Troubled Teens?

One of the saddest things to see in life is a young person who feels alone, rejected, or just isolated and misunderstood. Wait a second! Doesn't every child feel that at some point or points in their life? Of course they do - it's part of life - especially in those teen years. Why do some get over it like it was a brief virus while others seem to get trapped in it, overwhelmed by it, even to the point of being suicidal? I'm not a psychiatrist. I'm not even sure I can spell it right. I do know that the best way to overcome self-focus is to help others, give to others, and break the cycle of self-pity. As we teach our little children to have good manners, brush their teeth, and put a coin in the collection plate when it comes around - we need to teach them the joy of giving and helping others. Of course, if they don't see it in us they won't pay much attention to us. In a self-centered world with so much comfort, materialism, and unrestricted accumulation, if we don't learn to sacrifice and share we will be doomed to selfish misery and the pain of seeing our children fall into the same trap. "Trust Jesus" is not a motto or cliche' but the best parenting advice you'll ever get. He said, "It's more blessed to give then it is to receive." It's not just a nice truth but a fact of life. Don't you want your children to be blessed? It won't happen if we keep making sure that all they do is receive. You could be saving their life - not to mention their soul.

I Don't See No Stinkin' Pirates!

Let the rehearsals begin! These pics are from this past Thursday evening's rehearsal. We actually had a short rehearsal on Wednesday evening, but because of starting late and the usual announcement stuff, we're lucky to have 30 to 35 minutes of actual rehearsing. But Thursday was the real thing - two full hours of working on some of the 18 or 19 songs that will be in the musical this June. I am so thrilled with how well everyone did. I'm sure, with most of the 50 cast members being repeats, the confidence level is much higher sooner than it has been in the past, but they're doing really well. It also helps that most of our "group songs" are familiar to more people. I planned it that way because I want us on stage sooner so we can spent more time on choreography than we've been able to do with the last two productions. This is going to be fun, but we've got a ton of work to do to get everything ready for that opening night in June. Now, if Donna and her costume group can just come up with 50 different fish outfits for the belly of the whale scene...

Maybe The Last Snow This Year?

I thought you might enjoy seeing what a 12 inch snow looks like. I know, all you folks who live farther north are saying, "12 inches? That's nothing!" But for those of us who live in a part of the country where ALL four seasons are equally represented - it's a huge storm! It made the top five largest snow storms in St. Louis in March - and that was taking measurements at the airport where it was only 10 inches. We've seen bigger storms, especially in Northern Virginia.

Maybe the most amazing part of the whole experience was that it all fell between 9 A.M. and 3 P.M. Talk about a sudden dumping of snow! This is a foot of snow on one of our trash cans.

So, I was out scooping it up by four in the afternoon. Amazingly, just twenty-four hours later it was 46 degrees and the driveway and streets were clear and dry. I could have avoided the sore back I got from all the manual labor.

Another picture of our pond out back the morning after the storm and before the quick melt-down started. Just beyond the trees, in the next field, the fog was incredibly dense and the sun was shining through it. Wow! I love this spot. Now, if all our friends and family would just move to Florissant...

Winter Refections

As I look out of the windows of our house and see the heavy snow falling onto the seven inches of snow already on the ground, I am again impressed with it's beauty and it's ability to cover all the winter nastiness and grayness that still dominates our early March. Jesus makes my sinful heart look "whiter than snow" and that's even more beautiful than the landscape outside. But I'm also reminded about how quickly things change. Day before yesterday it was 78 degrees and we drove home from church with our car windows down! We had the windows of our house open and the ceiling fans running right up until we went to bed Sunday night. And now we're home on a Tuesday afternoon to keep from spending the night at the church office.

That's life. It's full of changes. Things can't stay comfortable, happy, and wonderfully healthy anymore than the weather can stay the same through four seasons. But life, like the St. Louis weather, no matter how bad or tough it gets - will change. With patience and trust and fortitude and people who love you, you can work through it and a season of blessed change will come. When God our Father and Jesus our brother are there to share, comfort, and encourage us, we not only "get through it" but we end up stronger, better, and closer to them. It's as much a part of growing up spiritually as growing out of our clothes is physically.

Think about that if you're having some relationship struggles in your family. One day they will be laughed at over a cup of coffee. Think of that if you're wondering when your child or children will ever move on to the next stage of maturity. They will, and you'll forget the worry that plagues you now. Think of that if you're worn out pinching pennies and robbing from Peter to pay Paul and listening too much to the nightly news. Some day you'll realize it was the wrong master anyway, and you'll be grateful that you're closer to the only One Master there can be.

New Wine in old Whineskins?

My brother sent me this drawing. I always knew they were "closet bikers"!

Obviously, things are not always what they seem to be, but sometimes that's true just because we're looking for the wrong things. I have been amazed at how my perspective on the Word of God has changed through the years. For too many years it was my "proof" book - my ammunition to shoot down the doctrinally misled and to bolster the acceptable orthodoxy of my group. Then it became a treasure - a pearl of great price, that I examined, polished, and started discovering the richness of God's Spirit all through it. I shook off some old baggage and discovered some new wine that needed to be place in a new heart-shaped wineskin. And when I started looking for Jesus - not at Him or about Him - but Him, what the Spirit was wanting me to see in every verse of every book in the Bible, it turned into a brand new Book. Did you realize that 1 Corinthians is about Jesus? The book that has been the battle ground for so many issues in the church - so many divisions, is really about forgetting our differences and focusing on Jesus. How ironic is that? How sad is that?

Two things that will change forever how you read scripture: 1) Always look for Jesus. What is the writer saying about Him? What is the Spirit really pointing to? What do you need to take away from the passage that will help you have "the mind of Christ"? 2) Remember how tough this all must have been for God. What? If you just consider how incredibly difficult, even impossible is must have been for God to communicate spiritual concepts, spiritual truths, and even the spiritual world, to folks who are totally worldly - you realize that we were never meant to understand everything. That is why the basics of what God wants - has aways wanted- is and has been wonderfully simple. Love Him with all our heart and love our neighbor as we love our self. It's there, in print, simple as can be - from cover to cover. Eternity, the end of time, what's going to happen, what we will look like, what will heaven be like, what is a perfect spiritual body, etc, etc...are all things that we probably can't comprehend even if He gave us more information. Did you ever notice John 3:12 while on your way to verse 16? Jesus said to Nicodemus, "I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?" Match that with the total mix-up of wisdom vs. foolishness in 1 Corinthians 2-3 and you begin to see that "We were never meant to get it all!" How can limited power, time, and space understand limitless power, time, and space? What we know about the nature of God wouldn't fill a celestial thimble! But it's enough! Enough to know, believe, live, be godly, and build a relationship with One who gave it all to us. Enough to see His Word as the love letter, marriage license, and life-guide He meant for it to be.

Yeah, it - the Book - hasn't changed a lick, but praise God I have. I can't wait to see what I'll discover next!

