Things to Ponder

What's been going on...

2010-01-24T10:50:00.000-08:00

It has been a few months since I have posted anything on here, and by now I realize that the only person that probably reads this is my wife. But I still want to use this Blog to relate things that God is teaching me.

We have been in Houston for several months now and I realized that this is one of the busiest towns I have ever been in. I realize that we grew up in a fairly large town (El Paso, TX) but now I view it in the different perspective. This is one of the busiest places I have ever seen. Busy with life, busy with work, busy with extra-curricular activites...just busy. So busy sometimes that I wonder what our busyness accomplishes?

I guess what makes it stand out so much is the lack of busyness that has been going on in my life. Oh, don't get me wrong, I have been busy working, and I do work for the Church, but not busy in what I know is important...ministring to God's people. It has been over 15 months since I have been "In" the ministry severing in any Pastorial role and it seems like it kills me a little more every day.

I wonder when I will be able to minister again, when will I find a place to serve God in ministry again. What makes it worse, is it is all I think about every day, every hour, every minute. About how and when will minister to people again. It would be so much easier to just find a job...but God won't let me lose my passion. Guess for now I just have to wait and see how God see's us through this. I say we, because it is burning inside my wife as well.

That is something that is so exciting though. To know that my wife is wanting to minister again. As a Pastor, I need my wife. This time a year ago she was not only unintrested in ministry, but ready to hang it up completly. Now, she is praying as well we will find somewhere to Pastor and Minister again.

So I will use this blog as a tool to show you into our journey and how God will work through us. I don't know where we will land or how it will play out, but know that God is wonderful and His ways are higher than ours!

I wrote the poem below, because it was just in my mind and felt like I had to get it out. Sometimes I get these thoughts and should write them down, but haven't but now will make it a point to try...

The Sea called Life

2010-01-24T10:49:00.000-08:00

Do you ever feel like a drop of rain that fell into the sea?
Where waves and currents flow, but the never really see me.

Got get to where I am going, I have so much to do,
and yet that drop of rain, well I maybe will get to that to.

Hey there is that drop, we noticed it the other day,
We should probably see what's up with him, but maybe soon but not today.

Today is filled with way to many other things,
My friends, my schedule, and whatever else life brings.

I know I should take the time to invite him in,
But I am just so busy with the life in the ocean.

I should take time to know them and maybe where they are,
But not to much, because then they will want a relationship and that's to far.

Well guess I will just say howdy do and then go my way,
Surely someone else will open their hearts to them but I can't today

What's going on... there's not one rain drop but now there's two,
I hope someone loves them, but I just have to much to do!

Sometimes I relate to a drop of rain,
falling into the sea of people again.

Wondering if they will ever see, my heart, my passion, or even really see me?
But for now I will just keep treading water, in the life sea.

Where are we at?

2009-10-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

So many things have changed in our family and I haven’t taken the time, or effort, to put them on here to maybe share with folks what is going on in my life. So where are we at? That has been a question that has recently changed for our family in several parts: Physically, Emotionally, and Spiritually. So where to start, well I am not going to back build the story very far because it would have to be a series of posts so I will try to shorten it to smaller text. (In my mind I hear my wife saying, “Yeah right, you put whatever you are trying to say in less words not more…good luck!” But I am going to try.)

My family and I were “Stuck” in Illinois, and I use stuck in quotes because there is so much that is involved in that word, but it seems fitting for the synopsis of what has happened in the past year. We were wondering what was going to happen in our lives. We had been diligently looking for a place to Pastor or a Place to serve as an Assistant Pastor, Student Pastor, Outreach Pastor, something ministry related, but nothing came to pass. (Again, another long story with many things behind it, but I am trying to simplify this post.) The big problem is that we were stuck with a house and couldn’t get it to sell. We gave it to the Lord and said that if the Lord would sell our house then we would move wherever he wanted us. Wow, did he put that to the test.

We were driving 62 miles to Church (One Way) and loving the folks at Quint City Baptist Church, and were wondering if this would be where God would have us to be? The Pastor, John Beeler, was a great guy and we clicked really well, but we still had this house to sell! So nothing came to pass. But then, in July we had an offer on the house! It was lower then what we needed so we countered the offer, and guess what? The house sold! Praise God! Hallelujah! Amen! But then the big question was, ok where do we go, where do we live, what do we do?

What was really weird about this time is that both Charlie and I had perfect peace about not knowing and trusted that God would show us where to go. We had four weeks before we had to be out of our house and we still didn’t know where to go. Well truthfully we knew what God wanted us to do, but I tried to reason and make “Sense” out of what God was doing in our lives. We had it narrowed down to three choices. One move to Peoria, which is where my job was at, and then try look for a Church to get involved in. Two, move to Quad Cities, maybe try to work with the company I was at from a distance (I was already driving 104 miles a day to work, and 124 miles to get to Church every Sunday and Wednesday. Don’t know if that is important but put it down anyway.) Or three…well this one will take a little more explaining.

About three or four years ago (Don’t remember when for sure, because I am a little brain dead on Mondays) my family and I met and fell in love with a family at the Church we started attending. It just so happened that the family that was such a blessing to us was the Pastor and his family. We had great fellowship with them, we were challenged to grow for the Lord with them, and just enjoyed the wonderful hearts they had for the Lord and loved being with folks that just loved Jesus! I also had the opportunity to work with Pastor Andy as the youth pastor of the Church we were at. It was great, but God called Pastor Andy to the Houston area a little over a year ago in what I had opportunity to see as a wonderful leading in a man’s life! Such a great story there, but no time for it in this post. So now option three, move my family to the Houston area and join the Southwinds Baptist Church Family.

What was I thinking? This made no sense! Move my family to an area where there is a Great Church and a Great Pastor? Wait this can’t be right? I would have to quit my job and have to find another one? I would have to find a place to live while unemployed? God surely can’t be moving us here! This was the struggle I was going through, but the fact is that it was God’s leading and He doesn’t always have to make sense to us, but He will always provide when He leads. We had the peace of God that this is where He wanted us and with three weeks left before our house was somebody else’s we decided to move our family to the Houston area. That peace of God that passes all understanding…how wonderful! It truly demonstrated Philippians 4:7 to us in a real way! (Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”)

So we told my office (Samaritan Ministries Intl.) that I would be moving my family to Houston and let our Pastor know the same. And then you know what happened? We saw God provide in His way and it was wonderful! God worked out the way for us to get to Houston, a place to live, and a job for us as well. God is so good and now we are in the Houston area! We are still transitioning and getting adjusted but we are so happy that God has not only moved but helped us be reminded of the faith we need to have in Him! We look back at the past several weeks and have the wonderful knowledge of how good our God is, how wonderful He provides, and know that our faith in Him is never a faith misplaced! Oh so much more to say, but I am over a 1,000 words and will leave it here for now.

The Church Series—the beginning of this story

2009-02-25T15:51:00.001-08:00

I would have to confess that I am probably not the typical kind of Pastor. I did not grow up in a Christian home. I grew up in a broken home going from one parent during the week to another parent on the weekend. I was about twelve when my I was told that I was going to have to choose which parent I would live with until I turned eighteen. Can you imagine having to choose? This was my life. I did not have the knowledge of the scripture or the challenge to walk with the Lord even though I was part of the Catholic Church. I had never heard what it means to be saved or what it was to be lost.

When my father passed away I couldn’t fill the void it left and turned to a gang lifestyle. My family was unaware that I was drinking, doing drugs, or running with gangs. I was good at hiding it. This was my life. I was on the path to destruction. I was on the path to failing in life. I knew it and didn’t know what I was going to do about it. What I didn’t know at the time is that I was on another path that would lead me to Hell. This was my life.

You see this is the beginning of the story because as I said this “was” my life, but praise God it is not anymore. God sent a wonderful women in my life who didn’t know she would be my wife at the time but was a huge instrument in the Lords hands by just sticking to what she knew was right and got me to come to Church. It was there I heard the good news that I didn’t have to go on the path I was living and could come to know that heaven was my home. I have never been the same. I am a child of the King! This is my life!

It is from this foundation that has paved the way to what God has made me today and why I feel I am an atypical Pastor. Shortly after I was saved, God began to work in my heart about becoming a Pastor. I know my father wasn’t saved and is in hell today, and it is this knowledge that God allowed to resonate in my mind as I thought of the ministry. It is almost as if I could hear him say, “There are Daddies everywhere that are going to go to hell if someone won’t tell them.” I surrendered with a passion for souls.

As the Lord grew me my passion never changed but God certainly expanded it. I started seeing families falling apart, young people not seeing the Lord as relevant, and more importantly believers finding their “Christianity” failing them when the rubber met the road. Why is that? What happened? What failed? We had a mold, but what went wrong? I noticed in college and for some that I had worked for as an assistant pastor that the solution was easy. Push soul winning more, Push dress standards more, push Sunday school more, push Bible reading more, push faithfulness to Church more. Now let me add a disclaimer here by saying that I am not against soul-winning, Sunday school, faithfulness to Church and for sure not against reading Gods word, but the success of a Church hinges on so much more than methodology. And there begins the problem…

Are you serious?

2009-02-21T14:39:00.000-08:00

Recently I have been reading a lot lately of what has been going on in the world of Fundamentalism and all I can say is: are you serious? In the past several months there has been a battle brewing over the King James Bible, its preservation, and the inspiration of the Word of God. It all seems to focus on Jack Schaap the Pastor of First Baptist Church in Hammond, IN. Last year as I sat in Pastor’s School I heard a statement that was made in reference to a book that Pastor Schaap wrote, that I knew was going to cause some uproar. It was a statement made about how we are fighting amongst each other or the King James and its inspiration. I looked over at my friend, Pastor Andy, and said, “Watch, he is going to take a lot of heat for that.” Wow did I totally underestimate the inferno that was to come.

What was the response, almost a public lashing and separation of fellowship from the Church and any ministries of the Church. What is amazing to me is the amount of print that has been taken up of “Why we are breaking ties with First Baptist Church of Hammond, IN or Hyles Anderson College.” (This is not a quote, but a paraphrase of titles that I have seen). It has been printed in the Church Bus News, a personal letter written to graduates of Hyles-Anderson College, and others that have also thrown their hat into the arena. What amazes me is that the groups arguing are really ignorant the fact that they are saying the same thing, but they are saying it differently and in some ways incorrectly. Let me give you an example.

In my work of the ministry I have heard preachers say, “There is no such thing as a woman preacher!” and we all shout amen right? Well yes and no. The reason why yes is because being in the IFB movement for the years I have now I know that the preacher that would make a statement like this is saying that Biblically there is no way a Woman could be a Pastor (Or hold the office of Bishop as the Bible Calls it—I Timothy 3, Titus 1). The problem is he is using the word Preacher, which in the 1828 is defined as: One who discourses publicly on religious subjects. In the NT the word Preach (G2784 kēryssō) means to herald or to proclaim, and contrary to the statement; men, women, children, all those who know Christ as Saviour are to proclaim the good news of Christ. It is called soul-winning, evangelism, discipleship, etc. This is a simple example of how one word can be used to describe something that is Biblically correct, however not correct in the context of what the word really means.

