Pastor Tim Speaks

Born without clothes.

Jun 4th 2010

By: Pastor Tim

No comments

I was once told that if stupid ideas made people millionaires, that I should be rich; I like to think that my ideas are creative and outside the box. Several months ago I formed a Facebook group called Naked Birth Research Foundation. Originally it was just to have a little fun and inform people of circumstances that exist as a result of being born naked. This group caught on and began to grow, probably because of its brilliance and relevance, but never the less, it caught on.

One night I had an idea that could be my “stupid idea” that makes millions. Actually, the goal was not to make millions, although I will not complain if that happens, the idea was to help those, born without clothes.

We have a 1 year old boy named Jake Carpenter in our church who was born with many complications, including kidney failure. He is in need of a kidney transplant and besides that, his medical bills are already over $1million. On top of all the medical complications, Jake was also born naked. As of today, he has overcome being born naked and is a stylish and well dressed little boy.

The Naked Birth Research Foundation decided to provide clothes to people who were born naked and launched 2 T-shirt designs to be sold on our website, www.bornwithoutclothes.com and $2.00 from ever shirt sold goes to help Jake’s cause. In the future we hope to have more shirt designs and other products to help people who are born naked.

Hopefully this will spread and you can help. Our dream is to help other children like Jake and their families to cover the cost of these medical bills. Eventually we want to help children and those families of children born in neonatal units. What you can do to help is simple.

First- join our Facebook page, Naked Birth Research Foundation, and pass it on to ALL of your friends. Let them know that this is legit and enjoy a few laughs at the same time.

Second- visit our website. www.bornwithoutclothes.com and have your friends visit. There, we will provide updates on Jake’s progress both medically and financially. You will be able to purchase shirts and other items as we roll them out. Each purchase will help a child who was born naked.

Third- wear your shirts proudly and tell others where and how to get them.

Lastly, we ask for your prayers as we try to help those, born without clothes.

FYI- The Naked Birth Research Foundation has determined that people who do not read this blog, were probably born naked.

Thanks, and God bless.

Tim's Opinion
My Friend Mark

May 28th 2010

By: Pastor Tim

2 comments

Mark Bivins

Rarely in life do you get a chance to meet someone who challenges you in ways that cause you to think deeply about life’s fairness and have the end result cause you to rejoice from the inside-out. Mark Bivins was that type of person.

Mark could have easily been the type of person who held grudges and claimed unfairness because Mark was deaf. He could hear nothing, not even the loving voice of his mother or friends. He could not hear a favorite song that causes you to smile each time it is played nor could he hear the laughter of his nieces and nephews that make the rest of us smile.

Mark instead saw the world from a brighter point of view. He saw the laughter and smiled back. He felt the beat and moved in silence. He used his hands and his face to communicate his brilliant humor and joy for life and no one misunderstood what he was saying.

Mark and I played golf a few times together and I never had more fun on a golf course. He took me to play once on a course that was beside the airport in Charlotte. Planes would fly over us only a few hundred feet above and would be so loud that I had to stop what I was doing before I could hit the ball. I noticed that he would chuckle each time I stopped and he asked me if the noise bothered me. I signed yes it did, and again he laughed. Not me, he said, as he hit his next shot with no distractions.

I tried to learn his language and never quite mastered it. Many times I would say things to him that were really wrong and he would correct me by spelling it out with his fingers. When I still got it wrong he would hit his head with his fist, the sign for dummy, and laugh as I shook my head in frustration. Then with all the patience in the world, he would teach me the right way to sign what I was trying to say.

One thing that I never got wrong is when Mark would call me friend. He always thanked me for my sermons on Sunday morning and said that he was praying for me and our church. Sometimes I would watch him on Sunday morning as he heard what I said through his brother and interpreter and I could see how God was talking to him. He knew Jesus and Jesus knew him.

Toward the last part of Mark’s life, the last time I had a conversation with him, I asked him what he wanted me to pray about. He just smiled and said I’m fine. How can I pray for you?

I wish that I had more time with him, but God needed him to come home. Mark was grace on display as he battled with cancer and cancer took that battle over his body. But the soul of Mark Bivins was untouched. And God took someone who had plenty to call life unfair and showed us all how grace made all things right.

