel the hum of the road in my tail-bone, and a little of the soreness in my muscles from a week of long driving, heavy lifting, and long days of work. I served as half of the tech/media/stage crew, and senior pastor. It was a great week!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TORurNFD5LI/AAAAAAAAAN8/y-4k7UwXn50/s1600/33513_417124143970_594493970_4569295_1709362_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TORurNFD5LI/AAAAAAAAAN8/y-4k7UwXn50/s320/33513_417124143970_594493970_4569295_1709362_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>We got back to New Orleans Saturday evening, and by about 7:15, the sound and media equipment was unloaded and back in place, and our professional team gathered at the back of our worship center. Exuding from the tired eyes of all involved were a couple of distinct emotions... specifically peace and happiness. Oddly enough, such have been the hallmarks of these experiences along the trail of ministry we have ridden and continue to ride today.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">One of mine and Penny's long time favorite songs is the old Robert Earl Keen song, "The Road Goes on Forever" and at times like these, as we went home, took a short break and then began prepping for Sunday services, its words became appropriate all over again.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">How many times have we looked at each other as one of us said, "the road goes on forever" and the other responded "and the party never ends"? It's usually tired, happy, joyful and hopeful all at the same time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tonight, after just enough rest to mount back up and get back in the saddle, I'm tired and sore... but dad-gum if I'm not eight kinds of happy. I just got home from mentoring a great young minister out at the seminary, had a brief moment with my bride as our children climbed all over me and vied for my attention, transforming their pastor-father into a human jungle gym, and we had three conversations all at once... it's good to be loved! I walked Penny out as she left to lead the evening Women's Bible Study, kissed her goodbye, and started singing our song in my head... "the road goes on forever and the party never ends."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">A good tired is just that... good.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It's good to work after the right things in life.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It's good to serve the One True God.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It's good to love and be loved by my family.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It's good to do it all together and crash into the bed knowing that we've run a good race, even as we look on down the trail and know that it's going to rev back up tomorrow.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It's good to run and run again, and to see the hand of God at work all around us as we do.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">There are so many things to be about in this life... for me, I'm glad to get to run as a team... and so thankful to live in the blessing of serving the God Who died and rose again to save us!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">May His peace overwhelm you, even as it has overwhelmed us!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Hoo-ah!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Pastor John</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-22984153203294240752010-11-14T12:41:00.000-06:002010-11-14T12:41:51.232-06:00Some Thoughts on FreedomThis morning's sermon on freedom encapsulates the continuum from temporal freedom to eternal freedom. Check it out @ http://www.journeyneworleans.com/sermons.asp.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-57069376837540998122010-11-10T07:45:00.000-06:002010-11-10T07:45:14.416-06:00The Roar of the EnginesThis morning, we've hit the ground running in one of our favorite races.<br />
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Penny & I fell in love ministering together over ten years ago, and we've continued to do so throughout our marriage. Today, we're in the home stretch toward her next "Weekend 31" retreat for ladies.<br />
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There are sound systems, lights, media systems, staging, promotionals, instruments, and more waiting for me as I get to hear the engines start to roar on this machine of ministry God has built in our marriage. Already, lives have been changed toward the path of Christ even in the stages of preparation, and I can't wait to see what God is going to do in and through this woman who marched up and into my life more than a decade ago.<br />
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Purpose...<br />
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Drive...<br />
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Effect.<br />
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So often these haunt our minds like so much dust on the windshield of living.<br />
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Today, the finish line is clear, and all rivers flow to that end.<br />
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It's good to run!<br />
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For Christ! For His Glory! For His Kingdom!<br />
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Pastor John<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-55166864072802095402010-11-08T09:21:00.000-06:002010-11-08T09:21:39.835-06:00Just Some Things that Stir My SoulYesterday, I finalized this year's All Saint's Day series "Song of the Martyrs," with a sermon titled "Count It All Joy."<br />
