Faith to Do Great Things

"All God's giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on Him being with them."
~ J. Hudson Taylor, Missionary to China

The Characters of Christmas

I've often wondered about some of the characters who played a part in the Christmas story. While the Scriptures make only passing mention, they were real people living real lives every day. How did their part in the story alter their lives ... or did it?

Think of the innkeeper there in Bethlehem. Did he ever come to realize who it was that he turned away? Did he live with regret? Surely he could have found a little bit of space somewhere. His own room perhaps? But no, there was nothing available for a young couple in crisis. The Son of God had to be born in a stable.

The shepherds are an interesting lot. They were loners who had long since lost the good reputation they had enjoyed in David's day. Yet it was to them the angels revealed Jesus' birth. What might their lives have been like after that miraculous night? Did they think about it often in the years that followed?

Then there was Joseph. We just don't know much of this man who played such a role in the life of Jesus. He was there. I imagine he was scared. I would have been. Who was this young girl giving birth? Who's baby was it ... really? He knew her story. He'd had a visit from an angel himself assuring him that it was alright. But that night, it all became so very real for him. Too real. What would the rest of his days bring as he guided God's very own Son through this life?

Each and every one of us is given insights and opportunities in this life. They are God-given opportunities to play our part in the Divine plan. It may be as big as preaching the gospel to multitudes or as small as making room for someone in need. It may be as simple as worshiping the One who's birth we celebrate. Whatever part God has ordained for you to play, I encourage you this Christmas: Don't hesitate. Dive in. Be willing to lose yourself in that thing God has called you to. There you'll find your fulfillment. You'll find your peace, and joy and strength. There you'll find all of Him waiting for you.

Just Wondering ...

I'm just sitting here wondering ...

If a synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest have to drown, too?

TAGGED!

My daughter, Sheila, tagged me via her blog to play one of her silly little reindeer games called, "Holiday Hoopla." I'm supposed to list "12 random things about myself that have to do with Christmas." So here goes:

1. I love Christmas cookies.
2. I want nothing more for Christmas than my family all gathered together loving each other and laughing out loud.
3. This is my first Christmas as a grandpa and I'm totally excited about it.
4. I love Christmas cookies.
5. Christmas decorations make me happy. I love the tree, the lights, wrapping paper, snowmen ... all of it!
6. I really love Christmas cookies.
7. It really is more blessed to give than to receive.
8. My girls used to call me "Mr. Christmas" because of all the lights and decorations I put up outside when they were little.
9. Did I mention that I really love Christmas cookies?
10. I look forward to those quiet moments with just the light from the Christmas tree ... time to ponder the wonder of it all and to reflect on God's goodness.
11. This year I'll be preaching an unusual message at the prison for Christmas from 2 Kings 11:1-3. In 2 Kings 11, wicked Athalia assumed the throne in Judah. She was not a descendent of David and she tried to kill all of David's line. But Jehosheba, King Ahaziah's sister, hid baby Joash in the Temple for six years, thus preserving the Davidic line and God's Messianic Promise. The message: God always brings His plan to pass.
12. I really love all kinds of Christmas cookies and could live on them from December 1st through Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas to all!

Playing 'D'

My friend Aaron and his wife had their third baby recently; their third baby boy. I asked Aaron this weekend how they were adjusting to having three little ones. He answered, "It's been like changing defenses in basketball. We've gone from being able to play man-to-man to having to play zone defense. And now there's always someone open."

I've been laughing about that all weekend.

Can't Wait 'Til Christmas!

The Busiest Week of the Year

It's Wednesday of the busiest week of the year for the ministry at Charlotte Correctional Center. Special programs are scheduled for tonight and tomorrow night. Preparation is ongoing for one our biggest events annually, the Angel Tree Christmas Party to be held Saturday during the inmates' weekly visitation with their families. This will be the eleventh year we've held this event. We will feed nearly four hundred people and provide Christmas gifts for about one hundred twenty children. For many of them, this will be the only Christmas they get as their families struggle during their daddy's incarceration.
All of this means I am running in every direction at once, wearing many hats, and trying to keep it all organized and headed in the same direction. But I really don't mind. Not if we accomplish our purpose this week. Actually, it's a two-fold purpose:

• We want to lift up Jesus for all to see. He really is the reason we do all that we do here. This week is about pointing the inmates and their families to the Savior, plain and simple. No game-playing or pretense. It's all about Him.
• We want daddies to begin to think and act like daddies. Take responsibility. Realize that their children desperately need them to be clean and sober and at home to provide for them and to love them instead of being locked-up.

If a plate of food and a few gifts can help to accomplish that, well then all of the running around, and buying, and organizing, and just plain hard work will be worth it, won't it?

If you think of it, pray for us this week.

A Brutally Honest God

Typically when we read the Christmas story through Matthew's eyes, we begin with these words:
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: ..."

But that's verse 18 in Matthew 1. There are seventeen verse that most of us tend to skip to get to the birth. They are verses filled with "so-and-so begat so-and-so" and so on and so forth. Many of the names are difficult to pronounce. It's the geneology of Christ.

In these verse you'll find the names of some of the real stalwards of the Scriptures. Men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Boaz, and Jesse. But there are other names, too. Names that most wouldn't want associated with their own. Here are a few:

• "Judah begat Perez and Zerah by Tamar" - Tamar was Judah's daughter-in-law. You see, old Judah was a pretty despicable fellow who slept with what he thought was a prostitute while on a business trip. It turned out to be his daughter-in-law who had conspired to deceive him because he had lied to her.
• "Salmon begat Boaz by Rahab" - You remember Rahab, don't you? She wasn't even an Israelite; she was a descendent of the people of Canaan. And she was a prostitute.
• "David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urriah" - Ouch! The biggest mistake in David's life. A scandalous affair in the king's house. Adultery. Murder. And here it is, a glaring reminder of David's treachery.

What's my point? Simply this: The story of Jesus Christ is our story. The family tree is filled with less than reputable folks who'd lived life in the fast lane. Not the kind you'd expect to find at a church social. Yet God included them in the story of His Son. They weren't banished to the obscurity of the Old Testament with the hope that they'd be overlooked or forgotten. They're there in the Savior's story for all to see.

And they look like us.

A Great Savior

"Is it any wonder that to this day this Galilean is too much for our small hearts."
~ H.G. Wells, Outline of History

The Christmas Tree

Yesterday Sharon and I bought our Christmas tree.

Going to get the tree as a family used to be an annual production worthy of Oscar consideration. We'd bundle up the girls and head out to find the perfect Frazier Fur to adorn our season of celebration. Of course, with five people there were typically five differing opinions. I like a big tree. I mean B-I-G! Sharon usually went for the Charlie Brown variety. You remember? The spindly little tree that no one else wanted. Then there were the three girls all intent on finding the ideal centerpiece for our Christmas. And all having different ideas of just what we should look for in our tree.
For a number of years we went to cut our own tree. That meant trying to keep everyone together and focused as we trudged over acres and acres of trees of a variety of shapes and sizes. Once the perfect tree was located there was always the obligatory picture of the family standing around it as I prepared to cut it down. We'd smooth over any hurt feeling ("Why didn't we get that tree? Why does she always get to choose?") with hot chocolate while I tied our prize to the top of the car for the trip home. It was at least a half-day affair filled with a mix of enough comedy and drama to fill our whole year.

All of that is gone now. Fifteen minutes in Lowe's Garden Center and we were stuffing the tree in the back of the car.
I miss those old days.

Monumental Cluelessness

Here's a real case of "We're Clueless" for you.

All I Want Is A Cookie

As has become traditional in our celebration of Christmas, Sharon has been busy baking all sorts of delightful Christmas goodies. They're incredible ... I think. As is also traditional, her baked goods are given as gifts. For years the recipients have looked forward to receiving a plate of her sweet concoctions. This year is no exception.