I will miss you Mark, but I will rejoice in how you impacted me in such a short time. Today you hear the voice that sounds of love and we live in silence as the laughter you gave us on earth has ceased. Ever since that first round of golf, I have chuckled at the planes flying over head and thanked God that I could think of you in every loud noise that they make. While you hear the perfect love of Christ, I will hear you in things from above. Thanks for the laughter, my dear friend!

In Memory

christian, jesus, Mark Bivins, rejoice
Riding with Twitch

May 1st 2010

By: Pastor Tim

9 comments

Today was one of the better days this spring to get out the Holy Kaw and go for a ride. For those who don’t know, the Holy Kaw is my 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic, painted white, with large black spots like a cow and Twitch is my 5 year old grandson who loves to ride with me.

We took off for Greer today, about a 100 miles and the first 50 miles is back roads through the countryside. Since mom won’t let Twitch ride on the interstates yet, he rode the first 50 miles with me. Meme had Hayley in the van following us and would take him the other 50 mile of interstate.

Twitch wears a full faced helmet that he quickly learned to raise and lower the face shield on so he could talk to me. Because the Holy Kaw has Vance-Hines pipes, it is a bit loud, so communication can be difficult and Twitch is only five, so he sits well below my ear level. That does not stop him from talking or expecting me to talk back.

I taught Twitch early about the proper technique for acknowledging other bikers. It is a hand held low with the “peace sign” given. It is universally recognized and only stuck up or ignorant riders don’t participate.

Because today was an excellent day for riding, there were plenty of other bikes out. Everyone that passed responded to Twitch as he gave the sign. And every time someone responded he had to tell me the details. I did not know that there were so many details in an action that takes only a couple of seconds, but there are. The color of motorcycle, the helmet or lack of, how many were on the bike, how fast they looked like they were going, male or female, grown up or kid, and whether or not the sign was given properly are some of the details I got to hear.

At one point we came to an intersection and were stopped at the light when a pick-up with a dog in the bed pulled up beside us. The dog now knows Twitch by name. I don’t think the dog gave his name, but you will have to ask Twitch. As we pulled away I was asked to get closer so that he could pet the dog as we were riding. I declined.

At the next intersection a woman pulled up next to us and smiled. I was told about her smile and asked why she smiled at him and I told him that she must have thought that he was cute. For the next few miles everyone thought that we were both cute or not depending on if they smiled at us or not.

Toward the end of the 50 miles, Twitch got quiet for a while. I was afraid that he might be getting sleepy so I asked him if he was alright. He said, “Sure Papa, are you?” I told him I was and he said that he was just thinking. When I asked him what he was thinking about he told me that my truck and my motorcycle were just for him and me to ride and that it was really cool when his buddy, me, let him ride with me. Then he said, “Papa, I love you. That is what I was thinking about.”

I had a quick talk with God just then and told Him that if I ever thought that life sucked for any reason, to remind me of that moment. Life is good! Me, Twitch, and conversations on the Holy Kaw; Thanks God!

Family

buddy, cool, God, helmet, life, thinking, Twitch
What would God ask you to do?

Apr 8th 2010

By: Pastor Tim

1 comment

I love having conversations with people who think that they know God so well that they make comments like “I know God would never ask me to do something like that.” Now don’t get me wrong, I like meeting people who know God and know Him well. I like to think that I know Him well too, but I am very careful when it comes to thinking I know what He would and wouldn’t ask me to do.

My Oldest grandson, Twitch, is a real prayer warrior. His mom posted on Facebook that she woke up to him praying for her to have a little brother so they could name him Bumblebee Optimus Prime. She says this is impossible and that God would not ask her to have another baby, and they have taken steps to ensure that it doesn’t happen. So I like to laugh and remind them of the story of Sarah and Abraham. I also like to think about how Jesus said that if we ask anything, believing, that it would be granted. I can’t wait to see little Bumblebee OP.

Too often Christians like to sanitize their lives from things that are so far fetched and not give God the credit for being a God of miracles. We believe that it is the calling of others to go to Africa, to feed the hungry, or house the homeless. We believe that God has blessed us with good jobs, good homes, and good families, and that doing those things mentioned before would put all that in jeopardy. What we forget is that God is the one who provided us with all those things and He can just as easily take them, just ask Job.

