tom hogsedtom hogsed | life from my perspective

Food & Flick

Tom Hogsed — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 11:08:48 +0000

Last week was a very busy one for the people of The Summit Church in Green. While some people were enjoying a day or two off, many of our people were giving up some of their time to prepare and host an event called Food & Flick, which is where we invited our community to a free picnic in the park and a showing of the movie, UP, on a giant screen. Even though the planning stages began several months ago, the culmination came last Monday with an advertising float in the City of Green Memorial Day parade and the actual event occurring on Friday, May 31 at 7:00pm.

The float in the parade was designed to look like a familiar scene from the movie UP and dozens of volunteers surrounded the float in order to pass out candy and movie tickets to those who were watching the parade. Thousands of people lined the streets and it was amazing to see how many of the spectators caught on to the idea of what we were doing by just looking at the float. Several volunteers put a lot of effort into making the float fantastic! A huge thank you to all who were involved in the Memorial Day parade festivities!

Although the weather forecast called for rain on the day of the event, it didn’t stop over two hundred people from coming out to the event and enjoying some free food and then the movie, UP, on a huge inflatable screen. It took dozens of volunteers to make this event a success and I realize that our church could not pull off these types of activities without people who care about our community. Observing parents sitting down with their kids on a blanket watching the movie together did my heart good. It wasn’t just families with kids who attended, but also some older couples who just wanted to enjoy a movie under the stars.

I want to personally thank our leadership team who organized the event and made it look effortless. I also want to thank our volunteers who gave of their time to be involved in the Memorial Day parade and the actual Food & Flick event. Last, I would like to thank all those in our community who attended. We have a wonderful community and we want to show the love of Christ through serving you and providing opportunities for your family to attend safe and fun events.

If you missed out on the events of this past week, please don’t miss out on all the excitement of our next one!

1 Samuel 24:1-22

Tom Hogsed — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:22:02 +0000

God had miraculously protected David, once again, from the angry King Saul who was spending the last part of his life attempting to kill David. It seemed as if Saul had David and his men surrounded (1 Samuel 23:26), but a messenger informed Saul that the Philistines were invading the land (1 Samuel 23:27), which caused the King to return to his land to defend it against his enemies. When David knew that Saul had left the place where he was, he called the location the “Rock of Escape” (1 Samuel 23:28). David and his men departed from the Rock of Escape and hid in the strongholds of En-Gedi (1 Samuel 23:29).

When Saul finished fighting with the Philistines, he was informed that David had retreated into the wilderness of En-Gedi so he took 3,000 of his men in order to take the life of David (24:1-2). During this pursuit of David at En-Gedi, Saul stopped into one of the caves to use the bathroom, but he was not aware the David and his men were hidden far back in that same cave (24:3). David’s men evaluated the situation and encouraged David to take the life of Saul while he was in this vulnerable position but instead of killing him, David secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe (24:4). Even though David’s actions were mild compared to what he could have done, his heart troubled him concerning this matter and he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord” (24:5-6). Saul may have deserved the wrath of David, but he recognized that Saul was the Lord’s anointed king over Israel at this time.

Saul finished using the bathroom and went on his way, so David also departed from the cave (24:7). Instead of trying to resolve the evident conflict between them by fighting, David stepped out of the cave, bowed himself before Saul, and told him to stop listening to those who were saying that David sought to harm him (24:8-9). Dave appearance out of the cave probably startled Saul, but David continued to proclaim his innocence before Saul by telling of his refusal to kill him in the cave (24:10-15). After David finished speaking these words and Saul realized that David had no intention of killing him he said, “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me” (24:17-18). Saul knew that David had shown him good even when he deserved evil. In response to David’s goodness, Saul proclaimed a blessing on him and asked that the Lord would reward David with good because he had spared his life (24:19). Furthermore, this incident caused Saul to finally see that David was in line to be the next king of Israel (24:20). Saul’s recognition of David’s eventual kingship caused him to ask that David would not cut off his descendants after he had gone and David promised that he would not (24:21-22). Saul then departed from En-Gedi and David and his men went into the strongholds.