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It was sobering to realize afresh the context into which James was writing, the purpose for which he admonished the Jewish Christians to seek wisdom from God, and the price our fore-fathers in the faith were not only willing, but ready to pay as they proved out their faith.<br />
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Today, I want to share that sermon with you even as its contents continue to stir my soul. If you have the time, listen in, and consider the ranks of men and women who have lived much stronger lives than we.<br />
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May we rise to the level of their sacrifice!<br />
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Here's the link:<br />
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<a href="http://www.journeyneworleans.com/sermons.asp">Song of the Martyrs, Part II - by Pastor John</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>(It begins with some pastor moments on Biblical stewardship and picks up the sermon about ten minutes in.)</i></span><br />
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</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-16016640666054291732010-11-08T08:57:00.003-06:002010-11-08T09:03:06.030-06:00A Birds-Eye Blog-ViewJust for fun, here's a conglomeration of the last year and a half of blogging life that Penny showed me how to do. Enjoy!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/2693514/www.arevsblog.blogspot.com" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Wordle: www.arevsblog.blogspot.com"><img alt="Wordle: www.arevsblog.blogspot.com" src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/2693514/www.arevsblog.blogspot.com" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" /></a></div><pre id="embed" style="background-color: #eeeeff; font-size: 13px;"></pre></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-51670392734011603222010-11-05T16:22:00.000-05:002010-11-05T16:22:13.680-05:00Rest vs. Work - The Debate, The Design, The Solution<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TNR1ZlZSXkI/AAAAAAAAAN0/VNOGzT4e14E/s1600/IMG00076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TNR1ZlZSXkI/AAAAAAAAAN0/VNOGzT4e14E/s320/IMG00076.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Recently I was interviewed by a seminary student I am honored to be mentoring. The subject of the interview was ensuring rest in the life of a minister.<br />
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The questions were well thought out, and this particular subject being the crux of many a current book, it was a fresh discussion.<br />
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Toward the end of the interview, the young man asked me one of his final questions, "How would you suggest that a minister ensures he gets enough rest?" It didn't take me long to answer, and I think it caught him a little off guard.<br />
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"Work your butt off for six days, and on the seventh day, you won't struggle to rest at all. It's the Texas ranch-hand philosophy, all day doing ranch-work, and sleepin' is easy!"<br />
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Work-life balance... there's another word for that, "hogwash!" Sometimes we protect our days off so much that people should just die on their own time. For me, my official workdays are Sunday through Thursday, and typically I pull work through the cracks of the weekend as it's needed. Oddly enough, it works right out to be God's 6:1 ratio for work vs. rest. Here's an idea I think would bless the lives of both pastors and our churches, "Work together, live in peace." Of course I'm going to hunt and fish with my children, but I can't go lazy toward my work in the process. Perhaps we should consider that laziness breeds lethargy, and that God expects His servants to serve at His plow.<br />
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I want to rest because I've worked my tail off at the things of God all week. I want to fall into the arms of my wife and know that I did all that could be done to bring in God's herd. I want to be so stinkin' tired from good, strong work, that my children can use my belly like a trampoline and I can still take a nap!<br />
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God's program is simple. God's design is strong. Man's laziness is vomitous.<br />
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Pastors of the world, work hard today; we have been called to a great and mighty service of the Almighty God! Rest well when you have run your six days, and may our children's children know that we have served the Lord!<br />
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In the peace of Christ,<br />
<br />
Pastor John<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-40872211546657162152010-10-31T17:11:00.001-05:002010-10-31T17:22:48.239-05:00Light in the Darkness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TM3rqA8D9yI/AAAAAAAAANw/svsFjLjmmgE/s1600/IMG00284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TM3rqA8D9yI/AAAAAAAAANw/svsFjLjmmgE/s200/IMG00284.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven." Matt. 5:16 (nasb)<br />
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This weekend, Penny and I accompanied Buzz Lightyear and Repunzel (aka, JeeP & Jordan) in a tour d' force of pumpkin carving, trunk-or-treat candy gathering, and tonight, you guessed it, the grande finale' of neighborhood trick or treating will top off the experience.<br />
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Last night, as we waited in line for cotton candy, JeeP asked me why some people were dressed in less than happy attire. We talked for a bit, and it gave me the opportunity to begin explaining to my son that we are a people who celebrate life... the life that Jesus gives us.<br />