This is what I liken the whole feud over; the saying of the same thing but one says it scholastically correct the other correct in the sense of we (fundamentalists) get you and understand what you are saying. It just simply amazes me to see this all play out and the foolishness that come because of it. In one letter it was talking to Dr. Hyles…in the letter! I mean if that isn’t bizarre then I don’t know what is. It was funny because after the person that wrote his letter finished his portion to Dr. Hyles (Who died in 2001) he misplaced a sentence (Or at least I hope he did) and said that you could feel free to contact him and gave his Email address. Last I checked, I wouldn’t be checking my Email in heaven.

Let me conclude by saying this. I am a King James only Bible user. I have seen the evidences for the King James and against and through prayer, study, and conviction I will never use any other Bible when I preach in English. I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and has been preserved for us as He has promised. I also believe that it is important to quit fighting amongst each other and focus our attentions on the true enemy for he loves times like these.

2009 here we come...

2009-01-06T08:48:00.000-08:00

2008 was filled with unexpected turns and trails, but although some were good and some were bad God is still good and 2009 is filled with expectation. To fill in the back story let me explain a little of what has happened in the McCoy’s life. 2008 started with a great expectation. We were serving with a great Pastor who loves the Lord and loves people and we were working together with him and his family as the youth Pastor of the Church. The future seemed very bright, but then something unexpected happened. An earthquake…no really an earthquake, in Illinois. I remember being woke up to the shaking of the bed, the sound of our furniture rattling, and my wife’s panic wondering what that rumbling sound was. Then it dawned on me that this experience was familiar, I had frequented Los Angles many times as a child and have experienced these conditions before. However, this earthquake was not only literal it was in a sense a setting of the platform of how things would play out for the rest of the year.

In May, our Pastor let the deacons of the Church and me know that he was looking at being a Pastor of another Church. He felt very lead of the Lord to go down this path and looking at where he is at now, we praise God that He is using Pastor Andy at Southwinds and allowing him to see the many blessings He had for yielding to His perfect will. On the other hand, the shock to the system was pretty great and we found ourselves in a predicament. What now? Where now? In the transition, the Deacons of the Church asked me to step in as the interim Pastor of our Church and we felt as if the Lord might be leading us to Pastor again. We know that the Lord wants us to Pastor, but haven’t seen where as of yet. Was Colonial the place? Was this to be? Maybe God brought us to Colonial for this reason? I mean everything seemed to fit…right? I have been working in the ministry for several years now, I am familiar with the Church and the people, I have a vision from the Lord for this place and the people, and God was even blessing the work as I was their interim Pastor (We saw souls saved, baptisms, new families still coming, and a great spirit in the Church) but that is not always the way the Lord works.

We then had to do one of the hardest things for someone in the ministry has to do…walk away. Not because we wanted to, but because we knew the Lord wanted us to walk away from Colonial. We knew there were several families that wanted us to be their Pastor but the Lord did not want that to come to pass. In order for the Church to move on for the Lord, we had to step away so any new candidates could be considered without families still thinking we could be their Pastor. And thus I bring you the place that our family finds ourselves at the conclusion of this past year.

I won’t lie and say that it has been easy. Going from Church to Church, watching lives separate from ours, watching my children not have friends, fellowship or really anyone but each other and their family, watching my wife and I go through times where we want to through our hands up in frustration, watching the whole “Politics” of Church ministry, and then the emotions…oh the emotions. Discouragement, loneliness, frustration, and an overall feeling of despair. And yet through all of this we realize that God has willed it and even though all these things have come and we try to deal with them as a family we know that God is good and as we love Him through this He will work it all for good.

So six days in and what’s going on…not much but yet much hope! Hope is something that we find ourselves clinging to. Charles Swindoll wrote this, “Hope isn’t optional. It’s essential to our survival. Hope is as important to us as water is to a fish, as vital as electricity is to a light bulb, as essential as air is to a jumbo jet. Hope is basic to life.” We are clinging to the hope that is only found in the Lord. The hope that we will one day find a people that we can Pastor, the hope that one day we will see more lives changed, the hope that one day we will again have fellowship, the hope that one day our children will again have friends, the hope that we can only find in Jesus Christ.

Gotta practice what you preach...

2008-11-10T13:02:00.000-08:00

Well it has been a while and quite a bit has gone on and yet at the same time we stand at an impasse. In our search for a Pastorate it has taken us down several roads that we had wished we would have not had to travel but God, in His infinite wisdom, has placed us here for a purpose. What I have discovered is that through these journeys the roads can be frustrating, taxing, and sometimes leave you in a place where you need not to be: wondering what God is doing.

My wife and I have had the opportunity to see God’s wonderful provision for our family in many different ways. And those times have always shown us the greatness of the Almighty Father. But at this point in our life we are on the preface of something that we do not completely understand and for sure would have not planned it this way, but that is where this thought (and post) take me this afternoon. God doesn’t always work in the ways that “I” think are the best it is always what He knows is the best!

I was recently preaching in San Antonio and said something there that made a lot of sense as I said it but now I have to “Practice What I Preach” in a way. I told the congregation that God planned the entire world and never once asked my opinion on how things should work and in what ways He should make them. With that in mind I realize that the Lord did a fantastic job without me and allows me to enjoy His wonderful creation every day (Even when it is stupid cold outside.) But now we are in a point of our walk where we do not see the end of the path and the illumination seems not to be as bright as it once was. So what are we to do?

Trust in the Lord! I realize that my God has a pretty good idea about what He is doing and has placed me on this path because of His will and now it is my job to Trust Him! But what is wonderful is that He has built a base with me to show me and my family that He is trustworthy! He has provided so wonderfully in the past, who am I to thing that He won’t provide the same way in the future. I am just going to trust Him and pray that my faith will not waiver but stay strong in Him!

I don’t know several aspects of this journey yet: Where God will lead me to Pastor, What will the people be like at the Church where our Pastor, How quickly will our Home sell, What part of the Country will God call me to, What am I having for dinner tonight is still up in the air at this point…but what I do know is this: God knows exactly how He is going to lead, how He is going to provide, and since my God is Good and since Romans 8:28 is still in the Bible I know that I will keep on loving my God and it WILL work out for Good. That’s my God and that is just what he does…Amen and Amen!

A Family Circle of Prayer

2008-10-02T06:35:00.001-07:00

Something sweet happened the other day when we were spending time in prayer. My family and I spend time together in prayer every day. It is a very sweet and needed time in our lives and seldom goes by that we do not spend our family devotion time together. Even when I am out of town I make sure that I call and gather my family together so we can spend time in prayer together. It is always a sweet time and I would not replace it for anything. We spent time praying over a specific need and as we finished wiping the tears away Dylan made a discovery that touched our hearts. He looked down and saw our footprints indented in the carpet to where we made a circle with our feet. Immediately my wife and I welled up with tears again seeing the blessing in this beautiful sight.

In the believers life we are constantly being pulled in different directions. Wether it be work, or school schedules, or extracurricular activiies, they are all pulliing us in different directions. In today’s world we have Moms trying to balance careers along with family life. Dads worker longer hours while they are trying to advance in their careers to make a little or lot more money. Kids trying to have the “Well Rounded” childhood and are involved in several different extracurricular activites. All of these things going on and you know what ends up suffering, our time with the Lord, but more specific then that…our time with the Lord as families!

As a look at the Church today I realize that we have programs, we have groups, we have worship practice and so many more things which are wonderful blessings in their own aspects, but what I do not see is a calling of the Church back to a time of family worship. I have known many believers over the past several years, and in conversations with these individuals and families I notice that people are so busy with Church they get to busy for God. How backward we have become. As a Pastor one of my biggest fears is that my children would become more familiar with the routines of Church, the programs of Church, or the aspects of Church instead of the wondrous God who died for the Church!

As my son looked down and saw the footprints in the carpet I realized that I need to be more zealous then ever in my ministry to show people the need and blessing that comes from time together as a family. I heard a statement made years ago and wanted to broaden it for famlies sake. A family that is to busy to pray is to busy for God. Let us search our lives and schedules and make sure that we are first and formost with God in prayer and in worship.

To be or not to be…that is the question.

2008-09-19T06:25:00.000-07:00

This quote from Hamlet (Act 3: Scene 1) is such a wonderful quote, for it transcends the literary context found in Hamlet and can have bearing on many facets of life or in the case of Hamlet death. This is what has lead to the posting of this blog this morning. Please understand that there is not an involvement of death in the context of this thought, however the statement is not only applicable it is the best way to describe the future of this Pastor.

When I surrendered to be a Pastor I had an ignorance of all the aspects of what that meant, but over the past several years I have been schooled in the knowledge of “Politics” in the IFB Church. One thing that has always troubled me and at the same time challenged me is the aspect of, “It is not what you know, it is about who you know.” How this has been revealed to me even the past several weeks and is now the dilemma that we once again face.

God’s calling for me to Pastor a Church has never been a question in my mind. Even through difficulties of personal attacks, financial hardships, vicious and brutal lies being spread about my family and me, God has never caused me to doubt the calling he has given, but even through all the difficulties mentioned and unmentioned the greatest of all is not those, it is simply about who you know. I find it so interesting that this is such a difficult facet of trying to find a Church to Pastor, but it is the dilemma that was faced by so many. It is to a point that if you don’t go around trying to get to know everyone and trying to be a good politician then you may not be able to find a ministry to serve in someday. Now that sounds like some good Bible teaching! (I hope the sarcasm was sensed)

And know I hope the title is now made clear, is it to be or is it not to be? Yes that is truly the question! In the context of the situation I face, it seems the” be or not to be” has no bearing or relationship to me but in truth and sincerity it is mostly about the “Who” that know me and how well the “Who” is known. How tragic, but nevertheless is the circumstances we are in. It screams to me of the Church in Corinth who had a problem with man identification instead of Christ identification.

As a Pastor my prayer is to never fall into this snare. One of my friends, who is a Pastor in a Church, has challenged himself to also not be in the conformity of culture when it debunks scriptural authority. I am so glad for men like this who know that the Church is not about “Politics” it is about Christ and in that the “Be or not to be” should be in the hands of the perfect one who won’t get it wrong...Jesus Christ.

Catch a breath…write a post.

2008-08-23T19:29:00.000-07:00

Well it has been quite a while since I have posted anything on here, but I realized that it is a wonderful way to express thoughts in written format so here I am…and here we go again. In my spiritual walk with in life I realize that many things happen both good and bad, some understood some not understood, but through it all I realize that the Lord has a greater plan through it all. And here we stand on the threshold of something that bears the resemblance of a road traveled before. I find myself looking again to Pastor a Church.

If you know me and you actually read this you remember it was just a few years ago that I was out looking for Churches that I could candidate to be their Senior Pastor. What an experience, both good and bad, but now it is that time again. I know that God wants me to Pastor a Church and that the Lord has prepared me for such a time as this, but at this moment we are trying to candidate at the Church where I am currently serving as Youth Pastor. What a unique experience, because I actually know the people, have a heart for them, have loved them for years, and have a great vision of what the Lord could do, but at the same time I have to prepare myself for the fact that they may not want me as their Pastor. I know that may not seem weird, but for me it is kind of weird.

