6...5...4...3...2...1...1?

The geniuses are at it again. They've decided it's necessary to add one second to the end of 2008. Their explanation? It seems that the technological marvel of man's own making, the atomic clock, is "much more precise than the rotation of the earth" which God set in motion. So to allow the earth to "catch up" to man's ingenuity, one second will be added to the year.

I'm always amused when I hear this kind of drivel. I often marvel at the audacity of mankind in thinking we know better than God, or can create something that trumps the handiwork of the Creator. But I'm not sure God's amused.

"... the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
~ 1 Corinthians 1:25

So tonight, as you ring in 2009 in whatever way you choose, take an extra second to ponder the awesomeness of a God who spoke and all things came into being. And, if you have a spare second, to realize that He holds all of the elements, including time, in the palm of His hand.

"Well, It's Happened Again. And I Wasn't Ready Again."

This was just a few weeks ago:

"I'd like to ask your permission to ask your daughter to marry me."

Unless you've heard those words come from the mouth of a young man sitting across the table from you, you'll never know the mix of thoughts and emotions that swirl around you. Part of you is thrilled because you believe that this is the young man the Lord has for your daughter. Another part of you wants to reach across the table and choke this clown. Who does he think he is? How dare he even think he's good enough for your little girl.

Then, the phone call I knew would be coming:

"Daddy, I'm engaged! I'm getting married!"

I've already been through this once with Sheila. Now, it's Alisha's turn. You'd think by this time I'd have it all together. No big deal, right? This ought to be old hat to me. But it's not. It's not any easier to hear your second little girl say those words than it was with your first just a few years ago. The memories of their whole lives run through your mind in the fleeting moment those words hit your ear and run through your brain. "I'm getting married!" And just like that, you know that things will never be the same.

Now, the planning begins. A June wedding. In just a few days time, I've been reduced to the old guy with the checkbook. But I really am happy. I'm happy to see my baby girl so happy.

Congratulations Alisha and what's-his-name. I pray your life together is everything you've dreamed of.

A Bailout for Santa

Found this on Chaplain Anne's blog. An instant classic!

Simply Christmas

My wife and I were talking about how simple our whole Christmas has been this year. We haven't shopped like we have in past years. We haven't let ourselves get all frazzled about what to get the kids or grandma. There haven't been any "can't miss" parties to rush off to. We've scaled back on the Christmas card list and generally tried to keep it more low-key than it's been over the years.
And you know what? It's been great!

Yesterday, our pastor reminded us of the simplicity of the Christmas message. The angel called it "...good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people." A baby in a manger. The Son of God became a man so that we could become sons and daughters of God. That's it! The good news of Christmas.

Too simple? Maybe. But what God desires of us is even simpler. Just believe.

Emmanuel Indeed!

... and they will call Him "Emmanuel" which mean "God with us."
~ Matthew 1:23

I can't get this short verse out of my mind. Emmanuel. God with us. That's the way God meant for it to be. He's always desired to be 'with us.' The problem has always been on our end. We haven't wanted a God who would be right here. We've been too afraid. Or embarrassed. Or ashamed.

From the time He walked with Adam in the garden, to the day he invited the people of Israel to meet with Him on Mt. Sinai, you can see it. As He called to humankind through His prophets, you can sense it. His heart's desire to be with us.
In Jesus Christ, He is.

He's not God near us. Or God above us. Or even God watching over us. He is "God with us!"

Wherever you may find yourself this Christmas season, may that single thought bring you comfort and joy.

Cotton-Headed-Ninni-Muggins

A Wise Man Once Said ...

"It's only when the tide goes out that you learn who's been swimming naked."
~ Warren Buffet

www.santa.com?

Who Cares?

This morning I was asked the question I knew was coming. In fact, it eventually comes every year about this time. Why should this year be any different?

The question? "Chaplain, why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25? You know, Jesus wasn't born in December. He was born in April!"
I've also been told with great assurance over the years that He was born in August, September, and May. One went so far as to tell me it was an absolute certainty that Jesus was born on August 22, 4BC. (That young man said he could prove it.)

After giving the inmate my answer this morning, (the same answer I've given every time the question is asked) I was curious. So I Googled the question "When was Jesus born?" Try it. Without exaggeration, there were 1,160,000 results to my query.
Again, the various determinations as to the 'real' exact date of the birth of Christ ranged from early spring to late autumn. And every one (of the nine or ten I purused) worked hard to prove its validity with much intellectual wrangling.

Maybe you're wondering what my answer to the inquiring inmate was? Well, with as much scholarly wisdom as I could possibly muster, I replied, "Who cares?"

That's really how I feel about it. Does it matter? Is there any real benefit to knowing for sure the exact date of His birth? I think not.
What really matters is that He came. He became "Emmanuel." I don't care when. But its vital to me that He did.

I'm afraid that too many who choose to enter the fray of such debates end up missing out on the simple truth: "They shall call His Name, Emmanuel," which translated, means "God with us."

Here's Another Favorite (I can't help myself)

Baptism

I will be baptizing fifteen men at Charlotte Correctional Center this evening during our worship service. I'm stoked! It's always a big deal for me.

My All-Time Christmas Favorite

He Always Comes

"Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. And it had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them."
~ John 6:16-17

I've been right where the disciples were. In the dark... and wondering where Jesus is. It's a scary place to be. I can't tell you how many times over the years I noticed the darkness all around me, and I've wondered where the Lord is. But I've learned something. He always comes.

There have been times when the darkness has seemed overwhelming and I've wondered if He will. When the doctor said, "Cancer!" the darkness came suddenly, and I wanted Him to be there right then.
There have been other times when the darkness was of my own making. Bad decisions. Carelessness. Sin. I've wrapped myself in darkness like a thick blanket. I had no business expecting Him to come. But still, He always does.

He comes because He's always faithful to His Word. The promise is He'll never leave us or forsake us. So He always comes.

His Story Looks a Lot Like Us

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.

This is where I think we find the real story. Actually, we find a number of stories. Some not-so-nice stories. Here we find the stories of liars and cheaters and schemers who seem to have no regard for the holy. Let me point out a few:

"Judah begat Perez and Zerah by Tamar" (Matthew 1:3) - 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" (Matthew 1:5) - 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" (Matthew 1:6) - 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.

Never Give Up

How often do we give up just short of success? Actually, we'll never know, will we?

Here's a story of perseverence from the UK that ought to encourage all of us to keep on trying:

Jockey wins race after 28 years

A Dorset dairy farmer has ended his 28-year losing streak as an amateur jockey by finally winning a race.
Even Anthony Knott's children poked fun at his efforts but the 44-year-old proved them wrong by romping to victory in the 2.30 at Wincanton in Somerset.
After achieving his lifelong ambition riding Wise Men Say, he is planning to retire to concentrate on milking his cows in Sturminster Newton.

Has it Ever Occurred to You?

"One day it occurred to me that an infinitely wise God might possibly know more than I did."
~ R.A. Torrey

Hudson Isaiah Stover

Hudson Isaiah Stover

Born Friday, November 14 11:34am

8 lbs 3 oz

20 1/2 inches

Olivia has a baby brother ... and I've got a grandson!

I Found a Really Good Thing

I have a great wife.

I know. Most guys would probably say the same thing about their wives. Right? ...... Huh? .... Okay .... well.... maybe not.

But my wife is incredible. She always has been. And I'm incredibly proud of her. She was away this weekend helping our oldest daughter, Sheila, prepare for the birth of her second child. She cleaned, and cooked, and chased Olivia around for four days.
She didn't have to do that. But that's how she is. She's loving, and caring, and totally selfless. She's an incredible wife and mother. (I keep using the same word - incredible. But she is.) She's an awesome grandmother. She's a great friend and confidant. And she's the best gift God has ever given to me.