But it seems it is also an annual tradition to give away cookies to friends, neighbors, coworkers, and loved ones, all while I am denied even a sampling. Not a single crumb for me. Not until Sharon deems it the appropriate time. And that's usually not until a few days before Christmas. Not until everyone else has already partaken. This is one of the few real frustrations I have to deal with at this glorious time of year.

All I want is a cookie ... or three.

Listening to Christmas Music

I've got Christmas music playing in my office and I just heard the song "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" sung by the group Barenaked Ladies.

I just got a mental picture and it struck me as really wierd.

Happy Christmas

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!"
~ Charles Dickens

Following in His Father's Footsteps

An inmate came to my office last night to introduce himself to me. He said, "Chaplain, my dad told me to be sure and meet you. He said you would help me while I'm here and I should get to know you." Wondering if this young man was being real or just "running game" to try to get something from me, (chaplains deal with such manipulative games daily,) I asked, "Who's your dad?"
As soon as he told me who his dad was it struck me: I should have known. He looks exactly like his dad. He's taller, but has the same facial features. Same smile. He even sounds like him. This young man's dad was an inmate here for nearly three years and was released from prison earlier this year. I know his dad well. I baptized his dad and watched the Lord transform his life.
As we chatted, I asked how his dad was doing. His response was encouraging. He said, "My dad ain't the same man anymore. He's changed so much. It's amazing." That blessed me. Then it was count time; time for him to go.

After he left to go back to the block, I sat in the quiet and thought about him, and his dad, and the insanity of the whole thing. A father's life wasted in and out of prison. A son following in his footsteps. It was a bit depressing as I thought about the futility of such lives.
Then I remembered that smile that I'd seen so often over the past few years as we studied the Scriptures and prayed and worshiped together. Surely if He's done it in the life of the father, He'll do it in the life of the son, too.
The work goes on.

The Urgency of the Advent Season

What an incredible time of year we've entered into. Advent. A time of waiting. An air of expectancy. You can sense the wonderment and excitement almost everywhere you go. I love this time of year as I look forward to celebrating this Messiah who came in a most unexpected way. I'm still amazed at the way God chose to send His Redeemer into the world to save us from our sins. A baby boy born to poor people in an obscure middle eastern village and revealed to lowly shepherds.

But I have a challenge at this time of year as well. One of the most difficult things I'm called upon to do as a prison chaplain is to somehow engage the inmate population at this time of year. Imagine being locked-up for Christmas. Away from family and loved ones. Stuck in the mundane prison routine that never changes. Not even to honor the Savior.
I feel an urgency in my soul at this time of year. I want my preaching to ignite that expectancy and excitement in someone's life. I want the message of Messiah - the One who came to save the least, the lowest, and the lost - to become more real for those I minister to than it's ever been before. Much like the people of Israel, we've stumbled around in the dark our whole lives. We've stubbed out toes and run into walls. We've made wrong turns and fallen down more times that most of us care to admit.
I think the very best thing you can give to someone stuck in darkness is Light.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
~ Isaiah 9:2

Enough Already

A news story last evening was asking Santa Claus to slim down. It seems there is concern that Santa's weight may encourage obesity. Then this morning a story asking that Santa say "HaHaHa" instead of "HoHoHo". And say it in a nicer way so as not to scare little children.

Hey people! Get a grip! Tis the season to check your political correctness at the door. Leave the Santa Man alone.

From Death (Row) to Life

I had dinner last night before our service with a dear friend and former inmate. Butch served about 30 years in prison starting on death row in the 70's. His only reprieve then was a Supreme Court decision to banish the death sentence, thus commuting his sentence to life in prison. I first got to know him eight or nine years ago at Charlotte Correctional Center. At that time he was the hardest convict in the penitentiary. Gambling, numbers, loan sharking - he had a hand in all of it. "Watch out for crazy old Butch" they'd say, "He runs this place." Who better for a chaplain to get to know, right?

Scrabble. That was Butch's entertainment. I wasn't very good. At first. He beat me unmercifully every day, sometimes twice a day, for months. But slowly I got better. And everyday, as we played, we talked. As we talked, his heart softened. We talked about everything - sports, his life, my family and ministry, the gospel. Then it happened. One evening, during the church service, I saw Butch slide into a seat in the back of the chapel. He listened intently and when the invitation came he shot to the altar to say yes to Jesus Christ in his life. His transformation was so radical it was noticed by everyone. Correctional officers noticed. Inmates noticed. Even the prison superintendent noticed. He called me to his office one day a few months later to ask, "What's going on with Butch? He's not acting the same." He gave up all of the gambling and other illegal activities and began a real, vibrant walk with the Lord. He once told me that getting saved beat him out of about $500 per week he was making in illegal activities on the prison yard.

Butch has been out of prison for about six months now. That in itself is a miracle. He's married now to a wonderful, godly woman. He goes to work everyday on a job where he is highly thought of by his employer and respected by coworkers. He's in church every time the doors are open.
As we enjoyed dinner together last night we talked about all of that. He said something that struck me, something I won't just dismiss. He said, "Chap, I was on death row with an execution date set. God spared me. He kept me through all those years in prison, and He saved me. I don't deserve any of it, but I know He has a reason for it all. I just want to serve Him with the time I have left."

I'm so proud of Butch. He inspires me to keep going on in the work of the Lord in this dark place. He also humbles me. The Lord has made such a change in his life. He has great faith. I really think the student has surpassed the teacher in so many ways.

Oh yeah. I finally did get good enough to beat him fairly regularly in Scrabble, too.

'Church Light' Doesn't Work

Let me finish my rant from yesterday concerning the 'seeker friendly' and 'emerging church' movements. What's important, according to Jesus' repeated admonitions in the gospels, is the making of disciples. It's not just drawing a crowd. Now there is hard evidence that 'church light' ain't working to further the making of disciples in the Kingdom of God.
Willow Creek Community Church, the grandaddy of the 'seeker sensitive' movement, has admitted in a very forthright assessment of their congregation that they have failed the disciple-making test. While they've had sky rocketing attendance and lots of involvement in church programs for years, many who count themselves members of Willow Creek find themselves stunted in their spiritual growth, lagging in their walk with Christ, and increasingly frustrated with a church that lacks depth in it's teaching and preaching. In fact, one fourth of all adults in this mega-church said they were seriously dissatified and considering leaving the church.

I guess the message here ought to be clear enough: There is no revolutionary new, or easy way to make a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Theology and doctrine are critical. And taking up a cross, and denying one's self are part of the equation as well. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatian Church the following (Galatians 2:20):
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it's no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me."

Somehow I doubt this verse gets discussed much around the cappucino maker in the lobby of 'church light'.

Doing 'Church Light' - A Cause for Concern

"There is a way which seems right unto a man, but it's end is the way of death."
~ Proverbs 14:12

Over the past twenty years or so, there has been a subtle, yet radical shift in the approach of many within the body of Christ to "doing church". We've seen the 'seeker-sensitive' church model followed closely by, and closely related to, the 'emerging church' model. These congregations are springing up at an alarming rate. They meet in movie theaters, school auditoriums, and even local coffee shops and restaurants. Just last week as I drove near my home in Charlotte, I noticed sandwich board signs posted along the road for six different "new and exciting" places of worship within just a few miles. For many of these, the old ways have been cast aside in the interest of "meeting people where they are", thus the term 'seeker-sensitive'. In practical terms, this has come to mean the following:

• Traditional, expository preaching emphasizing theology and doctrine have been replaced with topical preaching that is meant to address the 'felt needs' of the listener.
• Worship is centered around the audiences' experience and pleasure rather than the glory and majesty of God.
• Biblical discipleship is replaced with holistic programming aimed at keeping people engaged and involved in much activity.