David’s encounter with Saul is a challenge for Christians to never take matters into their own hands and return evil for evil. Although our human nature desires revenge on those who have wronged us, it is never our place to carry out judgment on our enemies. Refusing to return evil for evil may cause temporary conflict and pain, but we must leave each case of wrongdoing to God’s purposes.

Dear God, responding to evil with evil is so easy, so help me to return good for evil.

My Hidden Lie(s)

Tom Hogsed — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:00:41 +0000

I only needed three items at the store, most importantly, food for our 8 month old puppy, Bella. She was completely out of food so a trip to the store was necessary, unless you believe it is okay to go a day without giving your dog some food. I don’t normally go to Target, but it was on my way home so I thought I would stop in just to purchase the few items. My first indication that this would not be a good idea was the crowded parking lot; however, I suppressed the feelings and ventured inside. The lines did look a little long but I thought that they would open a few more lines by the time I was ready to check out. I grabbed a cart, you know the one that always pulls to the right, and wandered around the store until I found the three items on my list – deodorant, Izze (my wife loves these), and the puppy food. I returned to the checkout area but noticed that it was still pretty busy so I scanned all the lines to see which one looked the shortest. After making a decision, I committed myself to a line. There were only three people in front of me. The cashier checked out the first and second person quickly, but then I noticed the guy in front of me began separating his purchases into three different transactions. I remained calm. When the cashier finished scanning the first transaction, he politely asked if they would like to save 5% by opening a credit card. Their eyes lit up and they agreed that opening a credit card was an opportunity they could not refuse. The cashier politely looked at me and said, “It’s going to be a few minutes.” I smiled back and said, “No problem.” I was lying. I was getting impatient. The people behind me began line jumping which, in my opinion, should be outlawed. Once you’ve committed to a line, you should not be able to depart from it. I was getting restless. Finally, a young cashier came to the rescue and opened up a register right beside our line and said, “I can help the next person.” The people behind me also heard the offer and the race was on. They began pulling their cart in that direction, but I grew up in Charlotte, NC, home of NASCAR and rednecks, so there was no way they were going to check out before me. When they saw that I was serious, they said, “Oh, you only have a few items. You can go in front of us.” WHAT! ”Don’t you even think about giving me permission to go in front of you when it is rightfully my turn!” I didn’t say that, but I sure was thinking it. I just smiled and said, “Are you sure? Thank you so much.” I was lying.

It’s amazing how we disguise what is really in our heart by speaking words we don’t really mean. I believe that is called lying. I guess I have some work to do in this area. How about you?

Unanswered Questions

Tom Hogsed — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:25:30 +0000

Wouldn’t it be great if every circumstance, obstacle, or question had an obvious explanation? The longer I live, the more I realize that lots of things have no human explanation or easy answer. As a Christian I know that the normal response or thought pattern is, “God knows what He is doing.” Don’t get me wrong, I wholeheartedly believe that God knows what He is doing in each and every circumstance; however, it is hard to wrestle with the human side of it. The older I get and the more I see, the more I’m convinced that I will die with more questions, than answers. Am I okay with that? I’m not sure I can answer that with any amount of certainty, but I do know that my soul yearns for something better than this life can offer. I yearn for everything to be put back together…to work the way God intended it to work. As I see the suffering, injustice, and brokenness around me, I long for my friends and family to be redeemed, to be restored, and to know what it means to live without pain and suffering.

Although I have many questions, I must take comfort in the words of Paul in Romans 8, “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us” (Romans 8:18, 23, NLT).

Who Let the Dog Out?