Moods & Movies

This is the time of the year when we have what is probably the longest stretch of being away from our family. We haven't seen our kids and grand kids since Christmas. When I realized that my schedule wasn't going to allow any trips for a long while, I suggested to Donna that she might go to Nashville alone so at least one of us would get to see some family. So she left yesterday afternoon, after our first meeting of the musical cast and first read through of the script. I'm jealous, but happy that she could go. I really don't like long stretches of not seeing our loved ones - especially those grand kids. At their age, two or three months is huge in terms of changes in their lives. I can tell just by seeing their pictures on Deborah's and Elizabeth's blogs that they have grown a lot just since Christmas - especially little Curtis. He's already starting to look like a little person rather than a bundle of joy. And then there's the two in New York, who we have been trying to figure out a way to visit, but schedules, costs, and large blocks of time just haven't worked to make that a reality yet. I guess it would be nice to be rich an retired, but frankly, I dearly love what we are doing. I've never felt more a part of God's plan in my entire life than I do right now. I feel like the last thirty-something years were all part of His preparing us to be right here, right now. So, while I dislike being away from our family, I am deeply thanking to be where we are and doing what we are doing. Still, while I miss my favorite co-minister, I'm glad the grand kids get to spend a little time with Nana. She's a lot more fun than Papa, and I know it won't be too much longer until they all can visit St. Louis.
Since Donna was gone last night. I watch God's And Generals again. I loved it. It's long and has some painfully slow spots, but the historical accuracy is wonderful. The battle scenes make my blood run cold, especially Fredericksburg. As terrible as they depicted it, it was much, much worse. The carnage was incredible as thousands of Union troops, wave after wave, assaulted entrenched confederates, behind stone walls, shooting down hill. The Union troops were dropped by the thousands. How in the world did Lee watch that and then do what he did at Gettysburg?
I share this just to say that there are some scenes in God's And Generals that just grab my heart. I'm talking about the passion for God and the strong belief in prayer that is displayed by Jackson. The scene of Thomas Jackson and his wife sharing a scripture before he goes off to war is powerful. And his prayer with his black cook, on their way to Chancellorsville, where he is wounded and eventually dies, is incredible. I can't think of another movie (short of The Passion of course) that depicts a passion for God in such a favorable light. No jokes, no ridicule, and no "alternative" representation. Just a deep love for God. Even if you don't like war or historical movies, it's worth seeing just for the positive perspective on faith in God.

Yesterday, Today, and Today!

OK - It's, a muskrat, but it's related!

Somewhere between Gladiator and Singing In the Rain is one of my all time favorite movies. I realized last night that February was about to get away from me and I hadn't seen Groundhog Day yet. I love Groundhog Day - I think I've mentioned that a few times in the past. I love it for at least two reasons. First, and most obvious, is the message. "Phil" takes what seems to be a curse and learns the secret of happiness. He goes from shock to depression to total selfishness to suicidal to finally discover that happiness and meaning come from serving others. His final day in "Groundhog" eternity is so powerful and transforming that it brings me to tears. Because of his unselfishness - his giving, servant, lifestyle - he, in one day, has become the most beloved person in town. Truly, happiness comes from helping others be happy. How nice would it be to learn that without aging in the process. I'm not begrudging the aging, just the wasted years we all spend learning the very lesson we heard as children.

The other special reason I love it is because it does remind my of my own spiritual journey. Back when I saw the movie when it was new, I got the point, but it was still primarily a comedy to me. Several years later, after I'd been doing a lot more thinking and praying about God, grace, and gratitude, it touched me. It's still hilarious - but mostly profound. And I think it's amazing that it was made by worldly people who had no intentions of having any spiritual or religious connections to the movie. The writer and director say as much in the Special Features.

So, if you haven't seen it in a while, check it out. I'll end this with a question. How many repeated days would it take you to learn the purpose of life?

Can You Hear Me Now?

In the last few years I have tried harder to listen to God's promptings in my life. I believe He guides us. It may be His Spirit doing the work, but I believe God put's word and thoughts into our ears and our hearts. Sometimes it's reading His Word or hearing someone else share their thoughts, or maybe it's just something that pops into my head that demands meditation. I especially try to pay attention when there are multiple "pops" over a period of time.
I share that just to say that I've been thinking a lot lately about how wonderful it is to know all my children love God and have a close walk with Jesus. Maybe it was the brothers I prayed with who were grieving over an adult child's ungodly choices. Maybe it was the news reports about sudden-unexpected tragedy in a government building or on a campus. Maybe part of was Heath Ledger. I've found myself thinking about Jesus' warning, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?" That's not said to judge him, but to point out how meaningless success is without God.
Maybe it's the preparation for this Sunday's "Be Real" lesson about loving and caring for children like Jesus did. I'm going to ask some really tough questions about our focus, our success record, and our responsibilities.
I don't know were it all came from. I'm just so thankful that I have six adult kids (by birth and by law) who know that their soul is far more important than the whole world, and that is being passed on to their children - my grand children. It makes me really appreciate and personalize Johns comment in 3 John4. "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." And Jesus is that truth (John 14:6). Thanks John, for saying it well and thanks Holy Spirit for whispering it in his ear. God is good.

Righteous But Not Too Much?

We must seek the character of Jesus and not His position. That was my main point yesterday as I tried to explain the difficult dance of how we correct the self-righteous, as Jesus did, and not become self-righteous ourselves. As sinners, who can't possibly know the hearts of other struggling sinners, how do we warn and correct without becoming the very Pharisees we're attempting to help. It's all about His spirit not His power. It's too easy to become self-righteous about not being self-righteous and risk the righteousness that God gives us because of His love - not our rightness. Did you follow that? Anything and everything we do can become an act of self-righteousness if we use it to compare ourselves to others, judge others, improve our image to others, or earn our salvation.
Time and space won't allow it here, but after a brief discussion with a friend of a friend about a friend (confused yet?), there may not be a better example of self-righteousness than how many today teach, preach, and practice their legalistic conclusions regarding marriage and divorce. Another case of an eldership dropping an edict on another desparate and hurting Christian, in an abusive, drug controlling, covenant mocking relationship, that since there was no known sex-out-of-marriage-adultery they must stay together or be single the rest of their life - "or the church will discipline" them guidance. There are a hundred points I'd love to list right here, about seeing laws and missing the Spirit. There is an ideal that God wants - one man for one woman for life and He hates divorce - always. There is an ideal that God wants - humble servants who love Him totally - He hates the proud - always. He hates to see covenants broken - period - always. But He's always the Father looking for the Prodigal to return and to give forgiveness. Laying aside those arguments and the sick Pharisees discussions about semantics, how can shepherds who have done nothing to guide, help, heal, pray with, and do everything possible to secure and protect a marriage, suddenly sit in judgment and pronounce sentence on God's children. "It's scripture!" someone screams. Well the Pharisees were corrected by Jesus for using scripture to "find life" without a real relationship with God. It's a crock of legalism. Couples or leaders who haven't sought God's guidance have no business seeking His justification for their position.
If you want to do something interesting, just make a list of all the Bible characters, men and woman of faith, who because of their marital situation or history wouldn't be allowed to set foot in some of our churches today. And don't hand me that "It's Old Testament" excuse. Jesus was still in the Old Testament when He spoke in Matthew 5 and 19 - and all He was saying was "Let's go back to what God intended in the beginning." He was pointing back to Genesis not the future. And who gave Moses the right to amend it?
One last thought. We can't be like Jesus when He cleansed the Temple, or spoke to the hearts of His apostles, because we can't see hearts. I can't help but feel like that's a good reason to not sit in judgment on broken marriages. We can't know what two people really think and feel in their hearts. We never know the whole story. God does. He's in the judging business. We're in the help and prevention business - the love and forgiveness business - well, because He's all about that too.