The Bible says in Proverbs 18:22: "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord." I've found a really, R-E-A-L-L-Y good thing!

A Warning I'm Going to Heed

Sharon is out of town this weekend, leaving me to fend for myself. I decided to fix a frozen pizza for my dinner this evening. Checking the instructions, I found this:

• DO NOT EAT PIZZA WITHOUT COOKING.

I'm just wondering: Is that really a problem with this product? Have they had so many cases of people trying to ingest frozen pizzas that they have to include that warning in bold letters in the instructions?

A Prayer I Might Have Prayed

A little boy was overheard praying:

"Lord, if You can't make me a good boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am."

I Have a Problem

I have a problem. I've had it all my life.

My problem is that I'm totally insane about stuff. Not 'room-with-mattress-wallpaper-kind-of' insane. I just get crazy about things. I don't mean to. I definitely don't want to. But I can't seem to help myself.

When my football team loses, it makes me nuts. (And I'm a Buffalo Bills fan. You can imagine the insanity.) Hockey? Same thing. Politics? Makes me lose my mind.
By the same token, I'm obsessed with running my leaf blower, and raking and bagging leaves. I also get a bit irrational if the pantry runs low on certain items. Like today, I know we're down to our last can of diced tomatoes and I can't stand it. (Okay, I know that's just plain odd. I can't help it.) Again, I just get crazy about that kind of stuff.

Sharon says it's passion and that that's what she loves about me. I don't know, though. Of course, there is a good side to this. I'm also crazy passionate when it comes to preaching and teaching God's Word. When inmates say things like "I've never heard anyone preach quite like you do, chaplain. You've just got a way of telling us," I take it as a compliment. I hope it means I'm reaching them. I'll stand on my head for that. (You see. That's just not rational.)

Why can't I just let stuff go? Does it really matter if there are leaves on the lawn for a couple of days, or if our canned goods inventory is off this week?
Does anyone else have this problem?

Go ahead. Laugh if you want to. But think about your own life. What is it that makes you crazy?

The Right Perspective on Election Day & Beyond

"Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God."
~ Romans 13:1

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2

My Little Bit

God can do anything He wants to do. Of that I have no doubt.

What amazes me is that He chooses to work through us. Or that he chooses to use the litle bit we have to offer to do "God-sized" things in this world.

In John 6, Jesus fed a crowd of more than five thousand people with just a few fish and a couple of small loaves of bread. Those few loaves of bread and two small fish belonged to a young boy in the crowd. It was his sack lunch. I imagine his mother packed it for him that morning as most moms do - concerned that it provide him enough nutrition and wondering if he would trade what she packed for Twinkies and Ho-Ho's.
But instead of a trade, the little boy made his lunch an offering.

Had he held it back, it would have been enough to nourish him. He may have even had a little bit leftover to share. But somehow, word got to the disciples that this little fella had brought himself some lunch. They in turn told Jesus. And when he offered the little bit he had to the Lord, it became an all-you-can-eat feast for a multitude.

I may not have much to offer. In these difficult economic times, we may feel like we'd better hold on to the little bit we have. But that would be a mistake. God wants us to trust Him enough to give Him what little we have, let Him bless it and break it, and let it become a blessing to everyone around us.

Jesus could have started with nothing and had the same result. He could have spoken a word and created a McDonalds right there beside the Sea of Galilee. He could have made it rain manna like He had for Israel in the wilderness. But He didn't. Instead, a small boy made a small offering - And in Jesus' hands, it made all the difference.

True Treasure

On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed his famous (or infamous) 95 theses to the door of the church at Wittenburg, Germany. While most of the 95 protested abuses by church leadership and the selling of indulgences, there is one that might be considered the most vital of all. Number 62 of those 95 thesis says simply:

"The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God."

In this Luther could not have been more right.

Thinking About James

Been thinking a lot about James. Not James, my daughter's boyfriend (Sorry, man) - but the Epistle of James in the New Testament. Tonight our home Bible study group begins a new study in the Book of James. We'll walk through it together over the next number of Wednesday evenings - verse by verse.

James was the half-brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55-56). Can you imagine growing up with Jesus as your older brother? No pressure there, right?
But the thing that strikes me about this man named James is the name by which, according to early church tradition, some referred to him: Old Camel Knees. It was said that he spent so much time in prayer that his knees became hard and knobby and calloused, like those of a camel.

Old Camel Knees. Wouldn't it be great to earn such a moniker today? I'm looking forward to our study together.

There Are Thieves In the Prison

For years, we have made greeting cards for all occassions available in the chaplain's office for the inmates. They've been welcome to come and get cards anytime to send out to family and loved ones. We purchase the cards from a ministry in Missouri and keep a card rack filled - much like a Hallmark store. It's a great ministry tool: Many use "getting a card" as an opportunity to speak with me about all kinds of issues in their lives.

But lately we've had a problem. It began as a nuisance, but has become a real sore spot with me. Somebody is coming in and stealing all of the envelopes that go with the cards. So now we have hundreds of cards with no envelopes.
It has become such a problem that I have had to stop making cards available for the inmates. No more birthday cards for children. No more anniversary cards for wives. No more thank you's or thinking of you's.
I hate having to do that. I hope it's only temporary. It really is hurting me more that it hurts them. (Remember when your parents used to say that before they punished you?)

What baffles me about the whole thing is this: Why steal from someone who is willing to give you whatever you want? Is the mindset of prison 'gameplaying' and manipulation so deeply ingrained in some that they just can't recognize when they don't have to do that to get what they need?

Maybe you're thinking I'm being mean. It's only envelopes, right? Just paper. But there's a principle at stake here. These men are here in this place because of this same mindset. And soon (very soon for some) they'll be getting out of this place. I'm hoping maybe this will help someone to see that they don't have to steal - they just have to ask.

And as soon as I can figure out the solution to "the great envelope dilemma" here at Charlotte Correctional Center I'll make the cards available again.

What a Week!

Last week will go down in the annals as one of my best weeks in a long, long time. Maybe you missed me during my prolonged absence form the blog scene? (Okay. Maybe not.)

After graduating a group of dads from our Father Accountability Program at the prison on Monday evening, I took the rest of the week off to tend to pressing matters. Our granddaughter, Olivia, spent most of the week with us as her mom and dad were out of town for a conference. Grandpa and Grandma played, and sang, and read more Little Golden Books last week than we have in years. I enjoyed every minute. I'd forgotten how much fun a little one can be. I watched as she tried new things and investigated everything within her reach and line of sight. I laughed as we made games of everything from meal time to nap time. And sans medication, my blood pressure was lower than it's been in years.

After we took Olivia to her other Grandparents' on Thursday, Sharon and I made for the NC mountains on Friday to see our Emily, view the colorful Fall foliage, take in and Appalachian State football game, and enjoy our time together.

All in all, a great week for me!

The Sad Reality in America and in the Church

"We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings to be fruitful."
~ C.S. Lewis

A Preacher Moment

Every now and again a preacher has one of those moments when something comes out of his mouth that amazes everyone. (A bit presumtuous? Perhaps) Here's what I said from the pulpit recently in one of those "preacher moments" that shocked me when it slipped out:

"There is a difference between trusting God - and trusting in my expectations of God."

Good stuff, huh?

A Guaranteed Investment Strategy

The US and world financial markets are in a crisis not seen since 1929. With our 401K's and other investments losing value by the minute, there would seem to be only a few really safe investments we can make. By investing in these precious commodities, we can be assured of future wealth beyond our imaginations.

