Don't Procrastinate! Read this now!

Are you familiar with Elisha Gray? Probably not. But I'm sure you've heard of Alexander Graham Bell, the man who invented the telephone. Well, Elisha Gray was a Chicago electrician. He filed a patent application for the telephone two hours after Alexander Graham Bell did. What happened? We really do not know, but the one thing that we do know is that small little two hour delay cost Elisha Gray his life’s legacy.

Sadly I am afraid this is the epitaph and legacy of many people. We live in a fast paced world where many things are coming at us all at once. The truth is that so many things are coming at us we have a difficult time determining what is really important and what is not. We get easily distracted from the smallest task because our attention spans are getting shorter by the year. The end result of all of  this is procrastination. You do know what procrastination is, right? Well for some you will never get around to actually looking the word up so let me define it for you. Procrastination is “the act of willfully delaying taking action of something that should be done.”

The cycle of procrastination usually looks something like this:

Phase 1: “I’ll start early this time.” (We are hopeful and determined)
Phase 2: “I’ve got to start soon.” (A little tension)
Phase 3: “I should have started sooner.” (Creeping guilt)
Phase 4: “There is still time to do it.” (False reassurance)
Phase 5: “What’s wrong with me?” (Getting desperate)
Phase 6: “I can’t wait any longer!” (Intense pain)
Phase 7: “Just get it done!” (Get it over with!)
Phase 8: “Next time, I’ll start earlier.” (The cycle repeats)

Some of you find yourself right in the middle of this cycle today. While the Bible does not use the term “procrastinate” it still speaks to the heart and attitude that causes procrastination. Listen to the words of wisdom from Ecclesiastes 9:10 which says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…(NIV).” Paul said something very similar in Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…It is the Lord Christ you are serving (NIV).”  

Procrastination does tremendous damage to us and others. It causes unnecessary pressure and problems, and it wastes opportunities, time, and money. The problem is that procrastination is addicting! The more you succumb to it, the harder it is to change. It becomes a way of life, causing you a lot of misery and lots of misery for the people who are around you on your job, in your home, or even at your church. So let me help you put yourself out of your procrastination misery by offering you 5 quick suggestions:

First, You must immediately top making excuses! Even you don’t buy into the excuses any more, much less the people around you. You can change! Second, you need to realize that you do not have to be perfect. Perfectionism paralyzes productivity. Third, you have to admit that sometimes you are not perfect and you are afraid. Fear causes much of our procrastination. Sadly, most of the things we are afraid of never even come to fruition. Fourth, keep your focus on the significance of completing tasks in your personal life, on your job, and at home. The result could be great gain in your life. Finally, whatever you have been putting off, regardless of how difficult or hard it may be, get busy and do it now!

So let’s be honest right now with ourselves. What are the two or three things you have purposely been putting off that you know you need to do? Something at work? At home? At church? Do it now with no more excuses!

Happy Easter 2012 from the Empty Tomb in Jerusalem, Israel!

I am Shaken!

The gospel writers tell us a great deal about that first Easter, but Matthew tells us something a little bit different that I believe is significant for our lives. What is significant in his story? It is these words: "Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached [the tomb]. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it" (Matt. 28:2). Easter is an earthquake with a stone rolled away from the tomb and a dead person walking the streets, with an angel sitting on a now useless stone. It was at the least a major shake up. Easter is an earthquake that shook the whole world. It got everyone's attention that first Sunday morning, but has it captured much of your attention?

We allow many stones to seal up our lives and to keep us from being all that God intended us to be. We get our lives sealed up with pride, greed, self-centeredness, blame, guilt, victimization, pain, hurt, and sinful practices. We allow our lives to be sealed off from productive relationships with others around us and from a growing relationship with God. It could all change this Easter for you. The same power that allowed Jesus to rise from the dead is the same power available to your life right now! If you will humble yourself before God, lay out these issues before Him, then He will shake up your life, roll these stones away, and your life will be set free! Easter needs to capture your attention this year!

Let's Connect!

