Checkerz' Blog

It was November 1992 when, as a 19-year-old who didn’t grow up in church, I asked Jesus to become my Lord and Savior. I was illiterate in terms of Bible knowledge, and I certainly did not know any church etiquette. However, the Lord blessed me by sending a man, who looked like a hippie stuck in the 60’s by the way, to teach me the Word of God and how to apply it in my life. That man was named Mike Nelson and he was my boss when I worked as a construction laborer and apprentice carpenter. As I grew in understanding and began applying the things I was learning from the Bible, and through Mike, I began a journey over the next 21 years that led me from being a young Christian trying to figure out what it meant to follow Jesus, to being a Pastor of a 300+ and growing congregation. Along the way I learned many things. I would need to write a book (which I just may do someday) to share all of the lessons I’ve learned, and nuggets of wisdom that have been shared with me over the years. But, for the sake of brevity I have decided to share 5 things that I have learned along my journey that I think every Christian can benefit from. So, here goes.

AS A CHRIST FOLLOWER WE MUST:

1. Be Willing to Serve Others Always.

• Mike was a servant leader. He taught me from day one of my journey that if I wasn’t willing to be a servant to all, then I was not truly ready to follow Christ wholeheartedly. Mike not only taught me, he modeled it. He showed me a passage of Scripture in Matthew 20:26-28 that reads, “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” And there you have it…Jesus Himself did not come to be served, but to serve others. That passage changed my life forever. If the Son of God came to serve others, how could I (and you) as His follower do anything less?

2. Strive to Maintain Humility.

• In the United States particularly, we live in a culture that breeds pride. Interestingly enough, it was pride that allowed sin to enter the world (See Genesis 3:1-4). Pride is something most, if not all, of us struggle with. Having traveled the country rapping and speaking in front of thousands of people I found myself struggling with pride. There is a huge adrenaline rush when you hear your name being announced over the P.A. system and then walk out onto a stage in front of thousands of cheering people who came to hear you! Then one day it hit me like a ton of bricks. I read these words found in Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” I thought about Jesus’ humility, and then I thought about Mike. They both demonstrated the utmost humility and I learned that humility was one of the marks of a committed Christian. While you may not rap or speak in front of thousands, everyone wrestles with pride in one form or another, but humility is the answer to pride.

3. Guard Our Integrity.

• It was 1993 and I was 20 years old. I had only been a Christian for a few months and I was living paycheck to paycheck making $6.50 an hour. I lived on my own (yes, on that wage) and that meant I had to shop smart when I went to buy groceries. One day I went to buy fresh deli cut lunch meat and I remember flirting with the girl behind the counter so that she would discount the price of my favorite lunch meat: Cajun Roast Beef. I loved it, but it was too expensive for my budget. She discounted it and the next day I told Mike how “the Lord had blessed me” by giving me a discount. When I told him how I got the discount he told me to go back and pay the difference. I was mad and refused, but Mike gave me the “integrity” speech and reminded me that as a Christian I had to guard my integrity. Pouting the whole way, I went back and paid the difference. Some time later I came across this passage in Proverbs 26:8, “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.” Your integrity, or lack of it, says a lot about your walk with the Lord so guard it well.

4. Be Willing In Spite of Our Weaknesses.

• I have learned over and over that I am not qualified for many of the things the Lord has given me the opportunity to do. I have fallen short, and made mistakes along the way but God continued to use me anyway. He will do the same for you. Mike was always transparent about his past failures and current weaknesses, yet I saw God using him in mighty ways. He encouraged me through some of my darkest days when I thought I would never amount to anything. He pushed me to press on when I wanted to quit. Listen, regardless of your past failures, or present fears, the Lord wants to use you to do great things. The Bible is full of examples of jacked up people who the Lord used to accomplish His purposes and plans. We cannot allow fear or guilt to keep us from fulfilling God’s plans for us. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 the Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Today is a new day…be willing to be used by God.

5. Be Teachable.

• As a seminary graduate, seasoned evangelist, and current pastor, I have been tempted in times past to think I do not need to learn from others anymore. That temptation arises in many Christians at times when we think we have enough of God’s Word in us that we only want to be the teacher, rather than a student. Oh, how mistaken we are when we feel we “have arrived.” While you may not have a seminary degree or hold some position in the church, the temptation to become “unteachable” is always there. While Mike was a great teacher for me, he was always learning from other great men in our church. He grasped the concept of always remaining teachable, and he was one of the wisest men I have ever met. Proverbs 1:7 reads, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” According to this passage, only fools despise wisdom and instruction. So to avoid being foolish, always remain teachable.

Well, there are many things I have learned along the way but I hope these 5 things help you in your walk with the Lord the way they have helped me. Until I get another itch to blog…Peace and Chicken Grease!

-Pastor C

P.S. Meet Mike

I have read many blogs and articles regarding the perils of posting on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, etc…. While many of those articles/blogs have good insight, it seems to me that most of them tend to take a personal preference direction that really is not universally applicable. In other words, their suggestions are more of a personal preference or ideology than good old fashion common sense and wisdom. While I am fully aware that there are more than 9 Things You Should Ask Yourself Before Posting on Social Media, here are 9 things that would, and should, apply to anyone and everyone when posting.

