I am slowly – and, I hope, surely – reconciling myself to the reality of Charlotte traffic. It hasn’t been easy. Nothing I was taught in driver’s ed ever prepared me to make a left turn off of Colony Road onto Carmel Road at 4:30 in the afternoon. At some point, I’m learning, the Steve Winwood philosophy of the road has to kick in: While you see a chance, take it—and then, hang on and hope for the best. Here’s the thing, though: All those cars on the road represent a whole bunch of priorities. People are willing to get out and brave the traffic because they believe there’s something important waiting for them on the other end of that drive. Maybe it’s a job, or another day of school, or a doctor’s appointment. It could be a child’s practice, lesson, or game. Perhaps it’s a workout at the gym, a quick trip to the grocery, or a cup of coffee with a friend. Whatever it is, it’s important – important enough, at least, to make a drive through the busy intersections of south Charlotte seem like a reasonable price to pay. Priorities have a way of doing that – driving us forward when it would be a lot easier, cheaper, safer, and more restful to stay put. If it’s important to us, then we make the time. If it’s important to us, then we find the money. If it’s important to us, then we take the risk. If it’s important to us, then we endure the hassle because, in the end, we’re convinced that what we’re headed toward is worth it. We know about priorities. We make choices every day based on them. Each time we get into the car and pull out of the driveway we are, in a sense, revealing something about our priorities. We’re also, Jesus suggests, revealing something about our hearts. “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth,” he tells us in Matthew 6:19, because none of it will last. What doesn’t get all rusty and moth-eaten, is liable to get stolen or misplaced. Investing our treasures – whether we’re talking about the days of our lives, our God-given talents, or our hard-earned dollars – in short-term securities is a poor strategy for kingdom growth. Instead, says Jesus, “Store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven” where neither rust, nor moth, nor thief can destroy what is of greatest importance to you. “For where your treasure is,” we’re told in Matthew 6:21, “there your heart will be also.” In other words, how we use our time, talent, and money reveals something about our hearts—and, often, it’s something we’re probably not very proud of. I know that’s frequently the case for me. We don’t have to stay this way, though. God can – God wants to – change us into people whose hearts are in the right place because our priorities are in the right order. When we finally let Jesus have his way with us, this kind of transformation is precisely what we can expect to happen. Will it be easy? No. Nothing that’s truly worth doing ever is. But, now is the time to start. Throughout the month of October, our Stewardship Team is inviting us to turn our priorities, and the decisions we make about how we will use our treasures, over to the Lord. If we do this, and are serious about following as Jesus leads us, then I suspect that, the ways we spend our time, talent, and money will indeed begin to change. More importantly, however, our hearts will, at last, arrive at that gracious, generous place where God intended them to be all along. May the peace of Christ be with you! Lee
Lee Canipe
About author
Dr. Christopher “Lee” Canipe was born in Winston-Salem, NC and attended Davidson College where he graduated with honors in History. After earning master’s degrees in History at the University of Virginia and Counseling at Wake Forest University, he felt a calling to the ministry. He pursued his theological education at Duke University where he graduated with his Master of Divinity, summa cum laude. At Duke, he earned the Interpretation Award for Excellence in Biblical and Theological Study.
While working on his degree he also served as youth minister at Watts Street Baptist Church in Durham. After graduation, he worked as a pastoral assistant at First Baptist Church of Savannah, GA. From there he spent a year as a Global Service Corps missionary to Russia. Upon his return to the States, Lee continued his theological education at Baylor University where he earned his Doctor of Philosophy from the J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies.
Most recently, Lee was awarded an Oxford Foundation Fellowship for independent postdoctoral study at Oxford University in Great Britain. Upon graduation, Lee and his wife Hilary, a primary care physician, were called to serve Murfreesboro Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, NC as senior pastor. Here he has faithfully served for the last 12 years. During his time in Murfreesboro, Lee has led his congregation in a strategic reflection process, two capital campaigns, greater community involvement through service partnerships and other events, and the development of an international missions relationship with a French-Canadian Baptist Church in Quebec.
Lee has also been an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Chowan University for the last 10 years. He has authored two books, “Loyal Dissenters; Reading Scripture and Talking Freedom with the Early English Baptists,” and “A Baptist Democracy: Separating God and Caesar in the Land of the Free,” as well as numerous journal articles and book reviews. He has also written Sunday School and Bible Study materials for Smyth & Helwys.
Lee has been an important part of the Baptist community and his local community. He has strong ties to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship as he served on its Coordinating Council for several years. Lee has also served on the board of Ridgecroft School (Ahoskie, NC), and the Board of Ministers at Chowan University and Campbell University. Lee has been an active volunteer in his community through his involvement with Rotary International as well as coaching numerous athletic teams. His contributions to the community have been recognized through several different awards: Rotarian of the Year, the Chowan Athletics Service Award, and the Sammy Doughtie Community Service Award (given by the Chamber of Commerce).
Lee and Hilary have three children: Helen (14), Watson (12), and Peter (9). His interests include running, travel, reading (especially American history), and college basketball.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, History (Honors) – Davidson College
Master of Arts, History – University of Virginia
Master of Arts in Education, (Counseling) – Wake Forest University
Master of Divinity (summa cum laude) – Duke University
Doctor of Philosophy – Baylor University
While working on his degree he also served as youth minister at Watts Street Baptist Church in Durham. After graduation, he worked as a pastoral assistant at First Baptist Church of Savannah, GA. From there he spent a year as a Global Service Corps missionary to Russia. Upon his return to the States, Lee continued his theological education at Baylor University where he earned his Doctor of Philosophy from the J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies.
Most recently, Lee was awarded an Oxford Foundation Fellowship for independent postdoctoral study at Oxford University in Great Britain. Upon graduation, Lee and his wife Hilary, a primary care physician, were called to serve Murfreesboro Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, NC as senior pastor. Here he has faithfully served for the last 12 years. During his time in Murfreesboro, Lee has led his congregation in a strategic reflection process, two capital campaigns, greater community involvement through service partnerships and other events, and the development of an international missions relationship with a French-Canadian Baptist Church in Quebec.
Lee has also been an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Chowan University for the last 10 years. He has authored two books, “Loyal Dissenters; Reading Scripture and Talking Freedom with the Early English Baptists,” and “A Baptist Democracy: Separating God and Caesar in the Land of the Free,” as well as numerous journal articles and book reviews. He has also written Sunday School and Bible Study materials for Smyth & Helwys.
Lee has been an important part of the Baptist community and his local community. He has strong ties to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship as he served on its Coordinating Council for several years. Lee has also served on the board of Ridgecroft School (Ahoskie, NC), and the Board of Ministers at Chowan University and Campbell University. Lee has been an active volunteer in his community through his involvement with Rotary International as well as coaching numerous athletic teams. His contributions to the community have been recognized through several different awards: Rotarian of the Year, the Chowan Athletics Service Award, and the Sammy Doughtie Community Service Award (given by the Chamber of Commerce).
Lee and Hilary have three children: Helen (14), Watson (12), and Peter (9). His interests include running, travel, reading (especially American history), and college basketball.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, History (Honors) – Davidson College
Master of Arts, History – University of Virginia
Master of Arts in Education, (Counseling) – Wake Forest University
Master of Divinity (summa cum laude) – Duke University
Doctor of Philosophy – Baylor University