What makes it weird is what would happen next…last week as I met with a Pastor friend of mine he asked a very sensible question, “What will you do if they tell you no?” Now, I had this all figured out in my mind, but I guess I never really entertained the idea before or really pondered it. So as I ponder I wonder what will happen. My standard answer is, “well God is calling me to Pastor so I will go to where God wants me to Pastor, either in Galesburg or wherever he leads.” But the implications of that are what are really interesting. What if _____ What if _____ it is the What Ifs that get me sometimes. And as I ponder this thought I have one conclusion ______________ Yep that’s it…But I realize the Lord is control and I am looking forward to whatever He will do with us. I don’t doubt His calling or His leading during this time it is just the Blank I want filled in. Soon…soon.

Welcome Superman, to 2008

2008-05-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

Well apparently my blog and I have not had the chance to talk to each other this year so I figured I might as well take the time and see how it is doing. In all actuality, I am finishing a session in the EPA conference and one of the tools she is speaking of is Blogs and communicating to others with these resources. I have a friend in Indianapolis (shout out: What up RedHeadRev) that is a lot more dedicated to blogging than I am and I always enjoy reading his blog and now I feel challenged to share thoughts that have gone through my mind. Here we go…

Last night I am sitting in the conference getting ready to eat some chicken like substance (Haven’t quite figured out where the chef was going with this one) and I started to say to myself, “I hope this year the speaker is better than last year.” Me and I agreed, but myself was still pondering the chicken substance in front of me. At the table we are entertaining conversation with various individuals who have jobs that deal in some way or another with printing. Great conversation, but then the question should be asked how long it took before the conversation turned to Politics. I am pleased to announce, five minutes tops!

After our meaningful conversation on how bad our Governors (if you know me you could hear the sarcasm in my voice at this point.) we began to listen to Paul Baloche lead some worship. He begins to sing a song that I am familiar with but have never really listen to the words. Now the words aren’t just being sung, but are in front of me on the big screen. This guy is wonderful! You can see the Lord has given him the ability to write and praise God through song. But then he sings another called “Above All” which really gets me going now. Again it is a song I am familiar with but have never truly listened to the words but now I not only hear them, but see them. Here are some of the words that gave an impact.

Above all powers
Above all things
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began
Above all kingdoms
Above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what You're worth

Crucified
Laid behind the stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

I could have stopped there, but then we got to hear an evangelist named Luis Palau speak who did a fantastic job of challenging us to be praying for the City God has called you to (Jeremiah 29: 7) and work with them. But my focus today is on the song and the lyrics above and how it brought to mind several thoughts. When I think of all the things that my Lord has done for me, I stand in Awe, but I realize that above all, it was for my sake he went to the cross. I realize that above all, it was for me and you that he came. Out of all the things this world had to offer: kingdoms, thrones, wealth, treasures, he choose me above all. This puts me at a point of where I completely stand in awe of my great God, because he is so wonderful to me. Now flip the coin.

What about me? What about you? This world has so many things to offer: Title, Position, Wealth, Prosperity, Freedoms, Social Groups, etc. But where does our God fit in. In my life I have many things to praise God for: a wonderful wife, fantastic kids, great friends, a tremendous youth group, a spectacular Church, and so many more outstanding things. When I list these things, above all the greatest thing is my Lord, My God, My King. He is above all in the placement of my wonderful blessings, but true as well is that he is above all in the rule of things in my life. What about you? May I challenge you as the song writer wrote, as Paul says in Philippians 3:7-10, and as I realize today and hope to in the future. All things have their place, but above all, there is only one…Jesus Christ! Amen and Amen.

Go ye into all the urinals...

2007-12-26T06:57:00.000-08:00

This weekend was one of the most interesting weekends I have faced in a while. My office gave us our bonuses on Friday which meant I had to brave the Christmas crowds to finish some shopping for my boys. On top of that I felt absolutely horrible, because I was sick and when I mean sick it was bad. So it is late now, I have to use the restroom and look on the urinal and what do I see??? A Tract. I blurred out the name, address, and Pastor because that is not relevant but in my half asleep, medicated, and frustrated state mind I begin to laugh as I am using the restroom. I started thinking of my Christian life and said to myself, “Man if I had a dollar for every time I heard of a guy who got saved because of a tract left on the urinal!” Okay if you can’t sense the sarcasm in that statement let me just say it was there.

Being a Baptist and especially growing up in the Circles that I grew up in, Soul-winning is a huge thing. Soul-winning—that term just—never mind that is another blog. When I think of Evangelizing the World, as Christ told us to do, I wonder is this what he really meant? Go ye into all the restrooms and leave a piece of paper that has the scripture on it. In reality I have heard certain Pastors saying that any time you put a tract on the dinner table at a restaurant, front door of a house, or even a urinal, you are leaving the “Gospel” and fulfilling the great commission. Wow! Here’s the pitch, swung on and a miss!

In my mind there are two major issues with the tract on the urinal. First, the person that left that tract most likely felt as if they were placing the check mark by the box that says, “Did you do any evangelizing today?” This is such a dilemma in our Church today is the infamous Check Box. What do I mean? The reality of a person going through the motions of Christianity, instead of experiencing a genuine relationship with Christ and then through that relationship having the overwhelming desire to do the things Christ has commanded. Secondly, why would you leave a tract on a urinal? Where is our Church falling to when we think that genuine evangelizing is leaving a tract on a urinal? I am all about showing a lost and dying world the Gospel, but leaving a tract on a urinal is not going to cut it.

We as a Church need to get back to the very thing that seems to missing in the modern Church. Commitment, Community, Communication. We need to be committed to our relationship to Christ, learn to build our community with Family, Church, and with the lost world to see them come to Christ, and then please, please, please, learn to communicate.

So this is Christmas…

2007-12-13T06:52:00.000-08:00

…and what have you done? First line to the John Lennon “Happy Christmas” song, but man how much that thought is running through my mind this morning. Christmas time means so much to so many people, but normally it is so little to do with the real reason for Christmas which is Christ. As I sit here and I think of all the things that come to mind when I think of Christmas…Family (Well immediate since most of ours is in El Paso, TX), Christmas Dinner, Christmas Trees, Christmas Lights, Carols, Decorations, Charlie Brown Christmas, Fruit Cake (Yeah, I know I am weird, but like them), Christmas Cookies, Making Cookies, Christmas songs on WCIC until Jan 2^nd, and so much more. With all of that you would think that the Christmas spirit would just be pouring out of people including myself, then why isn't it?

I think a lot of that is based on the fact that we forget the reason for Christmas, which is Jesus Christ. All of the things above are a reality of Christmas and some wonderful things, but I realize this morning that Christmas is so much more. To stop and think that the creator of the universe loved you and me so much that he would allow himself to be born as a baby, subjecting himself to all the feelings that you and I have to face, so that you and I might be redeemed. I sit and think what it would be like for the God who knew no hunger, no pain, not knowing the physical understanding of Cold to now be in this world and experience hunger, experience pain, experience the physical things you and I face every day. It is amazing to think what love he has for us.

Going back on that John Lennon song, which is really kind of depressing when you read the lyrics, there is a line that says, “A very merry Christmas, and a happy New Year. Let’s hope it’s a good one, without any fear.” You know what John, I think I will have a Good one. I have a life not lived in fear for I fear not the eternity I face, for I face an eternity with the Father. It is going to be a Great Christmas and a Great Year…Merry Christmas!!!

Side Note:
If you like the artwork visit Digital Blasphemy's website. I highly recommend this guys artwork. It is some of the most impressive artwork that I have seen and he also has links to other fantastic artists.

You might live in Illinois if...

2007-12-12T10:38:00.000-08:00

…any time you worry about having to drive in snow or ice people make fun, speak condescending, or make you feel like less of a person because you don’t feel comfortable going out in it. Ok, not a great joke, but a reality living in Illinois. The past couple of days we had another ice storm go through our surrounding areas, and while where the town I work in didn’t get hit very hard, we got hit pretty good. As you can see from the pictures we not only had ice on the trees but slush on the streets. Growing up in El Paso we hardly ever had snow and with that in mind, my comfort levels of driving in it are very low. On top of that my wife had an accident several years ago that left us in a sobering reality, if I have to err on the side of caution, I will do so. So what’s my point?

Over the past few days I have been the bearer of teasing because I really don’t feel comfortable driving in the mess seen in the pictures and wonder why people make you feel so horrible just because you don’t feel safe in that type of weather. Then a bigger thought hit me, is this the way the body of Christ is teaching others? Oh stupid Christian, you shouldn’t be scared of the weather, just go out in it like we do. Yep, unfortunately we are. We take a believer and never equip them or teach them how to “drive” in the “bad weather” and instead of helping we just make fun of them. Guess I figured out two things: One, I want to help believers grow in their faith and help them be equipped to drive in the “bad weather” of life. Two, I don’t care how much people make you feel like garbage with their teasing or ridicule, if the weather is bad outside, I have days off, and just don’t feel comfortable in it I am staying at home. At least my wife and children will be glad I did.

Well said Mike…well said.

2007-11-30T09:22:00.000-08:00

Well, unless you have been living in another place like, oh…Jupiter, or maybe under a rock you have seen that the presidential campaigns are in full swing. I don’t remember it being this involved this early, but I could be wrong. I haven’t put my full backing behind anybody yet, like my backing is the turning point in that persons election or non-election, but I have seen some who I wouldn’t vote for. Without getting into details, I will say it won’t be a Democrat, but that isn’t just because I am a republican, but it is based on their political views. With that said, onto my reason for this…the debates!

This Wednesday there were the YouTube/CNN debates and it was quite a show. There was some good statements, some bad, some good positions, some bad, some harsh words, some good, but all in all it was very interesting. Who won the debate? I really don’t know but there was one statement that was made that I really enjoyed. Mike Huckabee, who is also a Baptist Minister :), was asked “On the Death Penalty, what would Jesus do?” His response is below, I could summarize it, but I would butcher it bad, so I just posted it.

With all of that said it reminded me that this coming year’s presidential election as the elections in 2004, as the elections in 2000, as in the elections in the entire history of our Country, the leader has already been chosen, and all I have to do is keep close to the Lord and allow him to lead. Praise the Lord for his sovereignty and omnipotence!

Word is of the devil?!?!?

2007-10-26T13:23:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I have posted a blog, but for good reason. We have been busy with the Church lately and…blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. You know the routine. But there really has been a lot going on, which leads to the reason for this post. We are putting together an event at our Church for Halloween night as an outreach for our community. No it is not glorifying the holiday, but it is trying to make use of a night where people are out anyway and reintroduce them to our Church. With that in mind we are putting together candy bags and we wanted to put a tract of sorts inside.

While I was writing the text for the bags I decide to make use of one of my favorite features in Microsoft Word…F7. What does that do? It spell checks the document. Praise the Lord for spell check. For us that graduated from college with a passing grade in English, which I did twice (U.T.E.P. and C.I.B.C), and still have problems it is a live saver. What you may not know is that it also checks grammar for you as well as misspellings.

