One blog dies, so another can live

If you are here, you have happened upon a blog 1.0 that was an experiment gone bad. However, you are so close to finding blog 2.o, an experiment gone awesome. Go to http://www.cloften.com for more awesomeness than you can handle.

Answered Prayer

Something great happened when I was at FBCLR on Sunday. A couple that I had never met came down to talk to me in between services. They had heard me preach there a few weeks earlier on boldly praying to God instead of the wishy-washy prayers that we often pray. The husband had been suffering from major complications to a relatively simple procedure. For six months, they had been told by every doctor that they had no idea how to treat him. They had been draining some nasty stuff out of him, about a liter a day. After the sermon, they rallied their community group to pray differently and to ask God to heal. A couple of weeks later, there was no more drainage. The doctors could not understand that or explain it. He came back two days later and still no drainage. At that moment the doctor pulled out the tube and said he didn't need that anymore and that he was fine.

No treatment, no explanation. Simply the hand of God moving in their lives.

I loved hearing that story. The looks on their faces were priceless. I could see in them a deepening love and trust in a God that loves them very much.

Do you have a story like that? Let's hear it.

Sermon Discussion "I See You Are Very Religious"

Hey everyone, here is where we will be discussing the sermon on Sunday. What are your thoughts and questions about other religions? Is there something that came up on Sunday that you have questions about or you want to comment about?

Do you feel God calling you to missions? to share your faith? Do you need to give your life to God for the first time?

We would love to hear from you. As we discuss, let's be loving and respectful toward one another.

Charlie LoftenThe Cabot Guy

P.S. I will posting some further thoughts on this later, but would love to hear from you.

Being Distracted

Isn't it funny how little it takes to get us distracted? Not funny "ha ha," but funny "good grief." So about three weeks ago I have a stomach bug for a couple of days, the Lauren gets it, and then Maylee runs a fever for a couple of days. The next thing I know, it's been three weeks and I haven't posted to my blog that I was "absolutely committed" to making happen. I have gone from working out 6 times a week to maybe 4 times in 3 weeks. My diet has gone south. Why? Because I got sick? I guess.

Why is it that bad habits are the default position? Why don't I start having better habits when I get sick? The draw to laziness, sloth and undisciplined life is very strong. Unfortunately it is that way in our walks with God as well. We need to be on guard to the small everyday things that can distract and derail us. We need to commit that we will not let small changes in our routine cause major meltdowns. How? Well, if this were Sunday School, the answer would be: Jesus, Bible, pray. First, let us not minimize the stereotypical answer. We need God more than we realize, we need to pray, we need His word. But what about when it is those disciplines that we so desperately need to get back? Well, we also need each other. We need accountability, friendship--real friends who can pick us up when we fall and kick us when we need it.

Be that kind of friend and recruit your "buddies" to be that kind of friend to you as well.

Later,
Charlie

It's a Good Problem to Have

I have heard that a lot over the last couple of years. I am the lead pastor at the Cabot campus of Fellowship Bible Church. We have experienced a lot of growth and most of the challenges that we have had come from growth--not enough kid's space, crowded worship center. We most recently had to move out of our offices and convert them into a nursery (not for plants, but babies). So now my office is wherever my laptop and I happen to be (right now, the Fireside Cafe at LR campus). When I talk about that, someone (with an office, of course) will say "that's a good problem to have." I have chosen, "there are worse problems to have." I have a hard time associating the word "good" with "problem." Unless of course we are talking about math, then a good problem is one that is challenging, but not impossible or overly obtuse. "Get to the point, Nerd-boy." Sorry.

Some problems are good. Challenges that arise because of God's blessings would be in that category. Problems that result in strengthening our relationship with Him, draw us closer to Him, strengthen our character would be more. My problem is that I think of good as being equivalent to my personal enjoyment. If that is true, no problems are good. But good is what a good God chooses to use in my life to accomplish great things in and through me.

Later,
Charlie

Competitiveness and Girl's Basketball

"It's only a game." I tell myself that all the time. I really want to believe it, but I just can't make myself believe it. I have been coaching my older daughter, Maylee's basketball team for five years. We are a part of this program called Upward Basketball which is a Christian sports ministry. It's meant to reduce competitiveness and make it more about the kids having fun. I know some people aren't into that, believing that we need to teach kids that losing is part of life. I get that. I think it helps me more than them. I want to win so badly. They only start keeping score in third grade, so this is the third season we've kept score. Lauren's team starts that next year (sigh). During that time we put together a 17 game win streak. Two undefeated seasons and one win this year, before the streak ended. (We've won 2 in a row since then, even though it doesn't matter, right?)

Anyway, I get so worked up. I want our team to win. I stand there and stew on the sidelines wanting to say something to the ref, but I can't. I can see the headline now, "Local Pastor Ejected After Tirade at Christian Basketball Game." That would not be good.

I have spent so much energy in my life, trying to not be competitive or to be less competitive. I wonder if this is like putting up fans to blow on the sun to keep it from rising. What I am coming to realize that this is how God made me. I am conqueror. What I do, I want to do well. Being second best at something has never been ok, whether it's sports, school, work/church, I want to be the best. Is that necessarily sinful? I don't think so. I think if it leads us to cheat, to covet, to wish harm on others, to anger, then it becomes sinful. The drive for excellence was placed in me. The desire to win or conquer is what makes me a man. This is what we are.

Rather than trying to stop the inevitable, I need to soften the rough edges, and channel this energy in the right direction (Like next week's game, where we get a rematch against the "1" in 19-1)

Later,
Charlie

Duggar Wedding and Overly Sentimental Dad

Heidi and our girls are watching the Duggar Wedding on TV right now. They are the stars of the 17 and Counting show on TLC. This is the family with all the kids that live in Springdale. It sounds like they are enjoying the show, but I just can't do it. I know that Maylee is only 11, but I struggle with weddings now. I have been a crier for some time now, but all the more when it involves my girls. Some day that will be me walking my girls down an aisle and handing them over to some boy.

Heidi thinks there is no way I will be able to perform their weddings. She says I will be a blubbering mess. She is probably right.

How cool is this family though? This couple never kissed until the wedding and are so committed to purity and to each other. I wonder if TLC is subtly attempting to mock them, but this family's commitment to God and to each other is really unmockable. (Obviously I am watching some of it, but I head out if I feel sentimantility creeping in.