The Pack at the Park

We just finished a fun and exciting weekend that was full of family, friends, and food - all things we focus on a lot. At church, it was our Fiftieth Anniversary Homecoming, so we had events on both Saturday and Sunday, and it was a wonderful time of being grateful to God for what He has done in this place for five decades. But we also had Chad, Elizabeth, Carter, Ashlyn, and Curtis with us over the weekend too. They came up early (see previous blog) and stayed until Sunday afternoon before making the trek back to Music City. Saturday morning we all spent some fun time at the park, just up the road from our house. It was a gorgeous Fall morning and the kids, as you can see, just went from one climb to another. Ashlyn loved the climbing wall on the slide.

Carter loved the tree with so many branches that it wasn't hard to feel like Tarzan. He was pretty proud of his ability to climb "way up!"

This cute little guy was intrigued by the nuts and leaves that covered the ground. He was loving just pushing an old hickory nut around the padded play area. Don't you love that smile?

And of course, Nana, the ultimate kid-friendly grandma, got into a leaf tossing game with Carter and Ashlyn. It's amazing how the simple things mean so much to kids and are so easy to do. We are thankful for the wonderful visit with family and we can't wait to have everyone here for Thanksgiving - well almost everyone. Another Turkey Day without Jonathan and Holly, but, Lord willing, we will get to see them the first week of December down in Searcy.

From TN to MO to IL Doe!

These are the days you live for as a bowhunter. All the pre-season scouting, sweating in Summer as you put stands up, and spending hours practicing with your bow so that you will be ready to make the important shot when it's time. Last night, my son-in-law Chad killed his first whitetail deer. It was a nice big healthy doe, which is the only kind of hunting tag he had, but it's the culmination of seven years of trying to get a deer with a bow. Of course, it must be understood that he hasn't be able to hunt many times each of those seven years, but he has tried and has had shots and missed. This time though, it all came together and I couldn't have been happier even if it had been me making the shot. He did a great job field dressing it by himself, and then we had a long drag out of the corn fields because we had to circle the field so we wouldn't wipe out a couple rows of corn. Congratulations Chad! There will be some wonderful back-strap at the Milom house in couple weeks. May this be the first of many successes in the hunting woods.

This is the scene from the stand I was in last night. It's actually Danny Youngers stand, but we share when the other one isn't there. This picture doesn't do justice to how beautiful it was. This is looking down hill, towards the valley road and you can see the other side where the valley goes up again. The trees are just starting to change colors and the temperature was about as shirt-sleeve comfortable as it can get. Chad was in my stand off to the left, in the upper corner of the field, and his deer dropped about thirty yards to the left of this picture, just ten field from the upper edge of the field. I heard her fall. It was a wonderful late afternoon and evening to be in the woods, or over a corn field. I'm thankful for Chad's success and thankful that I got to be part of it. Let's see...who's next? Jonathan, Pat...or will it be a grandson or grand-daughter?

My Book Club Choice

I don't recommend a lot of books. In fact, The Shack is by far the only book I've recommended to anyone and everyone I get a chance to, because it's life-changing. It's challenging and healing and hopeful, and I love everything about it. Other than the Bible, in my opinion, if you only read one book in your life - I recommend The Shack.
That having been said, some friends of ours, while we were discussing The Shack, recommended to us two books by Anne Rice. Yes, the same Anne Rice of Vampire fame. She has had a conversion of sorts and has written two incredible books about Jesus that have really blessed me greatly. The first is Christ The Lord: Out of Egypt and covers the early years of Jesus' life in Egypt and goes with Him and His family as they return to Nazareth. The rich historical material makes it worth the read if there was nothing else, but there is so much more. It gives a sense of the culture and times of Jesus like nothing I've ever read. And then the story is picked up with Christ The Lord: Road To Cana, that covers the last couple years of Jesus' life prior to the wedding at Cana when He turned the water to wine. It's full of all the drama and discovery that you'd expect from a thirty something Jewish man in a small town who is unmarried and is known to be "sinless". It's incredibly fascinating. You will know why He went to that wedding, who was getting married, and why He performed the miracle. It's like reading another Gospel.
The cool part is that both books are in the first person. Yes, Jesus is telling the story. She does a marvelous job of being true to His character and His deity. Sure it's full of speculation and imagination. It's fiction, but you don't feel like it is as you read it. You will have mental pictures in your head about what it was like living in those times that you will never get from a Bible class or a sermon. Treat yourself to some fun and inspiration. I even enjoyed her explanation at the end of the first book for why she wrote it. She is a true apologist for the historical accuracy of the Gospels. Check it out of the library. I listened to the first book on CD's from the library and loved it. I read the second while hunting in Colorado and finished it much faster than I wanted. (Large print version helped)
Hope you're blessed by it like I was.