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It's surprising how quickly JeeP picked up on the difference. It didn't seem difficult for him at all. He ended the conversation with a simple and very understanding "hmm" and that was the end of it.<br />
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Sometimes as Christians, we run from the darkness like so many scared chickens; other times we dive into it like so much watered-down Christianity, and it doesn't seem like we are very proficient at simply being "light in the darkness."<br />
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What if we refused to celebrate death and darkness, but also refused to hide inside our homes until it's all over? What if we refused to act like so many nightmares on our street, but went out into the world unashamed and without hiding our identity as Christians... 'children of the Light' (Ephesians 5:8)?<br />
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What if we took Jesus into the darkness? What if we publicly celebrated life, and light, and freedom, and actually told our children the 'why' behind the 'what' when they asked us?<br />
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Tonight that's what we'll be doing.<br />
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Put away the blood, and the bones, and the scary stuff people... we are the children of God. Now let's get out there into a world of darkness and act like it!<br />
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I'll see you along the trick or treat trail!<br />
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In the peace of Christ,<br />
<br />
Pastor John<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-9651941744599077952010-10-28T11:14:00.002-05:002010-10-29T16:44:54.161-05:00Down by the River<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TMmhTUqCyHI/AAAAAAAAANs/nlTT7wWHQkM/s1600/34015_407197472020_593587020_4877862_7650249_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TMmhTUqCyHI/AAAAAAAAANs/nlTT7wWHQkM/s320/34015_407197472020_593587020_4877862_7650249_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Have you ever considered that the best pathway in life might not be the one of your own creation?<br />
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Have you stopped to wonder how in the world you got "here", when you started off heading "there"; but realizing somehow that "here" is better than "there" could have ever been?<br />
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Several months ago, Penny and I were leading devotionals on the banks of the Mississippi River for a mission team that was in town. I led the guys, and she led the girls. I took the fellas up to the big canon that overlooks the river bank across from St. Louis Cathedral down in the square. We gathered 'round, took some examples and lessons from the Bible I carry in my saddle bags, and then went on down to the river's edge. The girls weren't quite finished, so JeeP and I went for a walk up the bank to find Mommy. About that time, Penny finished up and one of the teenagers snapped a photo of me and JeeP as we walked.<br />
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There are some basic realities about that night, and the picture kind of tells the tale. <br />
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<b><i>First</i></b>, the pier would have been a dangerous place for JeeP without me there. I mean, we all know he's tough as a Texas boot... but.<br />
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<b><i>Second</i></b>, JeeP would have been completely lost and found himself legitimately scared if he didn't stay with Daddy.<br />
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and<br />
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<b><i>Third</i></b>, JeeP didn't really understand where we were, where we were going, or why we were doing any of it... and he didn't have to in order to safely be there, get there, and enjoy the process.<br />
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When we were up around the giant canon, JeeP entertained the fellas by climbing up my back and onto the canon platform, and then sliding down the slanted granite into my arm as I reached out to catch him while I taught the devotional (multi-tasking preacher/daddy stuff). Some of the guys said something about it later... I think they learned more from watching him than from listening to me - go figure. His eyes lit up at every turn of the evening like so much revelation and Walt Disney wonderment had just come upon him.<br />
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He often asked what we were doing, where we were going, and why; but in truth, my answers simply served to help him follow me down the trail. He still needed to hold my hand as we walked.<br />
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JeeP came with me.<br />
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It was simple. He was safe. My strength created his bubble of security.<br />
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Today as I saw that picture, I thought of my own walk with God. The dark places in life down by the river are scary, even though they are exhilarating when I'm on task with God. Even in my uneasiness, I feel illogically safe. My own humanness struggles against the Holy Spirit within me as I earnestly want to know the how, why, and where of our journey.<br />
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In the end, God always provides, protects, and succeeds. I don't know how, and it remains difficult to simply keep walking, but He has proven His faithfulness too many times for me to stop following along with Him.<br />