What are these rock-solid investment strategies? Your marriage and your children.

Some Things Never Change

At a time when the financial markets of the United States were crumbling, the government was going deeper in debt to try to prop up the economy and fund it's military, and America was at war with the fate of freedom hanging in the balance, here's what the politicians in Washington were saying:

In the US House of Representatives, Democrats railed against the Republican President and his policies. In a series of violent anti-war speeches, they cried out, "Ought this war to continue? No! Not a day, not another hour. The time has come for the soldiers to come home."

Things may have been even worse in the Senate, where the attacks against the President and his administration were vindictive and personal. Democratic Senators in speeches on the floor called the Republican President "an imbecile," and claimed he was "the weakest man ever placed into high office in this country."


While this may sound like Washington in 2008, it's not. This was Washington in 1862. And the Republican President who was the target of such vitriol? It was Abraham Lincoln.

Some things never change.

What Noah's Blog Might Have Looked Like

Day 1
Rain.

Day 2
Rain.

Day 3
Rain.

Day 4
Rain.

Day 5
Rain.

Day 6
So I was loading up the last of the animals last week when I walk past my neighbor Roger, the Molech-worshipper. He looks up and says "Hey, looks like rain."
True story.

Day 7
Now wondering if it was wrong to have borrowed Roger’s hedge clippers.

Day 15
It’s been the same every day for the last two weeks, but then last night, our mama elephant gave birth. I’ll put up some pics soon.

Day 18
Note to self: next time I’m on a long cruise and I want to play badminton and I only have one birdie, play below deck. I’m so stupid.

Day 20
I hesitate to write this down, but here goes. . . .
I was working late last night when I felt something bite the back of my neck. Without thinking, I slapped it. Long story short, the new world might have to do without the zhingi-zhingi fly.

Day 25
New Year’s Day. A few resolutions for this year:
- Lose weight (let’s face it, I’m not 300 years old anymore)
- Work out more
- Read the entire Bible (there’s only four chapters in the whole thing, you think I would have done this one already)
-After we land, once a week: date night with the missus.

Day 27
Not to diss my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather, but I’ve been hanging out with animals a lot, too, and I think I would have named some of them differently…

ADAM’S NAME MY VERSION
Rabbit: Hoppity-hoppity
Dog: Rowrf
Bat: EEEEEEEEEE!!!
Duck: Waddle-waddle-flap-flap

Day 31
You guys read this blog. You know I love my wife, right? But I swear, sometimes she just gets on my nerves.
"The roof is leaking, Noah."
"Noah, the sheep are soaking wet because the roof is leaking."
You know what? Sometimes Noah just needs a little Noah Time, okay?

Day 35
Here’s an item from the "you-learn-something-every-day" category: Hippo lovemaking is very, very noisy. Haven’t slept in five days.
P.S. I counted every knot in the cypress wood of the ship: 12,946.

Day 39
Somehow Ham keeps winning at UNO. Does he have a secret stash of Draw 4’s?

Correction: Earlier I wrote that the wood of our ship has 12,946 knots. However, I forgot to include the cover on the top deck. I included that, then recounted the entire thing three more times, just to be sure. We have 14,598 knots.

Day 45
Okay, so when God said he would make it rain forty days and forty nights, I assumed that we would be done after that. Apparently I was wrong.

Day 87
Very, very wrong.

Day 110
The wife says I’m getting paranoid, but I believe the primates are conspiring to mutiny. Can’t talk, more later.

Day 150
We’ve landed on top of some kind of mountain. More later.

Day 190
Sent out a dove, but it came back.

Day 197
This time, the dove came back with an olive branch. Going now to ask the wife if she has any recipes with doves and olives.

Day 204
Sent the dove out again today to bring back some more olives for dinner, but it didn’t come back. So good news is we may be off the boat and onto dry land soon. Bad news: Mrs. Noah’s Greek Dove Souffle is a no-go.

Day 231
So we’re on land now. Yay! Big thanks to everybody who wrote to check on us. BTW, my new e-mail address is noah@mtararat.com. I’ll still post from time to time, to keep you guys up to date. To answer a question that so many of you have asked, no, I don’t have a MySpace page yet.
Man, I could really use a drink.

Voices

"I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't know his voice."
~ John 10:1-5

Shepherding hasn't changed much in 4,000 years. Multiple flocks are still kept in "sheepfolds" at night to protect against predators. A sheepfold is an enclosure made with rocks, or maybe even a cave with only one way in or out. That gate is kept by a porter, or gatekeeper.

Each morning, when it's time to lead the sheep to pasture, the shepherd comes to the gate and calls to his sheep. His sheep know his voice. That is the only voice they will respond to. They will not follow another shepherd. They don't know his voice.

Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd. The meaning is clear. His sheep know His voice. They follow Him.
But what happens when the sheep can't hear the voice of the shepherd? What happens when there are too many other voices calling to the sheep, competing for their attention? Or when all the noise around the sheep drowns out the shepherd's call?

There seem to be so many other voices screaming at us today; so much noise going on all around us that I fear we miss the voice of the Shepherd as He calls us to follow Him. The danger is especially real in a nation where the constant media barrage is unrelenting, and in a season where politicians keep up their incessant chattering day and night.

With all of the noise in our lives today, how long has it been since you heard the Good Shepherd call you by name? How long since you cut through all of the noise, and all of the various voices calling to you?
His desire is to make you "lie down in green pastures, and lead you beside still waters." Isn't that just what we need?

The Foreverness of Vows

Yesterday I had the privilege of performing the wedding ceremony of some very dear friends. I never want any wedding I'm asked to be part of to be "just another ceremony." I want it to be a worship service where Jesus is exalted and glorified. And I always want to be certain everyone understands exactly what is taking place. So I always introduce the vows with these words:

"It is very important that you understand the seriousness of what you are about to do. We live in a day when vows have lost the sacredness and significance that they once had. But I assure you God has not changed. God takes our vows very seriously, and we will be held accountable before Him for the way in which we follow through in honoring them. Your vows will be recorded in heaven forever, never to be erased.Let them be the same in each of your hearts today"

Later at the reception, someone said something to me that got me thinking. He said, "My wife and I have only been married since January. But the things you said reminded me of the vows that we took before God. I needed that reminder. And I think it would do everyone well to attend a wedding every few months to be reminded as well."

While I'm certainly not going to advocate attending too many weddings (It's a guy-thing) I do think we need to be reminded from time to time of the seriousness of our vows. God does hear our words. And the words that we speak, and the vows that we vow are indeed recorded in heaven. What we seem to take so lightly, or sometimes even forget completely, is a big deal to God.

Vows are permanent. They are a sacred promise that God expects us to honor.

"For You have heard my vows, O God; You have given me the inheritance of those who fear You name."
~ Psalm 61:5

Almost

Almost. To me, that is the saddest word in the English language. Almost. Not quite. Nearly. Kind of. But not really. Just almost. Getting close, but not quite achieving.

The rich, young ruler who ran to Jesus in Mark 10 lived a life of 'almost.' He wanted to know how to have eternal life. He'd done alright according to the Law. But Jesus said to him, "One thing you lack, ..." Just one thing. "You've 'almost got it, young man. You're 'almost' there. But not quite."

Rather than a life of almost, I want a life of reckless abandon. I want to pursue after the Lord like a deer panting after a water brook. I don't want 'not quite' on my resume. I'm not interested in anything that just gets close. I won't settle for 'almost' in my life.

Crosses to Crowns

"There will be no crown wearers in Heaven who were not first cross bearers on earth."
~ Charles Spurgeon

A Strong Tower

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and is safe."
~ Proverbs 18:10

There is a place that we can run to to find safety in the midst of this world's calamity. As I've been sitting here praying this morning, this verse comes to my mind. I'm finding comfort in these words today.