Well much to my surprise this came up when I ran the spell/grammar checker. You will notice that it suggest replacing the word Treat with the word Threat. I tell you, Microsoft is part of the Illuminati and are planning to take over the world!!! That was for you conspiracy theory buffs. All humor aside, how true that statement is in our world today. Jesus is seen as a threat in our Schools, Jesus is seen as a threat to our health care, Jesus is just seen as a threat to our society, etc. etc. How sad!

I heard a friend who works at a salon in Wal-mart that said her district manager told her that they couldn’t listen to Christian music at their work because it was an offense. She said, “Keep Jesus in your heart, don’t bring him to work.” How ridiculous of a statement, but maybe Microsoft Word is telling us a reality of how our society sees Jesus. Where as one time our society saw him for who he was, A Saviour and King, now many see him as a threat. Oh to know that he is not a threat, but as I wrote a great gift. Praise the Lord for our Great Saviour and King…boo on Microsoft Word's Grammar Checker.

Oh and yes, I typed this up and Microsoft Word and still used the spell checker. It’s easier then learning how to spell.

We are.......Christians!!!

2007-09-26T15:43:00.001-07:00

So it has been a while since I have posted, not because I am lacking thoughts to ponder, but more lacking the time to write them down (a.k.a typing them in Word.) This week a thought was there and I had to make sure it got written out. My wife and I watched the 2006 movie called, “We are Marshall.” If you don’t know the story behind this movie let me give you a brief synopsis.

This movie is about the Marshall University Football team. Their plane goes down on their return from a game and kills all on the plane. Through this tragedy the school chooses to press on with the football program to honor those who were killed in the tragic accident. Okay, there is a few details missing but that is the gist of it.

I will totally admit that I am a huge fan of movies like this. Triumph coming from tragedy, pressing through the conflict so they can have the blessing on the other side. But in this there is a chant that starts when they talk about the team. They say, “We are” a brief pause, then the person responds. All the grief is now getting ready to explode through their next word. The overwhelming pride they have in their School, their Town, and their fellow students is now ready to be said. What do they say? “Marshall” That is it, “We are?” “Marshall” Over and over again.

I thought about this and of course the overly analytical person that I am begins to think what pride, what heart, what about the Christians out there? Granted we don’t go around looking at our Brothers and Sisters in Christ and say, “We are” expecting to hear the person or persons say, “Christians” but wouldn’t it be nice to have that type of love for the Lord. Loving the Lord so much that when somebody says “Who are you” you can boldly, proudly, and joyfully say…a Christian. In my mind I am hearing the crowd.

We are…Christians! We are…Christians! We are…Christians!

Six Flags Great America…Kind of Okay America…Oh who am I kidding.

2007-08-17T15:59:00.000-07:00

Every year for the past several years I have tried to take whatever youth group I am working with to some sort of large activity before the beginning of the school year. This year the youth group decided to go to Six Flags Great America. Oh man, how just the sound of that would have thrilled me several years ago, but now…not so much.

It is not that there is anything wrong with Six Flags, but with me…that is another story. I guess I will just blame it on age. We went on a few rides before the teen boys said “Let’s go to the Screaming Eagle!” I am telling myself, “Oh joy, the great big wooden roller coaster.” A few facts here, this thing is big, loud, and lots of wood. Which I know means that it will be Loud, Long, and definitely bumpy. The narrative in my mind continues.

As we approach the front of the line I ask myself, “Why do you do this to yourself? You know that you really don’t like it when you hit that first drop and you get that strange sensation of your stomach and throat getting together for some sort of strange how do you do. And as I ponder this thought I realize I am boarding the train. We take off to the sound of some teenage boy who is trying to pump up the crowd before we leave, and by trying I mean with the vigor of a boy who is making minimum wage and is looking forward more to clocking out than getting us pumped up. The train climbs with the infamous click clack of the track and then we are there, the top of the peak and then it’s, “Hey Mr. Throat how are ya! Fine Mr. Stomach, haven’t seen you in a while. Oh look, its Mr. nauseous come to the party to, great to see you!”

After we get off the ride I realize something. Several years ago, not telling so don’t ask, I had the ambition to be a pilot. By ambition I really mean more of a fascination, but it was my dream. I wanted to fly America’s fastest machines and be a Top Gun, but two things happened. First, God allowed my eyes to go bad so that I need glasses, or contact lenses, and that is not allowed in fighters. Two, I met the Lord. Sounds like a strange second reason but let me explain; while my dream of becoming a fighter pilot may not have been achieved I have a greater dream now…it is serving the Lord in full time ministry.

I praise God that he allows me to work in the ministry I work in. I love the teenagers we work with and see that God has great plans for them. But my love was just heightened for them today, why you may ask, (Even if you didn’t your getting an answer) because their one of the reasons I believe God allowed me to not be a fighter pilot, and one of the reasons Mr. Stomach and Mr. Throat only meet once in a while.

And we are off…

2007-07-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow afternoon we head to Camp Joy located in Whitewater WI. I look forward to what God is going to do in our lives and in the lives of our teenagers. Camp is always a great time where our teens can grow because of the lack of distractions the daily life can cause. I look forward to the drive up to Camp and the memories that will be built. I look forward to the long days and what seem to be really short nights. I look forward to the games, the fun, and the food (which I am told at Camp Joy is really really good.) Most of all I look forward to the outdoors.

In Psalm 19: 1 God says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” I love to see the mornings in the wilderness where there is the glisten of the sun on the fresh morning dew. The silence and peace speaks of the beauty and majesty our Creator gave to this world. Oh how I look forward to how God will bless during this camp year.

Please pray for this week as we look forward to what God will do.

It is "Very" good!

2007-07-05T06:26:00.001-07:00

Today I began reading the Pentateuch, which we know is the first five books of the Old Testament. Today I began with Genesis. I like reading Genesis. Reading about the creation, the fall, the promised redeemer, the flood, the…oh read it you will love it to! Today, however, I read a line in Genesis 1: 31 that reminded me of how Great our God is. It reads, “And God say every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good…”

When I stop to think of this world that my God created I sometimes forget of the beauty it possesses. The stars, the moon, the planets, the sun, the green on the earth, the blue in the ocean, the white of the snow, the…you get the point. Our God didn’t say it was good, He said it was “Very” good!

When I stop to think that our God says our World is very Good and realize that we, humans, are a greater creation what are we? Very very Good? I don’t know, but I do know this our God loves us so much that he created us such an awesome place to live in, and if this worlds beauty is “Very” good, can you imagine what heaven will be like? I am encouraged to know that our God is such a great creator.

God is “Very” Good…No, He is Awesome!

Slip and Slide? No…Slip and Suffer!

2007-06-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a very hot weekend. Not as hot as it was growing up in El Paso TX, however it was hot, humid, and our air conditioning is not working right. Every year we normally by a little wading pool for the boys, because we can’t afford to get a bigger one, but this year we decided to go a different direction. Suddenly the thought enters into my mind about the ever famous "Slip N' Slide."

Oh man, instantly I am back in my childhood. We also didn’t have money for a pool in our yard and I didn’t really know anybody that owned a pool for us to swim in. One year my childhood friend that lived across the street introduced me to his summertime purchase. It was called a “Slip ‘N Slide.” What you do is run as fast as you can, which for me isn’t terribly fast then and now, dive onto this plastic tarp like device that is has water constantly sprinkled on it by an internal watering the slip and slide device thingy.

What a concept! Water, slipping, Water, sliding, Water…Did I mention water? In El Paso where it has several days, sometimes consecutive, over 110 degrees this was a brilliant idea. I had nothing but fond memories of our slip and slide adventures, so purchasing one for my kids seemed like a great idea. No, it was BRILLIANT!

We get home on Saturday and I get it set up. Oh man, I can smell the plastic smell that immediately transports me to my ten year old days. I am so excited for my kids. I get set up our “Double Wave Rider” and my boys take off. Then I realize why these things are cool, but dangerous. My oldest boy gets up with a scrape on his stomach, because this thin piece of plastic allows any sharp object (Rocks, twigs, a bug with a bad attitude) to still do some damage. So the next day, Father’s Day, I put down a whole bunch of card board under the tarp and make it a little safer. In my mind I begin to think, “I need to give this a test run to make sure it is safe for the kids.” Here is where I should have taken the directions “For ages 5-12” a little more serious.

I jumped on to the slip and slide and took off…total distance traveled: 2 feet. I think I can do better than this. So I start doing more. The kids and I are having a great time. I almost forgot that I had to cook lunch on the grill, but then I started to feel this pain in my stomach. Pain as in I am out of shape and my abs are reminding me of this fact. Slip and slide now became slip and suffer. My abs began to remind me that they are almost thirty years old and that we are not 12 anymore. Oh man what a great day, but what a great pain. I must say that Slip and Slides have not lost their luster at all. I highly recommend them to kids, but to those out of shape thirty year old and ups I offer this piece of advice. Remember that the great and awe inspiring “Slip N’ Slide” is produced by the company “Wham-O.” That should be the first clue.

That Grace...it's Amazing!!!

2007-06-05T19:36:00.001-07:00

So today I was looking through some You Tube channels I subscribe to and I ran across this. I had seen this before but it blew me away again. I don’t think I will ever get over His Grace. Praise the Lord for Amazing Grace!

What does Christ mean to you?

2007-05-29T06:43:00.000-07:00

This week I preached a message on Sunday morning out of Matthew 16: 13-19 asking the question who do you say that Christ is? And today this thought is burning on my heart. As I look at the lives that we lead the question continues in my mind as to how we answer the question, who is Jesus Christ to Me. I know for the two of you that read this (Hi my Wife, Hey Mike) it is like preaching to the choir, but the thought bears typing.

In the scripture I mentioned above the disciples are asked who do men say that Jesus is, then it becomes personal as to who do they say that Jesus Christ is. This is where I wonder what people would answer? Most would say that “right” words, but to be quite honest it would not be the “Honest” words. The more I grow for the Lord the more I realize that Jesus Christ becomes more of a moment in time instead of a shepherd of our lives. Jesus becomes more of our God in time of need, instead of our God every moment of my life. What would you answer if Jesus looked at you and asked who do you “Really” say that I am?

We should want him to be every moment, every minute, and every day of our lives. We should want to really know Him. But then I realize that so many have made Him an appointment, not an everyday God. How many have said to Jesus that I want you, but not that much. How many have said I want to worship you, but only Sundays, maybe a Wednesday, but other than that leave me be because I have stuff I have to do. How many receive the blessings of God and never acknowledge the one who gave them. Oh who do we really say that Jesus Christ is?

I know we have busy lives, but I remember this statement I heard years ago, because it touched my heart then and still does now. “A Man too busy to pray is a man to busy for God.” We have so many things going on, Family, Friends, Relaxation, Graduation, Family Trips, etc. Which none of these things are bad things, not at all, but when they take precedence over Jesus what are we telling Him who we call our Saviour? Who do we really say that Jesus Christ is?