So here it is. The logo for our 2008 musical Jonah and the Pirates of the Mediterranean. The music has been picked out since back in late Summer and I finished the script in December. The casting list is posted in front of the church office and our first rehearsal starts the first Wednesday in March. I am really excited about doing this play. It's going to be so much fun. Yes, I took a few liberties with the story as I set up the reason why Jonah was so anti-Nineveh and yes, the ship to Tarshish probably wasn't a pirate ship - but it could have been! The music is going to be incredible. The usual mixture of Rock and Roll, Broadway hits, and praise songs will keep everyone entertained and inspired. If there is any chance that you might be in the St. Louis area the first week of June, please come and see it. I wish I could invite all to stay with us, but I'm hoping to have a house full of family. But mark June 5,6,7, and 8. We will do four performances that will all be the same. I am considering declaring Thursday night "Church Night" as a good night for area congregations to attend. I have purposely not invited sister congregations because our emphasis is on our community, but we have been having more and more "brethren" attend on Sunday night (good alternative to the usual PM requirement) and it has been our most crowded night. So maybe if we offer Thursday night (our smallest crowd night), it will give more space for Sunday. It'll work - one way or another. Just wanted to give you a heads up. Florissant won't even see this logo until Sunday morning - unless they read my blog. Wait until you see the choices of boats that Jonah had to choose from before he picked the one he did.

Portable Dishonesty

I used this in my lesson last Sunday, and it's so incredible that I felt like people thought I was making it up. It's a "Get Off the Phone Excuse Machine" that has recorded messages, one for each button, that you press when you're wanting an excuse to end a phone call. The six choices are static, siren, doorbell, crying baby, car crash, or "Knock, knock, Chinese food delivery!". They even advertise it as "And it's a key chain so you always have your 'excuses' handy." How nice is that? You can be dishonest and lie wherever you are! What is so amazing to me is that there is a basic assumption that there are enough people out there without integrity that this is a marketable product! Why is it so hard to just be honest? Now there's a wild idea. I couldn't help but apply this to how we treat God when He calls us. How big is our list of distractions? How many of our interruptions are self made so that we don't have to confront our lack of honesty about our relationship with God? How many times, maybe even while sitting in an assembly of saints, has God tried to get our attention and we pushed the mental button of static, crying baby, food, or life crashes?

Excuse machines were around long before this little key chain lying machine was invented. It's called the heart.

Three "G's"

A friend sent us this picture and I thought I'd share it since it's about two of our family's favorite animals. Today it's in the low teens outside, so this picture reminds me of how thankful I am to have a house and to be inside of it looking out rather than the other way around.
I've been reading an interesting book by Bill Hybels about sharing our faith, titled Just Walk Across the Room. I really like his emphasis on being sensitive to the Spirit's directions in our life. In one story that he shared, he talked about a couple who were far from God and who needed to start thinking about more positive and spiritual things before they would be ready to change their lives. He asked them to think about "grace and power" for a couple weeks, and just say those two words over and over. I really like the fact that he was preparing soil not trying to harvest a crop. But it also made me think about what words I'd challenge someome to dwell on.
What would you say are the two or three most powerful words you could share with someone? I immediately thought of three words that "say it all" for me, and, while "Jesus" is always first, for memory purposes I like alliteration. So my pick is God, grace, and gratitude. They sum up the who, what, and why of my spiritual journey. What would you use?

Being Real And Hairy

I decided about five weeks ago that letting my beard grow out would be a good daily reminder for me to "Be Real." After all, every morning I look at my white whiskers and have to say "It's the real me." I'm old enough that my beard is white - not even the gray it was the last time I did this about seven years ago. I've enjoyed using it as my own personal-can't-avoid-it-in-your-face reminder. I don't want to get distracted from my journey to honestly examine how passionate I am about being as much like Jesus as I possibly can. If I'm going to preach it - expect it from my church family - then I have to be real myself. That having been said, nothing a preacher does that is seen by everyone is personal or private. Every member has a comment, an opinion, and usually a joke to share about the addition to my face. So from that standpoint, it may not be the best personal reminder I could have chosen, but hey, that's what razors are for. Still, I plan to let it grow for awhile. I told some minister buddies at the preacher's meeting this morning that I was into the Moses look. Of course, from my loving brethren, I've heard comments about everything from Willie Nelson to Sean Connery. One teen did call me Santa, one brother called me Foster Brooks (that'll date ya if you know who he is), and fortunately no one has called me Kenny Rogers. Twenty years ago that might have flattered me, but today I might have to slug whoever says it. Personally, every time I catch a surprising look in a mirror I feel like I should be doing a TV commercial from a boat in Maine selling fish sticks. I really like our older folks. My beard is so light and white that many of them can't see it from their church seat. When I give them a big hug they say, "When did you grow that?" Oops, I just remember that I say the same thing when I look in the mirror on my first trip to the bathroom every morning.
Change is fun. I'm going to enjoy it for a little while longer. Maybe some Just For Men...

Saver or Sower?

Why do we love to invent religious beliefs and then try to convince everyone that we got it from the Bible? I could use several things to illustrate that point, but I have recently been thinking and praying a lot about outreach. Is it possible to go to the Bible with a completely open mind and not try to force our preconceived conclusions onto scripture? Let's start with a concordance. Let's see, how many times does "outreach" appear in the New Testament? Wow, it seems to appear the same number of times as personal work, evangelism, soul winning, and a few others. And after all the emotional whippings we've given each other through the years over this subject, there will never be enough grace available to make us feel okay with our spiritual journey. After all, if you baptized fifty people last year, you still could have and should have, done more!
Now before you think I'm developing an interpretive rationale to make us all feel good for our lack ot "outreach", that is not my intent. I just want us to handle the Word of God correctly. First, did Jesus really intend for His commission to His first missionaries to be a command for every Christian? We do call it "THE GREAT COMMISSION" not the "Pretty Good Commision." Again, He didn't call it that. In fact, other then the personally called apostle Paul, how many of the apostles actually did "Go"? Even after the persecution of Acts 8 - disciples went, but not the apostles. Like I said last Sunday, we have not been called to "go" but to "be". Forget our words and titles and look at the Bible words. Share! Testify! Witness! They are all "lifestyle" concepts. We sow seed wherever we are - every chance we get - as part of our life! The problem isn't so much a lack of "reaching out" but our failure to listen within - to the Holy Spirit nudging us to share, speak up, show compassion, and illustrate Jesus in our life. For me, that gives me a whole new way of looking at 1 Thessalonians 5:19 "Do not put out the Spirit's fire."
What would happen if we all listened to the Spirit prompting us to witness for Jesus in word and deed? Maybe we should forget the Great Commisions and focus more on the Great Parable. You know, the one about the sower, the seed, and the soils. (Matt.13) We can keep on developing Outreach Programs and Evangelism Ministries until the Lord comes and we will still feel like miserable failures. Being real about being like Jesus means that caring and sharing are just things that Christ-like people do. Maybe our real failure is not in outreach, but in not having members who are so deeply in love with Jesus that they can't help but be a witness for Him.

Our Biggest SL Snow

Yes, yet another picture of the pond-out-back, but I share this picture to show one of the big reasons we got this house in the first place. These are three of a five window block that make up the back wall of our living room. It's so nice to not look at another house when we look out our back windows. I raised the blinds to show how nice our view always is - except in the afternoon when we have to keep it closed because of the direct sunlight. This is the pond covered in ice and topped off with the snow we got Thursday night.