Remember: When this life seems so overwhelming, there is a place that we can run to - a strong tower where we are safe. His name is Jesus.

God Notices

"The foundation of the Lord's Temple was laid in midspring, in the month of Ziv, during the fourth year of Solomon's reign. The entire building was completed in every detail by midautumn, in the month of Bul, during the eleventh year of his reign. So it took seven years to build the Temple.
Solomon also build a palace for himself, and it took him thirteen years to complete the construction."
~ 1 Kings 6:37 & 7:1

Seven years to build a house for God. Thirteen years to build a house for himself. Do you see a problem? These two verse are found back-to-back in the Scriptures. Obviously, God noticed the amount of time Solomon spent on his own palace and the amount of time he dedicated to God's house.

What are you giving yourself to today?

Experiencing the Love of God?

As I've been watching the latest meltdown in America, I've been thinking about its meaning. Right now, our financial markets are teetering on the brink of failure. As I look back over the past few years, we've seen our nation suffering through much internal turmoil as well as terrorist attacks and the wars which have ensued. We've seen more than our share of natural disasters including unprecendented hurricane damage, droughts, repeated flooding throughout the midwest and wildfires out west. Now we see the American economy shaken to its very foundations as real estate loses value by the day, the stock market runs up and down like an amusement park thrill ride, fuel prices remain near record highs, and consumer confidence is at an all-time low. What are we to make of all of it?

In Amos 4, the prophet spoke these words to Israel on behalf of the Lord:

"I brought hunger to every city and famine to every town.
But you still would not return to Me," says the Lord.

"I kept rain from falling when your crops needed it most.
I sent rain on one town but withheld it from another.
Rain fell on one field, while another field withered away.
People staggered from town to town looking for water,
But there was never enough.
But you still would not return to Me," says the Lord.

"I struck your farms and vineyards with blight and mildew.
Locusts devoured all your fig and olive trees.
But you still would not return to Me," says the Lord.

"I sent plagues on you like the plagues I sent on Egypt long ago.
I killed your young men in war and led all your horses away.
The stench of death filled the air.
But you still would not return to Me," says the Lord.

"I destroyed some of your cities, as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
Those of you who survived were like charred sticks pulled from a fire.
But you still would not return to Me," says the Lord.

Sound familiar? In all of these disasters, God's desire was for Israel to repent and return to Him. All that God did, He did in love. All of the economic upheavel, the wars, the droughts and other natural disasters were the tools of a merciful God trying desperately to to get His people to turn away from their selfish, sinful ways and come back to Him.

Is it any different today?

Churches & Body Counts

Jesus Christ established His church to be His representation in the world in which we live. "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, ..." This is the mission of the church. And in many regards I believe the church is doing a pretty good job.
However, I have noticed a disturbing trend in many churches. Or maybe its not a trend at all. Maybe its not new; maybe its been happening for a long time but I'm just seeing it more clearly over the last few years.
Sometimes it seems in the churches' zeal to do the work of the Lord, corners are being cut. Feelings are being hurt. Good, godly people are being pushed aside in the interest of ministry (or growth, or church politics, or whatever.) Exaggerations are made. Is it too strong to say that, in many cases, lies are told?

The bottom line is this: Far too often, I'm seeing churches that are "on the move for Christ" leaving a body count along the way. While they celebrate their growth, and all they seem to be accomplishing in the name of Jesus, they don't notice the wounded people limping out the back door.
I wonder: Does anybody notice when the people who were such an integral part of God's work in a church body are suddenly gone? Does anybody ever wonder what happened to them?

Amazed

• I'm still amazed by God's grace
• I'm amazed that God can use me
• I'm amazed that the preached Word, from my lips, can touch hearts
• I'm amazed when I see prisoners respond to the Word of the Lord in droves
• I'm amazed at how God can break through the hardest of hearts - even mine
• I'm amazed at His hand of blessing which never seems to leave my life
• I'm amazed that He gave me such an incredible woman to call my wife
• I'm amazed at the three beautiful girls He's given us
• I'm amazed to see how God is using each of them
• I'm amazed by the beauty of God's creation all around me
• I'm amazed .....
  

Huh?

Here's an example of what a prison chaplain deals with. See if you can follow this:

There is a fella who is a part of the current Father Accountability class I facilitate at the prison. I really want to help him get his life on course. He has begun coming to church on a regular basis and is beginning to show a great interest in the things of the Lord. He has three children. By three different women. Here's where it gets confusing.

He is married to the mother of one of those children. However, they are not together. She has a live-in boyfriend and works as a stripper in a local men's club. He has a girlfriend with whom he has the youngest of his children. But she's married to another man who is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence somewhere. He's currently having problems with girlfriend/mom of third child because she has another boyfriend living with her and his son while he is incarcerated.We haven't even gotten to the third child and her mother yet.
I'm not making this up. I'm not that creative.

Besides beginning to come to church and to show some interest in the things of God, he has begun to come around and seek counsel from me. He's looking to me for answers on how to get all of this straightened out.

It's enough to make my head spin. Most days I just look at him as he sits and shares with me, and with a wrinkled brow, I say, "Huh?"

In Pretense or In Truth, Christ is Proclaimed

"Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.
What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice."
~ Philippians 1:15-18

In our home Bible study group, we're studying the Epistle to the Philippian church. Last week we spent some time thinking about these verses. Since then, the Lord has been bringing them back to my mind and I've been thinking about how to apply them in my own life and ministry. Let me explain.

There is a local pastor who's church and ministry has grown to be quite successful. When I first started as the chaplain at Charlotte Correctional Center nearly twelve years ago, he was one of the few local ministers involved at the prison. I knew almost from day one that he didn't like me. I'm not sure why. I think part of it was just my being there as chaplain. He liked to think of himself in that role. Whatever the reason, I appreciated his ministry and made the best of the situation.
After a few years, and with the growth of his church, he moved on from ministry at the prison. That should have been the end of it. I thought we were on okay terms.

Then I heard from some former inmates who attend his church regularly that he had said some rather unflattering things about me from the pulpit. In fact, he once called me "That white devil over there at that prison." (Yes, he is a black pastor.)
I tried not to let that bother me. I even found it kind of funny and made a joke of it.

But then, very recently, I was told that this pastor has refused to have anything to do with a particular former inmate because he was saved under my ministry and baptized by me and remains to this day a very dear friend of mine.

So, what am I supposed to do? I know what I want to do. (Think "laying on of hands" here.) But God's been reminding me of what His Word teaches me to do. (Don't you hate it when He does that?)
It's taken me a few days, but with Paul, I'm rejoicing today. I'm glad this pastor's church is growing. God bless him. I pray that God will continue to bless his ministry and use him mightily.

God Uses the Wildernesses of Life

"O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly;
My soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water."
~ Psalm 63:1-2

David the king penned these words after nearly forty years on the throne in Israel. But he didn't write this from the comfort of his palace overlooking Jerusalem. He wrote these words sitting on a rock in the midst of the wilderness of Judah. When he wrote this Psalm he was a man on the run; a man forced to flee from the palace that was rightly his to hide in the wilderness.
It seems the wilderness re-ignited David's passion for the Lord.

I'm not sure of his spiritual condition before he was forced to flee for his life. But I have an idea. I'm thinking that, after forty years of living a king's life and enjoying all the king's finery, maybe David's tears were a bit dry and his heart was a bit cold. Maybe his passion was somewhat diminished. Living large will do that.

It took the wilderness to stoke his passion once again. It took a desperate situation to make him desperate for the Lord again.

