The State of Georgia executed Carlton Gary last night. In 1986 I was juror #5 that convicted and sentenced Carlton to death. Based upon the evidence presented to me at trial, I was certain of his guilt. In the early 2000s I was prompted by the news of so many death row inmates being exonerated due to new DNA evidence that I did a year-long study (theological, economical, political, and legal) of the death penalty. Based on the intrinsic flaws that are found in it and upon the massive amounts of money it takes to keep a person on death row, I changed my mind about the death penalty and no longer support it. In recent months I was contacted by Carlton’s lawyers and a film crew. They presented me with COMPELLING and SUBSTANTIAL new evidence that was withheld from the jury on which I served. It included, among other significant things, the contradiction of an “eye-witness” and DNA evidence. In these months I’ve done what I could to overturn Carlton’s death sentence; even testifying before the Georgia State Pardons and Parole Board last Wednesday. They executed Carlton last night at 10:33pm. Along with others, Melissa and I stood vigil at the prison…it was the least I could do for Carlton. I grieve both for Carlton AND for the families of the victims. Thanks to my wife, Melissa, for standing with me through this and to close friends (even those who support the death penalty) who have prayed for me and journeyed with me through this process. It’s a burden I shall carry for awhile. Thank you for allowing me to share this with you.
ALL human life matters.
CARLTON GARY
•March 16, 2018 • Leave a CommentI’m not a very “good” Christian (apparently)…
•January 10, 2018 • Leave a CommentBy American Christian standards, I must not be a good Christian…
I don’t like most of the Christian music on my local Christian radio station,
I don’t like most of the Christian bric-a-brac found in Christian book stores (heck, I don’t like many of the Christian BOOKS found in Christian bookstores),
I don’t tend to be a big fan of most of the popular “preachers” these days,
I don’t believe Jesus belongs to a particular political party,
I don’t believe in “blood moons”,
I don’t believe the Bible teaches that I am to be wealthy and healthy all the time,
I don’t don’t believe the earth is young (I believe it’s very old),
I don’t believe anyone should be forced to pray (or say “Merry Christmas” for that matter),
I don’t believe David Wilkerson got THE PRAYER OF JABEZ right,
I don’t believe I will ever read any of the LEFT BEHIND books (in fact, I’m confident that I will never read any of them),
I don’t believe THE SHACK makes our understanding of God more clear,
I don’t believe that any one sin sends a person to hell (being a sinner period does that…and we’re all sinners),
I don’t believe God cares one way or another if I have a tattoo,
I don’t believe that there are any rituals, liturgies, lifestyles, or good works that I have to adopt or practice to “please” God.
However,
I do believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Romans 1:4),
I do believe that there is absolutely NOTHING I can contribute to my salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9),
I do believe that God is loving…and just (1 John 4:8, Romans 3:25-26),
I do believe that Jesus Christ paid for my salvation in full at the Cross (John 19:30) and in so doing Jesus satisfied God’s just demands that were upon me and released me from the indictment of, and punishment of, and slavery to the Law (Romans 8:2, Galatians 3:13),
I do believe that there is only one Mediator between God and me … and it’s Jesus, not a Pope or a priest (1 Timothy 2:5),
I do believe that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13),
I do believe that the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in me (Romans 8:11)
I do believe that the Bible is the divinely inspired, inerrant word of God to us…it is total and complete and I am in no need of any further “visions”, “prophecies”, and/or “revelations” from any modern-day “prophets” or “apostles” (Hebrews 1:2, 2 Peter 1:21),
I do believe that not every one who uses the name of Jesus (especially on religious TV) is going to heaven (Matthew 7:21),
I do believe that verse-by-verse exegetical preaching is the best way to build Christian disciples (although it’s not the most popular way),
And I do believe there are many more reasons I’m not a “good” Christian in many American religious folks’ eyes.
Grace wins.
•January 3, 2017 • Leave a Comment
20 years ago my life as a person and a pastor fell apart because of some bad decisions I made. I was abandoned by most of the “Christians” I knew and kicked to the side. There was absolutely only one “preacher friend” who reached out to me. I’m slow to say that … but’s it’s the truth. I became a prodigal son. I literally told God to leave me alone. And for years I left him alone and pursued my own path.
But grace wins
God’s grace is like a hound from heaven that never gives up on prodigals. He pursued me during my worst years and eventually brought me back to himself.
And grace wins.
He brought me back into pastoral ministry (albeit, with some kicking and screaming on my part!) He allowed me to once again pastor a wonderful congregation that has been patient with my journey.
And grace wins.
This Sunday, January 8, Watermark Church will launch the grand opening of its new 18,000 square foot building. It will be home to a congregation that does not judge or condemn people; a congregation that accepts people AS they are and WHERE they are; a congregation that confesses its imperfections and seeks God’s grace for them; a congregation that is not “religious” but is in a relationship with Jesus Christ; a congregation that is absolutely baptized in the grace of God; a congregation whose standards are so low…they let ME be their pastor!
Grace wins.
And, yes, the title of my message this coming Sunday is GRACE WINS. Because it does.
Worship with us if you will. Sundays @ 10:30am.
God delights in you.
•November 7, 2016 • Leave a CommentThe Old Testament prophet Zephaniah proclaimed “The Lord is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
Zephaniah says 1) God is with you – that’s presence, 2) God is mighty to save you – that’s power, 3) God takes delight in you – that’s pleasure 4) God quiets you with his love – that’s peace, and 5) God rejoices over you with singing – that’s proof!
If God’s speaking voice created universes, imagine what his singing voice can do! And he sings over his children.