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Somehow the dark, scary places become places of peace and even fun... places where I can climb on canon and slide down the granite just because He brought me there.<br />
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King David of Israel, in the 23rd Psalm, said it this way:<br />
"Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I fear no evil for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows."<br />
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The Valley of the Shadow of Death isn't that cheery of a place... unless God is there and I'm with Him. <br />
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It makes all the difference in the world that I'm following even as I learn and lead.<br />
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It's kind of like a walk I took once with my son down by the river.<br />
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In the peace of Christ,<br />
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Pastor John<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-35341166180139077802010-10-27T08:38:00.002-05:002010-10-27T09:47:40.582-05:00The View from the Road<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TMgu6YzCt3I/AAAAAAAAANo/hZf9POs4DUc/s1600/IMG00270-20101003-1451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TMgu6YzCt3I/AAAAAAAAANo/hZf9POs4DUc/s200/IMG00270-20101003-1451.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>In my life, I have found great treasures by pausing to notice what is around me. Every once in a while, looking up from the book I'm studying, the text being translated, the instrument being played, and wondering what's there, who's here, and what within that context that might be the beauty waiting to be noticed.<br />
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The concept of experiential learning has long captured me, and although I believe the road of life is best lived with the end in mind (so that we don't just go in circles), I've noticed that the art of appreciating the beauty along the way is so very easily abandoned.<br />
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The other day, I was coming back from Texas where I had made a quick trip to preach a funeral, when I glanced to the right and noticed beauty. Somehow, 'round about the Whiskey Bay Pilot Chanel, there was this amazing river that cut through the swamps. I drove atop the Atchafalaya Swamp bridge like I have so many times, wondering just how long it was going to take me to cross over today, and was suddenly reminded of how amazing the view around me was from the road.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TMgqZpjHubI/AAAAAAAAANk/I5EZjvTuA8Q/s1600/IMG00217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TMgqZpjHubI/AAAAAAAAANk/I5EZjvTuA8Q/s200/IMG00217.jpg" width="200" /></a>I held out my phone and snapped a few pictures of the next great scene I saw... not as striking, but it would not have been safe to slam on the breaks just to get the shot.<br />
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In this life, the road is not the destination; but the experience happens along the pathway, and the beauty of that passage is so very easy to miss.<br />
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Sometimes joy is in the view from the Road.<br />
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In the peace of Christ... on the road,<br />
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Pastor John<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-66166630281145654942010-10-19T16:53:00.001-05:002010-10-19T16:53:58.479-05:00The Call of a Child<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TL4TOhMT8iI/AAAAAAAAANg/zfWqL1YUf0Q/s1600/IMG00037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TL4TOhMT8iI/AAAAAAAAANg/zfWqL1YUf0Q/s200/IMG00037.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This morning, I was treated to the unexpected delight of hearing my daughter read from the Bible. As a first grader, she is required to read so many minutes per day, and this morning's selection was from I Samuel, chapter 3... God's call to the boy-to-become-prophet, Samuel.<br />
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As I drank my morning coffee and listened to the voice of my daughter, I was taken back to my own childhood, when that very same passage jumped off of the page to me, aiding in God's call on my own life toward ministry and the service of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Memories of time with the Lord by flashlight, waking all too early to pray, and read, and listen for the voice of God as I struggled to stay awake, flooded back through my heart and mind as the smell of freshly brewed coffee danced through my nostrils and my daughter led me unknowingly into the ethers of the past.<br />
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I listened as she read, "And word from the LORD was rare in those days; visions were infrequent." (v.1*) and I noticed as the she said aloud, "and the lamp of God had not yet gone out" (v.2*) as I wondered at the state of the Gospel in this all-too-modern and self-enlightened age.<br />
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I wondered if I had remained long enough in the shadow of the presence of God, as Samuel was doing... and of course, I feared that I have not. I wondered if the lamp of the Gospel was ablaze or dimmed today. I wondered what movement of God my children might see in their life-times, or if the voice of Heaven has had enough of our self-defining generations.<br />