I don't think it was any accident that David was forced to flee. It didn't take God by surprise. It looks to me like it was God's doing. Sometimes we all need to be driven to the wilderness. We need something to shake us up; a problem or a situation to renew our sense of desperation. Sometimes it takes a crisis to re-ignite our passion, and to make us say, "O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly ..."

A Politician Who Got It

At a White House reception during Abraham Lincoln's first term, many guests were ushered past the President but not allowed to come too close. An old man, disappointed at not having shaken hands with the President, waved his hat and called out, "Mr. President, I'm up from New York State where we believe that God Almighty and Abraham Lincoln are going to save this country!"

Hearing this remark, Lincoln smiled and nodded. "My friend," he said, "you're half right."

Missing It By a Million Miles

" ... on the floor of the House of Representatives today, a Democrat congressman, Steve Cohen, from Memphis, said, "If you want change, you want the Democrat Party. Barack Obama was a community organizer like Jesus, who our minister just prayed about. Pontius Pilate was a governor."


Jesus was a "community organizer"? These people are losing their minds.

Son of God. Savior of the world. The Holy One of Israel. Messiah. King of kings and Lord of lords. Word of God. Prince of Peace. Everlasting Father. Alpha and Omega. Bright and Morning Star. The only way to the Father. But "community organizer"? I don't find that one in my Bible.

Jesus Christ transcended the foolishness of this world. To think of Him in terms of this world's political machinations misses who He is by a million miles.

$10 Billion to Discover What I Already Know

The brand new Hadron Collider was started up by scientists in Europe. This $10 billion dollar scientific marvel will, in the words of the Hadron Collider project leader, "allow us to look forward to a new era of understanding about the origins and evolution of the universe."

They could have just asked me. This much I know for sure: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." ~ Genesis 1:1

I'm thinking that I could have saved them $9,999,999,999.

Getting Beyond Our Circumstances

While the Apostle Paul sat in prison in Rome he penned these words to the church at Philippi:

"Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, ..."

I'm just wondering how one goes about getting beyond circumstances enough to see imprisonment as advantageous to the gospel rather than the obvious personal discomfort and deprivation he was suffering. That's so foreign to us in our "me first" world and way of thinking, isn't it?

Always Check With the Music Minister

A preacher was wrapping up his Sunday sermon on temperance. With great emphasis he said, "If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and pour it in the river."
Then, with his voice rising, he said, "And if I had all the wine in the world, I'd take it and pour it in the river."
And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he concluded by saying, "And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and dump it in the river."
With that, he completed his sermon and sat down.

The minister of music stood up, and announced with an uncertain smile, "For our closing song, let us sing hymn #365, "Shall We Gather at the River."

"Be Anxious for Nothing ..."

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God
And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus"
~ Philippians 4:6

This evening I'll be preaching about the choice we have in every situation and in every circumstance that comes our way in life. You can be worry, or you can pray. You can be anxious, or you can pray. But you can't do both. Not at the same time.

But I just realized, I've been a bit anxious this morning about the message tonight. I guess I know what I need to do.

Mind-Numbing

Sharon and I are starting a Bible study group in our home this evening. Although I want it to be very discussion-oriented, by default I'll be leading the discussion. So I've been studying some and preparing for it. We're going to start with the Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians.

At the same time, I've been trying to study and prepare for tomorrow evening's worship service at the prison.

The problem is my mind doesn't have that much capacity. Now I feel like I've blown a fuse. I'm not sure I'm prepared for either one. My brain is like Slinky (remember those?) that's gotten all twisted-up.

.

Prayer Works

"The effectual fervent prayer of a bunch of inmates availeth much."
~ James 5:16 (Tom Burger Paraphrase)

This past Sunday morning we opened our worship service at the prison in a very different fashion than normal. No Scripture reading. No prayer of dedication for our time of worship together. No music. Instead, I felt prompted to ask the inmates to join me in prayer for those in the path of Hurricane Gustav. At that time Gustav was a category four storm and the forecast called for major destruction and flooding.
We prayed for God's protection for lives and property. We prayed for those evacuating. And then I felt a boldness and began to pray that the Lord would speak to the wind and the waves and weaken the storm before it made landfall.

Apparently, our prayers were answered. While there was some damage and minor flooding, it was nowhere near the "Katrina-sized" catastrophe being predicted.

Today, I'm enjoying the thought that a little church full of prisoners in the southwest corner of Charlotte, North Carolina can pray together and see those prayers answered. The world may not take much notice of what goes on here, but the Lord does!

Have You Heard There's An Election?

Many Christians seem to be struggling with the candidates the major political parties have put forth for the highest office in the land this year. I've wondered myself. Neither seems to appeal strongly to our values. While they both call themselves Christian, many Christians are left wondering which one will stand on a platform that makes us say "That's my candidate. He thinks like I think." I've given this some thought (and prayer) and here are a few conclusions:

1. As Christians, we should have far different priorities than others. While they're talking about the economy and jobs and taxes and the candidates' positions on popular issues, we should be looking for the candidate who stands closest to our own values on the issues of life and godliness. Who tells the truth? Who takes unpopular stands because its the right thing to do? Who will stand against the taking of the innocent lives of millions of unborn children? Who will uphold the foundational institution of marriage? These are the kinds of issues God will judge this nation upon.
2. We're electing a commander-in-chief, not a preacher-in-chief. In Old Testament Israel, which is as close to a God-ordained form of governance as I know of, there was a king and there were priests. The king was never expected to do the work of the priests. In fact, King Saul tried it and God renounced him as king. The role of the priests was religious leadership and the king was charged with moral and ethical civil governance. People didn't look to the king for spiritual leadership and they didn't look to the priests for civil authority.
3. Rather than looking for the "christian" candidate to lead us, maybe Christians should step into the role of priest the Bible ascribes to us. Are we not a "royal priesthood"? We ought to stop looking to them for any kind of spiritual leadership. Do we really want a politician - any politician - coming to office as the leader of the faith? To me, that idea seems to cheapen faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to a political ideology.

So I'm not watching any conventions or listening to any stump speeches this fall. They won't be talking about the issues that matter to me anyhow. I'm not getting worked-up over this stuff anymore. I'm a preacher, I've got more important things to do with my time. I'll simply pray and ask the Lord to guide me as I choose the one who will guide this nation in a moral path.

What's In A Name?

Only two colleges existed in the American Colonies in 1701, and both were for the training of preachers: Harvard, and the newly formed Collegiate College of Connecticut. The school originally met in houses, but after a major financial gift from Jeremiah Dummer of London, land was purchased and a campus planned.
In 1718, Cotton Mather contacted a Welsh merchant, Elihu Yale, who's small donation consisted of the proceeds from the sale of 9 bales of goods, along with 417 books and a picture of King George I. Shortly thereafter, the name of the school was changed to Yale College.

By all rights, shouldn't the college have been called Dummer College?

Our Giants Have Children

"Now the Philistines were ar war again with Israel, David went down and his servants with him; and as they fought against the Philistines, David became weary. Then Isbe-benob, who was among the descendents of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, was girded with a new sword, and he intended to kill David. But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him.
~ 2 Samuel 21:15-17

Everyone knows the story of David and Goliath. It was David's most memorable triumph. As improbable as it was, a young boy slew a nine foot tall, battle-hardened Philistine warrior and became a hero to all of Israel. But that giant had a son.

Some years later, after David had assumed the throne in Israel, there was war once again with the Philistines. In the heat of the battle, David found himself wearied. And at that moment, Ishbi-benob, the son of Goliath, the giant whom David had killed, came looking for King David. The Bible says he had "a new sword, and he intended to kill David."