This is yesterday morning, before I started shoveling snow. Our street was empty with no movement at all. They said there was eight and a half inches at the airport - 20 minutes south of us, but we had at least ten or eleven inches on our driveway.

You can see how deep it is, but what's amazing is that I shoveled it off Thursday evening just before dark when there was already about three inches on the driveway. Notice how intently I'm staring at the snow. I'm thinking "How much does it cost to buy a snow blower?" It was a beautiful snow and with the temps going up today and more tomorrow, it won't be around very long. I love snow, but I especially love it when it hits and doesn't stay very long.

Righteous Ranting

The last couple of wednesday nights I have spent a good bit of time discussing 1 Cor.2:1-5. The two key thoughts are vs.2 "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified," and vs.5 "...so that you faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." I love the focus on Jesus. Oh the wasted years of studying how to be doctrinally correct, win debates, and feel superior to everyone else steeped in religious error. It's all about Jesus and what He did to save us. And, at the risk of offending the spiritually correct, there is no better example of "men's wisdom" overshadowing Jesus than our manmade dissecting of scripture with "command, example, and implied inference." The raising of example and implied inference to equality with commands is the single biggest reason for legalism and division within the church. How many times have you heard someone argue about a command? Nearly every division I can think off, within the church, as come from disagreement on binding examples and implications! How sad is that? Pattern theology is simply a form of legalism that promotes jigsaw puzzle conclusions and distracts us from Jesus. We need to quit hanging our hat on our wisdom of man, with it's manmade formula for discovering truths, and start hanging on a cross where the power of God can be found.
Do I hear an AMEN?

Mini Mansion

Don't you just hate it when you see a picture of something that makes you feel guilty. Maybe it's a starving child in Africa, and you've just complained about your steak not being cooked just the way you like it, or maybe it's flood victims receiving handout clothes because they lost all their clothes - and you've got a closet full of "I've got nothing to wear." Well, that's how I felt about this picture a friend sent us of the smallest house in Toronto. It's actually cute and nicely appointed inside, but I've been grieving over how to get my basement finished since I started it almost a year ago. I've been trying to figure out an inexpensive way to get a licensed and bonded electrician to sign my permit without having to pay much for it - and it hasn't worked. We have one coming to finally do the electrical this Friday, but it aint gonna be cheap. It will however, give us more additional square footage than that little house in Toronto has and the TWO of us really need MORE elbow room in this nice big house of ours. I know, I'm really doing it for the visitors we have over- mostly room for the grand kids to play in, and it's a good way to increase the value of our house, but still- I have to remind myself that it's not that big a deal. I have a house in heaven not made with hands - I assume that means w/o an electrician too - and probably with no need for a basement. So, I'm still doing it, I've just decided that it's not worth getting uptight about. I've never even had a basement before, so I know I can live without it. I've also never lived in a house as small as that one in Toronto. How big does this "earthly tent" really need to be?

Top Ten Winter Things

It has been awhile since I thought of a new Top Ten list. But yesterday, while enjoying a Chicken Strip Basket at the DQ - w/ extra gravy, I looked out of the window at the cold weather and jotted down the Top Ten Things I Like About Winter. I'm glad I didn't have to come up with a Top Twenty.
1. I don't have to mow the grass.
2. We get to use the fireplace.
3. Sweatshirts become a primary clothing item.
4. You need MORE calories to fight off the cold - at least that's my story.
5. Hot Chili, hot soup, and hot chocolate.
6. Christmas!
7. Snow warnings. Getting excited about snow requires a lot less shoveling.
8. Extra blankets on the bed!
9. With the holidays behind us, there is a nice long stretch for the church family to just be together and focus on "one another" with few distractions that compete for every one's time and attention - not counting the occasional snow or ice storm that keeps everyone at home on Sunday.
10. Each day is one day closer to Spring Turkey Season.

It's Winter, but Springs Coming!

They're back! This could be a picture from last year's ice hockey games on our back pond, but it's this year - 2008. And it's cold! I'm really not trying to have an ongoing saga of the "Pond-Out-Back", but it is one of the main reasons we bought this house. We'll never have another house build behind us - unless it's a houseboat. Actually, this picture just makes me think of change. That dirty word so many who claim to be being changed into the image of Christ hate. The pond out back changes nearly every day, depending on the weather, the critters that live there and visit, and the people who are attracted to it to "frow woks," watch the turtles, fish, or just enjoy the peaceful setting. It made me think about the inevitability of change. We can ignore it and pretend that it's not happening - but it never stops. Sometimes it just happens so slowly that you wake up one day and say, "Wow, when did that happen?" How come Joe looks so old all of a sudden? When did we stop singing those old songs at church? Why is my beard white? Why do I say "Remember when" so much?

I like to think that I love change. I do! I get excited about it - most of the time. But am I as excited about change when it's not so comfortable? When it's not what I want? Am I a selective lover of change? Why do I find myself liking the predictable more than I used to? That's scary. Like the song says, "Seasons change and so do I." So why fight it? Especially when I want to Be Real about being as much like Jesus as I possibly can be! Boy, is that ever a prescription for change! But I embrace it - long for it - and get a little giddy just thinking about what that's going to be like. Let me tell ya - that's a change in thinking that didn't happen overnight. So - yeah, bring on the next season, whatever it needs to be.

Church Plants

Each week we are exploring one characteristic of Jesus and challenging one another to "truly" follow His steps. For many, wanting to be like Jesus is somewhat like wanting to go to heaven. We want to go, but we don't want to have to die to get there. We all want - or at least say we want - to be like Jesus. That's the goal, the call, the challenge, the ideal - and all too often the theory rather than the reality. We must ask ourselves the tough questions about what's keeping us from really being like Him! We must be real about wanting to be like Him! Last Sunday the tough question was "Am I willing to care for the uncared for?" Jesus was. I compared the uncared for to potted plants. They're there, we just don't see them. It's not just the unseen, but the unloved, ignored, rejected, and the unlikable (so we conclude). I don't intend to re-preach the sermon here, but, as happens regularly, re-mention something that has been bouncing around in my brain since I said it Sunday. Did you ever notice in the story of the Rich man and Lazarus (and it is a story not a theological treatise on the end of time), in Luke 16, that the Rich man knew Lazarus' name? When he pleaded for someone to be sent back to his brothers, he also asked if "Lazarus" could deliver a finger tip of water for his tormented tongue. The poor, sore covered, dog licked, starving man at his gate was invisible because he refused to see him! How many Lazarus-types do we past every day? Every Sunday? Every congregation has them. Just look around the audience on Sunday morning and see who's sitting alone - sometimes week after week - people Jesus would walk straight to, passing up all the neat folks, the fun people, the ones who look like us. You can see them anytime - but the ones who really need the togetherness - the love - the reason for the meeting - well, they're potted plants. Marching your family over to that all-alone-child-of-God, and including them into your circle of love would be the greatest act of worship to God you might do that whole day. Are we Being Real about being like Jesus? There are no potted plants to Jesus.