**NOTE: Aside from #1, these are in no order of particular importance. Are you ready? Here goes:

#9. IS THIS POST INFLAMMATORY?

• Social media is never a good place to start arguments, even if the issue is worth taking a stand for. No one ever says, “I once believed (insert idea here), but after reading a Facebook post that bashed everything I believed in and basically said I was stupid for believing different from them, I changed my position and now I believe what they posted.” Can you see where I’m going here? It’s counter-productive. (Side note: There are times when you should address issues in a Christ-like way with people whom you know to be close friends/family when something inappropriate is posted that can damage their witness for Christ. This takes discernment.)

#8. AM I BEING 100% TRUTHFUL?

• No one likes a liar, not even on Facebook. Whether you are creating a “fake life” for the Social Media world to see, or telling “half-truths” (which are really lies), you are only hurting yourself when you are not honest in a public setting like Social Media (or any other setting for that matter). People will lose respect for you. So, if you can’t be completely honest with a post, then it’s best not to post it. Additionally, sharing “news” without thoroughly fact-checking is the equivalent of bearing false witness (more affectionately known as lying).

#7. AM I DOING THIS TO GET ATTENTION?

• Cue the Drama Queens/Kings here. People REALLY dislike drama queens/kings. While there will always be a FEW people who play into the “poor me” postings, you may want to rethink why you are looking for that kind of attention in a public forum. I highly recommend building a few solid friendships in real life (in person) that you can share your personal issues with in private, and that will encourage you and pray for you.

#6. AM I POSTING THIS OUT OF FRUSTRATION OR ANGER?

• This one should suffice without explanation, but just in case someone is staring off into space wondering what I mean, let me explain. In all my years on planet earth I have NEVER met a person that has said, “I am so glad I reacted immediately when I was angry/frustrated. If I would have calmed down before reacting and thought about what I was about to say/do it would have certainly made things worse.” I’m sure you can sense the sarcasm, but the truth is that we should never post to Social Media out of anger or frustration. It never ends well.

#5. WILL THIS POST DISCREDIT ME IN ANY WAY?

• There once was a time when Social Media did not exist. Really. I am being serious. As the younger generation stares at this in astonishment, let me say that I am grateful my stupid decisions as a teenager and young adult did not have a worldwide platform to showcase my poor choices. We all have made dumb decisions in life. The question you have to ask yourself is whether or not the Social Media world needs to know about it. Because we all make mistakes, we have to be careful how we react to others’ mistakes. But, when you showcase your actions on Social Media, you can be assured that your actions will come back to haunt you later. Maybe at a job interview, or with a potential mate, or with those who look up to you. Is it really worth it? A rhetorical question.

#4. IS THIS REALLY THE IMAGE I WANT TO PORTRAY?

• Too often, in the heat of the moment things are posted to Social Media that seemed cute or funny or harmless at the time. However, when looking back at those posts we should ask just what type of person we have portrayed ourselves to be. If you really want to be respected, loved, appreciated, admired, etc…, then ask yourself whether your postings reflect the image of someone who should be respected, admired, etc. What do you want to be known for? Your physique? Your politics? Your love for Christ and people created in His image?

#3. WHAT DOES THIS PHOTO REFLECT ABOUT MY SELF WORTH?

• Whether it’s girls posting a seductive “duck lips” selfie, or guys posting a selfie in the mirror with their shirt off trying to look like a thug or an underwear model, the question still remains: Why do I feel the need to get this kind of attention? You are fearfully and wonderfully made by a loving God who has a great plan for you. By reducing your worth to being a Social Media sex object you are only hurting yourself. Your self worth should be in something far greater than some “likes” or comments on social media.

#2. IS THIS HURTING SOMEONE ELSE?

• Social Media is a public platform with the ability to cause tremendous pain in someone’s life. We have all seen some post that has went viral with thousands, if not millions of views. Think about the power that is at your fingertips every time you post something that could potentially be hurtful. What if it were posted about you? If you have an issue with someone, go resolve it like a mature person…in person. Also, even if you think something is funny, you need to ask yourself if posting/re-posting it could be hurtful to someone. If there is even a possibility it could be hurtful then refrain from posting it.

And the #1 question you should ask yourself before posting something on Social Media is:

#1. IS IT THE WISE THING TO DO?

One of the best books I have read this year is called “The Best Question Ever” by Andy Stanley. As many of you know, I am not an avid reader (although I need to be). I have to force myself to finish books, but this particular book struck a chord with me and revolutionized my decision-making process. In every decision we make we should be asking “Is this the wise thing to do?” And yes, this includes posting to Social Media. While a post may not inherently have anything wrong with it, you should be asking whether it has the potential to become a problem later on. While it may be true, you should be asking if it really needs to be said. Asking yourself whether or not it is wise to post something will not only keep you from unnecessary trouble or pain as a result of the post, but it will also help you keep your reputation and integrity intact.

Well, there you have it. You may have others, and I am sure there are more questions that could and should be asked. But, these are 9 essential questions that we ALL should be asking before hitting that “Post” or “Share” or “Tweet” button on our phones, Ipads, or computers.