While many of these congregations have seen incredible growth, I've long wondered what manner of disciple of Jesus Christ these churches were producing. Some, in an effort to be attractive to the world's seekers, have come to resemble the world in many ways. I recently heard of one such church locally that hires-in musicians from out-of-town each week to lead worship. Of course, professional musicians may impress an audience, but the fact remains that these "hired guns" are not saved, do not profess Christ as Lord, and have never had a born-again experience for themselves. How do you worship - and lead others in the worship - of One you don't know?

Our call, as the Apostle Paul defined it in Romans 8:29, is to be "conformed to the image of His Son" - that is, to be made like Jesus Christ. It seems to me that this shift in emphasis has left many in the church trying to conform Christ to our image. They seem to want to make Him like us, rather than to be made like Him. That's sad. It's also deceptive. And ultimately, it leaves it's followers with a false sense of security, thinking that attendance means salvation and involvement in much activity equals sanctification.

Another admonition from the Apostle Paul, this one to a young preacher, would seem appropriate for the church and it's leadership in our day: "Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you." ~ 1 Timothy 4:16

"Oh Lord, give depth to our ministry and calling as we go about to make disciples of all nations. Amen"

Wisdom From an Unlikely Source

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas ... perhaps ... means a little more."
~ The Grinch from How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

Here We Go

And so it's begun ... the frenzied rush toward Christmas. Many hit panic mode the day after Thanksgiving. There are lists to be made, gifts to be purchased, decorations to be hung, cards to be sent, and more celebrations to attend than you can keep up with. The season of 'Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward Men' tends to become a demanding grind that wears us out and saps our joy. Once again I'm determined not to let it happen. But that doesn't mean I'll be sitting this one out.
I love Christmas. I love the lights, and the trees, and the celebrations, the music, and the letters and cards from friends and loved ones scattered all around the globe. But I very much intend to keep it all in perspective.

I've been mulling the Scriptures concerning this Son of God whom we celebrate. He is the perfect gift. His radiance outshines the brightest of Christmas lights. He is the reason our hearts sing. And He is the friend who loves us and stays closer than any other.

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets and in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ...
~ Hebrews 1:1-3

That is our cause for celebration.

Hope Yours Was Awesome

Am I Like the Nine?

11 While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee.

12 As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him;

13 and they raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

14 When He saw them, He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they were going, they were cleansed.

15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice,

16 and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan.

17 Then Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine--where are they?

18 "Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?"

19 And He said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has made you well."

When I think about God's goodness in my life I often think of this incident in Luke 17. I wonder: Am I like the one who returned to give thanks? Or am I like the nine? I'm sure they were happy. Maybe they even felt some sense of gratitude. So why didn't they do as their comrade?

I suspect they were too caught up in what they had to do next. Their lives had been decimated by their disease. They'd lost everything; homes, families, employment. Now that they'd been restored there was just too much to do. But it wouldn't have taken much to say, "Thank you" like their friend. And it seems as if the Lord expected it.

We've so much to be thankful for, don't we? Maybe it's time for us to turn our once yearly day of Thanksgiving into everyday thanks-living.

I'm Thankful For ...

My bride of over 26 years now. She really is my best friend.

In Everything Give Thanks

Following is the 1863 Lincoln Presidential Proclamation - celebrated shortly after Lincoln committed his life to Christ and celebrated while America was still in the midst of its Civil War. It was this proclamation which eventually led to the establishment of our national Thanksgiving holiday.

By the President of the United States of America
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the Source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the field of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than theretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows,orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.
In testimony wherof I have herunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
A. Lincoln

Much to be Thankful For

I have so much to be thankful for!

Grandchildren are the crown of old men, ...
Proverbs 17:6

Preoccupied?

"We are called to an everlasting preoccupation with God."
~ A.W. Tozer

An everlasting preoccupation with God! I love the thought of that. But I seem to be preoccupied much of the time with everything else in the world. Call it focus, or vision, or priority... Whatever. I've heard all of the messages and preached most of them myself. Yet I have no answers, nor can I make any excuses.
Maybe this is why monks for many centuries have locked themselves away in monasteries. So that their preoccupation with God will grow to consume their lives. But how do I live this out in the course of the life that He has given me to live?

Stupidity in the Name of Jesus

In the face of a Senate inquiry into questionable financial activities in a number of nationally known ministries, one of those being investigated (Creflo Dollar) had this to say: "Without a doubt, my life is not average. But I'd like to say, just because it is excessive doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong."

That may be the most ignorant, the stupidest, most assinine, and blatantly unscriptural statement I've ever heard by anyone concerning anything. Yet thousands of people sit and listen to this fool preach this garbage every week, and millions more watch him on television and send him their money. This crap flies in the face of everything the Bible teaches us about having the material things of this world. This idiot calls himself a pastor. But a pastor doesn't say things like that. And a pastor doesn't live an opulent lifestyle on the backs of God's people. Rather than brag about his 'excessive' lifestyle, this man should fall on his face and repent before God.

"Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!"
~ James 5:1-3

Can you tell I'm angry? It's this kind of foolishness that is crippling the church today and making us the world's laughingstock. I just think it's time we call it what it is.

When Two Out of Three Isn't Good Enough

"... But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
~ James 1:19

In almost everything in life two out of three is more than acceptable. In fact, two thirds is considered to be pretty good in most endeavors. A baseball player who gets a hit two out of every three at bats is hall of fame bound.
But in James' admonition, two out of three just isn't good enough. Being quick to hear does us no good if we're not slow to speak and slow to anger at the same time. Being slow to speak is of no benefit if we refuse to hear. And being slow to anger while talking too much and not listening might be considered by some just blissful ignorance.

James 1:19 has been my struggle for many years. It seems like even as I find progress in one area, I'm still struggling with another. While I'm learning to listen, I still have too much to say. And when I make a concerted effort to keep my mouth shut, too often I find anger boiling up on the inside.
Maybe it all comes together with age and experience, or maybe its just all learned behavior. As I get older, I do think I'm making progress. But I'll not be satisfied with two out of three.

How Great

I'm so bored of little gods
While standing on the edge of something large
While standing here so close to You
We could be consumed

What a glorious day

~ David Crowder Band - 'How Great'


The Bible says in Hebrews 12:29 that our God is a consuming fire. Jeremiah knew that it is only by His mercies that we are not consumed. (Lamentations 3:22) He is a great and awesome God.
Sadly, all to often we substitute 'little gods' in His place in our lives. In doing so, we back away from the edge of all He wants to be and to do in us.

Marriage

A woman was awakened in the middle of the night and noticed her husband was not in the bed beside her. She got out of bed and went downstairs where she found him sitting at the kitchen table crying. Concerned, she asked, "Honey, what's wrong? Why are you sitting here in the middle of the night crying?"
As he dried his tears, he asked her, "Do you remember that time when you were sixteen and your daddy caught us in the backseat of my car?"
"Yes, I remember, "she said.
"Do you remember what he said?"
"I think so, "came her reply.
"He said that I had to marry you or that he'd make sure I spent the next twenty years in prison."
Remembering it all clearly, she said, "But honey, I still don't understand why you're sitting here like this in the middle of the night."

Wiping his tears once again on his sleeve, he answered, "I would have gotten out today."

Redeeming the Time

Tim is an inmate at Charlotte Correctional Center whom I've gotten to know well over the past number of months. I baptized him just a few weeks ago. This morning he came by my office. By the grin on his face I knew something was up. He had something to show me. It was his high school diploma. At thirty-seven years old, having been kicked out of school as a teenager, and having failed and disappointed so many people so often, he is now a high school graduate. He is so proud. So am I. I've been encouraging him throughout his months here that he could do this. And he has worked hard.

Tim is a literal example of 'redeeming the time' as Paul admonished in Ephesians 5:16. It's so easy to give up; to listen to those who tell us that we'll never amount to anything. It's easy to believe the lie that we can't achieve our goals because our past will always hold us down. Many when they get to this place simply lay down and quit.
But Tim used his time of incarceration to accomplish something positive and overcome a major obstacle in his life. He began by trusting the Lord, and then he worked his butt off.
And the payoff? If you would have seen his face this morning, you'd know.