David probably never imagined that he'd one day come face-to-face with Goliath's son. That giant was history, just a part of the past, a story to tell his children and grandchildren.
But the giant's son hadn't forgotten. On the battlefield, he had one aim - Revenge. Kill the man who killed his daddy. Ishbi-benob had come at the moment when David didn't have the strength to carry-on the fight. It's a good thing David had Abishai nearby.

There's so much here for a preacher to work with. But the bottom line is this: We can never let down our guard. Not for a moment. It seems the giants in our lives - those giants that we've defeated in our past - have children. The things that you've overcome in life are never really ancient history. They may be as close your next battle.

Mepkin Retreat

I had an incredible few days at the Mepkin Abbey. Quiet time alone with the Lord in a beautiful place. Time to pray, to meditate and to delve into His Word for myself rather than looking for the next sermon.

The sanctuary

In the garden

In the garden

Sanctuary organ pipes

The library

Second Amendment Granny

85 year old Leda Smith is my new hero.

On Sunday, she returned home to find a burglar inside her home. Remaining calm, she walked directly past the young man into her bedroom and retrieved her gun. She then backed the would be thief into the living room where she forced him to call the police and report himself. Finally, she held him at gunpoint until the police arrived.

This poor guy will never live this down in prison.

An Appointment With God

I feel like I have an appointment with God.

I'll be spending four days at The Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monastary of the Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance. It will be a much-needed personal retreat; a time of prayer, Scripture reading and contemplation.

Part of me is really looking forward to it. But part of me is dreading the quiet, alone time with the Lord. He'll have my undivided attention.

Repent

As enamored as we are with all things Jesus, (and that's appropriate) we seem to be a bit selective in the things of Christ we choose to grab hold of. We like the big, the bold, and the beautiful. We love the miracles and the bold proclamations of righteousness and judgment. We delve into the lengthy discourses so impressively delivered, like the Sermon on the Mount.

But His very first recorded sermon is one easily (and perhaps intentionally) overlooked. "Repent, for the kingdom of heavern is at hand." (Matthew 4:17)
There's just not much said anymore about repentance. It's not very sexy to preach from our pulpits; just not much of a crowd-pleaser.

But if ever there was a day when we need to hear and heed the simple truth of our Savior's words, it's now. "Repent!"
As individuals, as believers and as a nation we desperately need a season of repentance.

Our Nation's Shame

I can't shake the thoughts I've had concerning the horrors of abortion in this nation. 50,000,000 abortions since 1973. Ever since I read that number yesterday I've felt sick inside.

I keep hearing those who favor abortion rights pontificating about womens' rights. But what about responsibility? Is no one responsible for their actions anymore?

And of course, there is the specious argument about the woman's health if the pregnancy is carried to term. But here are the real numbers:

1% of all abortions occur because of rape or incest; 6% of abortions occur because of potential health problems regarding either the mother or child, and 93% of all abortions occur for social reasons (i.e. the child is unwanted or inconvenient).

That's right, 93% of all of the abortions performed are "just because ..." Because it's inconvenient, or because children just aren't in the plan right now.

God promises judgment on those who shed innocent blood.

50,000,000

50,000,000.

I ran across that number this afternoon in an article I read. 50,000,000. That's fifty million.

Fifty million is the number of babies that have been murdered since abortion was legalized nationally in the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. 50,000,000!
(American Family Association June 2008)

"For Thou didst form my inward parts;
Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to Thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Thy works,
And my soul knows it very well."
~ Psalm 139:13-14

God Leads, We Follow

"Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the Tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out."
~ Numbers 9:22

God leads, we follow. That's the way God designed it. He led the people of Israel in "a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on their way, and in a pillar of fire by night ..." (Exodus 13:21) He leads us, according to the Scriptures, by His Holy Spirit, the One who abides in us. The idea is the same: He leads, we follow.

But what happens when there is no leading?
As God led Israel through the wilderness, there were times when His Presence lingered in a place and the people stayed put. Sometimes it was only for a day or two. I'm sure that was kind of nice. Like a mini vacation.
Other times it was a month. That might have gotten a bit tedious. Who wants to look at the same old sand dunes for thirty days?
Still other times, God's Presence stayed in one place for a year. And for that year, Israel didn't move. They stayed where the Presence of God was. And in that year, they got no closer to the Promised Land.

How frustrating that must have been for God's people. Day after day, week after week, from one month to the next - going nowhere. They knew God had made them a promise. He was leading them to a place He'd already given to them. A blessed place. But here they were wasting time in the desert.

That's the way we tend to see things when there is no movement, isn't it? We want to get where we're going. But God wants us to enjoy His Presence along the way.
And as long as His Presence is with us wherever we are, why would we want to go anywhere else?

Change

Life is crazy.

For the past few months we've had a house guest staying with us. His name is Larry. He is sixty-six years old and was released from prison in June after serving nearly twenty years. I've known Larry for a number of years and Sharon and I felt the Lord's leading to help, so we offered our home to him as he made the transition from prison to society.

Emily has been home from college since mid-May. It's always great to have her (and my other girls, too) around. It's just nice to spend time together with those we love, whether it's watching a movie, playing croquet in the yard, or just sitting around talking.

Last week, Sheila and Olivia were here for the week. Andrew was out of town, so our oldest daughter and our granddaughter came to spend a "mini vacation" at grammy and grampy's house. We all had a blast chasing Olivia from one thing to the next. She is constant motion and kept us quite busy, but very contented for the week.

Friday afternoon Sheila and Olivia left for home. Yesterday, we spent the day moving Emily back to Boone to begin her third year of college. And over the course of the weekend, Larry has signed a lease on his own place and moved out.

In a matter of just a few days, our house has gone from near controlled chaos to the quiet calm of just Sharon and I. It seems kind of weird right now. I'm sure I'll get used to it again in a day or two.

We spend a lot of time in this life adjusting to changes, don't we? They say change is inevitable, but most people don't like change. I'm just glad to know we have a God who is unchanging and unchangeable. The Bible says He is "the same yesterday, today, and forever."
I like that about Him today.

A Little Wisdom From Noah's Ark

Why Even Ask?

Admittedly, I'm a bit flummoxed today.

A few weeks ago an inmate came by my office seeking godly counsel. He was approaching his release date and had a dilemma. You see, before he got locked up he had been living with a woman who was not his wife. Now he's had an experience with Christ. He wanted to know if I thought it might be alright if, when he got out, he went back to living with this woman even though they weren't married. I said, "No."
"Even if we have separate rooms, preacher?"
Again I said, "No."
"But preacher," he tried again, "We've been together for nine years. Don't you think we're really already married in God's eyes?"
Once again I answered, "No." Then we talked for a good while about what the Scriptures say concerning marriage. I talked with him about honoring God, and the importance of vows, and whether he really believed he'd be able to withstand the temptation of living in the same house, but in different rooms.
He admitted that he knew when he came in what I would tell him. He knew what was right and what he should do. Then he thanked me and left.

I saw that inmate this morning. Knowing that he was going home in just a few days and remembering our conversation, I asked him if he'd "taken care of that thing we talked about? Have you made some better arrangements?"
Very sheepishly he answered, "No."

He's decided to go and do the wrong thing. Even after receiving godly counsel. And even knowing in his heart what's right.
I guess I'm just left wondering: Why'd he even bother to ask?

The Truth About Hardships in Life

Ran across this inspiring story recently. Enjoy!