I know this is not my normal humorous satirical kind of blog, but my heart hurts because I know that there is a God, who is my Saviour, and He is so forgotten. Not by the lost world, but by those that claim him as their Saviour. Oh that we would not just “say” He is my Saviour, but “Live” like He is our Saviour. Who do you say that Jesus Christ is?

Movie Review: Spiderman 3

2007-05-26T17:49:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we were sitting around and wondering what we wanted to do. In the metropolis of Galesburg IL [major sarcasm added] there are the movies, Wal-mart, or watch the grass grow. Since we needed to cut the grass this week anyway, and we didn’t need anything from Wal-mart, we decided on the movies. We decided to go see Spiderman 3.

I had read the review provided by the Christian Spotlight and figured it might be okay, however I was a little leery of the venom character. Not because of the part he would play, but because it did look a little evil and I didn’t want my boys to wake up in the middle of the night screaming that Venom is coming to get them. On to the review!

In the world of movie sequels it is normally a curse to do another movie after you have a successful first. Outside of Star Wars, which was really one movie over several versions, and

maybe the Godfather trilogy, there is not one I can think of that was just a smashing success. But could the Spiderman people do it? Yes they can.

The introduction of Sandman, Venom, and the new Goblin where wonderfully done. The relationship between Peter and Harry takes a twist that I was not expecting. The depth of the evil that undertakes Peter Parker is something that was also unexpected. All in all I would give this one four out of five stars. There are some predictable parts, however the CGI and the plot is handled well enough to make these predictable moments small speed bumps.

I really like the end of the movie when Peter forgives the Sandman for his role in his Uncles death, but the death of Harry was sad and unwanted. Not that it wasn’t well done in the movie; I just didn’t want him to die right after he resolves his friendship with his “Best Friend”, as Peter states it. The only downside that I can state has nothing to do with the movie it is all to do with the previews. You never know what the previews will hold, and these really stunk.

They showed the preview to the new Fantastic Four movie, which was great, the preview to the new Harry Potter, which looks as evil and satanic as ever, and then something that looked almost like borderline soft core porn. Most of my preview time was spent covering up my kids eyes. I wish that they would put better previews with the movie…oh yeah movie review. Sorry.

Spiderman 3 had good action, good CGI, good plot, and all together just a good movie. I was so pleased it left me wanting to see another one, but I know they may not make anymore. But for know our Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman is still here.

The Play-Doh Did It!

2007-05-24T06:22:00.000-07:00

So last night we had teen group and I was preaching out of Ephesians chapter 2, specifically verses 8-10. Most Christians are familiar with verses 8-9 for it speaks of the saving Grace that we have done nothing to earn nor anything to keep. Thank God for his Grace! But the next verse caught my attention and that was the focus of our teen group last night. Verse 10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” When I thought about this I started to answer one of the age old questions, what are we here for? For the Christian we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto GOOD WORKS. So we spent some time there. Where does the play-doh come in? Well let me explain my brilliant, yet failed and I will never do it again, idea.

I thought of using play-doh as a way for the kids to “Create” something using their imaginations. Whatever it was, however good or bad, it would be their creation but whatever it was it would be nothing more than play-doh and would not do anything. I wanted to demonstrate our creativeness, but the idea that God’s surpasses ours and the fact that his creation is for a purpose. At this point it sounds like a really good idea, or at least it did to me. It sounded even better when I thought how well it would work for the kids to express their creativity. Well that is where it stopped.

So I passed out the play-doh, gave them about five minutes to sculpt something, which went really well, but that is where it stopped. I could not get most of their attentions back when I tried to regroup and teach the lesson application. Stupid Play-doh! The message fell to the intoxicating smell of gooey play-doh. The sounds of my voice were overshadowed by the pliability of the dough in their hands…Stupid Play-doh. In all honesty I can say that our teen group is a great group and listens so well to the messages given, but we found our kryptonite, Play-doh is its name! Oh sure, somebody could say that I was a flop and didn’t present the message well or that our kids attentions were on other things, but that somebody is probably drunk on play-doh!

Does this have a point? Um…no except I realize that sometimes something as simple as play-doh can distract us from the Lord and his message. We are created by God to do his works, but sometimes play-doh gets in the way. I guess we just need to move on, send an email saying boycott buying play-doh on Tuesday to stick it to the manufacturers, and just say “Stupid Play-doh!”

May Already?

2007-04-30T05:51:00.000-07:00

I remember growing up people used to say that as you get older time seems to fly by you even faster. I never really understood that then, but now…Wow! This year is almost half over and I was seriously talking to somebody yesterday about Christmas plans at Church. So what has been going on in the McCoy’s life? Oh man, I will sum it up with two words and I quote Strongbad when I say, “Labor Daybor.” It seems like time just flies by but even more when you are busy. So let me give you the ESPN highlight reel about what has been happening over the past few weeks.

We are working diligently to raise money for our teens so that they can attend camp at Camp Joy this year. Now I have worked in youth ministry for over five or six years and I can say that each youth group I have worked with has been very unique and this group is no different. What I really love about our teen group is their spirit. They have such a great spirit for the Lord and have such a great desire to do work for him. I will never forget the night when some of the teens said they wanted to volunteer their time to work for a place that deals with the mentally handicapped. Why? Because the wanted their summer to mean something for the Lord and felt that they could serve the Lord there. Wow?!?! But, at our current moment we are focused on Camp, Fundraisers, and our activities.

In our home we have been really excited about what the Lord is doing. We have been going through II Peter 1: 5-8, which we just finished yesterday. It speaks of adding to our faith: virtue; then knowledge; then temperance, then patience; godliness; brotherly kindness; finally charity or love. Why because Peter says that “if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Now what Christian wouldn’t want that? What a great promise! We will neither be barren of unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, but it takes work.

Add to my faith. I truly believe that if we had nothing to do in this world then the day of our Salvation we would be ushered straight to heaven to live, but God wants a little more. I have said for so long that the Christian life is really easy to understand but it is sometimes hard to live. This leads to this principle, adding to our faith. We so often get to the point where we accept our faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour but then forget that we need to add to our faith. How revealing this truth is about where I am at and where I need to go…What a wonderful Saviour!

Bow the Knee…

2007-03-27T07:34:00.000-07:00

This past week we attended the 44^th Annual Pastors School hosted by First Baptist Church of Hammond IN. The years I have attended the conference I have not only left blessed, but it also challenges me about what God wants to do in my life. This year the conference topic was “With Christ in the School of Prayer” and I can truly say that the speakers chosen to speak not only brought great messages but God spoke to my heart about prayer in a great way. We can all look at our prayer life and say that we do not spend enough time talking to the God of our Salvation, but this year I realized not only do I need to spend more time with him, but moreover spend "Real" time with him. I want to have the power of God in my life and know that the only way to do that is to get on board with the Lord and go where he is going.

Over the past few weeks I have been reading a book called “Following Christ” which has been teaching me the principal of following after God. The Bible teaches “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23. My desire is to be with God but notice he says “Follow Me.” God is teaching that if we want to be with him the we need to Follow. He is leading the way for us and our job is to simply follow! Easier said then done, but the principle is still true. I heard a great illustration on Monday night that spoke of the reward and I want to share it with you.

On Monday night, Pastor Schaap preached on prayer and getting close to God and he used the following illustration. He spoke of his Grandfather who used to go to the dump to drop off his trash. Of course, I remember what the dump was like. I can remember the smell and the nastiness of a dump, but in this illustration, Bro. Schaap said he did not go one time and his Grandfather took his friend instead. Normally this would not be a big deal except his friend returned with some ice cream. When Bro. Schaap asked his Grandpa why he didn’t tell him that he was going to get ice cream afterward, his Grandpa said he didn’t realize he would but decided to, in the end. Here is the principal; Bro. Schaap decided that wherever his Grandpa went from that point he would go with him, because the reward (Ice Cream, Hot Dogs, etc.) was worth it.

It was a good illustration, but let me add something to it that I believe was added but I may have missed. God is faithful to reward us and bless us, three is no doubt there, but we do not follow him simply because he does. My heart was challenged this week to want to be with him. Not because of the blessings, even though his word teaches he will, but because my God is so awesome. I want to be with Him. What is even greater in my mind is that God wants me to follow him down this journey of life. Side by side with the Saviour every day, that is where I want to be. So as Ron Hamilton sang during the conference, I will bow the knee before my God and say..."Hear I am Lord, where we going today?"

We are back on the air...

2007-02-27T07:36:00.000-08:00

It has been a few weeks since I have last posted and many things have happened. So much so that I probably could write for days and still not list all the exciting things going on. Let me start by working backwards in this timeline and finish with a great praise.

This weekend shaped up to be a weekend like any other, but something happened that I/We were not prepared for: The worst ice storm I have every faced. This year we had two ice storms, with a possible third coming tomorrow, but the latter was much worse than the earlier one. We had tree branches cracking and falling everywhere. Most of Galesburg lost their power. We were one of the fortunate ones to keep their power, which was a great answer to prayer. About 12:00 on Saturday, I went in to our Boys room and told them, “Boys, I don’t want you to be afraid or even worried, but this storm is looking to be a pretty big one. I want you to start praying now that we don’t lose power. If we do we will be fine, but let’s pray that we don’t.” So we started praying, all of us, and we lost no power. What a tremendous answer to prayer as well as a great way to show our boys how much prayer really works. Some may say it is a coincidence, but I say it is a great God answer the prayers of our family!

A few weeks before this, we sat down with our Pastor and shared our heart for the ministry. I have no doubt in my mind that I will Pastor a Church one day, but God has not set that passion in my heart…not yet. I still have a strong passion for our young people today more specifically teens. After sharing this with our Pastor and my wife pretty much echoing the same he asked if we would consider accepting the position as youth pastor of our Church. What an answer to prayer. We did not anticipate this happening, but we do praise God for the opportunity to serve him again, but what we did know is that we have a strong desire to minister to the teenagers of the Galesburg area. We may have lost our previous job, but never lost our passion and now God is allowing us the opportunity to see that Passion visualized.

As I write this, I think of what we will be training our teens in and the thought weeks ago came to my mind. I remember the phrase growing up that was used so often to tell a person to stop acting fake and be sincere. It was a simple phrase, two words actually, just simply stated, “Get Real!” Then the thought hit me…this is what our Churches need, a sense of reality. Most Churches are ritualized, not sincere. Most go through the motions but have not thought as to the heart. With that thought in mind, I want to help our teens “Get Real” but more specifically become “Real Teens.” I will give more on my thoughts on this later, but for now, I think it is time to “Get Real.” We have real problems, we live in the real world, but we have a real God who solves real problems in the real world. It is time to get to know him more and see what he has in store for us. Let’s get real!

It's so cold the penguins need a jacket!!!

