Last One...

As I sit in my chair writing this article, tears are flowing and my heart breaks.  For nearly three years, I have been given the opportunity to write my thoughts each week to thousands of readers across White County and neighboring counties as well.  It has been an honor to live among you and to see first-hand the beauty of the Upper Cumberland region.  I have been inspired by the pride you have for your communities, schools, churches and State.  It has been a privilege to serve along side some of the most incredible people in all-the world.  And, the blessings I have received from the Central Church of Christ will forever be etched in my mind and heart. 

I remember well the first day I ever crossed the Calf Killer River or walked the streets of Sparta to introduce myself as the new preaching minister at Central Church of Christ or attended a Warrior football, basketball, baseball game or a band concert.  I will never forget praying around the courthouse with my fellow White County believers in Jesus to pray for our nation as the words, God We Trust are boldly proclaimed on all four outside walls.

White County is unique in that our schools have student-led prayers, baccalaureate, teachers, principals staff, and administrators of faith.  There are morals of honesty and integrity.  Communities are filled with the values of love your neighbor and do to others, as you would have them do to you.  Law enforcement’s desire is for each one of us to live in a safe place.  And, a city and county government who wants the best for all the communities and who works tirelessly to make White County a great place to live. 

White County, you have a lot to be proud of.  Never lose site of the warrior spirit.  Never waiver on godly morals, ethics and values.  Keep trusting in God.  In disagreements, work together in unity to find the right path forward.  Support each other.  Love unconditionally.  Remember, it is in our differences that can make or break us; chose wisely.  Don’t let disagreements divide us; rather allow them to open up opportunities to explore solutions for the greater good of the people.  Be transparent.  Be kind.  Be strong.  Be Americans.  Be warrior strong.

I have heard countless times the joy one gets from reading Brian’s Biblical Minutes.  It is truly humbling that you would take the time to read what God placed on my heart to write.  Thank you for accepting me into your community and loving me.  Thank you for being generous with your kindness and patience towards me.  You will forever be in my heart.

For many of you, I walked a journey of sadness with you, as you had to say goodbye to a son, daughter, husband, wife, sister, son, grandmother or grandfather.  In those difficult times, God was leading the way and residing in your heart to heal you and to show you unquenchable love he has for you.  It was my honor to be there for each of you.  My prayers will continue to be for you as you are healing. 

To the Central Church of Christ, thank you for taking me in as your preaching minister.  You taught me.  Loved me.  And, showed me great mercy when I was at my worst.  My prayers are with you and I will never forget you.  It was God’s leading that brought us together and I will continue to trust him as I anticipate his next journey.  I love you. 

Finally, my love and appreciation for Kim Wood, the editor of the Expositor cannot be measured.  She is a light for White County and a true friend.  She loves White County with passion and never shows bias towards anyone.  I will truly miss her.

I would love to hear from you.  My email is thegreatestcommandislove@gmail or you can text or call me at 931-545-7543.

May you always see the good in others and strive to be God-controlled!. 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian McCutchen

Praying at the 50-Yard Line

Joe Kennedy, an assistant football coach for the Bremerton High School in Washington State has been sacked for his refusal to stop praying at the 50-yard line after each game.  Apparently, there was a complaint that coach Kennedy was praying, thus he was “ordered to avoid kneeling, bowing his head or doing anything that could remotely be seen as religious.”  However, the coach could find a private place to pray where students cannot see him. 

As a result of coach Kennedy’s refusal to stop praying at the 50-yard line, the schools Superintendent placed him on administrative paid leave while he is under investigation.   

What is going on in America?  When will the silent majority stand up as people of faith and boldly resist the “push us around,” “shut us up,” “privatize prayers and bibles,” movements in our society?  When will we say, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?”

In the earliest days of the Christian movement, the apostles were put into jail because of the jealousy the Sadducees had in their hearts (Acts 5:17) and because they felt the apostles were making the Sanhedrin (a modern day Supreme Court in Israel) look badly in the eyes of the community.  The high priest of the Sanhedrin told the apostles, “we gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” (Acts 5:28).   The response of Peter and the other apostles was epic and courageous as they stood toe to toe with the courts edict:  “We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5:29)  Their courage got them whipped and again ordered not to speak about Jesus. (Acts 5:40)  However, the apostles were not going to allow a Supreme Court to deter or distract them from preaching and teaching about “the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”  (Acts 5:42)

I hear believers complaining about our liberties of religion being taken away in the public squares across America.  We fuss over the fact that bibles can’t be read in schools and Ten Commandments cannot be displayed on courthouse grounds and the mentioning of God cannot be tolerated.  I hear the complaints, but I do not see a lot of action. 