Lornah Kiplagat learned to run because she did not want to be late for school. Each morning, this little Kenyan girl would help her father milk the family cows as soon as there was enough light from the rising sun. Then she would run the fourteen miles from her home to school. Lornah was an eager student who knew that education would provide her an opportunity for a better future. At the time she didn't realize that her running was laying the foundation for her world-class status as a long-distance runner. She just ran because she was poor. But in the process she developed the discipline and stamina to rise above any and all competition in running. She currently holds world records in road racing in the 5,000 meter, 20,000 meter, 10 mile and half marathon runs.

Could it be that there is a blessing and an opportunity in something you only see as a hardship today?

Accept That You Are Accepted

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted in the beloved."
~ Ephesians 1:3-6

Have you ever struggled to get your mind around a concept or an idea? When I was in the ninth grade, for some reason they stuck me in an advanced Algebra class. The teacher was more like a college professor than a high school instructor. His name was Mr. Ferrelli. The kids in the class were considered to be the really smart kids. And there I was - I don't know why or how I ended up there. I think someone put me in that class as a joke. "Hey, let's put this dumb kid in Mr. Ferrelli's class and watch him squirm. That'll be good for some laughs, huh?"

I struggled that entire year. I just couldn't get the concepts. It was like Mr. Ferrelli was speaking another language. He would teach a basic Algebraic concept, and I'd be like, "Huh? What? I don't get it!"
I'd ask for extra help, go to after school tutoring and maybe, after a couple of weeks of looking and feeling completely lost, it would finally click. Then I'd think, "Oh, okay. That's not so hard. I got it now." Of course, by that time, the rest of the class was moved on to something else and I was lost again.

Some people spend their whole Christian lives just like I did that year in Mr. Ferrelli's Algebra class. They're always struggling to try to grasp the simple reality of terms like mercy, and grace, and unconditional love. Those are words we use a lot when we talk about our faith. But some never really come to understand what those terms mean in our lives.
And if there is one single truth in the Christian faith that is more misunderstood, and misrepresented than any other - and one I believe people struggle with more than any other - it's this: Jesus Christ has made us "accepted in the beloved."

We tend to caught caught up in mind-numbing terms like 'predestinated', and concepts like 'before the foundation of the world'. That's a lot to try to get your mind around. We can't even imagine God thinking about us 'before the foundation of the world', can we?
Yet for all of this that seems so impossible to grasp, I believe there is a simplicity to it that many miss. God has made it simple for us; so simple that someone with child-like faith can get it.

The simple truth is: God accepts you! Jesus Christ has made you (and me) acceptable to God. You might wonder about a lot of things and struggle to get your mind around a lot of deep theological concepts, but you can be sure of this one truth: Because of Jesus Christ you are acceptable to God. He's done all that has to be done to make us 'acceptable in the beloved'.

Some Christians never get their minds around that. They're still trying to find a way to make themselves more acceptable. They spend their lives trying to earn God's acceptance. They think that if they could just do something - if they could just pray more, or study the Bible more, or start doing this and stop doing that, if they could just be more consistent - then somehow, at that point God might say, "Oh yeah! Now you've got it. Now you can belong to Me."

The gospel message is simply this: Because of Jesus Christ you are accepted. He has made us accepted in the beloved. If you're a follower of Jesus Christ, you're in the family!
But here's the hard part for most: You've got to accept the fact that you are accepted. Just like all those Algebraic concepts that were so foreign to me in the ninth grade, it 's a fact that will not change. We've just got to get our minds around it.

Just go ahead and accept that you are accepted.

Taking a Risk

Most of us like to think of ourselves as risk takers, at least to some extent. Of course, what we consider to be risk varies. While some risk-takers jump out of airplanes and repel down mountains, others consider their daily commute to work quite risky enough.

In Mark 10, Jesus encountered a man we've come to know as 'The Rich, Young Ruler'. Maybe we ought to call him 'The SAFE, Rich, Young Ruler'. This man ran to Jesus and posed a question: "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus began with the "safe" answer. "You know the commandments ..."
The man replied, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up."
At that point, Jesus invited this confident young fella to delve into the deeper waters of risky behavior. "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." In other words, "Risk everything!"

The man walked away sad. That was asking too much. He trusted too much in all of his possessions. He just couldn't bring himself to take such a risk.
That's what Jesus asks of each of us: To risk those things we hold most dear, the things we value in this life. Jesus is looking to us to risk everything we've come to depend upon for our own self-worth and value.

What is He asking you to risk? Will you?

Father Accountability (Reprise)

That was quick.

Colin, one of the inmates who began the Father Accountability class with us last evening just came by my office. Already, after just one class session, he's heard enough to cause him to know there's something more he needs in life to be the man he wants to be. He wants to be a better dad. But more than that, he wants to be a better man. What an opportunity!

We talked for a while, him asking questions and me sharing the Scriptures and relating to his struggles. He sees his need. And he's moving in that direction. He left with a new Bible and the promise to begin reading it and to come back so we can talk some more.

That's what Father Accountability is really all about.

Father Accountability

"Grandchildren are the crown of old men,
And the glory of sons is their father."
~ Proverbs 17:6

Last evening we began our eighth group of inmates over the past two and a half years in the Father Accountability Program at Charlotte Correctional Center. As we began with simple introductions and each of the fifteen participants shared why he opted to be part of the program, I was overwhelmed by what I was hearing. Over and over again the same words poured forth: "Chaplain, I honestly don't know how to be a father. I have kids, but I've never been much of a dad. I'm here to learn how."

That's music to a chaplain's ears. It's an answer to my prayers in the weeks leading up to the class. No one forced or coereced to be there. No self-proclaimed experts there to share their wisdom with the rest of us. No pretending everything is alright or that we've got it all together.
This group is ready to work over the coming thirteen weeks. They're off to a great start: Being honest about our own shortcomings is an important place to get to. They seem eager to learn. They're anxious to change and grow in their role as fathers.
It won't be easy. I plan to challenge them every week to step up to this awesome responsibility of fatherhood; to become what God intended for each of us to be: "The glory of (our) sons (and daughters, too)."
Pray for us.

Preoccupied?

This was originally posted on this blog late last year. It's not that I cannot post anything more up-to-date or original. I just keep going back to square one.

"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?

Maybe It's Not So Bad After All

A recent NPR News story contained the following account of economic hardship for one family:

"The rising cost of food means their money gets them about a third fewer bags of groceries — $100 used to buy about 12 bags of groceries, but now it's more like seven or eight. So they cut back on expensive items like meat, and they don't buy extras like ice cream anymore. Instead, they eat a lot of starches like potatoes and noodles."

The story included this family photo:




Ummm .... Well, I'm thinking maybe it's not such a bad thing, huh?

A Nation Off-Track

"No country on earth ever had it more in its power to attain the blessings of God than the United States of America. Wondrously strange, then, and much to be regretted indeed would it be, were we to neglect the means and to depart from the road which Providence has pointed us to so plainly; I cannot believe it will ever come to pass."
~ George Washington

Sad how far off-track we've gotten as a nation. The moral decline that George Washington couldn't even conceive of in America has happened. In fact, it's been championed by many.

Just a Regular Guy ... in Christ

Sometimes I think I would love to have an experience like Elijah had on Mount Carmel. At other times, as I read the Scriptures, I think, "Man! Moses had what I want. He met with God face-to- face in the Tabernacle and God spoke to him, 'as a man speaks to a friend'." David was called a man after God's own heart. The Apostle Paul was caught up into heaven and saw and heard things he could not share.

But that was Elijah. And Moses. And David and Paul. That was their experience. That was their relationship with the Lord. Not mine. God has invited me to know Him for myself. It may not be as flashy or dramatic as some, but it's mine. I'm just a regular guy serving the Lord the best I can among all of the typical ups and downs of life.

I'm learning to be satisfied with that.