2007-02-05T09:20:00.000-08:00

Okay...I have had the opportunity to experience cold outside, but yesterday and today…oh my! It is so cold outside I think the snowmen need a jacket! Okay, bad jokes aside, it is cold! I took my kids to Wal-mart with me this weekend to pick up some paint for our kitchen makeover project, and Jacob go so cold he started crying. It is cold. We went to Lowes next and I dropped them off at the door so they wouldn’t freeze which turned out to be great since there is a heater right by the entryway. Dylan asked if we could stay there and warm up before we went inside. It is cold. As I sit here and type this in my warm office, I realize there are men and women working out there in the elements and my heart goes out to them. But then a thought comes across my mind…

I stopped to think of the cold and the pains that come with the exposure to it and think am I unique in this experience. Well of course not, but think this through with me. It is not unique to you or me, but it is not unique to Jesus Christ either. We think so often of the wonderful miracles of Christ, the great speaking of Christ, the hunger, the agony on the Cross of Calvary, but do you ever stop to think about the day-to-day experiences my Lord faced as well? God loved you and me so much to face the list above, even more, but think for a minute about the cold. Ever stop to think of Jesus Christ got cold?

One of the greatest things about our Saviour is the fact that he came from perfection, Heaven, and faced the imperfections of this world so that we might be free from our Sin. He knew the hungers he would face, he knew the pains he would experience, he knew there would be days where he was going to be cold. You ever go to sleep when it is cold only to sleep miserable and wake up the next day feeling miserable and then not really wanting to “act” or maybe “live” like a Christian? Ever think God did? He faced the same cold pains we faced and still woke up in the morning and continued to be what he was…not only the Christ, but the example for our lives. What a great thing to think, my God loved us so much to face all these things so I can live with him in that perfect place when he calls me home. Praise the Lord!

When somebody is on your heart, pray for them, and then maybe you will have a visit from the RedHeadRev!

2007-01-29T13:49:00.000-08:00

So today was an interesting day. My wife and I were talking and both she and I felt like there was someone or something that we should be praying for. We didn’t know who, or what, but we knew it was time to pray. I know in Romans 8:26 it says “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” and this seemed one of those days. I felt like I needed to pray and had no words, but in my weakness in my “Infirmity”, I found that God was faithful. I began to call people that the Lord put on my heart, dropping notes of encouragement, then much to my surprise, in walks the RedHeadRev (a.k.a Mike). What a great reunion! I haven’t seen him since our friend Benjamin’s wedding, which is where this picture comes from.

It was great to see him and hear of his hope and vision for the Church he Pastor’s. I have heard this man's dreams and his heart and also shared with him my dreams and my heart and not only count him as a brother, but a fellow visionary. I look forward to the Lord’s blessing in his life for the labor he has called him to, but today my blessing started with a groaning. I am reminded also of I Thessalonians 5, which says, “In every thing give thanks…” I am so thankful for a day where my groanings were heard not just by the Lord, but also by my own heart. Moreover, thankful I got to see the every exclusive but never elusive RedHeadRev! I love you brother. You are my ambassador of Bob and all things Veggie.

2007-01-17T19:00:00.000-08:00

So ice is the word we were worried about this weekend…not snow but ice. Being a Texan born and raised there are many things that I am not used to about living in Illinois. One of the many things is this cool white stuff that falls from the sky the Yankees call snow. All kidding aside, the worst snow storm we saw in El Paso TX was back in 1986 (I believe) where we had over 12 inches and it shut down the town for days. Here twelve inches is a walk in the park. But Saturday and Sunday this week was a different type of snow…it was nicknamed ice.

As you can see by the many pictures there was a bunch of ice hanging on the trees, and the road was literally a sheet of ice. So much so that when our neighbor tried to pull out of his driveway he slid out and when he tried to get traction his tires just spun and spun and spun until he finally got down the road. Wow was the only word that came to my mind. It has been followed by bitter cold temperatures and snow flurries over the past couple of days. But through all this I got to see something beautiful yesterday. When the sun was out it glistened on the ice frozen trees and snow making one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. Isn’t it amazing how God can make something look so beautiful?

Man...I really miss the people.

2007-01-13T19:31:00.000-08:00

Well it has been a while since I have blogged and a lot has been going on. Well, not really. We have celebrated another Christmas, we have celebrated a new year, and soon I will celebrate my ninth wedding anniversary. All is good, but is it?

I remember once being asked what the hardest thing about the ministry was. As I pondered the question the first thing that came to mind was “the people.” But then I was asked, what is the greatest blessing of the ministry? My answer…The People. This has been on my mind and my heart over the past few weeks.

I have been “out of the ministry” since September of last year. I can honestly say this is one of the lowest times I have faced in my spiritual life. Let me preface the rest the rest of my comments by saying that my “out of the ministry” statement is not to say that God doesn’t have work to do, but for the past five years I have been working for a Church in some capacity. For the last three years I have been an Assistant Pastor and part of that was being a Youth Pastor for a great group of kids. But now…well I am sitting in a pew and it is driving me nuts!!!

I have to admit what had happened in my life with my former employer was not only shocking but left some pretty deep wounds, but now I am at the point where to wounds don’t hurt as bad, but I miss the people. I love ministering to people. I used to wake up some mornings just so excited and looking forward to sharing with them what God had told me to say. I know we had some rocky times, but even the rocky times are great.

Now I find myself waking up in the morning and going to work, coming home, going to church…shake and repeat. The best way I can express my emotion is to borrow a phrase from a movie I enjoy called “Blackhawk Down.” This is not the greatest of movies but I like one scene in particular because of its significance to the solider.

Let me set it up: the soldiers have invaded a town in Somalia and faced heavy opposition. They have spent countless hours fighting, seeing the fellow soldiers get hit and fall, others get mortally wounded. In this scene a group of soldiers have finally made their way back to base camp and are safe, but as some are rejoicing in their safety, others who just made their way back are preparing themselves to go back out into the fight…why you ask? Queue “Hoot”, one of the soldiers who was out in the fight for the countless hours and is now preparing himself to go back out into the fight...

"Hoot": When I get home people’ll ask me, "Hey Hoot, why do you do it man? Why? You some war junkie?" You know what I'll say? I won't say a word. Why? They won't understand. They won't understand why we do it. They won't understand that it's about the men next to you, and that's it. That's all it is.

I find the ministry very similar. I want to help people because they are men and women of Christ, children of God, they are my brothers and sisters and my vision, my dreams, and my talents were given because of them. Some may not understand that, but I am not a war junkie…it is just about the ones next to me. I want to be back doing something so bad I could almost explode, but for now I will sit. I know the Lord has his timing and that in years to come I will look back and see the reasoning for this time, but for right now I have a pinned up desire to serve the Lord and no ministry to see in the near future. Man, I miss the people.

Ladies and Gentlemen.......It's a Snow Day!

2006-12-01T16:31:00.000-08:00

So for those of you who have watched the news over the past 24 hours, you may have notice that there was a little snowstorm that came through the Midwest. It was an interesting night for the McCoy family. My wife and I went to bed about 1:00am because I wanted to see how much snow would fall and see if my company might call a snow day. This began my adventures. First we went into our boy’s room and found it was a little chilly in there. Well that tends to happen when there is a big sweater covering up the heater vent. Then we go into our room, which one wall faces the north, and discover that the wind coming from the north was blowing through one of the electrical sockets. Man it was cold in there. I was really glad to find out that the leak was coming from that socket in the wall. Glad? Well yes, because it was either a leak from the socket or I was going to start seeing dead people.
So to the topic at hand, the snow. I love the snow. Since I am from El Paso, Texas we did not get a lot of snow. Actually only once in my life do I remember a heavy snowfall.

But today was a good snow day. We got about eight to ten inches over the area, but figuring in the snow drifts we had around the house we had one area that was almost three feet tall.

I love to play in the snow, and see what fun we can have. It was so fun to see the boys playing and just having a good ole time. The snowdrift that was almost three feet high and we had a mini hill to sled down. I shall call it…Mini Hill. We spent about three hours outside playing and cleaning up the driveway and sidewalk areas. But sometimes in these great times, God just has a little conversation with you.

Before I got really into the work I stopped and just started staring at the snow and that famous scripture came to my mind. (Isaiah 1:18) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. I sat and just stared at the whiteness of the snow. It is so beautiful when it is untainted. No dirt, no sludge, no road traffic stuff on it, it is just pure. It made me so happy to know that when my God looks at me know that he doesn’t see that dirty sin anymore, but that he sees the white snow. Clean and pure.

Man I am so glad for those times that the Lord just says, hey before you shovel that snow and go play in it, remember I love you, I will always love you and now that you are saved and one of my children, I will never see that dirty sin filled snow anymore. Man with that in mind it makes me want to say…Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

But I like the Cookie

2006-10-20T08:10:00.001-07:00

So often in life, we find things that remind us of people. When I see a heart or flowers, it reminds me of my wife. When I see Troy Aikman, it reminds me of my nephew who looked like him as a baby. When I see different things it reminds me of different people, but let me introduce you to someone who reminds me of my youngest son Jacob…His Name is Hammy and yes, he is a squirrel.

You may ask why he reminds me of my youngest son. Well I can’t tell you all the reasons, but if you have not seen Over the Hedge (SEE IT!!!) then you would not understand, but I highly recommend this movie not only to find out how Hammy portrays aspects of my son, but also it is just very funny. My son has what we like to call…Hyperactivity. Meaning that he can normally go and go and go and go and go and go…until he finally passes out or is told to pass out. This character is not only funny with his humor, but also because he is so hyper.

As my wife and I watched this movie with our two boys I found myself thinking, the Lord puts things in life to remind us of people. I look at the picture of Hammy this morning and start to reminisce about all the wonderful things my son does. Yes he is hyper, yes he bounces off walls (that isn’t a figure of speech…he really does), but he is a wonderful Child and I couldn’t ask for more. I love my boys, they are great and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. It doesn’t take much for me to think about my family, but every once in a while a hyperactive squirrel can help.

I leave you with this funny dialogue from “Over the Hedge”

RJ: Ok, what we're goin' for is a vicious, man-eating, rabid squirrel. Can you handle that?
Hammy the Squirrel: Umm, excuse me!
[Raises hand]
RJ: Yes, Hammy?
Hammy the Squirrel: Rabbits aren't vicious. They're all cute and cuddly, so...
RJ: *Rabid*, not rabbit.
Hammy the Squirrel: Oh! Huh?
Hammy the Squirrel: I am a crazy, rabid squirrel! I want my cookies!

How Soon I forget...

2006-10-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

I just received an Email from somebody in my office today and it was wishing everybody a Happy Friday the 13th. This day has as long as I have been alive, viewed as a day of bad happenings or bad things. Now as a believer in Christ, I do not believe in Bad Luck, or Ghosts, but this day has a very sad meaning to me.

Twelve years ago on Friday May 13th 1994, my father had a diabetic attack, which caused him to have a heart attack, and he passed away. As a believer in Christ I know the scripture says “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15) but my father was not a believer.

So the question may be asked, why post this? Well today, as I got the Email I realized that it has been a long time since I had even thought about my Dad. I looked at the only picture I have of him and started to realize that I forget more about him everyday. I started to realize that I do not remember the sound of his voice. If I were to hear it, I would not recognize it. I started to realize that I do not remember what it was like to give him a hug.