Where are our modern day apostles who will say, “We must obey God rather than men!”  We need more coach Kennedy’s all across America who will still go to the 50-yard line and pray even when his job is in jeopardy.  We need more towns like Sparta TN who isn’t afraid to write on all four outside walls of the courthouse building, “In God We Trust.”    

Silent majority, where are you?  Complainers of loss of freedom, what are you going to do about it?  Now is the time to stand with the coach Kennedy’s of our communities.  Now is the time as believers in Jesus to be bold, courageous, and fearless.  Now is the time to rally the majority and defend our values, the Word of God and are rights as citizens of the United States of America.   

Now is the time!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Indoctrination?

Indoctrination is a strong word to use against anyone who is in the position of teaching. According to the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, to indoctrinate is “to teach (someone) to fully accept the ideas, opinions, and beliefs of a particular group and to not consider other ideas, opinions, and beliefs.”

To be accused of indoctrinating our children in White County Middle School is a serious accusation that cannot go unnoticed.  The accusation of indoctrination puts our educators and board members in the same category as some of the world’s most renowned leaders in history who set out to brainwash a culture of the young and the innocent.  

Indoctrination doesn’t change definitions based on events in the past, present or future.  The meaning was the same in 1933 as it is in 2015.  It is imperative that we fact check to ensure that someone is not unjustly classified into a category that can ruin their reputation and/or career.  Indoctrination also has the same connotation as: Programming, propaganda, brainwashing, and proselyting. 

After reading the Pearson’s “My World History and Geography” book that the seventh grade students use as part of their overall education, there was not one shred of evidence that caused me to accuse the publisher, school board, teachers or administrators of indoctrination.  It is true that anyone can take anything out of context if they oppose an idea or thought that is written in a book.  For example:  There is one bible, yet there are hundreds of different views of what the Scriptures says just in White County alone. 

What I love about a group of people in the “history” section of the bible, the book of Acts, a people called the Bereans who listen to what the Apostle Paul and Silas were teaching didn’t take what was being taught as indoctrination, rather, they compared their message with what the Scriptures says to ensure it was true.  (Acts 17:10-12)

The same must be said of all of us.  The solution in our community is not to take sides. Accuse.  Chastise.  Criticize.    Rather to compare what each group is saying is true. 

I have lived in White County over two years now.  I have come to love the values, standards, and the simple way of life.  I have learned that the citizens of White County are a people who can work out differences in house, shake hands and move on being the loving neighbors they have always been.

White County can lead the State in problem solving and working together in unity to accomplish the greater good for the greater cause, which is the future of our communities in our County.

Now is the time to drop the petitions.  Stop the arguing and unite as Warriors who at heart are kind, gentle, loving, compassionate, forgiving, merciful, God led people. 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Jesus Follower

A spiritual disciple is a follower of someone who desires to be delivered from a destructive sinful life.  Being delivered from spiritual bondage will give relief to anyone willing to surrender and become his disciple.       

Jesus said to Thomas in John 14:6 that he is the way, truth and life.  In order to get to God, you must go through me, first.  Philip then asked:  “Jesus, would you show us how to get to God?”  Jesus replied, “Look Phillip, the father and I are one.  We are in this together.  When you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the father.  Trust.  Believe. When you believe, you will do what I’ve have done the entire time we’ve been together.  Work hard.  Stay steady.”

The acceptance of Jesus as they way, truth and life begins with a desire to be delivered from spiritual bondage in order to be set free from sin and death.  There are no fancy formulas to becoming a disciple.  No steps that need to be taken other than what James 4:8-10 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.  Wash your hands you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Grieve, mourn, and wail.  Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will life you up.” (NIV)  Drawing to God is the step that demonstrates the willingness of living the Jesus life.    

A disciple desires a relationship with Jesus so much that she is enthusiastic about the gift of God’s only son (John 3:16) who ultimately sacrificed his life for all of us (Romans 5:8) so that we do not have to experience God’s anger (Romans 5:9) because Jesus’ sacrifice united all of God kids together with him (Romans 5:10).  The Jesus follower is now motivated by the uniting of God’s kids, he can’t help but declare the praises of God and share the grace gift to others all around his community. (Romans 5:11).