But you say, “I’m too guilty”. Verse 15 says God has taken away your punishment.
But you say, “I am surrounded by my enemies”. Verses 15, 17, & 19 say God has cast out your enemies.
But you say, “God feels far away”. Verse 15 & 17 say God is in your midst.
But you say, “I am enslaved to shame”. Verses 11 & 19 say you are no longer put to shame.
But you say, “I feel disconnected and homeless”. Verses 20 says that God will bring you home.
You just need to face it and accept the fact that God not only loves you – he delights in you. You’ve not gone too far, stayed too long, or sinned too much to exceed his love, mercy, and grace.
Think about that.
Biblical faith
•November 3, 2016 • Leave a CommentBiblical faith is not about living a moral life … that’s RELIGION.
Biblical faith is not about living the good life … that’s CAPITALISM.
Bbilical faith is not about becoming a better you … that’s SELF-HELP.
Biblical faith is about living the God-life … that’s ABUNDANT LIFE.
Should I “Halloween”?
•October 31, 2016 • Leave a CommentShould I “Halloween”? Many Christians immediately say “absolutely not”. They tell horrific stories of Satanists sacrificing babies on Halloween (although to my knowledge we’ve never been able to actually document that) or of how we shouldn’t promote the devil, etc. Churches (bless our hearts) have tried to soften the blow with Hallelujah Festivals, Harvest Festivals, Trunk O’ Treats, or by ignoring Halloween altogether.
I can’t help but wonder why so many Christians are so scared of the devil. They look for him behind every bush and in every rock and roll lyric. Be assured, I believe in a personal devil. I also believe that Jesus bashed out his brains at the Cross and rubbed his face in it at the Resurrection. We Christians have heard the sound of a stone rolling away. We have seen death die. We have confirmed that Satan has been defeated by a carpenter from Nazareth…who is also the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
Halloween can be fun it you let it. If you don’t get bogged down in Druid this and Satanic that. It’s a time to LAUGH at defeated demons, MOCK at a powerless DEVIL, and PAT death on the head like the stuffed trophy kill it is.
It is we Christians who should laugh the loudest and dance the hardest at Halloween. Through Christ, our strong and sufficient Redeemer, we have been delivered from the one who steals, kills, and destroys.
Additionally, October 31 is also Reformation Day. You can read about it here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation_Day. It is a celebration of the Protestant Reformation in which we, um, Protestants, celebrate our divorce from works-based Christianity (which is no Christianity at all) found in Roman Catholicism and our return to grace-based Christianity that is found in the Gospel of Christ. It seems Halloween and Reformation Day can compliment each other.
Jesus is Lord. Satan is defeated. Death has died. So, “Halloween” it up!
“But I don’t like to read.”
•October 24, 2016 • Leave a Comment“But I don’t like to read.” This is the favorite excuse of lazy Christians who don’t read the Bible. Interesting. It’s also interesting how many Christians who don’t read the Bible … have so many theological opinions! I always want to ask them, “What’s your source?”
One reason we have so much “weirdness” in Christianity is because so many Christians don’t read their Bibles and interpret what they read correctly.
When Joshua was about to enter Canaan, God told him to read his Bible. You will find that story in the Old Testament book of Joshua (of course, you’ll have to read the Bible to get it!). God told Joshua to “meditate” and “do according to all that is written” (1:7-8). Joshua had a Bible … it was Genesis through Deuteronomy …. and God told him to read it.
God didn’t command Joshua to …
seek a spiritual experience,
pursue a personal “revelation”,
or engage in goose bumps-giving emotional worship.
God’s word to Joshua is his same word to us today: OPEN YOUR BIBLE.
On turning 54…
•October 11, 2016 • 1 CommentI turn 54 years old today. Some things I’ve learned…
I’m a bigger sinner than I ever thought I was but God’s grace is more than enough to cover it.
I’m broken in more ways than I can imagine but Jesus loves me anyway.
I don’t like the gray hair that’s coming in but somehow it’s a trophy for battles fought, scars attained, pain endured, and lessons learned.
It’s not the quantity of your friends…it’s the quality of your friends…that counts.
People need less condemnation and more compassion.
I’m sure there’s more but that’s it for now.
Lost
•October 7, 2016 • Leave a CommentThe Bible describes people outside of Christ as blind, lost, dead. These are not condemning terms. It’s just the way Scripture uses metaphor to describe life without Christ. Christians are never to use these terms in derision, condemnation, or in an “us vs. them” manner. We have ALL been “lost”.
The good news is JESUS LOVES LOST PEOPLE. Jesus told three stories (Luke 15) about things that were lost. A lost sheep; a lost coin; a lost son. In each story…
- Something of value is lost. Be it the sheep, the coin, or the son.
- The owner goes to great lengths to find the lost thing.
- When the lost thing is found … a great party is thrown.
We are the sheep, the coin, and the son. Jesus is the Shepherd who finds the lost sheep, the woman who finds the lost coin, and the Father who embraces the lost son.
We don’t “find” Jesus. Jesus finds us. We are the ones who are lost.
And when he finds us, he brings us home … where he throws an outrageous party for us.
I once was lost … but now I’m found.
We need deeper preaching.
•September 30, 2016 • Leave a CommentDeep preaching flows from a life that has been deepened by pain, suffering, failure, repentance, and a persistent cry for God’s mercy. You can’t get to depth by taking a homiletics class, crafting amazing outlines, finding killer illustrations…or dressing “cool”. Deep preaching flows from a heart wrecked by the realization of one’s own sinfulness and suffering, and a heart shaped by God’s stubborn grace.
jackpickel 