My Dad and I enjoyed a great relationship. We had fun together, we laughed together, and anybody that knows me would know him because our humor and the way we make wise cracks are the same. But today I look back and realize that 12 years ago, I lost him and that I will never get him back and that the only time I have to look forward to seeing him is when I have to look at him get cast into the lake of fire for never trusting in Christ as his Saviour.

The only thing that helps me through days like this is the knowledge that I have another Father. A heavenly one that one day I will get to see. I know that he is here with me and has promised that He would always be there for me. I miss my Dad, but praise God I have Him who I will never have to miss. I am so happy to be a born again Christian; because I know that, I will be with my Father forever. Even though others often view this day, even me sometimes, as a day of evil, fear, or even gloom. I rejoice in knowing that I will not forget my Heavenly Father.

Seriously...Can there be any more hills and turns in Virginia???

2006-10-01T17:52:00.000-07:00

So tonight we are here in Lynchburg, VA. We have been sent here by the place that I work so that we can exhibit at this year’s Superconference being held at Thomas Road Baptist Church. Now don’t get me wrong, I am all for conferences, but this one has already began to take its toll and it is only day two. Let me recap…and in this case recap is a fancy word I will use for complain.

We start off our day Saturday at about 6:00. For some reason happy happy joy joy feelings are not the first thing on our minds. More to the effect of, why are we doing this again? Actually it was more like, how can I make this caffeine in my coffee go straight into my blood so it can get to my brain quicker. We travel down the road for a few hours and now find ourselves in a light rain. I love to travel in the rain, but this wasn’t just a nice little rain shower, for some reason the rain decided to stay with us for the next 10 hours. You know those cartoons where there is a cloud over somebody’s head and it follows them, well picture that and it is over our car.

Now this isn’t so bad at first, but then it starts to get dark…really dark. We begin to take some pretty curvy roads and notice something—the lines in the road are now not able to be seen. What has happened is that the road is so wet and the lights from the cars is making the lines in the road unable to be seen. I find myself at one point straddling the lines of the road. Then begins the fog. Not like a light fog, but like the stuff you see in scary movies. My wife and I begin to realize that driving in this may not be the brightest idea. I started thinking…well I can’t see the lines, I can’t see the road because of the fog, and oh yes it is starting to rain even harder. So we pull over and get a hotel in South Charleston VA.

We wake up and hit the road early the next day, and praise God it isn’t raining and it is sunny outside. But now begins the windy roads of Virginia. I have heard of the hills of Virginia, but I am seriously beginning to get carsick. Now we have a car full of people all saying…please no more turns. My wife said, “I feel like I am on a roller coaster I can’t get off of.” Wow!

Well I finally get us to the hotel we are staying at and then go to set up at the Church for tonight’s conference. Here is even more joy (insert sarcastic voice.) This place is very big and of course I get very lost. Then on the way back to hotel I find out that there isn’t a direct road back…there is a direct road to the Church, but not a direct road to get back home. Seriously!

I do find some joy in knowing that I will get to hear some good preaching over the next couple of days and I will surrender myself to learning something for the Lord. But, tonight, I am going to bed, I am allowing my equilibrium to fix itself, and figure out what classes to take tomorrow.

Trip to Burkburnett—1,600 miles—One Broken Down Car—Hours of Fun???—Finding out the Lord’s will—Priceless.

2006-09-25T06:05:00.000-07:00

I write this blog this Monday morning with a bittersweet taste in my mouth. For you that know me this will be redundant, but I will say it anyway. We went to Burkburnett Texas to see if God would have us Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church. This was a weekend of ups and downs because we had such a great time at Calvary, but at home, the Pastor of our Church began to slander our name from the Pulpit. We knew that we could no longer support him so we knew once we got home that we would have to walk away from the Church, which we did. Here began the agony of the next week. Now keep in mind, we are hoping and praying during this week that the Lord will allow us the opportunity to Pastor Calvary Baptist Church. This was a hope that kept us going during this time.

During this week, my name was dragged through the mud. I will not tell you all the things that have been said about me, but I know that I will not fight a Pastor over his choice of words. You know that old saying, “Sticks and stones make break my bones, but words will never hurt me?” Well that is just stupid! I know as a man seeking to be in the ministry that I should probably feel tougher, but today I feel like Jell-O. During the past seven days I have been accused of many things, all untrue, I have been lied about several times, I have been blamed for things that I haven’t done, and then of course the name calling all by one man. I never knew that one man could cause so much hurt, but he has. Then I got the call yesterday.

I got the call from the pulpit committee chairman who said, “Brother, I have some bad news.” Instantly my heart sank, for I knew we were not voted in, but I did not know how bad this “Bad” news really was. He informed me that the committee called my former Pastor that we had to walk away from to get some more information about us and he slammed us to the floor. In this man’s words, he said that he slandered you in ways that I did not expect a “Pastor” to do. Now, I had prepared myself that if we did not get the opportunity to Pastor this Church it was the Lord’s will, but never in my wildest dreams would have figured it to happen in this way. I can tell you that read this (Hi all three of you) that I am broken, hurt, and shocked all at the same time.

With that all said, let me say this as well. I know that not all of this went as we had planned, but I know the God that I serve and praise be to him who allowed all of this to happen. To find the will of God in your life is one of the greatest feelings, even though right now it does not feel great. However, I know that God has something for us to do in the future. What it is…I don’t know. However, I wait to see what he wants us to do next. In the meantime, its time to not just put a band-aid on this wound. I think we may have to put some attention on this one.

So what has been going on?

2006-09-11T15:38:00.001-07:00

Since the last time I have blogged a lot has been going on. Where to start, I guess at the beginning always does good. About three weeks ago I stepped out by faith and resigned my position as Assistant Pastor of PrairieLand Baptist Church. This was something I had to do, but was completely unsure about what the future holds. I know that God wants me to Pastor a Church, but then I did not know what was going to happen. Since then God has been showing his wonderful blessing

I have been asked to candidate at Calvary Baptist Church in Burkburnett TX. This came as a complete surprise to me, but of course not to the Lord. I was making lunch on Labor Day when my friend, Pastor Claud Slate, called and told me about a Church that was looking for a Pastor. Long story short, I hooked up with Bro. Gary (a man that talked to Bro. Slate and who is on the pulpit committee) and yesterday they asked me to come and candidate. I can’t tell you the emotions that I am feeling inside, but as some of you that read this may know it is exciting.

I am looking forward to what the Lord might have for us in the future. I don’t know how things are going to work at Calvary, but I know who does and whatever happens I will praise his name. Selfishly I hope it works out, but realistically I want his will more than anything else. Please pray for us as we step out by faith in this next chapter in our life.

I have found a good thing….

2006-07-24T08:08:00.000-07:00

This morning I am sitting at my desk and was reflecting over the past few days. Let me try to paint a picture for you of my life over the past few days. I underwent gallbladder removal surgery on Tuesday and found myself unable to do much. I had to learn to slow down and do less, which is normally a hard thing for me to do. I had to allow help in things that I normally had no problem doing for myself. I had to learn how to sleep again. Through all of this I found out that I not only have a good thing I have a great thing. What is it???

MY WIFE!!!

The Bible says in Proverbs 18:22 “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.” How true this is in my life. I found myself over the past few days just realizing how truly blessed and favored I am over the wonderful wife my Lord has given me. I know it may seem like small stuff to others but there were times I was moved to tears over her sacrifices this past week. Then I realized all of the wonderful things she does for me everyday. I want to say how wonderfully blessed I am to have such a wonderful wife that will not only take care of me when I am sick, but that will also look for ways to care for me when I am well. I am so blessed today.

Has it always been this way? No, but back on the first day in 2000 I made a conscience choice that I would build my marriage around our wonderful God and ever since then God has blessed us in ways I can’t imagine. We realized that year that in order for us to be happy it would take Me, Her, and our God. Everything is not always perfect, but I will say that as the scripture says…I have surely found favour from the Lord.

I Love You Honey…

God has ways to keep you humble.

2006-07-19T10:03:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I underwent gallbladder surgery. In the word’s of Forest Gump “That’s all I have to say about that.” Actually I went into this surgery with a few apprehensions, but all of them were put to the wayside after I woke up this morning and felt the pain from the surgery. I really don’t know what I was thinking, but man it does hurt.

Well to the point of the topic…God can make sure you are kept humble. Now with this statement I am not making an assumption that I live pride fully, but I do realize how much I need help from others today. While I was in the hospital, one of the conditions for me to go home is that I had to walk up and down the hallway. Here began the old man shuffle up and down the hallway. I had thought it would be easy, but nope. What made it more humbling is that one of our Church families was there to get to see me do the Old man shuffle. Was it embarrassing…no, but definitely humbling.

With this one Church family in mind, I realized that they were the only ones who came to visit me in the hospital…not anybody else including the Pastor of our Church who is also my employer. Sure he called, but never stepped foot into the hospital. Did this hurt…yes, but it also made me realize the need for leaning on the Lord.

God can remind us of how much we need him and give us ways to be humble, but if there is one great thing I will take out of this is that great scripture passage that says…

Matthew 22 "(36) Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

Love others as you would want to be loved…Care for others as you would care for yourself. It is about others not just you

Hello...is this Blog on?

2006-06-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

So...it has been a few weeks since I have sat down and taken the time to write a post. Not because my life is overwhelmed at this point but almost to the contrary. I feel a deep sensation of mediocrity right now. It seems as if my life is revolving around several states of mediocre and they are all frustrating.

Right now, I am undergoing tests to determine whether the pain I am having in my gallbladder area is really my gallbladder or not. This process has been long, drawn out, and has left me wondering when we will find something out so this pain will go away? My Church is going through a state of living death. By this, I mean that we are going through so many motions, but there is no state of excitement, joy, zeal, or anything else that would surround the Christian life. My teen group is going through the typical teen group battles: Why God in my life? Why God in my time? Why God at all? My family is suffering from the fact that I have a mother in law that will not motivate herself enough to go out and get a job.

Narrative: (Begin Speaking with Twilight Zone Voice) “Your about to leave a place of excitement. You are going to step out of your happy life and into a state of lowliness. The sign ahead says next stop….The Mediocre Zone”

What can be done when you can’t control the things that are going wrong around you? Grab a hold of the thing you can control and Pray. I know that Prayer is powerful and the power that is possessed by the Christian who possesses the faith as a grain of a mustard seed, but sometimes things just don’t go our way, or our way quick enough. Sometimes you feel…Trapped.

Help!!! I want out of the Mediocre Zone!

Now Serving Number……5000.

2006-06-05T06:24:00.000-07:00

I was reading my Wife’s post and she makes a good point. So often, we get so busy that we do not just stop and think about one thing. More often than not, we focus on hundreds of things at once. This weekend was a very busy weekend and seemed to fit this pattern. We planned for a graduation ceremony at the Church, we had a garage sale at the house, and we prepared for vacation, and in all this found time to prepare for Church. So many thoughts rush through my mind as the days pass and this Monday morning I find myself spent.