Connecting Historical Dots

I had an interesting reminder last night as I watched my usual recorded copy of yesterday's Jeopardy game show. One of the questions asked about a man we met one time - thirty years ago. In 1977, we'd just moved to Fairfax, VA and we enjoyed going to a small pizza restaurant in Burke. The owner of the place was a kind Vietnamese man who would come over to our table and pick up Deborah, who was only only six or seven months old at the time, and carry her around the restaurant, introducing her to employees and customers alike. We always enjoyed going there and enjoyed the nice owner who was so friendly. Then one day my sister Becky, and her husband Mark, asked us if we recognized the man. There was something that had always seemed familiar about him, but I couldn't figure out what it was. I'd always been a news nut and never missed Walter at 6:00 every night. So when they told me he was the man in one of the most famous pictures from the Vietnam War, the old proverbial light clicked on. This was one of the shocking pictures from that war that became one of the many symbols for the anti-war folks for why we shouldn't be there. This is the guy who had been carrying my daughter around.
He was South Vietnamese General Nguyen Ngoc Loan and the photographer just happened to walk around the corner and snap this picture the second he fired one shot into the Viet Cong officers head, dropping him instantly. Of course, like most controversial photographs, there was more to the story than the picture could tell. The VC officer had just killed at least eight people. Just a few years later, the good general was running a pizza restaurant in Northern Virginia and holding my daughter. Isn't history an interesting thing?

Wild and Random

Just some random thoughts that I can't quite figure out how to work together into one cohesive blog. So - I'll just toss'em out there.
First, after a brief discussion today with some fellow ministers about our unity with our Christian Church brethren, I kept having one thought go through my radical brain. "I will be so glad when we stop defining ourselves by our man-made Protestant mass mentality, and start defining ourselves by how much we desire to be like Jesus." There - I said it. And here's another thought to chew on. I need to start seeing my brethren as any honest seeker of Jesus. If that's not part of Hebrews 11:6, our view of faith will always be enslaved to legalism.
Secondly, one of my sub-points in my lesson last Sunday, upon reflection and prayer, has come back to haunt me as another one of those incredibly powerful moments of clarity that I can only call a "God-moment". In discussing the need for us to BE REAL and be willing to go to a cross and sacrifice ourselves like Jesus did - because the goal it to be like Him - I stated "It's all about the will not the work!" The revelation was simply that this sums up what the church has been doing wrong for centuries. The institution promotes work, uses work to define faithfulness, and measures itself by that same work. It hasn't been very effective and is rapidly becoming even less effective. We must affect the will! Is there a desire to be like Jesus? If classes, sermons, small groups, ministries, and whatever else we do isn't bringing people into a deeper relationship with Jesus - which increases the desire to be like Him - then we're still trying to grease the machine.
Thirdly, why do I want to see Green Bay win it all? I think I just really want to see Brett win. I like his style.
Is that random enough for ya?

Last Hunt

My little el-cheapo thermometer was reading 30 degrees, but it was protected from the 15-20 mph wind that was cutting through me in my tree stand yesterday afternoon. But hey - I had to be there! It was our last chance to hunt before the IL bow season ends on the 17th. So - cold weather and wicked wind - I laugh at! I also nearly froze to death. I really wanted to get another deer - a nice fat doe - so we'd have plenty of venison to share with the rest of the family. The buck I harvested last month was big, but not big enough for a big family that truly loves marinated and grilled venison like we do.

"Are we having fun yet?" I said that to myself several times yesterday. My stand was in a narrow patch of woods - thirty yards wide - running up between two long fields of winter wheat. The place is covered in buck rubs and scraps, and there are always deer out in the field eating. I just needed them to cross through the woods right where I was. But, even though it was a low draw between the two fields, my stand, which was about 20 feet high, was up level with the tops of the fields and got the full force of the NW wind. Yeah, it was still fun because I saw several deer and four huge Toms. Unfortunately, as two bucks and three does moved out into the field - away from me - I got my camera out to get a picture of them and...

...something spooked them and they ran strait into the woods, right under my stand. This picture is where they stopped - just ten yards below me - me, with camera in hand and almost no cover and leaning back into the tree so I'd appear like the proverbial knot-on-a-log. I even squinted my eyes when they looked up so they wouldn't see the whites of my eyes. They never saw me, but then again, it's hard to shoot arrows with a camera. Still, it's been a wonderful season and I'm thankful for every minute I got to be in God's creation.

TerribleTowels

Life if full of tough questions. We can ignore or postpone answering them, but that lack of action is usually already an answer. Followers of Jesus, who want to truly be like and draw closer to Him, can't do it without asking themselves some tough questions. Call it soul-searching, spiritual grieving, self-examination, "testing the spirits," or just tough questions - we need to know where we need to go. For me, the most challenging question over the last several years has been "What's keeping me from being like Jesus?" Or, like that unfortunate Rich Young Ruler we don't want to identify with, "What lack I yet?" It only matters if I'm Being Real about wanting to be like Him. And if I'm Being Real - I have to be honest about wanting an honest answer. Ouch!

Last Sunday we devoted our Adult Bible Class time and our sermon time to "If I'm Being Real about being like Jesus, am I willing to wash feet?" I think the pictures and lessons I have in my head of Jesus washing His apostles feet makes it one of the most precious and challenging events of the Bible. I rate it right up there with His crucifixion and resurrection in terms of giving us the essence of Jesus. It never ceases to convict me about some aspect of Jesus that I desperately need help with. This lessons this time were no different in their power to touch me. The lesson of humble service is so obvious that's it's "in-your-face" how can you miss it - be like Jesus stuff! Again, ouch! But I have to say, the point that has been haunting me since God gave it to me a week and a half ago, and especially since I preached it last Sunday is this: We're not like Jesus until we wash Judas' feet. Like I said Sunday, everyone has a Judas, and every one's been a Judas.

It's real easy to climb on that spiritual cloud and see yourself washing the feet of friends, family, and even strangers, and visualize them being touched by your servant attitude. See them convicted by your example. Knowing how impressed they are with your spiritual journey. Then I see the feet of someone who betrayed me. Touch them? I don't want to think about them! But Jesus would - and I must. It's comfortable to be forgiving at a distance. It's amazing how free of spite and vengeance you can be when you never have to see your Judas. But seek them out? Wash their feet? Reject theoretical humility for the real thing? Yes, yes, and yes! There is NO alternative Jesus-like way to deal with our Judas. Have I said "Ouch" enough yet? Pardon me while I go get a towel.

Let's Do Lunch

It's hard to not become personally attached to someone you've observed on screen or read a lot of their work. Don't you have a list of movie and TV personalities that you'd just love to meet, get to know, and just spend time with? People who seem to be the kind of folks you'd love to have as friends? And how many times have you been disappointed to discover that the truly wise, decent, and kind celeb is a true egotistical idiot in real life? Still, I'd love to sit down and chat with Selleck, Hanks, Leno, and several others who have always seemed to me to be interesting folks. The same thing is true about authors. I don't feel that way as much about the fiction writers I've read through the years, but the inspirational/devotional authors, the ones who really speak to me personally with their pen and ink (okay - bites), they're the ones I'd really love to visit with. I have talked with Max (If you have to ask which one GET A LIFE!) and he's truly a the kind child of God you'd think he is. But I've got to tell ya - the guy I'd really love to get to know - because I think we'd really hit it off - is John Ortberg. I love his stuff. One of his early books, The Life You've Always Wanted, is still one of my favorite. And his classic, If You Want To Walk On Water, You Have To Get Out Of The Boat, is wonderful too! I just finished When The Game Is Over It All Goes Back In The Box and it's rich with thoughtful insights and challenging calls to keep our priorities right. At the risk of sounding terrible - I love guys who say things I've been saying. It was shocking to me, how many times during the Myth series, I would make a point that I'd read that next week in his book. No, I didn't steal it, because I said it before I read it. Hmmm - I just realized how that sounds then for me to call him brilliant. Oh well, I'm just trying to make the point that I'd love to meet him. If you haven't read the book yet, I recommend it highly. He follows my simple rules for preaching and writing - be simple, logical, and biblical - and fortunately he's tremendously readable, practical, and fun. Maybe I could help him discover some shorter titles for his books.