Is there a Tim in your life today? What could those around you accomplish with a little bit of faith and with your encouragement?

Going the Long Way Around

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
~ Proverbs 3:5-6

We can all quote it, can't we? The difficulty comes in actually living it out. Most days we do alright. But there are those days when nothing seems to make any sense and we're not sure what God is up to. Where is He leading us? And why?

When Pharaoh finally relented and allowed the children of Israel to leave Egypt, God did something peculiar. The Bible says, "... God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near, for God said, 'Lest the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt.'
Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; ..."

Had they leaned on their own understanding, God's people would have probably taken the shorter route. Can't you just picture Moses and Aaron huddled over their maps. "This way looks shorter, Moses. I think we ought to cut through here. Look! It's a straight shot."
And had they done that, they would have found themselves caught-up in a war they were totally unprepared for. God knew that. So He led them the long way around.

The wilderness way was longer, and more difficult. It took longer. It was hot and uncomfortable. But it was the safest and surest way for the people of Israel to go.

Where is He leading you today? Wherever you find yourself, you can be sure He knows what He is doing. Even if it seems like your going the long way around.

Bound By Time

Daylight Savings Time ended over the weekend. We turned the clocks back, thereby 'gaining' an hour. I spent mine sleeping.

Odd how we do, isn't it? We play with time as if we have some real and meaningful say in its dispensation. We move the clocks forward in the Spring, then back in the Fall. We try to manipulate time. We think we can somehow control it. We can't. But we are subject to it.

"All the days ordained for me were written in Your book
before one of them came to be."
~ Pslam 139:16 (NIV)

A Purely Politcal Rant

Typically, I try not to go political on this forum. First, I don't want to lower the dialogue to that level. And politicians are such an easy target I could spend my whole life blogging about their stupidity. There are enough of those blogs out there already. But today I just can't help myself.

Robert Reich, former Clinton cabinet secretary and economic expert said the following recently on CNBC: "The middle class is - is spending too much in terms of taxes."

Spending too much in terms of taxes? What?!?

I don't remember going into the "Tax Store" at the mall and choosing to spend my money there. We can spend too much on clothes, or on fast food. We might even spend too much for a house or an automobile. But, if I understand the way this works, I don't 'spend' taxes. They are collected from me.

Spending too much in terms of taxes? For a supposed 'genius' that was a really stupid statement. But I think it exemplifies the total disconnect between our nation's policy makers and the rest of us.

Is There Life After Life?

I have a dilemma today. A heavy heart.

I've been counseling for a while with a young man named Michael. He used to be incarcerated at Charlotte Correctional Center. That's where I first met him. I was his chaplain.
For the past two years, Michael has been in a local jail awaiting trial. After he was released from prison he got caught up in a robbery scheme and committed a horrific crime. The jail chaplain called me shortly after he was locked-up saying that Michael had requested to see me. I was the only one he could or would talk to. So began a series of visits during one of which I had the privilege of praying with Michael to invite Christ to come into his life. It's been a long road.

Yesterday, Michael received his sentence. Life. Life with no chance for parole.

A fair sentence? Yes. Deserved? Absolutely.

It's easy for us to look through the eyes of jurisprudence and to say yes, justice has been served. Society is safe from the likes of Michael. But behind the sentence, and beyond the righteous indignation of all of the good people in the community, there is a twenty-six year old man who will never taste freedom again. Every breath that he draws, every move will be at the whim of the State of North Carolina.
Michael threw his life away the moment he pulled that trigger. Then he took up a new life sitting in a cell with me in prayer not long ago. Now I'm wondering: Is there life after life without parole for Michael? I'm just not sure how to feel about it all.

A Most Significant Day

October 31 is a significant day. No, I'm not talking about Halloween and trick-or-treats.

On October 31, 1517 a young man who had studied for the priesthood, 31 year old Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis on the door of the Wittenburg Cathedral, thus beginning what is known as the Protestant Reformation. Church doors were the public bulletin boards of the day. Condemning many of the practices of Roman Catholicism such as the sale of indulgences, Luther's main point was that justification is by faith alone, unmediated by "the church." Luther also saw the Bible as the sole authority in the life of the believer. Sola Scriptura! Scripture Alone!

This was a courageous stand for a young man to take. Luther's bold proclamations led to his excommunication from the Roman Church and exile at Wartburg Castle, where he lived incognito for a time, pretending to be a knight known as Junker Jorg.
On trial before the Diet of Worms in 1521, Luther was given the opportunity to recant his writings and the 95 thesis, to which he replied: "Unless I shall be convinced by the testimonies of the Scriptures or by clear reason ... I neither can nor will make any retraction, since it is neither safe nor honourable to act against conscience."

October 31 is Reformation Day, a day on which God began a great work once again among men.

Real Delight

"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thy heart."
~ Psalm 37:4

"Delight thyself in the Lord..." An incredible thought, isn't it? To find our contentment, some enchantment, and even, dare I say, ecstasy in Him.
Delight found in anything else is fleeting. I know. Delightful things in this life come and go. But He is constant. Delight yourself in Him today.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full into His wonderful face
And the things of earth
Will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

The Roller Coaster

Working with prison inmates can be the most rewarding work on the planet. It can also be the most frustrating. And sometimes the highs and the lows come in waves, one after the other like a roller coaster ride. Up. Then down. Cresting one big hill, then suddenly the bottom falls out.

Here is the latest. I facilitate a class each week called Father Accountability. It is a thirteen week class which I put together myself over the past year and a half that is designed to enhance the parenting skills of the inmate participants. For the most part it is incredibly rewarding as I see it making an obvious difference in the lives of the inmates and their families. We spend a lot of time talking about things like involvement in our families' lives, awareness of our childrens' needs, nurturance, discipline, being consistent as parents and communication skills.
Yesterday was this class' eighth week together - A big day. Week eight is what we call "PlayDay." On PlayDay we bring in the children of the inmate participants for an afternoon of fun, getting to know our children better and practicing some of the skills we've been working on in class.

PlayDay went well and I was pleased with the interaction I saw between the inmates and their families. I went home thinking, "Okay, this group is turning the corner. We're on track and they're getting it."
Arriving at the prison today I have discovered that two of our participants are in administrative segregation and facing serious disciplinary infractions. They will be removed from the class and most likely returned to medium custody. How frustrating! Have they not been listening? I really thought they were getting it. Now, I'm not so sure.

There is a bottom line here, and this is probably the most frustrating part of all about the work I do as a prison chaplain: God's salvation, family restoration, the blessings of the Lord - I seem to want this for these men more than they want it for themselves.

Simplify?

Sharon picked-up a little book recently called Simplify Your Life. It's chocked-full of ideas to help you to slow down and enjoy the things that really matter in life. Everything from reducing clutter to getting rid of the cell phone to just plain doing nothing sometimes is included.

It's a wonderful thought, isn't it? At times, we all long for a simpler existence. But as we've thought about it, I've come to realize something. Most of the things that complicate our lives are not within our means to control. As much as I want to simplify, there seems to be a bunch of stuff even more determined to un-simplfy my life for me. The bank makes an error and it becomes my mess to straighten out. And have you dealt with insurance lately? Or how about any government agency? (I'm thinking DMV here, but they're all about the same.)

Simplify your life? Yeah, right. We wish, huh?

"Be Freed"

And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all.
And when Jesus saw here, he called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your sickness."
And He laid His hands upon her; and immediately she was made erect again, and began glorifying God.

I love the way Jesus always got to the root of a problem. In the synagogue, he encountered a woman who for eighteen years had been bent over; doubled-up and unable to stand straight. But her problem wasn't a bad back. She didn't have osteoporosis. A doctor or a chiropractor couldn't help her. The Bible says she had a sickness caused by a spirit. This was a spiritual attack.
When Jesus called her over, His words reveal the fact that He recognized the spiritual root. He said, "Woman, you are freed from your sickness." Not "You're healed" but "You're freed." The KJV says "You are loosed from your infirmity."
Loosed. Freed. She stood up straight up and began to glorify God, something she hadn't been able to do for eighteen long years.