Tom Hogsed — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:28:07 +0000

As I pulled up to the stoplight which was changing from yellow to red, I noticed a little white and brown-spotted dog by himself sitting on the street corner. When the light turned red and I had come to a complete stop, the dog marched across the street as if she had done this a thousand times. Needless to say, I was impressed with the dog’s confidence so I grabbed my phone and snapped a picture of this dog as she crossed the street without incident. Granted, it’s not like the dog was walking a tightrope across a busy street, but it amazed me that she (I’m only assuming it was a female because she was smart) knew when to walk across the street. Although this dog looked liked she knew what she was doing, I do know that it is not safe for dogs to be navigating the real world by themselves. We all understand this. That is why when you see a dog running around by himself you think, “That dog is going to get hit by a car!”

Our minds are programmed to know that certain “things” are not meant to function alone. As a pastor, one of my greatest fears is seeing people try to navigate life alone. God programmed human beings to desire relationships and companionship so that they could love and be loved. Maybe you have kept people at a distance most of your life. You may be having a hard time letting people back in your life after a bad relationship. You may have a fear of trusting others. I will admit that any relationship is a risk; however, the risk is worth it, especially if you let the right people into your life.

Hoping for the Worst

Tom Hogsed — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 20:33:42 +0000

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend my daughter’s spelling bee at her elementary school. She was among the top spellers in her school and the spelling bee is a way to determine the best speller in the school. I arrived right on time only to find a gymnasium packed with the entire school as well as the parents of the ones participating in the spelling bee. I found a seat and felt the anticipation building as they entered the “practice round.” Most of the words were easy and provided an opportunity for the kids to introduce themselves and shake out the nerves. After finishing the practice round, the real competition got under way. I’m not sure what came over me, but I must admit that I kept hoping for each contestant to get hard words so that they would misspell them. I know it wasn’t right, but I couldn’t help pumping my fist when a kid got it wrong. I’m exaggerating. I didn’t literally fist pump, but I kept playing it out in my mind…over and over. Of course, when it was my daughter’s turn, I welled up with pride and hoped that she would get it right. I really did feel guilty for wishing bad on someone else’s child, but I wanted to make sure that my child was the best.

I shrugged this off as competition, but God exposed other areas of my life where I’m rooting against others…hoping for the worst. When did it ever become acceptable to hope for the worst in others so that we can move ahead? I’m certain that this attitude is unacceptable to God. Hoping his new business venture fails. Hoping her new boyfriend dumps her. Hoping he gets what he deserves. Hoping she suffers. Hoping he is humiliated. Hoping that the new church starting down the road from yours fails. Hoping the kid on your son’s team has a bad game. Hoping they have a horrible time on vacation. Hoping they wreck their new car. Hoping your brother or sister experiences pain. You get my point.

Proverbs 24:17 has these words of wisdom, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles….” Failure in another should never bring pleasure to the heart.

Just a Little More…

Tom Hogsed — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:06:42 +0000

I wonder how much effort is spent on attempting to gain what we do not have, rather than being secure in who we are or using what is already at our disposal. We often believe that attaining what we do not have or changing our status will fill a void in our life. So, instead of being content with what we have or who we are, we spend our time in pursuit of change. Although I’m a proponent of change, change does not guarantee joy. Joy is often a result of contentment and does not fluctuate with circumstances. A little more money. A little more love. A little less stress. A little more notoriety. A little more success. A little more certainty. A little more doesn’t always result in contentment.

The apostle Paul knew what it meant to live in contentment. His circumstances were always changing…sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. Here are some words he wrote in the book of Philippians, “…for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13, ESV). The key to being secure in what we have and who we are stems from realizing that our strength to persevere comes from the Lord.

If you are a pastor, more people or more money won’t necessarily bring success. If you are not married, a relationship will not guarantee lasting happiness. If you are unhappy with your job, changing jobs may not be the solution. If you are lacking in an area of your life, overcoming may not be what you thought it would be.

Contentment is possible in this very moment because the foundation for contentment is not in circumstances, but in Christ.

You Got a Problem?