Dumbness

This is a picture of tonight's sunset. Wild new year! The first week of '08 started out with single digit nights and today it was almost 70. I like variety - especially when it's Arctic cold! I took this picture because the windows all across the back of our house were literally glowing with this bright golden sunset. Doesn't God do some awesome work? This past week I was reflecting on my real obsession in life. Family and friends (and I) make fun of my pretend obsessions - sometimes referred to as OCD, and that really is a joke. I do like things organized, together, and in there place, but many times I'm just too lazy or unmotivated to really make it happen. That's hardly obsessive! But I am honest enough to realize that what really "pushes my buttons" and makes me get obsessive is avoiding "dumbness". That's right! I can't stand knowing I did something wrong, improperly, the slow way, or just generally the "well everyone knows it's done this way" kind of thing. I don't know where it came from, but I will spend more time thinking through how to do a job effectively and efficiently than it would take to just do it - even if it wasn't the BEST way to do it! It needs to "make sense" and "be logical" and it absolutely has to be the "right way" to do it. I don't want to look back, slap my forehead, and say, "Boy, that was dumb!"
Then I wondered, "What does God consider dumb?" Probably not what we think. He's not always interested in efficiency or effectiveness, and He certainly isn't interesting in impressing anyone with His intelligence. That's a given! We're too self-centered - He's not! We're too interested in achievements and image management! He's not! But as I looked at His sunset - I remembered. "The fool has said in his heart there is no God." Now that's being dumb!

Myth Christmas

Since several have been keeping up with my Myth America Contest series, I didn't want to leave out the last one. Last Sunday I shared some thoughts about Myth Christmas. The following are my central points. Hope they help and bless.

Myth Christmas

Introduction:

A. Two of my favorite Christmas movies are The Grinch... and the musical version of A Christmas Carol. Mostly for the songs in each - "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch" and "Thank you very very much" - I love the singing and dancing on Scrooges coffin as they talk about "the nicest thing that anyone's every done for me." Odd mix of movies.

B. Odd mix of partners = Christians and anti-Christians who are both anti-Christmas.

C. Some like to be known for what they are against, but what really counts is what you are for! Jesus?

D. My official theological response to the anti-arguments is "So What?"

E. What would Jesus say about what He saw? Would He see Scrooges or servants? Whiners or singers? Getters or givers? Stressed or thankful?

F. For one brief moment, most of the world thinks about Him! Praise God!

1. Christmas is not a holiday, but a holy day! (Yes I know that's redundant)

A. We are called to be holy - 1 Pet.1:16-17 Things of God are holy. Can people declare something holy? Yes, but only if it glorifies God!

B. What makes a day holy? Glorifying God! Which one's aren't holy? Many have one - PTL!

C. Special days? Wonderful tools from God. Even Jewish feasts were tools not laws!

D. Romans 14 - Paul settled the problem by saying the only thing that matters is giving thanks!

E. Holy? What does Christmas do to help you think about God?

2. Christmas isn't about gifts but love!

A. In the midst of life's difficulties we throw the stress of Christmas (big list).

B. Nothing compared to the difficulties of the first one (bigger list)! Still, all about love!

C. Makes John 3:16 truly special.

3. Christmas? Commercial or spiritual? How do you know?

A. Results! More focus on Jesus?

B. One woman's Christmas - John 4 - nothing ever the same again!

Conclusion: Christmas may be man made, abused, ignored by some, and have no spiritual significance for some, BUT God can use anything as a tool to help us draw close to Him!

Welcome to Weird 2008

Happy New Year! What an incredible year 2007 was. God gave us every minute of each of those 365 days and each was a beautiful gift that I pray was used to glorify Him. Now we've been given another one. It's 2008! How weird is that? I remember talking about 1958! Granted, I was only in the second grade - Mrs. Sidnores class, but I remember it. In '68 I hitch-hiked through Florida that summer and came home to Washington, D.C. to find soldiers and tanks still in the streets after the riots. In '78 we had two small daughters and were working with a small congregation in Fairfax, VA - but it didn't stay small long. By 1988, we had three assemblies, 850 members, so busy that I resigned after eight years of being a volunteer Police Chaplain for the Fairfax County Police, and even our youngest, Jonathan, was eight years old. In '98 we finished up an eight year ministry in Texas, moved to Nashville, had all three kids graduated from High School and in college and the oldest one married. Deborah and Pat will have their tenth anniversary this May. Wow! And what's happened in the last ten years? Two more weddings, five grandchildren, and now starting our fourth year at Florissant. I am overwhelmed with how blessed we are. It keeps getting better. In the Fall of 1968 I preached my first sermon at a little church in south Georgia, and now the Father has us working with the most incredible church family we've ever been part of. They've all been great church families, but there is something very special about Florissant. We thank God every day for bringing us here and I'm more excited about the coming year than I've ever been before. So, yeah, 2008 sounds weird - but wonderful! I'm excited about what God will do with us and through us in next 365 days (not counting today - and yes - it is a Leap Year).

Better late than never!

I was going to wait until Monday to write this blog, but I decided I couldn't. Here is my first IL deer. I got it Thursday evening during a last minute quick hunt in cold drizzly weather. I got to my stand about 3:20 and he came by at about 4:30. At first he was only about five yards away, and when I drew my bow back he jumped and ran out to around 20 yards and stopped giving me a clear quartering away shot. He only went about 70 to 80 yards before dropping mid-stride about fifteen yards off the corn field. It's been a long hunting season trying to figure out how to hunt a new place and how to get close to deer who had hundreds of potential travel routes. I saw bigger bucks, but needless to say, I'm happy to get this one. With two weeks left, I'll still be chasing that big fat doe that I have a tag for. I've spent a lot of hours hunting over the last three months and they've all been good. It really is about enjoying the outdoors and the challenge of bowhunting. The success of the experience is not measured by arrows shot or deer harvested. Spending time in God's creation, enjoying the fellowship of good hunting buddies, and trying to outsmart one of His smartest critters is all part of the bigger picture. I'm thankful that I got to do them all. I'm especially thankful for some new friends in IL who graciously let Danny and me enjoy their beautiful property. Have I said it before? God is good!

