Pastor's Perspective - Dr. Forrest Pollock

Dear FCC Family & Friends,

You never know when you’re making a beautiful memory.

Five years ago while I was persevering through a challenging season in my life, I had the opportunity to meet and spend time with a great man of God – Dr. Forrest Pollock. Forrest, 44, was the lead pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church, a 7,000-member mega-church near my hometown of Tampa.

I was introduced to Dr. Pollock by Bob Anderson, one of his wonderfully dedicated staff pastors. Graciously, the pastor agreed to take time out of his busy schedule to meet with me. He met me with a huge contagious smile at the door of his palatial office, hugged me and made me feel like a friend from the old neighborhood. He listened to me, nodded along kindly, encouraged me lovingly from the Word and did something that tattooed itself into my memory. Wearing a nice pressed business suit, Dr. Pollock stood up, walked across the office and kneeled down on the carpet and prayed for me. Here was a shepherd of thousands taking time to love on a fellow brother in the cause, hitting his knees on my behalf – and I’m not even a Baptist!

Five months ago I thought about what that day meant to me and the deep lasting positive impression it left in my soul. I emailed Dr. Pollock and expressed my heart-felt gratitude, a victory letter of how blessed I was ministering to a great congregation in northern California; a letter that was soon read by thousands in the monthly Bell Shoals newsletter. I just had to tell him how a few minutes of his time, and a humble prayer of intercession preached a message I’ll never ever forget.

Today, three thousand miles away, your pastor is mourning with the family of believers of Bell Shoals Baptist Church. Their beloved pastor and his 13-year-old son Preston perished in a private plane accident in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina on Monday morning.

Friends, you never know when you’re making a beautiful memory.

If someone out there made one for you, please take a moment and say thanks while you can.

In the Fight,

Steve

Pastor's Perspective - Bubble Gum Heroes

Dear Family & Friends,

Are you somebody’s hero today?

Last night our 8-year-old son Sam thoroughly entertained us. His play as a team member of the undefeated (11-0) little league Twins had his family’s undivided knee-slapping attention. Admittedly, the kid is pretty good. But what really entertained us was that throughout his game, Sam had a large wad of bubble gum in his mouth. Throughout the six innings of regulation play, Sam whether at bat or fielding, chewed, blew big bubbles and popped away. I have to admit, seeing my boy out there chompin away all chipmunk-cheeked took me back a few years. My heart swelled with pride – a Daddy thing I guess! It was clear to all of us that my kid has watched many of his big league heroes doing this on television, and last night was his opportunity to imitate them and shine.

As much as we laughed at Sam, it was a good reminder for me and one worth passing along to you – that our children are looking for heroes to imitate; and that their observations have laser clarity.

As a kid my heroes went from sports stars to rock stars and back to sports stars. As an adult my heroes shifted to heroes of the faith (biblical and contemporary) and those who heroically and courageously wear our stars and stripes. Most real heroes I’ve found are only known by a relative few. They humbly live dedicated and content lives, selflessly serving a higher cause by sacrificially serving others. Their quiet integrity is unquestionable, and their definitions of true success always substitute “I” with “We”. They are known not by their flashy skyrocket ascents, but by their consistency and ability to attain and maintain an altitude. The Bible is filled with them, and “real-life” too, if you’ll stop and look.

I believe strongly that the Lord is calling each of us (especially as parents, grandparents and guardians) to be people worth looking up to and worth imitating. Even the apostle Paul encouraged his readers to follow him as he followed Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). For you see, it’s only as we personally know and fall-in behind Jesus that we become people worth following.

Chew on that!

In the Fight,

Steve Kiefer

Pastor's Perspective - Going or Becoming?

Dear FCC Family & Cherished Friends,

As a parent of four children under ten, the following questions are frequently asked in our minivan – “Where are we going?” and “Are we almost there?”

As a pastor of over four hundred, the following questions are frequently asked in our gatherings – “Where are we going?” and “Are we almost there?”

The Bible is the infallible authority on God’s plan for every member of the human family and every congregation that waves His banner in Christ. From Genesis to ‘Maps’, we read that our Father is more interested in our character than our short-sighted summit attempts. He is more concerned about the authenticity of our kingdom ambassadorship than our self-pleasing success quests. He is into the journey more than the destination – the drive more than the resort – the flight more than meeting Mickey! In other words, He is more interested in who we are becoming, than where we are going – as individuals and as an FCC family. We’ve gotten it backwards! Success, as defined by God, is our transformation, and not our destination.

Where we are going hinges entirely on our ability to surrender to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Only through yielding to His Christ-glorifying work in us daily can we become the congregation and individuals the Lord predestined and desires us to become. Tragically, too many in the Body are hyper-busy and hyper-involved, yet, are not actively becoming. Admittedly, we as the sign-up-sheet-friendly clergy are partly to blame.

Just a reminder, that Christ didn’t suffer for us just to be busy. He suffered that we would become - acceptable and pleasing to His Father; that real life transformation could begin and never cease.

So, the questions are simple, ‘Are you cooperating with Him, or contending?’, ‘Grieving Him, or pleasing Him?’, ‘Going, or becoming?’

The choices are yours.

‘And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit’ – 2 Corinthians 3:18

In the Fight,

Steve

Pastor's Perspective - Drop Your Weapons!

I’m not a ‘political person’ – especially politics in the church! However, I take great pride in my country and naturally have dreams and concerns about our future as a nation. As a fan of current events, I have been watching the Obama-Clinton dogfight quite closely (not that I have a choice). Today I read that the ‘super-delegates’ have been issued a deadline (July 1st) by which they must cast their lot with one of these two battling senators. This effort is to ensure that the Democrats have ample time to identify and promote their candidate against Republican John McCain this fall.