Nevertheless, I sit at my computer this morning, and I find myself not able to focus on one major point or thought. So many thoughts of concern and care for our Church and its members. So many thoughts toward my family. So many thoughts of what our next step in the ministry is. So many thoughts! Even in prayer, my mind wanders and fails to find structure and cohesive thought, but it was then I remembered some great verses in the Bible.

Romans 8 (22) "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (23) And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (24) For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" (25) But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (26) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (27) And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Thank you Lord for knowing the heart of men and in those times when I do not know how to pray and just a sigh or a “groan” comes out…You Know What is In My Heart. What a great God we serve.

This doesn't taste great...but man there is a lot of it.

2006-05-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

Today one of my co-workers and I went to a Chinese buffet. This is enjoyable for several reasons: 1. I can eat Chinese food, which is normally not consumed or liked or even thought about much in my household. 2. I get to fellowship with a person I work and go to Church with. 3. I get to eat large quantities of food without the worry of being asked about how much I am going to eat. Well the last point used to be a joy, but not any more.

Most don’t know but I have not been on a diet, and I have started working out and watching what I eat in order to lose some weight and get myself into better shape. For weeks I have been eating food within moderation, but today all bets were off.
Have you ever realized the agonizing feeling that takes place after a day of unchecked eating? This leads to my current state of pain/suffering/bloatedness (I know its not a word, but who cares).

So does this Blog have a point? Why yes it does. As I am sitting here in my current state of agony, I realized something. Nothing that I ate tasted all that great. I mean don’t get me wrong it was good, but not great. What made the trip was enjoyable was not the taste it was the quantities. So the old question is asked, “Is it the taste or the quantity” (If this isn’t an old saying, it is for me today because one of the ways I feel right now is old and I said it thus making it an old saying—Evolutionist Style Reasoning 101)

Now the preacher inside me asks a better question, “Why do we sacrifice the Good “Tasting” Life that God has for us so we can have a taste of the Abundant Sin Filled Life the world has to offer?” I believe it is because we don’t see the agonizing feeling we have after we take as much of the Abundant Sin Filled life as we can possibly eat. We don’t see the consequences. We see the abundance. God says that he will provide for his Children, just enough, but trust me it will be good. We need to realize that God has a life for us filled with Good Tasting things that won’t leave us with a feeling of agony…yep I will have that!

Then again, this may be just a Blog that came from a bad plate of Beef & Broccoli…and Sesame Chicken…and Fried Wantons…and…

What is this thing called...Faith?

2006-05-08T05:59:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday I will start a new series on Faith. This is something that is so needed in life, but so often misunderstood. I believe that there are some factors in life that you can see that will help develop your faith. This is why I am starting a series called "Faith Factors."

Clever lead in huh?

I believe that we can see every single day that there is not only a God but a God that wants us to develop our faith in him. I heard an old acronym saying when you pray remember A.C.T.S. Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving,and then Supplication. But one thing was missing from this clever little acronym...Faith. We need faith, to please God...Hebrews 11:6.

I want my faith in the Lord to grow, but I also want to help others faith grow as well. It is so exciting to see those that take that "leap of faith" and step out of the boat for the Lords work. But this week, we will start looking at some faith factors.

In this book I am living....chapter next.

2006-05-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

Well for the two of you that read my blog, I being one, the other will remain secret to protect the innocent. Hi honey, I love you. I must say that life is full of conclusions that lead to new beginnings. I have been working the past two years to finish my Bachelor of Arts. No the degree to the left is not my real one, but if I had gone to UT Austin like I had originally intended this is probably as close as I would have got to one as well. Nevertheless, as of Friday April 28th, Chris McCoy became a graduate in Biblical Studies. What does this mean, well a conclusion, but also a beginning.
My life has been spent serving the Lord as a Youth Pastor for the past few years and now I am praying that the Lord will open up the opportunity for so much more. That is the great thing about the God that I serve, when I show him I want more and that I am able to handle it, he gives it! What an awesome God we have.

Dad…can you turn down the Thunder?

2006-04-06T10:14:00.000-07:00

Last night we went to bed about 11:00 because there were some thunderstorms coming in. This is the joy of living in the Illinois area, and I am using the word joy somewhat sarcastically. Growing up in El Paso, Texas storms were few and far between, but now they are a routine of the spring season. Here came the joy of my night as my two boys would wake up and say to my wife and me, the thunder is to loud.

With faces like theirs it is so hard to get upset, but with sleep deprivation and a their persistent desire to have us quite the thunder, we got a little frustrated. As my wife put my youngest son back to bed he quietly said, “Nobody cares about the fact that I am scared.” When he uttered that phrase I realized in his mind he felt that nobody cared, even though the previous hours of my wife’s concern was not sufficient evidence to him that he was very cared for.

How often we are like this in our walk with Christ. Jesus walks with us through those times of trouble and we look back and say during that one time that the Lord says okay I am going to allow you to bear a little more of this load by yourself. We immediately chime in and say, “Don’t you care about me?” The truth is that of course he does, but would like us to learn to grow a little.

My Son was overwhelmed like we are sometimes and all he wanted was his mothers loving touch. Sometimes we feel like God is far away, but he is always there. He is there to calm the storm as he did in the life of Peter as he walked on the water in the midst of a storm. There is nothing I can do to turn down the thunder son, but I can help you talk to the God that controls the Thunder.

Man...those Hilltops and Valleys

2006-04-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

Sometimes in life there are hilltops and valleys. Yesterday I had an opportunity to preach a message from Hebrews 10. God gave this message to me when I lead my youngest son to the Lord just two Saturdays ago and I had an opportunity to see how exciting it is the day somebody trusts in Christ as Saviour. Then it made me think, why do we lose that excitement.

As I was reading through Hebrews 10, I realized that Verse 23 says "Let us hold fast to the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)" as I read that I realized the reason that newness leaves, the reason why the excitement dies down is because we forget to remember. I started to remember the day I was saved and how excited I was about everything God had for me, but then after years of service I began to slip into a state of familiarity and routine.

When we allow God to fall into a state of familiarity and routine we do a true injustice to him. We forgot the supernatural qualities he has. We lose the reality of who the Saviour really is, and slowly we drift into a state of lull ness. I realized that day and preached to our Church that we need to get to a place of where God is new every day. How wonderful it is to wake up each morning and see the Grace of God in our lives and how exciting it is to find his joy every single day. What a great day of preaching and what a great reception was given by the Church. What a Great Hilltop day! But sometimes you have to live what you preach.

I am currently employed with another company because the Church does not have the finances to pay me full time. In the past few months I have been working in this place it seems like I continue to get demoted. Whenever I ask somebody if my work ethic is bad, I am reminded that I am doing a great job so I can only assume that I have been forgotten. This to me has been a valley to over come, but this morning I found out the little hope I would be restored to my old position has now been fizzled out. Wow, what a blow! It seems as if when great things happen there is always the attacks of the adversary and now I have this valley to overcome.

Why does God allow these hilltops and valleys? It is to remind us of his goodness and the Grace he has given that is sufficient for all our needs. I am reminded that even though the employers I have is not concerned with the spirit of their employee, my God is still concerned. I am reminded that even though this valley God’s Grace is sufficient for all my need, and how great he is. Sometimes God takes you by the hand and leads you back to the mountaintop; sometimes God walks beside you to encourage you as you go through your valleys.

What is the point to this? My friend Hilltops and Valleys will come in our life, but God is always there to help us through both. We can have Hilltop days, as I did having the opportunity to deliver God’s message to a receptive people, or we can have Valley days where you find out that your company seemingly has ceased to care about you and your growth. Through it all we need to be reminded God is there and his Grace is sufficient for all our needs

I want More!!!

2006-03-30T12:30:00.000-08:00

This past week was one of great challenge and great rejoicing. I had the opportunity to attend the annual Pastor's School at First Baptist Church in Hammond IN.

This would be the second time I had an oportunity to attend and it would be one of the most awesome experiences in my life. This years theme was focused on Marriage and the Family.

First Baptist Church is Pastored by the man to my Left. He is Dr. Jack Schaap. This man has not only taken a ministry further than where it was before, but in my opinion has a heart for people that was allowed to be communicated through his preaching and through the speakers he choose for his main sessions. Dr. Jack Hyles, his father in law, choose him to assume the Pastorate when he retired. Instead of it happening the way Dr. Hyles originally planned, he was elected to Pastor First Baptist Church after his father in law passed away. Since then he has built a new building, seen more souls saved, and allowed God to continue to grow the ministry as He sees fit. I am truly happy this ministry continued on and great conferences like Pastor's School still continues. Pastor's School this year was for me a great challenge and full of wonderful excitement.

One of this years Key speakers was Dr. Tom Williams. What great preaching we heard from this man, but what you may not realize is what a great man of prayer he is. This man prays on average of eight to ten hours a day!

How low I felt when he said this. We so often wrestle to pray for fifteen or thirty minutes and here we have man who dedicates his life to be a life of prayer. It was so exciting to have my heart challenged and determine that I want to do more for God than I ever have before One of the greatest experiences in my life was to hear this man preach and then see and HEAR what decisions were going on.

After Dr. Williams preached he offered an invitation to whomever would be willing to say, "I want to know God better. I want to talk to him more. I want to be more in tune with God." I knelt and while God was dealing with my heart, I stopped praying and listened. Listened to all the tears that were being shed. The weeping from people that have realized that they want to do more for God. How exciting it was to see a room full of Pastors, Evangelists, Teachers, etc. on their knees and saying "I Want More Of You God!" I will say, I have never heard such a sound, but I am sure glad I did. I want more of my God. I want to know him!!!!

The McCoys are going to Heaven

2006-03-28T12:28:00.000-08:00

This Saturday marked a great day in the McCoy family. It started like any other Saturday. We went out on visitation and had decided afterward we would head over to the mall to see a mini petting zoo they had there. While we were talking my oldest son, Dylan, said how glad it was to know he was going to Heaven. I am always happy to hear my children speaking about heavenly things, but my youngest son didn't know he was going. He thought he was going because we were. How often I hear this from people that are trusting in religion instead of trusting in the Saviour. I asked my wife and oldest son to step into the mall while I talked to my youngest boy. I sat him next to me and opened my Soul-Winners New Testament and showed him that he was a sinner and that he deserved to go to Hell. When I said this he looked at me with tears running down his face and said I don’t want to go daddy. I had the glorious opportunity to show my son my personal Saviour and how Jesus could save him from Hell. It was so wonderful to hear him praying and asking Jesus to save him. What is just as wonderful to me is that he knows he is going to heaven. Everyday since Saturday he reminds me of songs that he would sing that he now understands. The most precious words I have ever heard my son say was, "Daddy, I am saved, I am sure, and I am ready to meet Jesus." Praise God...the McCoy's are going to heaven!!!

So here I am....

2006-03-28T12:08:00.000-08:00

I recently signed up for a space on MySpace.com which came with a Blog. Then I came to this conclusion. That blog space stinks. I figured, since I read many on this anyway, I will just let that one fizzle to nothing, and begin one here. I realize that there will probably be nobody that reads this but me, so with that in mind...Hi me how you doing? Good, glad to be here.