Myth Church

It's been a busy week and I've been in and out of the office only when necessary. So, I haven't had much of a chance to share last weeks Myth. For many reasons it's my favorite Myth because it's - I think - the biggest challenge for the church right now. Myth Church is all about how what we do and think about church comes more from our culture and traditions than it does from the Word. It's time to get it back to what God intended. Be Real?
Myth Church
Introduction: (If you need the scriptures that go with this you've proven my point.)
A. Like the survivors in Spartacus, who showed their love and commitment for their leader by declaring "I am Spartacus!" and die with him - we need to say "I am church!" It IS WHAT WE ARE not the building, not the cathedral, the temple, shrines, organizations, institutions, religious bodies, or even denominations. Ekklesai is the "called out people!" It's the institutional church that is so negatively perceived in our culture now.
B. Our cultural training teaches us: You go to church to show that you are a good person. (and right people go to the right church - right?) Our culture built the church we know not the Restoration Movement. And now our culture is rejecting it!
C. It's time to Be Real rather than Be Church. Some cultural myths:
1. Church is a place. God says church is people!
A. Acts 2:42-47 early church was people helping people grow.
B. Like the difference in a house vs. a home - which do we have?
2. Church defines our faith! God defines our faith!
A. You're not faithful unless church says you are? Why?
B. We believe biblical knowledge must come from church. Why? Haven't we diminished personal study with that thinking? Same for worship, giving, witnessing, and our walk with God. ?That's why little happens outside of assembled church!
3. Church is about religion! God says it's about relationships!
A. First & always with Him, Son, and Holy Spirit.
B. With His people - love one another & learn to love Him!
C. Fear of error has become more important than love! Why?
4. Church is a Temple. God says it's a tool!
A. Church is not an option! What you are! How you grow!
B. But it's building love! Love is essential not traditional church!
C. Family of God? Body of Christ? Goal is relationship with Him and the church together is the support system. Others support us, we grow by supporting others!
D. The definition of faithfulness is love (Gal.5:4)
E. 1 Cor.13:1-3 love over extreme acts of church!
Conclusion: We have "churchitosis"! Like halitosis - stinking! Only cure is mouthwash! Our wash is "The Living Water" Jesus.

Christmas 2007

There were actually other people at the dinner table when I took this picture, but it looks like Donna sat down to a huge dinner of crown pork roast and all the fixings by herself. She did her usual awesome job and we did our usual awesome job of eating too much. Mmmm!

After dinner and before the gifts, we had the traditional family pictures. Here are all the grand children. Ashlyn, Caleb, Curtis, Joshua, and Carter. Only Curtis wasn't very excited about the whole deal!

And then - the handing out of all the gifts. There really was carpet under all that! The kids handed them out, but Nana had to help them read the tags and tell them who to take them to. It actually took awhile.

Here is Curtis and one of his gifts from Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Holly. I think he's saying, "We missed you!" Another wonderful year and another reason to praise God for His ultimate gift of Jesus.

Top Ten Disney Observations

One morning last week, while we were at Disney World, I woke up at 5:30 and found myself sitting in the foyer of our resort drinking coffee and writing in my journal. I worked on a sermon some and did a little work on our Be Real adult Bible classes that start in January, and then I jotted down a few observations about Disney World. I hesitate to call them Top Ten anything, but I like consistency, so I'm just calling them my Top Ten Observations about Disney World (that day).
1. I love their incredible attention to detail. They are masters of the BIG, but what gives them class is all the little touches that they put into everything.
2. Every employee - they call cast members - is happy, positive, personable, helpful, and attentive. Impressive.
3. Everything is clean, neat, and in it's place - heaven for us borderline OCD-types.
4. It's a wonderful place for an adult vacation, even though it's usually thought of as being for kids. If you're an empty nester - try it!
5. It's a very physical vacation. It takes a lot of walking to see everything and do it all. I did see lots of wheelchairs and motorized chairs. If you can't do a lot of walking, you must have something like that.
6. It's not a place for people or families who are stressed, impatient, or who have children we politely call "strong willed". The crowds, the wear & tear, and the waiting are hard on the competitive, the confrontational, and the non-compliant - regardless of their age. But it's really not a place for small children who'd just as soon ride the children's train at your mall.
7. It's top rate, first class entertainment. Every show is big, beautiful and Broadway quality. (i.e. The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Finding Nemo, and the Lights, Camera, Action Car/Stunt Show is unbelievable - yes, even the High School Musical show at MGM was fun)
8. The Expedition Everest ride is incredible. A guy died of heart attack on it the day after we left. Been there - done that - never again! And the new "Soaring" ride is worth the price of the whole trip and the long wait!
9. The organization and coordination of transportation from airport to resort to whatever park and back is impressive - not to mention convenient.
10. For us, we know its a great place because of all the times we found ourselves saying, "Wouldn't the kids and grand kids love this!" So yes, it's a great adult vacation, but even better when you can share it with loved ones. This time it was special friends. Next time - who knows - maybe the whole family!

Myth No-Truth

I recorded this lesson last Tuesday, before we left on Wednesday, so it could be presented on Sunday and we wouldn't mess up the schedule of "Myths" as we've advertised them. I still had almost no voice, because of the botox shot Nov.30th, but I didn't want to not deal with the topic when I said I would. Last weekend, while we were at DW, St. Louis got 7-9 inches of snow, so they only had about half the congregation here Sunday morning. Anyway, for those who have been trying to keep up with my lessons on the Myth America Contest, here are the main points of what I shared about Myth No-Truth.
Introduction: There's not enough room here to tell my joke I used, but I made the point that it's really hard to know the truth about others. It's hard to know the truth about yourself sometimes. I believe this is one of the reasons so many people believe that truth is relative, situational, in flux, or always changing - because people are always changing. People are un-true, therefore life is un-true. They reject absolutes and values. People know better, but they are trying to escape responsibility or guilt. "The fool has said in his heart there is no God." Three thoughts about why the world view is wrong.
1. Truth is situational! Wrong! The world is confusing absolutes with application! Because people differ about the application of a truth, doesn't mean the truth itself is wrong or relative.
A. That's why Paul warned us to "handle the word of truth" correctly.
B. Mk.10:42-45 Jesus taught on servant leadership, but in the very next chapter (11:12-18) He made a whip and cleared out the Temple. Is that a conflict of truth or and application of truth?
C. Eph.4:15 "speaking the truth in love" is very difficult. Requires different applications.
2. Truth is "in the eye of the beholder." Wrong! Truth is in the One we behold!
A. Rom.3:4 "Let God be true and every man a liar."
B. Truth is the gospel - the gospel is God's Word & will! Jn.17:17 Sanctifies; 8:32 sets free; 14:6 in Jesus; Phil.4:8 fills our minds.
C. Man conveniently changes the truth to fit himself. See Rom.1:18-25
D. A country w/o values has problems! It's hard to have values w/o recognizing the giver of values.
3. Truth is elusive - unknowable! Wrong! Truth is knowable - it's just uncomfortable and convicting!
A. Col.3:16 Read it - what's hard to know? Hard to do - is the problem!
B. Gal.1:6-10 Another gospel? Really? No, just pleasing men!
C. Gal.2:20, Know, sing, memorize - but real?
Conclusion: Here's the truth! God made you, loves you, wants a relationship with you. He made a way for the unholy to unite with the Holy - because of Jesus' sacrifice! If we seek Him, serve Him, and sense Him - we will BE REAL in our spiritual walk.

Back From Florida

We arrived back from our five day Disney adventure yesterday afternoon. I was worn out - Donna wanted another five days. What can I say! It's her favorite place, so I think I hit a home run by giving her this trip for our thirty-fifth anniversary. I had originally intended for it to be a last minute surprise, but with the children's musical, a new grand-baby due, and a dozen other things all merging at around the same time, I decided to spring it on her for her birthday back in October (see blog from then). I didn't mind doing that because the best part of the surprise was hearing her scream when we walked off the plane in Orlando and we were met by Don & Kathy Rose, two of our best friends and travel buddies from TN. Donna was so surprised that she thought for a second that we'd landed in Nashville. But - there was more to come!