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My course was set so many years ago beside the ark of the New Covenant of God, the Cross of Christ. Though all has changed around me in so many ways, and so many times, the word of the LORD remains forever and unchanged. <br />
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The ups and downs of the life of Samuel the Prophet are recorded for history to remember and for generations to recall... what then shall be the call of God upon my children? To love the LORD our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, as Mark so aptly records is to all of us the first and greatest commandment (Mark 12:29-30), and such is the life we are called to live... oh, that my life would render the Word of the LORD to my children, and to their children's children to the thousandth generation. Oh that the LORD might be to them as He is and has been to their father, and even more-so, that they might know the beauty of His holiness, and the unparalleled joy of His service. On these simple things hang my life and my hopes for them. On these, in the end, have I set my course at His call.<br />
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Perhaps in days and years to come, Jordan will remember what she read this morning, and the voice of the LORD might call to her as to Samuel, even as He did to her father these many years past.<br />
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Perhaps she will find even deeper joy in His service than I have known. Maybe generations will breed contentment expounded in the presence of the Almighty God.<br />
<br />
In the Peace of Christ and for His Service,<br />
<br />
Pastor John<br />
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*NASB<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-45845145664605149342010-10-15T14:05:00.000-05:002010-10-15T14:05:01.345-05:00Nice...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TLilsDcAzeI/AAAAAAAAANc/j6fds5XHuWs/s1600/IMG00132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TLilsDcAzeI/AAAAAAAAANc/j6fds5XHuWs/s200/IMG00132.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>A day off littered with work turns aside...<br />
<br />
JeeP reminds me that it's play time and says, "Picture me!"<br />
<br />
The camera phone goes to work as the camera instead of the phone.<br />
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We take a picture together and all that's so incredibly important is focused in the eye of the lens.<br />
<br />
I take a moment to write a little story about Daddy and JeeP and then it's time to make lemonade.<br />
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It's good to be loved!<br />
<br />
John<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-22581546353063608922010-10-13T11:35:00.003-05:002010-10-13T18:46:14.215-05:00A Little Sweat in the Bucket of Eternity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TLXf0kwXhUI/AAAAAAAAANY/87ow6d2kSp4/s1600/IMG00120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TLXf0kwXhUI/AAAAAAAAANY/87ow6d2kSp4/s200/IMG00120.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Today I passed out my half of 500 door hangers for our church.<br />
<br />
I met up with a friend and church member, hung a new banner outside to advertise our weekend full-o-fun (rummage sale/block party/worship service/Saints game and Potluck lunch), and learned just how hot the New Orleans Fall can get when you're stretching your legs past 250 doors (my half).<br />
<br />
We met several folks along the way... most of them glad to meet us... gave the neighborhood dogs something to bark at, and blanketed our little community with fliers that help them stay "in the know."<br />
<br />
What good does it do? Well, one elderly lady responded by saying, "Oh, dat's nice, thank you!" (I love getting responses from the elderly... they are typically the boiled down response pattern of the entire culture around you) but the simple answer is that I'm not sure what the final effect will be. I do know, however, that if you show someone the cross enough times, they are bound to eventually ask why you keep showing it to them. I am convinced that if you invite someone to receive kindness enough times, they are bound to eventually wonder why you would care. I am persuaded that if you sweat into the bucket of investment enough times by walking from the church office to the door of someone's home, they might just wonder if they shouldn't see what Jesus might have to offer them... and that's why we do it, isn't it?<br />
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Today, we put a few drops of sweat into the investment bucket of eternity. I wonder how the investment will return.<br />
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It's simple, it's clear, it's the Gospel going out... and that's what we were sent to do.<br />
<br />
In the peace of Christ,<br />
<br />
Pastor John<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297335526570646883.post-22373356359201583002010-10-12T12:46:00.010-05:002010-10-13T16:40:17.988-05:00The Gateway...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TLSeZwM-tRI/AAAAAAAAANE/EIO3xjjV66I/s1600/Old+Church+Door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__vKTR0Y-3J0/TLSeZwM-tRI/AAAAAAAAANE/EIO3xjjV66I/s200/Old+Church+Door.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>What is the gateway of entrance into Christianity, the church, the legit title of Christian?<br />
<br />
Is there even such a thing as a gateway, or is that just some American myth?<br />
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Can I be a part of the church and also be a Buddhist, an Atheist, a Hindu practitioner?<br />
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Shouldn't the church embrace everyone, no-matter what they believe? Isn't that what Jesus did?!<br />
