When the Church Comes Together

I was reminded yesterday that when the Church comes together for a common cause great things happen. We hosted a block party at church yesterday in an opportunity to just love on our community. There was an excitement in the air. There was something different about the event that made people say "Wow! I had a great time!" But it wasn't the 544 people (even though that was great), it wasn't Stone Canyon Band (though they were awesome and I would recommend to anyone), it wasn't the food or the blow ups. I truly believe the excitement was due to something else, something bigger. I believe it was the 55+ people that gave anywhere from 1 to 4 hours of their Sunday afternoon volunteering to show the community that Jesus loves them. The body of Christ is most glorified when it is unified and Sunday afternoon WE WERE UNIFIED TO LOVE ON PEOPLE! There was excitement because we were living and serving and being a unified, missional-minded church. I loved watching church members invest in the lives of total strangers. I loved watching senior adults share life with 20something single mom's. I loved watching volunteers sweat, laugh, give, and serve. There were different ages, races, and sexes. What a beautiful picture of what heaven will be like one day! Isn't that what we are supposed to do? Aren't we supposed to love people and tell them that Christ loved them first? I loved Sunday! And to the church of Preston Oaks, Thanks for being the unified body of Christ that served people to show them that Jesus loves them! When the Church comes together; you better watch out! Jesus will show up in a BIG WAY! I pray that we never tire of it!

24 and Forgiveness

I am a Huge fan of the show “24”. Jack Bauer is awesome! Did you know that Jack Bauer once lost reception on his cell phone. 24 hours later AT&T announced that it would have more bars in more places? And of course, if everyone listened to Jack Bauer, the show would be called 12. On the Season Finale of Season 7, there was an interesting dialogue that I could not ignore. During the season Jack had been exposed to a biological weapon which attacked his nervous system. As a matter of fact, the season ends with Jack’s life in the balance. Jack called in an Imam, a Muslim priest of a local Mosque, to talk to about what he was feeling as he faced death. The Imam encouraged Jack to be at peace because he is forgiven. Jack says that with everything he has done he cannot be forgiven. Here is where I paused the DVR and shook my head. The Imam said “Let’s stop together and forgive ourselves” and then he closed his eyes in prayer. I have two reactions to this Hollywood confusion of forgiveness.
First, the writers made a classic mistake by confusing the removal of guilt verses forgiveness. Guilt is our own inner feeling of remorse for something we have done. Jack was looking for something to remove his guilt for all the people he has killed and cursing problem. The Imam was looking to provide forgiveness, or the pardon of all punishment due to his evil acts. Unfortunately, the Imam cannot grant forgiveness nor can we forgive ourselves as they try to do. Colossians 1:13-14 says, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Forgiveness does not come from the removal of guilt, nor by us forgiving ourselves. Only Christ who gives forgiveness can remove guilt; the first destroys the latter.
Secondly, I wish forgiveness came as easy as the Imam told Jack. “Just forgive ourselves”The book of Hebrews points out that forgiveness is hard and costly. “ all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”(9:22) Who shed their blood to forgive us? Jesus, God in the flesh, lived a perfect life and then died a sinner’s death by dying on a cross. By His death he paid the penalty for our sins satisfying a Just God and granting us true forgiveness. Amen and Amen!
Maybe you feel guilty for something in your past. Maybe you feel there is no hope in sight to remove the pain you feel. Look to Jesus, repent and believe in Him. In Him you will receive pardon. When God forgives you it will be easier to remove the guilt (or forgive yourself). The Bible Promises: ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:34 (emphasis mine) Don’t get me wrong, I will watch Jack next year. But I think we should make sure we remember where we find forgiveness. “O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!” Thank you Lord!

"Good Gosh Jim, I'm a Pastor not a Blogger"

If I were Bones on Star Trek these may be my very words tonight. I honestly do not know what I am doing with a blog. But here I am climbing my own personal Mount Everest and beginning something God wanted me to do for a while now: a blog. Not ONLY A BLOG, but I am aiming for the Technological Trinity (TT) all by Memorial Day. "The TT?" You might ask? Yes, the TT: The Blog, Facebook, and Twitter. All in the same year I began ... an Ipod Touch?!?!? AHHHHHHHH!!!! Yes, I know for someone so young to be so behind on these things could be embarrassing. Ok it is. Why now? Honestly, it is because I have a lot of free time. Yeah Right! I am a pastor. I think I logged 75 hours last week. I have almost enough time to get everything I need to get done to spend a little time with Sarah and Jeter (my dog) and catch a few shows on the DVR before I kill over at night. I really started this trek into technology because I wanted to practice what I preach and live what I believe. At Preston Oaks, I have challenged our Sunday School to be the place where we Encourage each other through life. So I hope all this connection through technology will encourage someone, somewhere. The Bible is very clear that we are not to be alone. That is why graciously God gave us our spouses and the church. Our spouses complement us and together we make God's design for the family. In the church, we are together to use our gifts and to encourage each other and hold each other accountable. I also hope to Engage the World with the Gospel. So I hope that I meet new people and connect to old friends so that they can hear about how Jesus changed my life and how much God loves them. These platforms help me do this very quick and efficient. So as we continue, I will bring thoughts God is laying on my heart, I will share some quotes or links from other good blogs or books, I will share just fun stories from the day, or I may rant about sports (ladies beware!) So be patient as I get into a good schedule and feel may way through. I pray that this will be edifying for all! (or some, or anyone)

My First Post

25Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. Colossians 1:25-29

So this is it. My first Blog. I thought I would begin by describing the name of my blog. God blew my face off with this passage when I heard a sermon preached on it at the Jacksonville Pastor's Conference. He then began to hammer it into my heart over the last few months and it has struck a heart chord with me. I was called at age 19 to the vocational ministry and this is the description of the life God has called me to be. A minister/steward/preacher/proclaimer/teacher of the mystery/word/riches/hope/Christ. This is my calling but it is the utmost privilege. I get to deliver to people the wonderful news that Jesus died for their sins and rose from the grave. In this act he gives freedom from death and eternal life to all who believe. This Mystery (The Gospel) was once hidden to mankind but now is fully revealed in Jesus. Therefore I, Shawn Franklin Dobbins am a Minister of the Mystery. Is there any politician, CEO, teacher, or world leader that has a better subject or message than that? My desire is to present complete disciples to Jesus. There are days that I labor, like one day this past week when I was at church for over 13 hours. There are days that I strive, sometimes striving so hard to complete a sermon until I finally hear a message from the Lord to deliver it to his people. I don't share this to get a pat on the back or "brownie points" or sympathy. It is hard and very frustrating at times, but I know that I am privileged and blessed. I am grateful God called me, I don't know why but he did. Thankfully I don't rely on myself because I can't do it only by the Power of God through me. So that is me and the title of my blog explained. Stay tuned!