Because one has chosen to be a Jesus follower, their behavior will reflect an allegiance to God and become the ambassador to sharing the grace message to everyone around them. Those who chose to be all in it for God will completely surrender to the instructions of Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

The Jesus follower will also duplicate what they have done by taking Matthew 28:19a to heart: “Go and make disciples of all nations….” The key to the survival of Jesus’ church is to “make disciples” or as I have been calling it, making more Jesus followers.  The reason we need more Jesus followers is to strengthen fellow believers in order to change communities to be an attractive place to live morally, ethically, and spiritually.  When a person truly follows Jesus with pure motives, they will live for him.  Speak for him.  Serve the way he served.  Love the way he loved.  Teach truth.  Live truth.  And, honor truth.

Now is the time to be a Jesus follower.  You ready? 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

The Holiness of Unity

Ever get worn out with “Christianity?”  I know, that is a really tough question, but think about it for a bit.  There seems to be so much arguing, fighting, debating, segregating and politicking within the family of God. 

Whatever name is decided to be worn outside on the marquee shapes the thinking and attitudes towards doctrine and unity with other believers in Jesus.  The “marquee” name becomes the recognized tribe whenever one is traveling from one town to another as they seek out a church gathering to attend.

Why is it that some have an inner-circle of “accepted” believers within their own tribe that they are unable to see the good in what others are doing in the name of Jesus?  The disciples had the same issue.  They thought their inner-circle was the correct one and thus, they became elitist until Jesus gave them a dose of reality.  Luke 9:46-50 records Jesus’ conversation with his disciples about their elitist attitude and their view of those who were “outsiders.”

“They started arguing over which of them would be most famous. When Jesus realized how much this mattered to them, he brought a child to his side. “Whoever accepts this child as if the child were me, accepts me,” he said. “And whoever accepts me, accepts the One who sent me. You become great by accepting, not asserting. Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference.”  John spoke up, “Master, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t of our group.”  Jesus said, “Don’t stop him. If he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally.” (The Message)

It appears that every side road in America has some kind of “church” that wants to make its mark on the community or even the world.  There are thousands of groups who lay claim to being Jesus’ followers.  Within many of these groups, they have denominated within themselves due to the lack of unity or doctrine. 

If our culture is going to take a turn for the better, then we as believers in Jesus need to see the value in what we have in common, rather than where we disagree.  In most cases, it is more opinionated doctrine than it is doctrine itself. 

If believers in Jesus would live out the Matthew 25 principle, the community culture would change dramatically.   “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

The goal is to be a welcoming spirit to those in need and not get tangled up in religious politics.  When one is hungry, they don’t look on the marquee of a church facility and say, “I can’t eat from this tribe or that tribe; rather, they simply open the door and asked to be fed. 

The desire is to be believers who are bent on being Jesus, not a denomination of elitist who only sees themselves as the only ones worthy to be heaven bound. 

The aim is to be united believers who capture the essence of Jesus’ message in John 17:20-21 when he said, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”  (NIV)

I am grateful that many are seeing the value in uniting as believers for the common good of our communities and nation.   Jesus must be the centerpiece of all that we do, not our personal agendas and marketable churches that want to be popular.  When the Lordship of Jesus is permeated in the hearts of every Jesus believer, unity takes place and the prayer of Jesus becomes a reality in the twenty-first century America. 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Smile, It Increase Face Value!

There are many websites and even Facebook that has the title: Smile, It Increases Face Value. There is something to be said about an individual whose lips are pointed in the up position at the ends, rather than in the down position.

A smile conveys a message that things are good. I know, you might be thinking that there are those and even yourself who can put on a fake smile. I've done that myself. Whether the smile is fake or real, it still conveys a positive message to those around us. And, most of the times, a smile changes the atmosphere in the room. The last thing anyone needs in our little community of friends is a sour attitude with a frown on our face that conveys the song sung by Buck Owens and Roy Clark on the T.V. show, Hee-Haw many years ago:

“Gloom, despair, and agony on me
Deep dark depression,
excessive misery;
If it weren’t for bad luck,

I’d have no luck at all:
Gloom, despair and agony on me.”