I think that Christians miss more blessings because we think that God would never ask us to do what we don’t approve of than we will even know. I believe when it comes right down to it, that we will find out just how little we have been blessed when we don’t do the extraordinary.

The Apostle Paul was a rich man, before he became a Christian, then had to depend on the gifts of others. Abraham was one of the richest men in the world and was told to leave it all behind to go to an unknown place. Job was a perfect and upright man until God decided to bless him; which meant losing it all before getting the double portion.

One of my favorite things is to ask believer if they thought that God would ever ask them to marry a prostitute and have children with her, even if you knew that she would continue to be a prostitute after you are married. Overwhelmingly the answer is “no”. Them I tell them to read the book of Hosea and see that God just might do exactly that.

Ramon noodles come prepackaged, ready to add water. You know what you will get. A can of tomato soup is opened and heated and eaten as is. If you buy a shirt, you try it on and know what it looks like and how it fits. God is none of these.

Becoming a Christian is the greatest thing a person can do with their life. To be forgiven of all sins, called a child of God, and receive eternal life is an incredible gift that can be accepted by all who believe. But what we fail to remember is that after we become children of God, we should submit to His authority. We should trust our Father and we should never think that we know better than He does.

I want to be blessed. I want to experience what God intends for my life, even if it means getting a bit uncomfortable. So far I have not been asked to go to Africa or marry a prostitute. But I have been asked to serve and love a church full of people who need Jesus and need to know Him better. What a privilege and what a challenge. I once said that I would never move from where I was because God was using me there. Now I am here and I am more blessed than ever before.

What is God ask you to do?

Tim's Opinion

Bible, blessed, blessing, christianity, christians, eternal, Father, God, Paul
He is Risen!

Mar 30th 2010

By: Pastor Tim

No comments

There is one glaring difference between Christianity and all other beliefs about God and it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I am not an expert on other beliefs but I do know that Christianity is the only belief system that says that Jesus Christ was and is God, that He lived on earth as fully human, yet fully God, and died as a sacrifice for the sins of all and physically resurrected from the dead to offer eternal life to all ask in faith.

I am not going to prove this to be true, I can’t. I am not going to disprove other beliefs, I can’t. What I will say is that this belief is the only one that puts the full pardon of sin on the work and mercy of God and takes all ability of affect our standing in the eyes of God totally out of the hands of man, short of accepting Christ’s work on the cross as the way of redemption.

God loves His creation. As the only part of creation that was created in His image, He has a special love for humanity. In His divine wisdom and mercy, He made a way for humanity to be reconciled to Him and this way is flawless, simple, and acceptable.

Some have said that “A loving God would not make only one way into heaven.” I say that this would be the perfect answer of a loving God making it simple. “Enter Here.” Humans use this method all the time to provide security for events that need to limit or monitor who enters. We use it to ensure accurate counts of all who have proper credentials and we never question the love of those who use this method here on earth. Many parents will secure all but one door for the use of their children.

Indeed this is the best way. If there were many ways to get into heaven, it would be much easier to counterfeit. The US Mint only uses one design to produce the hundred dollar bill, not many. Jesus is the only way that God has made for us to get to heaven. It is quite simple.

The flawlessness comes from the resurrection. This cannot be duplicated or counterfeited. Only God has the power to give life and He can give it because He is Life. This is like a watermark in currency or the wax seal of the king to authenticate the origination of a document.

The acceptability is because this was God’s plan and His alone. Man attempts to be good enough for God through religions that he creates. Man puts together elaborate rituals and things that emphasize good deeds. God knows that our sin will penetrate any religion that we create and therefore made a way acceptable to Him.

He became a man. He lived the sinless life. He died for our sins. He rose from the grave. He said this was good enough.

So this Easter, don’t kill the rabbit. Dye all the eggs. Eat all the candy and remember that the tummy ache will be better in the morning. But please don’t forget that when Jesus was killed, He died on the cross. He took 3 days, the when that morning came things were better than candy. God’s plan of redemption was complete.

He is risen!!!