There is a spiritual root to many of our adverse circumstances and situations. Many of the trials that keep us "bent over" are spiritual. Financial situations. Relationship problems. Various addictions. All of these have spiritual roots. Many of God's people need to be loosed today.

Faith

"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading."
~ Oswald Chambers

All You Need

What Are You Looking At?

I learned something recently. Reptiles have the unique ability to look at two different things simultaneously. Their eyes function independently of one another. That's the way God made them.
But He didn't make us that way. We can only look at one thing at a time. That's not a problem for us, unless we're always looking at the wrong thing.

In life, you'll either find yourself looking at your problems or God's promises. You'll either gaze at your circumstances or at the faithfulness of God. But you can't look at both. Not at the same time. It can't be done.

So what are you looking at today?

What To Do About Enemies

At an official reception during the Civil War, President Lincoln made a brief speech in which he referred to the Confederates as "erring human beings" rather than as enemies to be destroyed.
An elderly abolishonist lady said afterward, "Mr. President, how can you lower yourself to refer to such slave holding rebels as merely 'erring human beings' who are sworn enemies of the Union and of freedom?"
"Why, madam," replied Lincoln, "do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?"

Missional Arrogance

I run into something quite frequently that is becoming a bit disturbing to me. I see it among pastors and church planters, and among those involved in outreach ministry and missions work. I've even found myself guilty of it from time to time. I may be coining a new phrase here to identify it: I'm calling it "Missional Arrogance".

Missional Arrogance is that attitude that says that my church, or my ministry, or my mission work is more vital and more relevant than anything anyone else is doing. It tends to look down upon others who's work is deemed "less inspired."
It's what you hear from church planting pastors as they compare their new work to the works of the many pastors who have been laboring in that same field for years. You hear it among those involved in missions and outreach ministries (yes, even prison ministry) when they talk of how everyone should be doing what they're doing. And they would be if they just weren't so selfish and lazy. You see it in those who are so busy in their ministry that they have no time for people.

Missional Arrogance is a sin. It displeases the Lord just as any prideful way does. And it is diametrically opposed to the way Jesus conducted His ministry work.

Jesus was on a mission from the Father. He never lost sight of that missional call. But He never became arrogant in His calling either. He remained humble enough to speak to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) and to Zaccheus in a tree (Luke 19). The Apostle Paul said it was humility that made Him obedient - even as He faced His death on the cross. There was no missional arrogance in the way our Lord went about His ministry. Instead, the Bible says, "He had compassion upon the multitude because they were as sheep without a shepherd."

"Oh Lord, forgive us of our Missional Arrogance. Forgive us of thinking that we are indispensable to the Kingdom work. Forgive us for looking down upon others - others whom You have not called to the same work as us, and others who haven't quite found their way in the works You may be calling them to.
Father, in conforming us to the image of Jesus Christ, impart humility to us even as we go about the work You have called us to. Help us to realize once again that it is an undeserved honor to be called a minister of the gospel. Amen"

"No Church" Excuses

Over the years I've heard many excuses for not attending church. Prison inmates are funny. Many cite the fact that the church is filled with hypocrites. Imagine that. Hypocrites in among the liars, cheaters, and thieves in prison. Others are waiting until they get out of prison (uh huh) to start going to church. They don't want anyone to think they've got "jailhouse religion".
Yesterday I heard one I'd never heard before. An inmate told me that he studies the Scriptures on his own and he doesn't need church. In fact, everything that the preacher says in church he already knows. He told me, "I'm too far advanced from everyone there. I'm on a plane that most Christians never get to." Assuming I was in the presence of one of the great Bible scholars or theologians of our time, I asked just how long he had been so deeply entrenched in God's Word. "About a year and a half." "But I've already read the Bible through ... a couple of times."

I hope he took my laughter the right way.

Have a Laugh

This is funny stuff. Go ahead. Laugh. it's okay.

3:16

I awoke this morning at 3:16am. As my eyes opened I looked to the clock as I typically do. In the darkness I saw those digits glaring back at me - 3:16. I thought immediately of the 3:16 we all know so intimately and depend upon as people of God. It made me feel safe and secure. Those precious numbers wrapped themselves quickly around my mind as I remembered the incredible love God has for us; a love so overwhelming to Him that He gave His best for us.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
~ John 3:16

God gave. That's the message of 3:16. He loved us so much that He gave His Son, Jesus. He gave us the way, the truth, and the life. He gave us everything.

This morning I had an early reminder of that.


I know Max Lucado has just published his latest book called "3:16". I haven't read it so I hope I haven't encroached upon his work.

The Conductor

Last night Sharon and I attended the Charlotte Symphony concert with special guest Natalie Cole. Incredible! I was captivated by it all.The music was spot-on. Natalie Cole sang with such elegance and grace. Truly spectacular!
But every now and again during the concert I found myself watching the conductor. As the music played I watched his motions. I couldn't quite put the two together. He swayed and swaggered and swung his arms. Sometimes it seemed as if his motions made no sense. He swayed one way and it seemed the music went another. But somehow, it worked. Even though I couldn't figure it out, his every motion had meaning. And through those motions he orchestrated a flawless performance.
Then I realized its that way with God. He orchestrates all things. He gives direction and conducts all activity. And most of the time it doesn't make much sense to me. He directs and guides - sometimes in great sweeping events and other times with gentle nudges. But somehow it works. Somehow it all works together for my good and His glory.

I realized something else as well. Whether it's a symphony concert or God's orchestration of life itself, I'm not always meant to understand what the Conductor is doing. I'm to enjoy the beauty which results from His direction.

Real Wealth

"Grandchildren are the crown of old men ..."
~ Proverbs 17:6


We took a day trip yesterday to visit Sheila and Olivia. After a few hours with this beautiful little baby girl I think I understand the wisdom of the old sage a bit better.

John Henry Jowett said it like this:
"The real measure of our wealth is how much we'd be worth if we lost all of our money."

Look at that face! Bill Gates ain't got nothing on me, huh?

Just What I Need

"He restoreth my soul ..."
~ Psalm 23:3

Isn't that what we all need every now and again?

It's Just the Way We Are

I've been wondering:

Why did the New England Patriots feel they had to cheat? They were recently caught video taping their opposition's coaches as they signaled in plays. It's a blatant violation of the rules.

Why did Marion Jones and her coaches find it necessary to cheat by using a banned steroid? After years of denials she has now admitted the truth and been stripped of her five Olympic medals.

The thing is: neither had to cheat. The Patriots are one of the best teams in football and have been for a number of seasons. They have the Super Bowl rings to prove it. And Marion Jones has been one of the premier track and field athletes of the past decade. She was at the top of her sport without performance-enhancing substances. So what's the deal?

The Bible says (Jeremiah 17:9): "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?"
As human beings, we cheat. Not necessarily because it gives us an advantage. It's more primal than that. We're bent toward wrong. It's what we do. It's just the way we are. It's why the wealthy cheat on their taxes and those of means steal what they can otherwise afford to purchase. We do wrong and oftentimes don't even understand why we're doing it.

To understand the depravity of man and the sinful state of all of humanity one need look no further these days than ESPN Sportscenter.

I Am ...

I am the woman at the well
I am the harlot
I am the scattered seed that fell along the path
I am the son who ran away
I am the bitter son who stayed
I am the angry men who came to stone the lover
I am the woman there ashamed before the crowd
I am the leper who gave thanks
I am the nine who never came

~ Andrew Peterson, The Mystery of Mercy

An Unexpected Blessing

I received a wonderful phone call yesterday that blessed me. It made my week.