The world in which we live has never been more connected. Companies are spending millions of dollars to lay millions of miles in fiber optic cables and shooting communication satellites into space just to stay connected. People all around the world share information instantly through their connection on the internet. Kids all around the world are texting each other and “tweeting” to each other information in real time on their cell phones- some even in the middle of jungles and deserts. Just today I was sitting in my office talking on my cell phone to a friend who was walking up a path with other Christian leaders in Brazil. In so many ways we are connected to each other instantaneously.

While we seem to be more and more connected all over the world, as a pastor I continually meet people who actually feel more and more disconnected than ever before. They feel completely out of the loop or on the outside of life looking in. Many of these people are disconnected with family members. Some are disconnected from the fellowship of a church. Others are disconnected from friends or a close personal relationship while others are completely disconnected from God. The result of such disconnection in people’s lives is loneliness. Loneliness is becoming a pandemic in America and even right here where we live. Every week I go and make visits in people’s homes, talk to them at public establishments, or receive messages from them and what I continue to discover over and over is that people are lonely.

Did you know God did not create us to be lonely? We are not to be “islands” unto ourselves. In fact in the very beginning of time God said, “It is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18).” Some of you know what I am talking about today because often times you feel like you are the one who is disconnected.

What can we do about the disconnection in our own lives and the disconnection in the lives of others? I learned a practical lesson that helped me with this just a few weeks ago while out of the country speaking at a conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In Brazil their electrical power is on 220 volts while everything in America that we plug in and use is on 110 volts. You cannot plug an 110v appliance into a 220 v plug without some help. What you must have to make everything work properly is a connector. The connector converts 220 volts down to 110 volts. The result is that our American laptops, hairdryers, and phone chargers work properly when plugged through the connector even though they shouldn’t connect at all.

Do you know one of the reasons why God has put us on this earth? We are to be connectors in the lives of people all around us. Without help, some people will never get connected to other people, connected to a church home, or even connected to God. I wonder, what can you do personally to help those who are disconnected get connected this week? Let me make some suggestions: First, you must realize people exist. Start seeing people as being precious and worth your time, effort, and expertise. Second, show people love and kindness. You can do nothing about how they treat you, but you can do something about how you treat them. Show them respect and let them see how their lives have value. Third, intentionally seek to give people some of your time and a listening ear. Fourth, invite people into your life, your small group, or into your church so that they might connect with you and with others. Fifth, show people how they can connect with God in a personal way through Jesus Christ. Finally, pray for people by name that God might use you as a connector.

Do you know what will happen? Even if you feel disconnected, by helping others connect in meaningful ways, you become connected yourself. You do not have to be alone.

Thoughts about Thanksgiving 2011!

It is Fall and our thoughts begin to turn toward the holidays. Recently I was preaching a revival in the northern part of the State when a little boy about 10 years old came up and said, “Hey preacher! Can I ask you a riddle?” I told him to go ahead and he said, “If April showers bring May flowers then what do May flowers bring?” I thought for a few minutes and said, “Well I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?” The little guy laughed and said, “Pilgrims!” You know the little guy was right. The little riddle made my mind race toward Thanksgiving.

Sandwiched somewhere between Halloween and Christmas is this annual Thursday holiday that is becoming more and more miniscule in the minds of people all over our country every year. Rarely do retail stores even acknowledge the occasion and the celebration of Thanksgiving. Sadly, even among God’s people there is very little thought given to Thanksgiving. For many it is a holiday that is nothing more than a day off work, a day for football, a day for eating lots of food, or a day to prepare for “Black Friday” sales.

The first Thanksgiving was a time of gratitude to God, not for His abundant blessings, but simply for survival. Those Pilgrims gathered to thank God for their lives, their health, and the preservation of their families.

A number of years ago Mr. Roger Babson, a famous statistician was having lunch with the President of Argentina. The President asked him, “Mr. Babson I have been wondering whit it is that South America, with all of its natural advantages, mines of iron, copper, coal, and silver, rivers and great waterfalls, is so far behind the progress of North America?” Babson replied, “Well, Mr.  President, what do you think is the reason for the discrepancy?” The President of Argentina thought for a moment and said, “South America was founded by the Spanish who came in search of gold. North America was founded by Pilgrims who went to the new land in search of God. I dare say, sir, that this must be the difference.” I want to encourage you and your family this Thanksgiving to not get in such a rush for Christmas that you forget to stop long enough to search for God and to thank Him for the blessings of your life in the past year. Make sure you are seeking the right things this holiday season and that you are pointing your family toward the things that matter most in this life.