I put this in here mostly so you could see the new Expedition Everest in the background. We'd just ridden it minutes earlier - I'm not really that white! I'm glad I did it, but don't be looking for a repeat. These pics are just a small sample of what we have. I took about 80 pictures and Donna has about 400 on here camera. Even after cutting out the bad and the blurry, it's still a mess of pictures.

(Everyone but Eric and Diana Crawford, who were there but not with us when this was taken.)

On Thursday evening we rushed to a dinner reservation in the Mexico pavilion. As Donna turned the corner in the restaurant, she found a table with 14 more good friends waiting for her. To say she was surprised is an understatement. These are all wonderful friends who we were in a small group with for about six and a half years in TN. We love them all dearly. We've shared a lot together and done the very things God put His church here to do - love another. When I asked them to consider this - back in January - they all jumped at the opportunity for us all to be together. Thanks guys. I can't say how much it meant to both of us - Donna especially, but I got to enjoy the love and commitment for 11 months. Thanks for helping to make it an unforgettable anniversary. Isn't God wonderful?

Myth Death

According to Weather.Com, it's 83 in Orlando today and it's supposed to be 81 tomorrow when we arrive for our 35th anniversary trip. Oh, it's going to be tough to enjoy that with so much ice and cold here in St. Louis - but we'll try to have a good time in spite of that. Needless to say, you won't be seeing a blog here until we return next week. So before we head south, I wanted to share my outline from last Sunday's Myth America Contest series. It wasn't a fun subject, but a very important one. Hope some of the thoughts bless you in some way.

Myth Death
Introduction: I asked everyone to hold there purse or wallet and imagine someone else handing it to their "next of kin" because you're dead and don't need it anymore. Here are three introductory truths I shared. 1) The single biggest indicator of lack of faith is the denial of the fact that we are going to die. Because we don't live like we believe it. 2) The foundation of faith is the belief that there is more to us than this physical life! There is nothing more real than death and nothing more important than our soul. 3) Everyone who has every lived has died! Bible characters, historical people, and famous people. All just like us! Some cultural myths about death vs. God's Truth!
1. It's predetermined vs. it's undetermined. World says it's fate, luck, or "numbers up" - almost predestination. The physical elements of life are choice, the fact we're mortal (dying), accidental and intentional death. We add to that the spiritual elements = God's will, which includes the natural (He created) and the providential (He intervenes).
2. Avoidable vs. Unavoidable - Heb.9:27 says is unavoidable!
3. Fear vs. Fearless - God/Love takes away the fear 1 Jn.4:16-18
4. The End vs. The Beginning - 1 Thess.4:13-18 even early Christians had a hard time with that.
5. Ultimate Loss vs. Ultimate Win! World says to die is to lose, God says it's to gain (Phil.1:21) and a victory (1 Cor.15:51-57) At death we receive every spiritual blessing the physical can't have - and we call it losing?
Conclusion: Be Real - nothing reveals how genuine our walk with Jesus is like how we feel about death. We're going to Disney World! I starting planning and preparing back in January. If you want to go, that's what you have to do - start taking the steps! Want heaven? Start taking the steps that get you there. Start seeking God!

Da Play! Da Play!

This is the best cast picture I could get. There was a swarm of parents and grandparents squeezing into the narrow aisle to get the same picture. The kids were awesome and the play was truly cute! I was extremely proud of them and of Donna for deciding to do it, plan it, work so hard at it, and pull it off beautifully. I think she has started a new Florissant tradition of having a Children's Christmas Musical every year.

Watching these little pre-schoolers get up there and perform was very touching. Of course, some were more hams than others, but all were sweet.

At the risk of sounding non-PC, it sure seems that little girls are a lot more comfortable on stage than little boys. I don't even want to speculate why.

Here is the amazing Children's minister and director of the play talking to the audience at the end. They are all "hearing unimpaired" but that doesn't keep Donna from talking with her hands. Have I said how awesome she is?

This is our "Mini-Supremes" doing a number in the play. I could hear the buttons popping off parents and grandparents all over the auditorium.

Congratulations to all the kids and adult helpers who worked hard to make it a great experience for the performers and the audience. As wonderful as it was, I know Donna is glad to have it behind her. Now she can focus on our thirty-fifth anniversary trip to Disney World this Wednesday.

We had a wonderful but quick trip down to Nashville to see all the family. I was great to see Jonathan and Holly, even if it was just a couple days. Click on Deborah's name on the side-bar and see our new family pictures on her blog. I don't have them transferred over to my computer yet. We just had them taken last Thursday. Thank you Father for letting us be together for a while.

Myth Goodness

It's hard to believe that my last post was my 15oth blog posting. That could have been another book if I'd planned it better. I also can't believe that my last blog was already last Friday! Wow - were does the time go. I was hoping, after spending all day out hunting, and mostly freezing, on Monday, that I'd have a story and picture to share, but - well, there's always a story - mostly only other hunters would appreciate - but there's no venison for the freezer yet, and that is the ultimate goal. Anyway - this is a busy and hectic week. We are running down to Nashville for a quick two day trip to see family, so a lot of stuff HAS to get finished today (i.e. sermons, classes, bulletin outlines & articles, etc.). We plan to leave TN early Saturday and return to Florissant by lunch-time because Donna has her Children's Musical rehearsal that afternoon and I'm hoping to get in a short afternoon hunt (the season is rapidly coming to an end). Obviously, there won't be any additional blogs this week, so save a click until next week. Just in case you're wondering, I do try to blog about three times a week, but it's hard at times to do that - like this week. So with that explanation and longer-than-necessary-introduction, here's some of my notes from last Sunday's Myth American Contest Series.
Myth Goodness
Introduction: I used the final scene from "Saving Private Ryan" where 50 years after the war, Ryan is in France at the grave of Capt. John Miller, one of several men who died to try and get him home to his mother. Miller's dying words were"Earn this" and now Ryan asks his wife if he has. She tells him he's a good man. So just what is a good person? In Romans 5:7-8, Jesus died for us because we were "no good" to make us good. The world's definition of good is not God's. We talk about people being "basically good" or "mostly good" but good is good - not basically, partly, almost, or sometimes. God's creation was good - not basically good. God is good - not sometimes good, but all the time good - period!
The problem is that there are multiple definitions and uses for good. I shared all thirteen dictionary definitions of good and they don't even include slang. And "goodness is the state or quality of being good" - so what in the world is it? Which definition are you using.
1. In the world, goodness is a relative term.
A. Like labels - it all depends on the starting point! Are you a good person? Church people are always good people -right? Good compared to crooks & perverts? Compared to other Christians? What about compared to Jesus?
B. We have a vision problem? 2 Cor.4:4 blinded by the god of this world.
C. We have a sin problem? Eph.5:1-10 lost our focus on Jesus
2. In the Lord, goodness is an absolute term!
A. Only One is good (i.e. Best) Matthew 19:16-26
B. Our job is to choose good (i.e. the better) Luke 10:38-42
C. Only then can we be called "good" by God. Matt.25:14-30
Conclusion: Real goodness is being real about seeking Jesus! Staying close to the One who is good! Sign at convenience store at Halloween "Remove your mask before you enter!" Need to know if it's a real costume or a robber! Are we real seekers or robbers stealing the appearance of goodness?