Maurice is a former inmate originally from Jamaica. I had the privilege of ministering to him over the course of many months during his incarceration. I baptized him and watched him grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Following his incarceration, Maurice was deported back to the tiny island nation he called home. I lost track of him. That was about four years ago.

Yesterday my phone rang. It was Maurice. He'd been trying to get me for some time. He just wanted me to know that he's doing well. The Lord has been good to him and he continues to serve God with his whole heart. I could sense the joy in his voice as he shared how he's leading the youth group and singing in the choir in the church he attends. God is using him.
Then Maurice told me something that stirred me. He said, "Chaplain, your ministry changed my life. I'll never forget all those services hearing you preach. You made God's Word real to me. Thank you. And I want you to know, chaplain, I pray for you often."

W-O-W! What a blessing. To know that God has used me to be a blessing to someone. And to know that someone who's been touched by our ministry is now doing the work of ministry in Jamaica. And that same someone is praying for me.
That's the power of this thing called 'Christianity'. That's the power of the gospel message. "It is the power of God unto salvation."

Oh yeah. I almost forgot. I now have a standing invitation to come and preach in Jamaica. Can't wait to see what the Lord does with that.

Holiness

"Every man is as holy as he really wants to be."
~ A.W. Tozer

Welcome Back!

Welcome back hockey season. I sure did miss ya'.

Don't Give Up!

Have you ever felt like giving up?

Abraham Lincoln lost five bids for elected office before becoming president. He also failed in business twice, served one unremarkable term in Congress, had a fiance die, and had a nervous breakdown at 27.

Lucille Ball was dismissed from drama school for being too shy and quiet.

Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before his Ford Motor Company took off.

Napolean finished near the bottom of his class in military school.

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 1:8):
"For we do not wnat you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life ..."

All had ample reason to quit. Life can be frustrating. Don't give up. Hang in there. Follow the example of President Lincoln, he of so many failures, who once said, "I've been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go."

Be Happy

Two recently released studies indicate that men today are happier than women. This is a complete reversal from the results of an almost identical study performed in the 1960's. When asked why, it would appear that the expanded roles women play in the home and in our society are the cause. Women cited such things as career building, work place issues, family situations, and financial stresses for their comparable lack of happiness. In other words, women feel more weighted-down today by what Jesus characterized as "the cares of this life" than their male counterparts. I'm not quite sure what to read into these results. Perhaps it is time for men to step-up to their God-given responsibilities to be the leader of the home - to provide, protect, and pray for our families as God designed.

One woman's answer to how the "happiness gap" could be narrowed between men and women: "We need to find a way to make men unhappy like us."

Amazing Grace

I had the distinct privilege of baptizing twenty two men last night at Charlotte Correctional Center. 22! There were black men and white men. Tall. Short. Skinny. And lastly one particularly large man (close to 400 pounds!)

The testimonies were incredible. Every one of them has a story. They've been to places most only see on seedy Lifetime movies. Most of them have struggled with addictions. Some are serving time for violent offenses. A few were loud and boisterous. Others very circumspect. But all have experienced the incomparable grace of God in their lives.

There were men with braids, others with corn rows, and still others with ponytails. And tattoos. Every one of them seemed to have multiple tattoos. For many, the tattoos told the story. Many of them are symbols of hatred and violence. Expressions of deep, dark feelings boiling for years just below the surface.
All of that seems now to have been erased. As if the baptismal waters washed away the last vestiges of that old life. The tattoos remain. But their message has been radically altered. Now their testimony is, "I once was lost but now I'm found."

Once again I am in awe of God's amazing grace.

How the Bible was Written?

The Love of God

The God that we serve is all-powerful; He can do all things. He is omniscient, the all-knowing One. He is completely self-sufficient; He has need of nothing. Yet He desires our love and is not satisfied without it.

God has bound His heart to us. He has set His love upon us and has gone to incomprehensible lengths to win our love. He has given His only begotten Son to prove His love for us, to show us the way of love, and to open that way to us.

Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock..." Too often, we see a poor and haggard Savior, hat-in-hand, standing at the door begging for us to let Him in. That's not it at all.
He comes not lowly and beggarly, but in the radiance of God's love for us. He stands not as One who has need of anything, but as One who's great desire is to have the door opened to Him so that this incredible love might be shed abroad within.

Why I Am the Way I Am

If anyone has ever wondered why I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, the answer is simple. I can't do life on my own. Tried it. What a mess. I need help. Every day. I need the constant, strong guidance and keeping power He provides.

I feel like the Psalmist must have felt when he penned the words to Psalm 121:

I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Great Advice I Once Heard

"Quit praying for God to bless what you're doing. Find out what God is blessing and go do that."
~ Pastor G.E. Weatherby

More?

T.D. Jakes was on the Dr. Phil show this morning. I tuned in just to see what it was going to be about. Jakes has written a new book called, "Repositioning Yourself". In introducing it, Dr. Phil said, "This book is so much more than just preaching the gospel."
That statement bothers me. A lot.

"So much more than just preaching the gospel"? Is there more? Is there anything more important, more vital than preaching God's gospel of salvation for sinful mankind? Jesus Christ, God's Son, bled and died for "the gospel".
"Just preaching the gospel?" Makes it sound so unnecessary. Like a blue light special at the K-Mart. If it's not for you - just wait. There'll be something else any minute now. Kind of ordinary. Dull. Nothing earth-shattering. Just preaching the gospel.

Unfortunately, that's the mindset of too many who call themselves Christian today. They're looking for more. More than the gospel. More than the finished work of Christ on the cross. They want a pep talk. Someone to tell them they're okay. Just be positive. Think good thoughts. Believe in yourself.
They like the gospel of Jesus Christ - as far as it goes. But for them, it just doesn't go far enough.

Listen to this preacher. There is nothing more important - absolutely nothing weightier in this world - than the preaching of the gospel. It is the power of God unto salvation.
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." ~ 1 Corinthians 1:18

More than just preaching the gospel? I don't think so.

"Come To Me ..."

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:28

Jesus said, "Come to Me." If you're wearied by life's journey, you're invited to come. If the burdens or cares of life have become heavy, you're invited. His invitation is open. Just come. You don't need to dress for it. Bring nothing. Come.

I see a huge significance in what He didn't call us to. He did not say to come to church, or to a prayer meeting, or to a home fellowship group. He didn't call us to come to a seminar, a Christian retreat, another Bible study group, or to commemorate a feast day.
His call is so much less stressful than all of that stuff tends to be. Just "Come to Me."

Now Available

Have you ever wanted to fly? As a kid I used to have a recurring dream that I could fly. I'd stand at the top of the stairs, spread my arms wide, and off I'd go. Early sci-fi was big on using jet propulsion packs. I always thought they were pretty cool, too.

Now, you can purchase one. The above are actual working models being offered by two companies - one Mexican and other good old American made.

I'm thinking maybe ... with Christmas coming ... if I'm really good ... maybe Santa might ...

Accept It

" ... wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved."
~ Ephesians 1:6

Perhaps the most difficult thing for most Christians to grasp is the fact that they are accepted by God. Unconditionally. Without qualification. Made so by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

To live the full, rich, deep Christian life we all aspire to, we must accept that we are accepted. That is the definition of His grace.

Mistakes

"Life is very interesting if you make mistakes."
~ Georges Carpentier

Whatever He Says

"Whatever He says to you, do it." John 2:5

Jesus' mom was a smart woman. Smart enough to look at a problem and know the solution. Smart enough to know that as long as Jesus was in the room no situation was hopeless. Smart enough to know she could count on Him.
She told the servants at a wedding feast, "Whatever He says to you, do it." And we know the end. Water turned to wine. A family was saved from embarrassment. And a group of servants had a front row seat to a miracle.
All because Jesus' mom knew she could count on Him.