Tom Hogsed — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:43:52 +0000

Everyone has problems. Everyone. I don’t care how confident a person looks or how some families seem to exude perfection, every individual and every family has problems. Some people are just better at covering up their problems. After working as a pastor for 15 years, there are two types of people concerning the problem issue: people who try to act like they don’t have any problems and people who think that they are the only ones with problems. I wish these two groups could meet each other.

For the people who act like they don’t have any problems, stop lying to yourself and others. It’s okay if your kids almost killed (sarcastically speaking) each other before you arrived at church this morning. Why? Because everyone’s kids want to kill each other sometimes. It’s okay if you and your spouse had a fight last night. Why? Because every married couple fights. It’s okay if you made a stupid choice that left you with regret. Why? Because everyone’s story includes bad choices.

For the people who think that they are the only ones with problems, let me be the first to inform you, you are not. Anyone with eyes, a mouth, and two feet (maybe even one foot) can easily find problems; after all, they are human just like you. Whether you see the problems or not, every single individual has problems. You do not have the only black cloud in the universe hanging over your head.

No one enjoys problems, but problems often cause us to abandon ourselves in order to embrace God. I believe that Jesus’ opening statement in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3) is a blessing on those who recognize that they cannot handle life’s problems on their own. I’m not advocating wallowing in your problems, but I’m challenging you to see your problems for what they are…opportunities to move closer to God.

My Puppy, the Conehead

Tom Hogsed — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:52:30 +0000

My dog is currently wearing a cone around her head. I absolutely hate it, although, it is possible that I have always made fun of and laughed at dogs who had to wear unsightly lampshades around their neck. All kidding aside, I do feel sorry for her as I listen to her whining and crying, and I even wonder if she will break her neck attempting to sling it off of her head. Why is she wearing a cone, you ask? Since we have no desire for puppies in our near future (or ever), Leah and I decided that it was time to get our eight-month old maltipom fixed. The neighbor’s Chihuahua has wandering eyes. Following the surgery, we knew that we would have several challenges; however, the biggest challenge was to protect her incision and the stitches which held the incision together. Puppies are not naturally prone to leave their stitches alone. They like to lick and chew, which is not good for an incision. Enter the e-collar or the “lampshade, as I like to call it. This cone is used to restrict the dog’s access to the incision, which is necessary for proper healing. Although I hate restricting my puppy, I know I am guarding her from causing herself further harm. She doesn’t understand it, but I do.

No one likes being restricted, but limitations often guard us from potential danger. The book of Proverbs provides some great wisdom concerning foreseeable hazards, “The prudent [someone who shows thought for the future] sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it” (Proverbs 27:12, ESV). Is there a choice or decision in your future that may result in an undesirable outcome? Instead of allowing yourself to continue on a path that leads to regret, limit yourself.

Think ahead to what might happen rather than regretting what did.

Clark Griswold, My Neighbor

Tom Hogsed — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 02:09:18 +0000

Clark Griswold is not really my neighbor, but there are several people in our neighborhood who have crazy good light displays for Christmas and they remind me of Clark Griswold. The guy directly across the street from me has fantastic decorations and I estimate that probably 50 or more cars drive by his house every night to see them. No one ever stops by our house to see the pretty lights because we don’t have any. Before you accuse me of being Ebenezer Scrooge or the Grinch, let me explain. Although I love to decorate the inside of our house, I am not the gifted type for exterior decorations…and I am 95% confident that decorating the outside of my house would end with me burning it down! However, just because I am not gifted like Clark Griswold, doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy his house decorations.

Having been involved in church ministry my entire life, I think everyone should learn to enjoy, not envy, the gifts they do not possess. God has gifted people in unique ways and equips the body of Christ with various gifts so that the church can function properly. The same could be said for local churches. The church down the street may be recognized for doing something unique in your community so instead of being envious of their gift, enjoy it; after all, we are on the same team. God did not intend for His body to compete against itself.