Proverbs 15:13 says, “A happy heart makes the face cheerful.” and we find in

Proverbs 17:22 that “a cheerful heart is good medicine.” Our attitudes color our whole personality. We cannot always choose what happens to us, be we can choose our attitude toward each situation. Someone once said, “What we put in our minds determines what comes out in our actions. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.”

Cheery-O
If you smile the day will be cheery,
if you smile the day will be bright.
If you think good thoughts you’ll be happy,
and everything will work out just right.
So don’t let a frown turn you sour,
don’t let bad thoughts make you blue.
Just always remember, think positively,
for how you feel is up to you!
Susan L. Wiener

“Most of us miss out on life’s big pleasures. The Pulitzer. The Heisman. Oscars. But we’re all eligible for life’s small pleasures. A pat on the back. A kiss behind the ear. A four-pound bass. A full moon. An empty parking space. A crackling fire. A great meal. A glorious sunset. Enjoy life’s tiny delights. There are plenty for all of us.”

Source unknown

A smile is a wrinkle that shouldn’t be removed!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

The Theory of Giving

A missionary once asked a new convert, “Pablo, if you had a hundred sheep, would you give fifty of them to the Lord’s work?” He answered, “You know I would gladly give them.”

“Pablo, if you had fifty cows, would you give twenty-five to the Lord’s work?” “Yes, you know I would be more than happy to do that.”

Again the missionary asked, “Pablo, if you had two pigs, would you give one of them to the Lord’s work?” “That’s not fair,” Pablo replied. “You know I have two pigs.”

Many people are extremely generous in theory but not in practice. They say, “If I only had a million dollars, I would give half of it away.” This is simply not true. If we aren’t faithfully giving even ten percent of our money right now, we wouldn’t give away half a million dollars if we had it.  (Written by Kent Crockett, Making Today Count for Eternity, Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001, p. 151-152)

The word "give" is used over 1,500 times in the Bible. When we look at what Jesus had to say about giving, we discover that Jesus was much more interested in the motive of the giving, rather than the amount of our giving. 

2^nd Corinthians 8:7 describes the importance of excelling in grace giving.  The Apostle Paul said, "Just as you excel in everything else, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in your love for us, see that you also excel in this grace of giving."  God wants us to grow in giving, as much as you grow in faith, in love, and in knowledge. 

Growing up attending church gatherings every week, I saw the “collection plate” passed out to everyone every time.  Everyone around me put money into the “plate.”  My dad would give all his six kids a quarter so we would have money to put into the “plate” too.  I never quite understood the point of giving until I grew up a bit a saw the value of supporting the local church body.  Over the years, I have discovered a few theories about giving.

Giving shows our appreciation for our blessings – We know that God is the source of all that we have.  He's the source of our life.  He's the source of our abilities.  He's the source of all the natural resources.

Giving shows our commitment to the church – God does not want your money.  He wants YOU! He wants your LIFE.  He wants you to COMMIT yourself to Him.  Remember, our commitment and faith in God will give the resources necessary to grow a great church!  

Giving shows our commitment to the poor – That's why Proverbs 19:17 says, “When you give to the poor it's like lending to the Lord and He repays wonderful interest on your loan.”  (Living Bible)

God is in the business of blessing His children abundantly.  When we give out of our own poverty, God gives out of His own richness.  He gives so much more than we can ever imagine.

Remember, Be God Controlled,

Brian

How to Get What You Need!

Throughout Scripture, God has promised to meet our needs.  Whether the needs are:  Emotional.  Financial.  Physical.  Spiritual.  Relational.  Or, just everyday needs of your life.  In fact, one of the Hebrew names for God is Jehovah Jirah, which means “I am the God who provides for you.”  Philippians 4:19 “My God will supply all that you need  from His glorious resources in Christ Jesus.” 

In order to receive, we must trust!  If you are like me, this gets really tough!  I truly believe that the more we trust God, the more our needs our met.  The psalmist said, Psalm 13:5, "But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me."  Also, Psalm 50:15 “I want you to trust Me in your times of trouble so I can rescue you and you can give Me glory.”  God is in the business of giving.  We must be in the business of trusting!

The Bible also talks about the faith factor.  Jesus said in Matthew 9:29, “According to your faith it will be done unto you.”  Faith is tough too!  Especially, when everything around you is burdensome.  There are great promises told in Scripture for anyone who has priority faith.  As a matter of fact, Matthew 6:32-33 from the New Living Translation says, “Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs and He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the kingdom of God your primary concern.” 