Sometimes, when we face problems, I think we get it half-right. Like Mary, we take the problem to Jesus. We pray. We tell Him about it. But too often, we fail to follow through with "Whatever He says to you, do it."
I think that "Whatever He says to you, do it" may be the key many are missing. The key that can unlock the abundant life Jesus promised. How often do we miss out on the blessings God wants to shower upon us simply because we don't do whatever He says to us.

Can you imagine if Noah hadn't done what God told him to do? The conversation may have gone something like this:

God: Noah, it's going to rain. There's a flood coming. I want you to build an ark.

Noah: That's okay, Lord. I've got a better idea. Could you just give me an umbrella?

He's In It All

Yesterday was an unusual day. I woke up early in the pitch dark of a cool Minnesota morning. As I sat sipping coffee the typical morning activities of life on the farm slowly began. Sharon's mom beginning chores. Her dad reading the morning devotions for the family. In the distance, the sounds of the farm coming to life once more as the sun arose. There was the usual morning banter; "good mornings" all around. And laughter.
I had a sense that the Lord was there. Something about the stillness and the easy pace.

Then it was time for us to go. We had a plane to catch. (Having "a plane to catch" sounds so desperate, doesn't it?)

A few hours after arriving in Charlotte we took our usual place among the worshipers at Central Church. The choir sang with the fervency of a tent meeting revival. The crowd rose as one and clapped-out the beat of each song. Hands were raised and shouts of praise echoed around the sanctuary. I looked around and knew that the Lord was there, too.

It was at that moment that I realized: He is in both. One place quiet and almost reverently still. The other loud and boisterous. Yet He is there in both for the one who seeks Him.

In-Laws

We just arrived home from a five-day visit at Sharon's folks' farm in Minnesota.

Typically, thoughts of in-laws conjur a few horror stories and all of the in-law jokes you've ever heard. I'm so blessed. I've got the best in-laws on the planet. No kidding. They are wonderful, kind, and godly people. I've learned more about life from them over the years than I could have had I earned a doctorate.

I got to work on a few things alongside my father-in-law while we were there. Saturday I helped him to bale hay. He's 85 years old and still baling hay! It's incredible to work with him on anything - something I always look forward to. Years ago, when I was younger, I think I had too much to say and didn't listen enough. I didn't learn much. Today it's different. When I'm around him I'm all ears. There's so much wisdom there.

I think I enjoy working with him because I never got that with my own dad as an adult. He died when I was a kid. Whatever it is, I treasure it.

I hope I'm half-as-good at being a father-in-law as Sharon's dad is. Andrew?

Getting to Heaven

"Some men seem to think that as long as they keep out of jail they have a sure chance of getting into heaven."
~ Abraham Lincoln

What Ever Happened To ...?

Today is 9/11/07. Six years ago 9/11 became a rallying cry for America. We seemed to forget about our differences and come to the cause of our nation. I'm just wondering this morning:
What ever happened to all of that?

What happened to the sense of patriotism that engulfed us on that day? What happened to reaching out to one another and helping our neighbor?
Now we are filled with anger and distrust toward one another.

What happened to politicians in Washington - Democrats and Republican together - standing on the Capitol steps and singing God Bless America?
Now those same politicians are tearing America apart.

What happened to the prayer meetings that were going on everywhere?
Now we've returned to our pre-9/11 sense of malaise.

What happened to supporting out troops as they go about rooting out those who perpetrated this horrendous act of cowardice?
Now many despise our troops and politicians denigrate their leadership and mission daily.

Six years ago, on 9/11, many of us fell in love with America again. Yes, we had problems. Yeah, there were differences. But we were Americans. And America was right and good.
I'm just wondering: What ever happened to all of that?

God, help us.

Jesus Didn't Do Drive-Bys

We've all seen them in the movies or on television. Drive-by shootings. A car screams out of nowhere. Guns blazing. People are hit. Confusion reigns. And just as quickly as they came, they're gone. Leaving chaos in their wake.
Disturbing, isn't it?

That's also a picture of much of the evangelism done by churches and ministries today. I call it "Drive-by Evangelism." They come screaming into a community, or a prison firing away. Their modus operandi is to hit hard and fast. They're after big numbers. They call them "decisions for Christ". And just as fast as they come, they're gone. It's evangelism done at warp speed. "Get there, get 'em saved, and get gone." It's a poor substitute for the biblical variety.

Jesus didn't do drive-by evangelism. He involved Himself in the lives of those He ministered to. He saw their needs, and inquired about their hopes and dreams and ambitions. He had compassion on the multitudes. When the preaching ended He stayed and fed them - all five thousand of them. He wasn't in a hurry. And rather than leave behind confusion and half-baked decisions to follow Him, Jesus left people with the calm assurance that He is Messiah, their hope.

People call my office all the time wanting to do a drive-by. Oh, they don't think of it that way. But I do.
"I just want to come preach to those boys, chaplain." "Just let us come and do our program. We'll get 'em saved. Yessir! We've had nine million decisions for Christ so far this year."
My answer is always the same. "No thanks." But I do offer an alternative. How about coming to teach an inmate to read. Or to help them be better husbands and fathers. Or could you possibly help to provide soap and deodorant for those inmates who are in need? You'd be amazed at the responses I get. One actually told me I was "hindering the Spirit." He'd "heard from the Lord" and was "supposed to preach at Charlotte Correctional Center."

I used to think this kind of evangelism had it's place. After all, they were making decisions for Christ, right? But I've been where I am long enough to see the long-term results. It doesn't work. Many are left wounded, dazed, and looking for answers in the aftermath. So I don't have any use for drive-by evangelism anymore. But if you're interested, come on by. I'd like to introduce you to someone who needs a friend.

Wood, Hay, Stubble

Yesterday I mowed what's left of the lawn. A few patches of green amidst a sea of brown stubble. It looks like a farmer's hay field after it's been mowed and baled before winter. We've been in a severe drought with no appreciable rain in months. Coupled with record heat through August, it's taken it's toll.

I'm what you might call a lawn lunatic. I love to have a lush, green lawn. Forgive me, It's a pride thing. I get-off on having the best-looking lawn in the neighborhood. I aerate every fall and apply lime liberally. I seed and over-seed as needed. I fertilize as scheduled. And in between I typically fuss over it as if it is my youngest child. It's a lot of work. And expensive.
Now it looks like the surface of the moon out there. All my work has been burned-up by the scorching heat and drought conditions.

The Bible says that's what will happen to many of our accomplishments in life. They'll be tried by fire. If pride and arrogance has been our motivation those things will burn like wood, hay, and stubble. They won't last when placed before the bright glory and holy fire of the Lord. He's not only looking at the beauty of the works themselves, but for the purity of our hearts in doing them.

Check your works today, and the motivations behind them. Are they heat resistant?

Discouraged? Nah!

Attendance was down at our worship service at the prison last night. I'm sure it was because the NFL kicked-off the season with a great match-up. Part of me wants to be discouraged and upset about it. Are we really that shallow? Is the work that God has me doing among the inmate population so tenuous that many can blow-off the sacred for the secular so easily? Am I making any difference at all? Is it worth it? It makes one wonder.

But then I think of the ones who came. I replay it all in my mind. Their worship was sincere and vibrant. When I got up to preach I sensed their hunger. I preached a simple word. "God is at work in our lives. He promises to carry out that work. (Philippians 1:6) Be patient. Trust Him!" (I'm not over-simplifying it here - that was pretty much it.)
Afterwards, a number of them came to me with words of gratitude. Some said it was just the word they needed to hear. I could see in their eyes that they are sincere. They love the Lord. Most have been to places in life that "good people" never see except on Lifetime movies.
But they come.

So I'm encouraged today. As I begin to prepare yet another message (Sunday morning is coming) I'm excited. I see God at work. And I trust Him!

Where Else?