<br />
We live in a culture today where people love to use that last one with little regard for what Jesus actually did. Jesus' words seem to get popped out of context like popcorn from the popper, each kernel somehow presented as independent of the others. Jesus is somehow presented as One who never walked through time, as His words are wrapped into the convenient pre-texts of preachers, teachers, and generations who might much rather redefine and package the Biblical Jesus in pleasing tones rather than embrace and follow Him in Biblical obedience. A generation shouts that it has to feel right to be right, and forgets that's just not in the Bible... that's just simply not Christianity. So how in the world are we supposed to figure out what really happened?!<br />
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Several years ago, I stumbled on an all-too-simple answer to that question. ACTUALLY READ THE BIBLE.<br />
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I was raised in a time when the brand of Christianity you wore meant a lot more than it seems to today. My brand was very conservative, and it shot me out of the gun and into manhood as a man who just wanted to follow what the Bible says. But today seems not so simple.<br />
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Is the Body of Christ (remember that's what the Apostle Paul called the church) made up of anyone who wonders through the door and looks like they might stay for two Sundays? Is it made up of everyone who is at least thinking about loving this man, Jesus? Is it made up of folks who are "on their own personal journey" no-matter if that journey has taken them to the cross, to confession, repentance, and actually serving Jesus with their lives yet or not?<br />
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These are at least a few of the great movements which seem to be selling books these days, but as I read the Bible, I have to encounter the simple answer to each of these which is, "no."<br />
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That seems kind of harsh, I realize, but over the years I've found that most people would prefer straight answers to questions which effect their eternal soul.<br />
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Now don't get me wrong, I'm one of the original "throw the doors open" guys. I want every kind of person to come into contact with the church and around the church... around the Body of Jesus Christ; but when does someone go from being with, or around, to being a part of that body?<br />
<br />
Over years of pastoring and reaching out specifically to non-Christians who often want an answer to just such a question, I've discovered three foundational components in the Bible which are always present in one way or another at the point of a person's being "SAVED"... and that is the point at which the church has both Biblically and historically embraced new people as a part of it, rather than a satellite around it.<br />
<br />
<b><i><u>First, admit the Truth about God:</u></i></b><br />
that Jesus Christ is the only Son of the One True God, that He died to pay the price for our sins, and rose again on the third day. (Romans 10:9-11)<br />
<br />
<b><i><u>Second, admit my personal sin to God seeking His forgiveness:</u></i></b><br />
"If we confess/admit our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9, ref.*)<br />
<br />
<b><i><u>Third, quit doing life my way and serve Jesus Christ (you may have heard it called, Repentance):</u></i></b><br />
"come, follow me" were three of Jesus' consistent words of leadership to potential new followers. Luke 9:23<br />
<br />
On these three hinge-pins rests the gate of eternity... for they are the points of embrace at which a man, woman, or child can freely engage the grace of Jesus' cross and the power of His resurrection. It is at this turning point, that we have come to God, God's way. We have laid down our own efforts to throw ourselves completely at His mercy and grace. It is at this point that we are no longer our own, but belong to the body of Christ, His church.<br />
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How can a person "join" the church? Simply put, come to Jesus on His terms; follow Him together with others who have done the same in a local gathering of believers.<br />
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Should someone still go to church if they're not willing to come to Jesus on His terms? Absolutely! He's the only way to eternal life. If you're just not willing to give your life to Him now, at least stick around His church and give yourself the best chance possible of understanding and embracing the God who would save you!<br />
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Is there a gateway... yes. Jesus said it this way, "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and go in and out and find pasture." (John 10:9, ref.*)<br />
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After following Jesus for some 34 years, I can simply tell you that the "pasture-land" is worth far more than the cost of admission!<br />
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May you embrace His grace and find His peace!<br />
<br />
Pastor John<br />
<br />
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*ref.: NASB<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rev. John Franklin has planted churches for the better part of two decades, actively preaches, mentors, & writes curricula & music, and is available for speaking engagements by contacting him through revfranklin@me.com .</div>Rev. John Franklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16574295142619069405noreply@blogger.com0