When you need, trust!  Trust in a God who knows you, loves you, and died for you.  When you need, have faith! Have faith in a God who provides for you.  Have faith in a God who promises great riches when you display faith. 

Remember, Be God Controlled,

Brian

Dad...Best Three-Letter Word Ever!

Throughout my short life on earth…48 years to be exact, I have been given a variety of titles:  Coach.  Sergeant.  Preacher.  Husband.  Bus driver.  Uncle.  Son.  Mister.  Soldier.  Veteran.  Brother.  Nephew.  Friend.  Pastor.  Rev.  Teacher.  Dad. 

Ah…Dad!  I love it.  No matter how many times my children have called me dad, never one time have I ever said, “stop calling me, DAD!”  The older that I get and the more independent my children become, I cherish the word even more.  On September 2^nd my son will be moving to Texas to serve as a youth minister and on September 5^th my daughter, who married a Navy Seabee will be moving to California.  All at once, the house will be empty of noise and clutter and left on lights and piles of clothes and the constant calling out of the best three-letter word ever…DAD! 

The first time I heard my son speak, the word came out dada!   It melted my heart and I wanted him to keep saying it over and over again.  When my daughter came along and she starting talking, she called me daddy for the longest time.  Dada, daddy or dad, it doesn’t matter.  I love that title!

One of the most important roles a dad has is to ensure that his children know about a dad who expects our faithfulness to him and who is eternal in love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.  Ephesians 6:4 declare to dads everywhere to, “bring [the children] up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” (NLT)  Even Moses instructed the dads to “Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got! Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7 The Message)

Not only do I want to hear my kids talk to me, but I want them to talk to their heavenly dad, too.  Jeremiah 33:3 says it best, “…Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.” (The Message)  God loves it when he hears from his kids.  He loves it when we call him Father.  Dad.  Pappa.  We never wear out our welcome, nor does our heavenly Father ever get bored with any of our conversations we have with him. 

 

Setting on my desk is a plaque my daughter bought me one year that says, “I’m as lucky as can be, for the world’s best daddy belongs to me!”  I see the plaque every day and it reminds me that I must live like the best daddy for my daughter so that she can truly know the best daddy of them all…our heavenly one!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

"In or Out of Context?" Part 1

When one asked God to lead in the process of digging deeper into the Scriptures he will give the digger a deeper insight of his intended will. It is true, however, that there are  “out of context” teachings that lead some down the wrong path. 

2^nd Timothy 2:15 is a riveting passage of Scripture about being a good worker and handling truth correctly.  The Apostle Paul said to Timothy the evangelist, “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” (NLT)  Correctly teaching truth in “context” is vital for the young believer in the faith and for those who desire “…to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.” Jude 1:3 (NLT)

The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Christian in Ephesus is extraordinarily powerful even for twenty-first Century believers.  Paul penned powerful words to help the believers know that God chose them, adopted them and redeemed them.  Paul helped them see the value of the life in the light of Jesus by living the Jesus way every day.  He shared the importance of family and how couples should treat each other at home and he gave them resources to combat Satan by wearing the armor of God daily.

What is fascinating about the letter to the Ephesian believers is the way that he weaves together how to live the Jesus life and how to live it effectively.  Over the years, one part of this letter seems to take aim at how one worships God with music.  “In context” Ephesians 5 is about godly living in the community and in the home.  In essence, Spirit-filled believers will live godly lives in such a way that gives credibility to the Christian life.  The section of Scripture that must be kept “in context” that has been taken “out of context” is Ephesians 5:19,  “singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.” (NLT)  One of the “out of context” teachings has been that Paul is talking about a general church worship setting where we go to a facility and sing to God.  However, “in context” it is one part of the entire section of the letter that teaches us how to live our lives for Jesus on a daily basis. 

“In context”:  Ephesian 5:15-20, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.  Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.  And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Speak to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs – Ministering truth

Making music to the Lord in your hearts –Inner joy

And give thanks for everything – Being grateful

“Out of context” is a mandate on “how to” sing in a general church gathering.  It would also being interesting to know how many general church gatherings who teach that this is a “how to” sing in church gathering actually “speak to one another in Psalms and hymns and spirituals songs? 

Stay tuned for another, “In or Out of Context!”

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian