Father, Hear The Prayer We Offer

I first heard this hymn in a song years ago and was reminded of it today.  It’s offered as a prayer not for smooth, easy life, but for us to be able to rejoice and endure hardship with Christ by our side.  I hope you are blessed by it.  You can download a cool version of this in song form from itunes by Eden’s Bridge.

Father, hear the prayer we offer:
not for ease that prayer shall be,
but for strength, that we may ever
live our lives courageously.

Not for ever in green pastures
do we ask our way to be;
but the steep and rugged pathway
may we tread rejoicingly.

Not forever by still waters
would we idly rest and stay;
but would smite the living fountains
from the rocks along our way.

Be our strength in hours of weakness,
in our wanderings be our Guide;
through endeavor, failure, danger,
Savior, be thou at our side.

Old People Aren’t Special

I love the conversations I have with my four-year-old son, Caleb, sometimes. Here’s one that occurred today…

Caleb: Daddy, are we old?

Me: (chuckle) Well…I’m kinda old, and you’re really young

Caleb: Well I’m really young so I’m special.

Me: Yes, you are special, but older people are special, too.

Caleb: No, old people aren’t special. You’re old.

*We wreslte, then conversation resumes…

Caleb: Well, old people have fire…and their stomachs…and

Me: What?

Caleb: Well…well…when you get older, your battery dies, and so you’re not special anymore.

Me: Got it.

Not to self: Keep your battery charged.

It’s Official: 10 Years!

I attended my 10 year high school reunion Saturday night. (Old People: “You’re so young!” Young Punks: “Dude, you’re like ancient, or whatever.”) Yes to all of the above. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a blog to write.

I had no idea what to expect and to sum up my experience, it was…interesting. It was one of the weirdest things I’ve ever been a part of. Not good or bad, just weird. You stand there in a room fool of former friends and not-so-friends thinking “yeah, I know you. We went to school together. And now we’re here.” What do you say? Maybe the other attendees did better, but the most I could think to come up with was, “Hey! Remember me? We went to high school together.” Okay, so I didn’t actually say that, but really, what do you say? The obligatory “how have you been,” or “where are you working/living?” or “remeber when (fill in the blank)” are always an option, but that gets old after about the third identical conversation.

I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy it because I did. Seeing so many people who were such a big part of my life for two plus years was very nostalgic and kind of exciting in a way. It was like watching highlight videos of your life, only everyone looks older and many put on a few-quite a few-pounds.  It felt good to have a wife, two kids, and a career.  It was like I could look everyone in the eye with a sense of accomplishment.  I didn’t waste my life.  I’ve done well.  I’m happy.

But then I realized something.  These people have souls.  I know, sounds cheezy.  But that thought seriously occurred to me as one old acquaintance went on about his decision on whether or not to pursue a career in the military or changing to a career as an electrical efficiency consultant (my title to what he described).  In that moment I had a vision of how Jesus sees people.

Remember that scene in the first Matrix movie when Neo begins to see the matrix code without using a screen?  It was like all of a sudden he saw things as they really were.  I didn’t see vertically streaming lines of green code, but I saw right through my friend to his soul.  I realized that all of these people are more than successes and failures.  They are more than jobs, marriages, kids, and financial security.  They are souls with an eternal destination, and that is what matters.  In my vanity, I thought I had it together because I didn’t screw up!  I had made it; at least so far.  But the only thing good about me is that Jesus saved me.  When all is stripped away, that’s really all I have going for me.

I was reminded in that moment of the significance of the gospel.  How often do we fail to share the good news that Jesus came to save sinners and give us new life in Him, opting instead to talk sports, stocks, and the funny episode of that new prime-time sitcom?  Truly, that is what matters-the gospel and its preaching.  I didn’t share that night.  It was late, we were on our way out, and the music was so loud you literally had to yell to have a face-to-face conversation (I’m not exaggerating!).  I hope that’s not an excuse.  Nevertheless, may we all be reminded of what truly matters in this life-souls.  That’s what God is after.  That’s why Jesus came as a ransom for many.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

-Helen H. Lemel

Caleb on True VS. Fake

I put Caleb to bed tonight and, as usual, we had some interesting dialogue after our prayer. It went something like this…

Caleb: Daddy, are the word in the Bible true or fake?
Me: True.
Caleb: That’s right. There are true words and fake words.
Me: That’s right. And are the words in the Bible fake?
Caleb: No, their true. Do you know what is fake?
Me: No, what?
Caleb: Pencils.
Me: Really? Okay.
Caleb: Yes, pencils are fake. And swords are fake.
Me: Wow.
Caleb: And you know what else is fake?
Me: What?
Caleb: This (points to the adjacent wall outlet). And do you know why this is fake?
Me: Nope.
Caleb: Because…if you touch it…it will hurt you.

