Convictions | Tommy Haines

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The Poor

January 18, 2012 in Convictions, Featured with 0 Comments

Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need. (Proverbs 21:13 NLT)
Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give! (Proverbs 21:26 NLT)
The rich and poor have this in common: The Lord made them both. (Proverbs 22:2 NLT)
Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor. (Proverbs 22:9 NLT)
A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty. (Proverbs 22: 16 NLT)
Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court. For the Lord is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them. (Proverbs 22:22, 23 NLT)
A poor person who oppresses the poor is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops. (Proverbs 28:3 NLT)
The godly care about the rights of the poor; the wicked don’t care at all. (Proverbs 29:7 NLT)

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What are you thinking?

Grace and Truth

January 14, 2012 in Convictions, Featured with 0 Comments

John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, (Jesus) full of grace and truth.“

Jesus was full of grace and truth. Each day we must strive to be full of grace and truth if we are to really follow after Christ. Think about it, when one of the two are missing you get religion. One religion is a license to sin and the other is legalism.

I see religious people often in church, on the Internet, and as I talk with individuals. They are usually upset because they feel judged by someone. These people believe in a god of all grace. The judgment they feel is sometimes legit, but most often it is because of the condemnation they feel inside because of a desire to live outside the boundaries of God’s word, His truth. In the name of grace, they have willfully given their heart over to sin. Sin that is paid for in eternity, yet still has consequences in the here and now. This religion of God being only graceful is dangerous because it destroys the abundance Jesus promised in the here and now.

Other people (commonly know as the religious or those who judge; the legalistic) have so immersed themselves in truth that they have begun making up rules in fear of loosing their faith. Because they only see truth and have no grace, eventually they become legalistic. They have convictions and believe everyone else should follow such convictions or they are not right with God. They get very upset when people do not live up to their expectations or do something they deem wrong. Unfortunately, they do not always have the truth of scripture; instead they depend on the truth of their conviction from scripture. This is very dangerous because you begin to live above others and in the name of fear (truth – to the legalist) you basically push others away from Christ and yourself.

This is why Jesus was full of grace and truth. An authentic relationship with Christ happens by grace through faith but is lived when the truth sets you free. My deep love for Jesus comes from the grace He has shown to me and from the truth that He has revealed in me. The combination of the two ultimately gives me the freedom to live. Without his grace I am doomed for hell, yet without His truth I am a slave to sin. I am so thankful for a Savior who is full of both grace and truth.

Lost Honor

February 21, 2011 in Convictions, Featured with 0 Comments

Last week I got to take my four year old to her first ever NBA basketball game. Here in OKC we had a ton of snow and so because of the fear of the freezing temperatures and snow, I got two free OKC Thunder tickets.

During the opening of the game when everyone stands for the singing of national anthem, the craziest thing took place. There was an old fashion quartet singing the star spangled banner and so people just were not that interested. Although the majority of people placed their hand on their chest and look down at the American flag; many were still talking, drinking beer, and some were still eating their food. To me, it was weird to watch people casually approach a moment that was meant to honor our country and the men and women who serve. We were in the middle of honoring freedom and for the most part it was ho-hum, no big deal.

This got me thinking. In our culture, in our country, in our homes, and even in our churches there is such a lack of honor. We no longer value the hard work of others, or the leadership positions of others, or even our parents that gave us birth. When it comes to honor, it is all about placing value on something or someone, and for the most part we have forgotten how to do that. The only time we tend to honor others is during a one-hour service after they die. It is called their funeral, yet then is too late.

Honor, for the most part, is lost in our culture, but should it be lost in the person who believes in God. The Bible flies in the face of our culture. It says that when we as believers are living transformed lives, honor is vital. Honor is a way of life. Honor is something we do daily. Look at Romans 12:10.

It reads “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Who do you love? What do you love? This week honor them; take time to put them above yourself. Take time to show them value.

What do you need to do to honor someone in your life this week?

Don’t wait until it is too late!