I’m no Tim Russert, but even a political novice like me knows that this move makes sense. There is a heavyweight bout coming up with the GOP’s best choice; and that to fight and exhaust resources, energy and focus on each other will only weaken the one that eventually prevails.

Friends, as a pastor, I see a similar dynamic at work within many marriages and homes. Too many spouses are fighting each other and viewing each other as the enemy; when the real enemy is in a place of strategic ambiguity and strength. Husbands and wives who were once madly in love and couldn’t live without the other, now become master players of the ‘blame game’. As a result, the real enemy of marriages goes undetected, dancing and skipping around the perimeter, unidentified and winning – while the married combatants duke it out and homes crumble.

Husbands? Wives? Here’s the 411: Your marriage has an enemy, and your spouse is not that enemy! The Bible tells us that our battles are not flesh against flesh, but against unseen spiritual powers (Ephesians 6:12). These forces of evil are (literally) hell-bent on destroying all of your God-seeded potential – your lives, your children, your joy, your hope. As long as we see our seen spouses as the enemy, unseen enemies flourish.

It’s time to drop your weapons and see your spouse for who they really are – your God-given helpmate and gift – wedlock and not headlock!

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” – Ecclesiastes 4:12

Pastor's Perspective - Living Commercials

Dear FCC Family & Friends,

I’ve got some mega-important, earth-shattering inquiries for you. Ready?

Which team are you pulling for this ‘Super’ Sunday? Where are you watching the game? Have you planned your menu? In front of what sized television will you and your nachos be parked? And finally, are you looking forward to the myriad of multimillion dollar commercials ahead?

Although I’m a frustrated jock at heart and anticipate the big game first, I admittedly look forward to the laughs and creativity shown through these spots annually – turning a typical 3-hour game into a global marathon event. Some commercials make me howl. Some make me cringe. Some leave me saying, “Wow”. Others leave me with a blank-faced “Huh?” But somehow, despite my personal ratings, this process is all good – one I eagerly look forward to.

Did you know that your life is a commercial? An anticipated one at that!

Before the creation of this garden planet, the one true sovereign God in His perfect forethought creatively planned and orchestrated that you would be His living-breathing commercial in 2008 A.D. With unparalleled genius, our Father anticipated that our brief public lives would appear and make indelible and attractive connections between the people in our community and His epic redemptive love story. Like the commercials we’ll all see this weekend, all of our life commercials are designed with great purpose for great purpose; to make an impact, and in some small way, drawing attention to something grander and higher than ourselves– for something every human soul thirsts and craves – love, belonging and meaning – found only through Jesus Christ.

In the game of life where many are watching and seeking, let your unique life commercial run!

In the Fight,

Steve

Pastor's Perspective - A Baby's Hug

Dear FCC Family & Friends,

In the hustle and bustle of another tinseled Christmas season, are you struggling to get into the proper spirit? Maybe this story sent my way by my dear friend and former secretary Gena Mitchell will help you as it helped me. By the way, you’ll need about three minutes and about that many tissues. Merry Christmas ~

A Baby's Hug

We were the only family with children in the restaurant.. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking.

Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi." He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment..
I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists.
"Hi there, baby; Hi there, big boy. I see! ya, buster," the man said to Erik.
My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we do?"
Erik continued to laugh and answer, "Hi" .
Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man ..
The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby.
Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, "Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo."
Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.
My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence - all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skidrow bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments. We finally got through the meal and headed for the door.
My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot.
The old man sat poised between me and the door. "Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik," I prayed.

As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's "pick-me-up" position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man's.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship... Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard
labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back.
No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, "You take care of this baby."
Somehow I managed, "I will," from a throat that contained a stone.
He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, "God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift."

I said nothing more than a muttered thanks.
With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, "My God, my God, forgive me."
I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not.
I felt it was God asking, "Are you willing to share your son for a moment?" when He shared His for all eternity.

The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, "To enter the Kingdom of God, we must become as little children."

Live Simply & Contently.
Love Generously.
Care Deeply.
Speak Kindly.
And leave the Rest to God.

In the Fight To Be An Erik,

Steve Kiefer

Pastor's Perspective - A True Know-It-All!

Dear FCC Family & Friends,

Recently I have been reading and re-reading a classical work titled ‘The Knowledge of the Holy’ by A.W. Tozer – a thin and affordable book I highly recommend for anyone eager to acquaint themselves with the true majesty of God.

In his text Tozer reminds us that the Lord is omniscient. In other words, He possesses perfect knowledge. He knows all that can be known. He knows instantly and with a fullness of perfection everything that exists or could have existed anywhere in the universe at any time in the past or that may exist in the centuries or ages yet unborn!

Does that truth about God trouble you or soothe you?

Every one of us has a strong desire – no exceptions. You and I want to be fully known, and, to be loved unconditionally by the one who fully knows us – the building blocks of truest intimacy. Yet, many of us live in fear of disclosure of weaknesses and ghosts and injuries from our pasts. Therefore, it is the satisfaction of every yearning soul to read that “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18). Friends, only Jesus knows you fully with perfect knowledge and loves you unconditionally – and tells us not to be afraid – because He has already taken our punishment!

In closing listen to Tozer’s encapsulation of the knowledge, love and acceptance God offers every member of the human family – “…how utterly sweet is the knowledge that our Heavenly Father knows us completely. No talebearer can inform on us, no enemy can make an accusation stick; no forgotten skeleton can come tumbling out of some hidden closet to abash us and expose our past; no unsuspected weakness in our characters can come to light to turn God away from us, since He knew us utterly before we knew Him and called us to Himself in the full knowledge of everything that was against us.”

Anybody else smile after reading that?

Now THAT’S a Redeemer worth loving, worshiping and serving!

In the Fight,

Steve Kiefer