At least someone gets it.

Detox: Transitioning to the New Place

Over a month removed from my previous job, I’m finally taking an opportunity to share some insight into the transition from Grace Outreach Center to my new church home, Faith Fellowship, plus share some of my experience thus far. My time at GOC was a great experience that prepared me to be a more effective pastor in the future. The lessons I gleaned from the leadership there and the investment Pastor Dennis made into me is invaluable and I will be forever grateful.

Almost a year prior to resigning from GOC, Kelly and I both felt like a change was coming.  We didn’t know what it would entail and conjectured that it would be a promotion at Grace that would secure an even lengthier tenure there.  Months later, we came to realize that that wasn’t the case and that we would be leaving Grace to pursue employment elsewhere.

My desire from the onset was not to simply find another job, but rather to land at a place that we could call home-our church home.  We needed a congregation of believers who we could connect with in deep and significant relationships.  We needed a place where we could invest our lives for the long haul, confident that the church would reciprocate that investment into our family.  Simply put, we wanted a church home-even if that meant me taking a secular job to attend the right church as laypersons.

Faith Fellowship was a risk for us. Small, and a little more country than we would have preferred, we were unsure about taking the position there at first.  It didn’t take long, however, for us to see that this was a church where God was moving, where people were coming and growing, and where those deep relationships were a chief priority.  Our experience here has been all that and more. It takes time to really have those aforementioned relationships, but we are well on our way.  Additionally, this is a growing community with so much potential to make an impact for God’s kingdom!  And the pace allows us to focus more on our family and personal growth as we take time to grow both spiritually and intellectually.  And finally, it is relieving to know that I can finally support my family on my income alone if necessary.   It has always been our goal to be in that type of financial position, though it has been a struggle to see it come to pass.   Praise God that it finally has! (We’re also on the verge of buying our first house. How sweet is that?!)  We felt God was leading us here.  We took a step of faith and have been so glad we did.

Detoxification: the metabolic process by which toxins are changed into less toxic or more readily excretable substances.

I was told I’d experience it, but never believed I would.  No, no. I’ve not been on any drugs or abused alcohol.  I’m talking about the shift that’s resulted from a transition between churches.   A good friend recently asked if working at GOC is similar to working at other churches.  “Is it like this everywhere?”  No, it’s not.  GOC is great, but it’s GOC and nowhere else will be like it.  While there I got used to doing ministry the GOC way.  It became so natural that I actually believed there would be little change in my modus operandi once I headed to my new church.  Hahahaha-man I can be so wrong sometimes.  Okay, a lot of times.  I was warned by a close friend that this would happen, but I really didn’t expect it.

Let me clear something up.   I’m not in anyway likening the work culture and ministry style of GOC to being full of toxins as a result of an addiction to illicit drugs.  Detox is just the best way I can describe what I’m experiencing right now.  Slowly, daily, I’m seeing things in a new light.  I’m realizing there are so many ways of doing effective ministry and what works for one church, in one area, with one set of people may not work at a different church, place, and with different people.  In fact, it may be counter-productive at times!  I’m just changing.  And praise God!   I’ve prayed that He would make this ministry what He wants it to be and that I would be used as a tool in His divine hands to accomplish His good purposes.   I’m learning what works here. I’m seeing God’s vision for THIS place as the one for my last one fades to bygone.  I guess you could say I’m experiencing a detox from my addiction to the GOC way.

Detox.  That’s what it is.  Change.

Atheists & Stupid Christians

A dear friend of mine who’s smarter than most of you has endeavored to offer a response to Atheists’ criticisms of world religions.  I’ve really enjoyed reading it so far and wanted to post the link here so many more could go check it out as well.

Of course, since Trey is like the only one who ever reads my blog I doubt I’ll generate much traffic for him…but it’s worth the effort

Here’s the Link to Trey’s Blog (so far there are two posts as part of a series at the time of writing this)

The Wonder of Our God’s Love

Is God’s love real?  How can it be?  Is He truly able to celebrate?  This morning as I considered the story of the prodigal son, I began to ask myself these questions.  We would all agree that we believe in a sovereign God who knows the end from the beginning.  If God knew when and that a sinner would repent how could He celebrate that?  How could God get excited about something He already knew would happen-and not just that it would happen but all the details surrounding it?  How is He able to really love when He is the one who brought the circumstances about that lead to the sinner’s repentance?