Guns and Chainsaws

I used to think I was the main decision-maker in our home. I've come to know better. When it comes to buying guns and chainsaws, I make the decisions in our home.
My wife makes all the rest.

As Good As Dead

As a Christian I have certain expectations, all of which hinge upon this truth: God is faithful to His Word. He will do everything He says He will do.
You might call that faith. I trust God to keep His Word.

The problem is I don't know the how or the when of it. Most of us don't lack faith. We lack patience.
God promised Abraham and Sarah a son from whom a nation would grow, and which would eventually be a blessing to "all the families of the earth." Then God proceeded to wait twenty-five years to do what He promised. He could have given them a son within the next nine months. Or within two years. Or five. Or ten. But He didn't. What was He waiting for?

"... therefore, also, there was born of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore." Hebrews 11:12

For Abraham, that was the answer to both the how and the when. God waited until Abraham was "as good as dead" before He fulfilled His promise. I think maybe that might be our answer quite often, too.
God waits in many situations until it's "as good as dead" before He acts. He waits until we can't. He waits until it seems to be too late. He waits until we have no other options; until we have no hope unless He does it.

Driving Under the Influence

If you are one of those who talks on your cell phone while you're driving, oblivious to everyone else on the road and everything going on around you, please don't take this the wrong way, but ...

You're a moron. You're driving me crazy. Please stop it! You're going to hurt someone.

Inadequate

This week, as I wrestle with the Scriptures, and with the direction of the Holy Spirit in preparation for preaching I am struck by my inadequacy to do what He is leading me to do. The message for the inmate population this Thursday evening may be the most important message I've ever carried to the pulpit.

I want to crawl under a rock somewhere and hide. (Most preachers, and maybe a few overworked proctologists, will understand how I feel.)

Truth Is Unpopular

"You don't measure the value of truth by it's popularity."
~ Dr. Randy Smith at Central Church of God 7/6/08

Early in the gospels, and at the start of His ministry Jesus was incredibly popular. Everywhere He went crowds gathered as an air of excitement enveloped the land. But it didn't last.
The more they heard Him speak, and the more He revealed the Kingdom agenda, the less popular He became. The crowds dwindled and some became antagonistic.

Jesus continually sank in the popular opinion polls of His day. That's completely opposite of what we look for, and indeed hope for, today. We want to gain in popularity. Build momentum. That's how we define success. We want more and more people to follow our ministry and message.
But if we follow the example of Jesus, we can't justify that.

Healing Old Wounds

In the midst of a storm the other evening a massive tree in our front yard split. Half the tree came to rest across our front yard. Fortunately, no damage was done. But it's a mess that will take a day or two to clean up. (As a man, I see it as a good excuse to buy myself a new chain saw!)

As I've looked over the tree and the location in it's trunk where the split occurred, I've noticed there was a bad spot with some rot and decay. It was never noticeable before the tree fell. Apparently years ago when the tree was much younger and smaller, it was damaged in this particular spot. A wound occurred.
For years the tree has continued to grow and to appear healthy. Leaves came in the Spring and fell in the Fall. Each year the tree grew substantially providing more and more shade to our yard. But all the while the wound was there.
Now, after so many years of apparent health and vigor, the wound has taken it's toll.

Wounds are like that. They can occur so easily, almost without notice. Hurtful words. A lie. It doesn't take much, does it?
Most often, when a wound occurs, we're quick to try to cover it. We get busy. We try to grow around the wound and thus conceal it. That may work for a while. Like the tree, we might look good on the outside. But just like the tree, the wound is still there. It doesn't just go away. All it takes is a good storm to make the wound obvious once again.

We need to stop trying to cover our wounds. We've got to stop trying to outgrow the hurts we've experienced in life. Wounds need to be dealt with.
And the Scriptures provide the prescription. David was a man who experienced the wounds of betrayal. In Psalm 55 he wrote:
"Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not Yourself from my supplication. Give heed to me and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted, because of the voice of the enemy, because of the pressure of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me and in anger they bear a grudge against me.
My heart is in anguish within me ..." (v.1-4)

Sound familiar? You don't just pick up and move on from this kind of hurt. Instead, David took his wound to the Lord:
"As for me, I shall call upon God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray and cry alound, and He will hear my voice. He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me, for they are many who strive with me." (v.16-18)

"Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." (v.22)

God doesn't want us to hide our wounds. He wants to heal them.

Just Any Toy?

I ran across this story this morning as I caught up on my mail after vacation. Thought it would be appropriate here. Enjoy.

After a long day of work, I was ready for a good meal and a peaceful evening at home with my family.
Then it happened! Wham! Crash! As I opened the door, I saw my five-year-old son stomp and crush my daughter's best doll.
The next few minutes were total bedlam - accusations were hurled and tears flowed . Suddenly I found myself embroiled as a referee in a battle I had not expected. Frantically, I searched my mind for an answer to the dilemma. "I must teach my son a lesson he will never forget," I told myself.
I asked him, "Why did you do that?" He casually gave the typical response, "I don't know."
That answer always infuriated me, as it probably has every parent. In anger, and before I could consider the consequences, I blurted out, Well, daddy is going to have to teach you a lesson you will never forget so you will never destroy someone else's property again. Go get me one of your toys, and I'm going to stomp ...."
I tried to check myself, but it was too late. I had already committed myself.

As he turned to walk to his room, I knew I had made a terrible mistake. Anger had replaced reason. Rampant emotion supplanted rational behavior.
Moments seemed like hours. What would he bring back? That rusty old toy truck? Or maybe his baseball bat that I couldn't break no matter how hard I tried.
Around the corner came my son holding the best and most expensive toy he possessed. The last thing I wanted to do was stomp that miniature morcycle. I didn't want to destroy his favorite toy. My heart melted. "O God," I prayed silently, "what shall I do?"

As my son reached me with the toy, tears were flowing down my cheeks. Then the Lord spoke ever so sweetly to me, "Your son is giving you his best. That's what I did for you and your family on Calvary. I gave My best."
As my wife and I laid the little toy on the floor between us, I reached out to hold my two children in my arms. Then I shared the story again of Jesus giving Himself on the cross, and we wept and prayed that God would use this experience to help us always give our best to the Lord.

My son's simplistic actions had taught us a great lesson. Forgotten were the anger and bitterness of a few moments earlier. Instead, the peace of God's love flowed in as we all committed our best to Him.
Five years later our family still remembers very vividly that beautiful night when a small toy morotcycle brought us all closer to God and to one another.

Vacation

Yes, that's me. Or at least, a pretty accurate likeness.
I am on vacation.
I've checked out for the week.
I've hung out the "Gone Fishing" sign.
I'm just "chillin' (relaxing) with my homies" (the family).


Have a wonderful, safe 4th of July!

Happy Birthday Olivia!

Olivia turned 1 on Sunday.
Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!
Grampy loves you.

Just Like Job

The Book of Job is one of those in the Bible we find ourselves relating to quite often because of the sufferings of this apparently righteous man. But I find I can relate to Job's experience for quite another reason. In Job 23, the man of God struggles to know God, to understand Him, or even to sense His presence:

"Behold, I go forward but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
When He acts on the left,
I cannot behold Him;
He turns on the right,
I cannot see Him."
~ Job 23:8-9

How often I struggle to know God's ways. I want to where He is, and what He is doing all around me. And I can't. That was Job's plight. But Job didn't stay at the point of despair. He came to a realization; one that I am awakening to. The very next verse says:

"But He knows the way I take;
When He has tries me,
I shall come forth as gold."

Job figured out that it doesn't matter if I know what God is doing. It only matters that He knows.He knows what I'm doing, too. And He knows what He's doing in my life. I simply need to trust Him.