"Where else would you rather be than right here right now?!"
~ Marv Levy


Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy used to gather the Buffalo Bills around him each Sunday on the sideline just before kick-off and say those words. In the background, the intensity of seventy-two thousand raucous fans rose steadily to a crescendo that would last all afternoon. His point was clear. As football players, they wanted to be on the field. Not in the locker room. Not on the sidelines. They wanted to be in the game. Between the hash marks struggling with their teammates toward victory. That's what football players should want.

As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ we can ask ourselves that same question. "Where else would you rather be than right here right now?" I am in Christ. I am in the will of Almighty God. He leads me and guides me. There is no place else for me to be.

I AM Creative!

I used to think creativity belonged to a select few. Those "artsy" types who wore sandals and blue jeans and did everything in a "funky" kind of unexpected way. For them a simple annoucement became a Shakespearian experience. A sermon wasn't just God's Word expounded upon but a Hollowood production complete with backdrops and supporting actors.
Drama. Comedy. Tragedy. You never quite knew what they may say or do. After all, they were being "creative."
I never thought of myself as a creative type. I was more logical than all of that. In my mind, 2 + 2 = 4. That's a fact. Don't mess with it. But things have changed over the past few years. I've learned that I am creative! Not in the narrow way I once defined it. But I'm made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). And God is a creator.

How does this new-found creativity work itself out in my life? Well, it's been there all along. Im just learning to recognize it. Preaching and teaching, and the preparation that goes into it is all a work of creation. Remodeling the kitchen, or painting a bathroom is creativity on display. Practicing the culinary arts to make new and bold dishes in the kitchen has become almost an obsession. Putting words on paper (or on this computer screen) fulfills an urge to create. I am creative!

Made in God's image, you're creative, too. Create something today.

David Still Beats Goliath

The buzz around the sports world this week is Appalachian State's victory over the Michigan Wolverines in the Big House at Ann Arbor. ESPN has been talking about it day and night since Saturday. It's being called the biggest upset in college football history. It is an upset of almost biblical proportions. In fact, I've heard the analogy of David and Goliath used to describe it. Which got me to thinking: What if ESPN had been there to cover the fight between David and Goliath? It might have gone something like this:

Play-by-play announcer: We're coming to you live from Socoh, near the valley of Elah, to bring you this epic battle today. But I've got to tell you, this looks like a mismatch all the way around. How can David stay on the field with the Philistine warrior? Let's turn to our color commentator.

Commentator: Well, this a tall order for the kid from Bethlehem to be sure. Goliath is supremely confident today. We talked to him earlier and he plans to feed David's flesh to the birds. It could get ugly out here today.

Play-by-play announcer: Goliath is stepping out onto the field now. He is an intimidating sight. But David doesn't seem to be backing down. There's a lot of trash-talk going on between these two.

Commentator: The talk has been going on for days now. Obviously, these two just don't like each other. Goliath has cursed David and all of Israel repeatedly. And David has responded with a calm assurance that somehow his God will give him the victory.

Play-by-play announcer: They're moving to the middle of the field now. Wait! David has broken into a run! He's running toward the Philistine now! And he's reaching into his bag. He's got a stone in his sling. And ... OOOOOHHHH! He's hit Goliath square in the forehead!
Goliath is down! Goliath is down!

Commentator: This is unbelievable! Who could have seen this coming? The young Israelite came in confident. But surely he could not have imagined this.

Play-by-play announcer: David is standing over the fallen giant now. He's taken the sword of Golaith and ... OOOOHHHH! He's cut off his head! It's over! It's all over! David has finished him off! David has finished it! This is the biggest upset in history! Can you believe it? Let's go down to our sideline reporter who's with the young hero.

Side line reporter: David! David! How'd you do it? Nobody expected this. How did you defeat such an overwhelming enemy?

David: I want to thank my God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He gave me the strength and ability. I just went out and executed the game plan and came away with the win.

Side line reporter: But weren't you intimidated today? You were a huge underdog.

David: I was confident in my God and the ability He gives me. With His help I'd already killed a bear and a lion with my bare hands. I felt good out there. I knew if I could get the shot off it would find its mark.

Side line reporter: There you have it. That's it from Socoh. An upset they'll be talking about for the next few thousand years. Now, back to the studio.

Sola Scriptura

Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation with the bold proclamation, "Sola Scriptura". It was a call to return to the Word of God as the sole authority in the life of the believer. A return to simple faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary's cruel cross. It was an indictment against church traditions which had arisen to muddy the waters. Traditions which called on those who would be the New Testament people of God to follow the edicts of men. "Sola Scriptura!" Scripture alone.

Even today it would seem we haven't arrived at Sola Scriptura. It's just too easy to substitute man-made traditions in our lives. We like catechisms. We like to be told to "do something" to prove we belong to Him. Somehow it makes us feel more righteous. As if we've done something to earn the favor of God. But when we do that we are dangerously close to crossing the line into works-based religion. We become "law keepers". And of course, the problem with trying to earn favor with God by keeping laws and traditions is that we can never be quite good enough. We'll always fall short. Not for lack of effort. But simply because God's standard is perfection.

The problem with religious traditions (even in the church) is that we have many millions of people walking around thinking they are at peace with God because they've performed some ceremonial tradition. " I was baptized as a baby." "I've earned Sunday School ribbons for the past forty-two years. Never missed a Sunday." But they are not born again. They've never had that moment when they make a personal and conscientious decision to trust Jesus Christ for their eternal salvation. In that, much of the religious tradition found in the church today (as in Luther's day) is outright deception.

Here is a modern-day call to "Sola Scriptura!" Let's examine our lives and our religious practices to be sure we are rooted and grounded in the Word of God alone. Be bold enough to single out all that is not Scriptural and call it what it is: Empty religion. Get alone with God's Word. Leave all of the commentaries and catechisms, and the theological debate behind and delve into the Bible with the Holy Spirit as your guide and teacher. You might be amazed at the simplicity you find.

Close to Heaven?

Have you ever tried to imagine what heaven will be like? Better yet, ever had one of those days that is as close to heaven as you can imagine? Today has been one of those "heavenly" days for me.

It's a beautiful day. A breezy eighty degrees (after more than a month of mid-nineties.) After church (which was fantastic) my best girl and me spent about an hour at Caribou with our favorite coffees and the Sunday paper. Then we enjoyed a leisurely Sunday lunch on the patio. Since then (about three hours) I've been laying in the hammock under a shade tree with a little Harry Connick Jr. on my IPOD and a good book at my side (okay, I've napped a whole lot and only read a few pages.)

Close to heaven? I don't know. But the day is definitely a gift from God.

Wow! Got to go. Sharon just brought me ice cream. It just keeps getting better.

Side Effects

I get a kick out of all of those tv commercials for prescription drugs. They can't be serious, can they? When they get to "... side effects may include ..." my head spins. One particular ad I've recently seen says, "if you experience greatly increased sexual desires or uncontrollable urges to gamble consult your doctor." Are you kidding?

Can you imagine that doctor's office visit? "Yeah doc, my elbow feels so much better, but ...uuh"

Time

"Time flies when you're having fun."
"Time waits for no man."
"Where does the time go?"

Its Labor Day weekend. Already. As I get older time seems to be moving at an accelerated pace. Summer is over. When I was a kid summer seemed to stretch on forever. The days were long and we packed so much into each one. We played ball. Any kind of ball, it didn't matter. Baseball. (I was terrible at baseball.) Football. Basketball. We swam and fished and went and spent our hard- earned nickels, dimes and quarters at Doc's Corner Store. (If you had a whole dollar you were rich.) Most days were just that. All of it.
School ended in early June. Labor Day and the start of a new school year wasn't even a blip on our radar. Summer was as close to an eternity as I could imagine.

Those are just memories now. Maybe its age, or maybe everything is just so vastly different in this day we live in. But it sure seems as if time is rushing by at an unprecedented rate.
I hope this Labor Day weekend we can slow things down a bit. I'd kind of like to do some of that "kid stuff" again.