In closing let me share with you a little poem I found that is a funny little Thanksgiving blessing:

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump!
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs! Amen!

Have a great holiday of giving thanks to God!

Get a Piece of Peace!

A man and his wife were eating in a restaurant in LaFayette, Louisiana. They were having an argument on how to actually pronounce the word “LaFayette.” One of them emphasized the first syllable while the other emphasized the second syllable. When the waitress came to the table she was a freshman in college. The man said to her, “Young lady, you are obviously going to school to get an education. My wife and I are having an argument. Will you very slowly tell my wife where we are?” The young college student shrugged her shoulders and said, “Sure!” She looked at the man’s wife and said, “Bur…ger…King!”


I don’t think this couple had much peace, do you? Peace is something I have been thinking a lot about lately. It seems that every where you turn people are calling for peace. However, the peace they are calling for is not the kind of peace we really need. The world’s definition of peace is too limited. To the world, peace is simply the absence of conflict. This understanding of peace is too temporary for us. It is a peace that is based on too many external circumstances and issues. Stress, for example, is a deterrent to our peace. Millions of aspirin are consumed in the US every day. Prescriptions for anti-depressant medication and tranquilizers are at an all time high. The fact is that what we need in our lives is real, lasting peace, not just the absence of conflict.

In the Bible we learn about three kinds of peace that we can experience that is so much more than the peace our world is seeking. First, you can have spiritual peace. In Romans 5:1, Paul says, “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through out Lord Jesus Christ.” When by faith you turn your life over to Jesus, you receive peace with God. This is the starting place and the foundation for all other types of peace. Once you have spiritual peace, other kinds of peace will follow.


The second type of peace you can possess today is emotional peace. Spiritual peace naturally leads to emotional peace. You see, the result of having peace with God is experiencing the peace of God. This type of peace is the internal sense of well-being and contentment that we are all seeking. This is the kind of peace that does not change with life’s ever-changing circumstances. We read in Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since…you were called to peace.” Today, God wants to give you peace for your heart and mind, even if your life seems to be in chaos.

What is the result of spiritual peace and emotional peace? The answer is the third kind of peace you can experience today and that is relational peace. Relational peace means that you have peace with others. We read Paul’s words in Romans 12:18 when he says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Relational peace reduces conflict in our homes, marriages, on the job, with our kids, and with our friends. How desperately we need spiritual, emotional, and relational peace today!

How can you get these things? Jesus told us in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Jesus spoke these words about peace just before going to the cross. The peace He offers you is a gift. You cannot work for it or earn it in any way. You can’t “self-help” yourself into it or get psyched up for it. You receive this peace from Jesus when you receive Jesus and learn to obey and trust in Him each day. There is nothing you are facing today that is too big, too bad, too much trouble, or beyond the Lord’s help to control it, change it, or help you overcome it. Right now the Lord Jesus offers you peace. It is his gift to you. Why not receive it freely?

Join me in the Holy Land February 2012!

Join me for a life-changing adventure in the Holy Land February 21-27, 2012. I am once again leading a tour to Israel to walk where Jesus walked and to see all the sites of our faith. The cost of the trip is $3,450.00 per person which is an all inclusive cost. The price includes our stay at 5 star hotels, all meals. a luxury motorcoach, a full-time guide, all tips, and all entrance fees. You will not even be allowed to carry your own luggage.

We will be seeing sites all around the Sea of Galilee, Caesarea, Tiberias, the Dead Sea, Bethlehem, and throughout Jerusalem. You will walk into the empty tomb, see the sites of the crucifixion, stand on the Mountain where Elijah prayed fire down from heaven, overlook the valley of Armegeddon, put your hands on the place of Jesus' birth, and walk through the towns and villages of Jesus' ministry. 

Space for this trip is limited to the first 30 people who pay their non-refundable deposit of $300.00 per person. Checks are to be written to "Hallmark Holy Land Tour" and may be sent to the following: Hallmark Holy Land Tour, P.O. Box 6, Marion, AR 72364. For more information, email me at clayhallmark@sbcglobal.net or call me at 870-739-3944.