Tim's Opinion

christianity, cross, eternal, flawless, God, heaven, humanity, jesus, Jesus Christ, loving, man, resurrection, risen, sacrifice, simple, sin, sins
Health Care Reform

Mar 22nd 2010

By: Pastor Tim

No comments

Unless you have been on an extended camping trip to Mars or something like that, you know by now that the “Health care reform bill” was passed and that our President will probably sign it into law this week. And unless you have never been to a government run facility in your whole life, you probably have some reservations about how this whole thing will work out. This may come as a surprise, but I have a few thoughts on it that I am going to share.

I know that there are millions of people who do not have health insurance in the US, I am one of them. Health insurance is costly and although I wish it was more affordable, I can still go to the doctor anytime I need to, without health insurance. I wish people in the US would figure out that health insurance and health care are totally different things.

I have auto insurance and home insurance. Because I would only use either in the case of major problems, like an automobile accident or house fire, my costs are very affordable. And, I never confuse auto care and home repairs with insurance.

Not true with the way we use health insurance and that is what this whole battle in DC has been about; INSURANCE.

Imagine waiting until your house burnt down or you totaled your car and then you wanted insurance. What would that do to insurance rates and service that you get from them? Now imagine that you had to go to the DMV to get this insurance or to unemployment office to get home owners insurance. I believe the suicide rates in American would skyrocket. Get ready though because that is what is getting ready to happen in the health insurance business.

Supposedly, an additional 30 million people will be able to receive heath care now. My question is where are they gonna go? Have you been to an emergency room lately? There are not going to be any increases in the amount of doctors under this new law. So if you do the math, 30 million new patients + 0 new doctors = much longer waits to see a doctor.

I have been to countries where they have this type of healthcare system. In Cuba, my translator was a doctor and he took his vacation to help the missionaries because if we paid him $100 to work a week with us, he made almost 3 times his monthly salary as a doctor. In Canada nearly 60% of their salary goes to taxes to pay for the system that sends most critically ill patients to our country due to excessive waits.

NO… I do not like this new bill and soon to be law. I am a law abiding citizen, at least until it becomes illegal for me to not have health insurance. The government of the United States just made everyone who does not have health insurance criminals, in case you didn’t know.

The good news? There is free healthcare in prison!!! Free for me, but your taxes will pay for it. Looks like I win again!

Tim's Opinion

care, doctor, doctors, government, health, insurance, Pastor Tim, reform, unemployment
Not Ashamed

Mar 22nd 2010

By: Pastor Tim

1 comment

29 years ago in a small hospital somewhere in small town USA, a little girl was born. The pregnancy was nothing out of the ordinary, and the labor was hard, but then again, aren’t all first time deliveries hard? The parents were young, working-class, humble, but good looking parents who just wanted a healthy baby to have for their own.

After the months of growing in her mother’s womb, and the encouraging word from the nurse to “Push!”, these shocking words were heard. ”This baby is naked!” and a hush fell over the delivery room. The doctors and nurses were happy that mom had been sedated and dad was not in the delivery room. After cleaning her naked body, they quickly wrapped the baby in a blanket and brought her to her mother and laid her in her arms as if she had never been born naked.

Years past and the baby grew and so did her cloths. She became very aware of her desire to wear clothes that were stylish and colorful, but most of all that covered her. Many times her mother would walk into the bathroom and find her sitting naked in a tub of water. It was often wondered if there was something that was deeply rooted inside her that drove her to the urges to sit naked in a tub. Others claimed it was just a bath.

As the girl grew the tub incidents became acceptable and the parents quit looking for such activities hoping that wearing cloths would be the “norm” and that soon this little girl that they loved so much would find friends in school and direction in life that would never trigger the instincts that must be continually driving her every action.

Today that little, naked born girl is 29 years old and has children of her own who were born naked too. These are precious to me, because that little girl I have been talking about is my daughter and her children, my grand children.

I know that others struggle with this topic and that it is not a common subject of discussion, but I vowed that I would not rest until we find a way to help every child that is born naked. My daughter has lived as a productive member of society and deals with the public everyday on her job and unless you were told, you might never know that she was born naked.

No, she is not perfect and yes, she wears nice clothes now, but on that day, 29 years ago my daughter was born naked, and I love her. Happy Birthday Cristi!

Tim's Opinion

Pastor Tim

Pastor Tim Speaks

Archives

Categories

Born without clothes.

My Friend Mark

Riding with Twitch

What would God ask you to do?

He is Risen!

Health Care Reform

Not Ashamed