I began to imagine it like this.  Suppose I had a son who had justly been imprisoned in a distant land for a debt he could not hope to pay.  I love my son, and desperately want him freed and restored to me.  So, at a great cost to me, I pay his debts and arrange his release from prison and return home.  I book him the first flight home.  I order a cab that will take him to the airport.  I buy him some new clothes and arrange for him to get a warm bath and good meal.  The day of his return is here.  The flight is not delayed and he will arrive precisely when he was scheduled.

Now, at this point someone could say, “You know everything of his arrival.  Indeed you planned the entire thing out!  You made all the arrangements for the return of your son into your loving care.  How could you, then, be excited upon his arrival when you have expected it all along?”  He is my son, and I would give up my life to see him again.

What powerful love the Father shows us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, securing our way home and back into our Father’s loving arms.  He eagerly awaits for those whom He’s called to return home to him.  He anxiously awaits the arrival of His children.  He worked it all out.  He saved us.  He made the path to salvation and led us down it.  He knew all along how and when it would happen.  And he couldn’t be happier when the day comes.

What a wonderfully loving Father God we serve who loves beyond comprehension!  Rejoice in His love!  Can imagination hope to lend insight into how wonderful the day will be when we see our Father God face to face for the first time?  I think not.  Still, I’ll revel in the thought!

Just Do Something

I just finished my latest read (ok, one of my latest reads).  It’s called “Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will” by Kevin DeYoung.  It caught my eye as I purused the Christian Book section in the local Barnes & Noble.  First, a little background…

When I headed to college, I faced the monumental challenge of choosing a tube of toothpaste for myself.  I had yet to endeavor on such a venture and the task proved far more cumbersome than I had ever anticipated.  I literally surveyed the fluoride-filled products before me for a good 20 minutes before settling on one.  Why?  Because sometimes I just stink at making decisions.  Whether it’s something simple like toothpaste or something far more significant (though not to my pearly whites, to be sure) like whether or not to move back to Texas from North Carolina, I, like many Christians, struggle at times to figure out what we “should do.”

DeYoung, as the title suggests, does propose a liberating approach to finding God’s will and it is best summed up in the final sentence of the book.

So the end of the matter is this: Live for God.  Obey the Scriptures.  Think of others before yourself.  Be holy. Love Jesus.  And as you do these things, do whatever else you like, with whomever you like, wherever you like, and you’ll be walking in the will of God.

Certainly this is a profoundly different approach than most of us take as we pray to know God’s will concerning everything from who we should hang out with on Friday night to who we should marry or where we should work (two topics DeYoung deals with specifically in the book).  DeYoung suggests approaches like loving and searching the scriptures, pursuing wisdom, prayer and seeking counsel over agonizing in prayer for God to simply show you what to do.  While not discounting prayer or piety in desiring to do God’s exact will, his position is that since God is sovereign you are always in His will, and furthermore God’s revealed will to you primarily deals with moral issues leaving the rest to sound judgement, knowledge, and wisdom.

I really, really liked this book and suggest it anyone, clergy or layperson, interested in this approach to walking in the will of God and decision-making.  It’s a very short read-the average reader could likely tackle it in a few hours time-and pretty simply (not weak, just simple).  It was a refreshing book that I highly reccommend to all my friends.

Things I love about Caleb

There’s a lot, to be sure.  All of his toddler antics bring me so much joy and I cherish them all, but every now and then he does something that literally makes me laugh out loud.  Nap time for Caleb is an unending battle for us.  He’s never thrilled about having to take a nap-often lying awake for hours before we finally “make” him go to sleep.

Today was no exception.  I put him down, and listened to him sing and talk to pretend people for about 20 minutes before I finally had to draw the line.

“Caleb, you need to go to sleep.  No more noise or getting out of bed or I’ll spank you.”  (Yes, in true lovingly barbarian fashion, we SPANK our children.)

“Daddy, I want to sleep on my pillow,” came the reply.  His talent for awakening his sister prematurely has led us to put him down in our bed for naps.  I obliged, and sooner than I would have ever imagined, he was out.  Magic pillow?  We’ll see…

After this period of unanticipated silence I ventured into the bedroom to see if he was asleep, and that’s when I knew I needed the camera.

At first glance I thought he had wrapped himself in a towel.  Then, I realized Caleb had removed his pillow from the cover and was wearing it like he was ready for the sack race at field day.  I was relieved he didn’t wake up as I snapped some pictures…

Wow…Horatio Spafford

I have heard parts of this story before, but to consider it in it’s entirety is deeply moving. This is the story behind the well known hymn “It Is Well With My Soul.”  I hope to posses such faith and trust in Jesus through whatever lies ahead for me.  Check out the story…

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