Racism

July 3, 2008 in Convictions, Ministry, Teaching with 0 Comments

I am so excited about this coming weekend at Real Church. We are finishing the One Prayer series by joining up with my friend Pastor Clarence Johnson of Joy Christian Center. Our two churches will come together and pray one bold prayer; “Lord, make us colorblind.” This weekend we will talk about Racism, primarily the black and white issue. I am excited about co-teaching with Pastor Clarence and enjoying worship lead by both our worship leaders.

As we have worked together on the service God has been burdening my heart about the need to break down racial barriers within the church. Sunday Mornings are typically the most segregated time slot in our culture. Why is this? Why do these issues still exist and especially within the body of Christ?

Please if you read this comment. Share your opinion on this subject. It is a serious issue affecting many lives. Also if you have been affected by racism in some form, please share your story.

Praying to make a difference…

June 15, 2008 in Convictions, Leadership, Ministry with 0 Comments

Britain’s William Wilberforce, at the end of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth centuries, prayed to make a difference in the lives of slaves and slave owners. His prayer was simple, “May God enable me to have a single eye and simple heart, desiring to please God and to do good to my fellow creatures.” Yet the ability to see slavery outlawed within British Parliament and among England’s financial power brokers would carry with it great sacrifice and personal discomfort.

Nevertheless, for twenty long years William Wilberforce continued to pray and work to stop slavery. William displayed great courage as he worked within parliament and eventually a vote was made that abolished slavery. His work and this vote served as a model for the movement that was to take place in the United States during the nineteenth century. Even though it took an American Civil War, eventually slavery in America was abolished.

As I read about William Wilberforce, it made me wonder; “how many times have I stopped praying and working because the journey to make a difference was long and hard?”

What are you praying about that will make a difference for the Kingdom?

What are you about?

April 14, 2008 in Convictions, Teaching with 0 Comments

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

This passage has stuck in my head over the weekend, let it stick in your head.

To be about the kingdom is to…

pursue righteousness
know peace
live with joy

What are you about? What should you not be about?

Ouch, this one is hard for me.

What am I willing to pay?

March 25, 2008 in Convictions, Leadership, Ministry with 0 Comments

David Livingstone a great missionary that charted pathways through Africa once had a missionary society write him about some people to join the mission he was on. They wrote a letter saying, “We have some people who would like to join you. Do you have some easy access roads to get where you are?” Dr. Livingstone wrote back and said, “If you have men who will come only if there are good roads, I don’t want them. I want men who will come even if there is no road at all.”

Most of the time the good stuff that God is calling us to do requires we cut a new road. The work is hard and the journey is tough. For many the only way they will follow God is if a road is wide open and huge. God’s work most often does not happen that way. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14) The tough question for me on most days is “What am I willing to pay to follow Christ?” Eternal life is a free gift, obedience cost you everything.

Tips (Part 1)

August 22, 2007 in Convictions, Teaching with 0 Comments

Proverbs 1:7 (NLT) “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

Fools are people who are indifferent to the voice and character of God. They follow their own desires, entertain their spirit with selfish ambition, and tickle their own ears with justification and education. Divine guidance becomes visible to those who give their attention to God and hear His voice.

Forget the books, release the professors, and tune out your friends; wisdom starts out with God and God alone.

Hairspray

July 23, 2007 in Convictions, Travel with 0 Comments

On Saturday, Julie and I left Elli with the grandparents and went to the movies. We saw Hairspray. This is an excellent show. It’s a move filled with great music, incredible dancing, humor, and best of all a great message. Hairspray will definitely be the “Grease” of our day.

As I watched Hairspray, it touched a deep root in my heart. The root of integration! Integration of blacks and whites, but also integration of all people (fat, skinny, Hispanic, Asian, etc.). Sad to say, way too often the local church is the most segregated place on earth. Each Sunday, I see church after church filled with people who all look like each other. Most people within a church are of the same race, same social class, and even the same convictions. By the way, convictions are not creeds, they are impressions given by the Holy Spirit for your own personal protection. Never meant to separate the body of Christ! Another blog sometime…

Anyways, my heart beats strong for a day when the local body of Christ is integrated. I believe that as we lay down our convictions and preferences, then start to take up God’s love and His word, we will see a change. Way too often we allow these petty little preferences to cause us to not befriend someone of a different race or background. It is time to change. Go out today and befriend someone different than you!