I WANT IT ALL!

Last week I was reading through the book of Acts and I read a verse that I've read hundreds of times before - but this time it intrigued me, amazed me, and caused me to reflect on it for days. I mentioned it in my Wednesday night Bible class on 1 Corinthians and referred to it in the conclusion of my Sunday morning sermon. I still can't get it out of my head. Acts 4:32 is so familiar, I can usually quote it because I use it so much. "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had." As incredible as that is with all it's love, unity, unselfishness, and focus on relationships, it's the next verse that has been rolling around in my heart for over a week. "With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all." (vs.33)
There is a volume of stuff to think about just with the idea of testifying to the resurrection of Jesus. That's real witnessing! That's real sharing of the gospel - not correcting those who have a "worship style" doctrine that doesn't match ours! But again, the thing that intrigues me the most is that final phrase "and much grace was upon them all." What does that mean? Are there degrees of grace? How do people act who have "much grace" on them? Is there such a thing as too much grace? Are we missing out on something God wants us to have?
Here's what I think. The "much grace" that "was upon them all" is the joy and peace that comes from being fulling in tune with God. As I told my church family Sunday, they "got it." When you "get it" - understand what God wants and are seeking a deeper relationship with him - and when you sense his presence, his help, his strength, and trust his promise - YOU FEEL HIS GRACE LIKE NEVER BEFORE AND YOU CAN'T HELP BUT GIVE IT AWAY TO OTHERS!
I want it! I want his church to feel that! I want to see what happens when a family of God is awash in his grace, overwhelmed by his love, and driven to love one another in such a way that everyone will know that we are His disciples. Witnessing becomes explaining! Commitment becomes a way of life! Fear is replaced by love!
Can you imagine what would happen to a church where "much grace was upon them all"?

To Score or Not Two Score?

How's this for a "blast from the past"? This was, I believe, the Fall of 1974 when I was an Admissions Counsellor for Harding University. Those who where around back then - you're dating yourself - yes this is the old podium in the old auditorium. Love the leisure suit! Man, I miss those - like I miss the days of no air conditioning - never! This picture is on my desk to remind me that I once was skinny and I once had a lot of hair on top.
This is the oldest picture I know of that depicts me preaching. The reason I share it is because I remembered last night, while attending a funeral, that I preached my first sermon ever in October of 1968. That can't be forty years ago? Unfortunately, my usually suspect mathematical skills are correct this time. Forty years ago? Yes, when Cokes and candy bars where still a dime and movies cost under a dollar to attend. The little church was in Morvan, Georgia, about 45 minutes from Georgia Christian School where I lived in the dorm. My old friend Tony Black had to give me a ride to my first preaching appointment. I was scarred to death. Five minutes into my lesson, a little boy off to my right stood up, looked bug-eyed and pale, and then projectile vomited all over the pew and hard wood floor. I'm sure it was not a commentary on the quality of the preaching he was hearing at the time.
Back then, I still thought I would be a lawyer, or a psychologist, or a soldier. Becoming a preacher for the rest of my life was still something God hadn't revealed to me then. It took a lot of people encouraging me, giving me opportunities to speak, and probably some gracious lying about the undeveloped talent they were witnessing in me.
God has been incredibly good to me. I love how He was worked in my life. I love every blessing and every opportunity to learn - both good and bad. And, forty years later, I have absolutely no regrets about following His lead that took me through many things to place me where I am right now. If I don't get forty more hours, it's okay. It's all been good. Thank you Father!

Simple But Deep?

Simple but deep. How many things can be described that way? Childlike devotion? A clear, still, lake? A pithy saying? Maybe some other things fit the bill, if not literally, at least figuratively, but nothing fits it like the Word of God. When I was younger it overwhelmed me with it's information, puzzled me with it's symbolism, and frightened me with it's wondrous and eternal principles. It's been the Law, the weapon, the rod, the jigsaw puzzle, the bed time story, the proof, the resource material, the key to the executive wash room, the defense, the accuser, the crown, the smack down, the sip, the gulp, the feast, the workout, the spiritless, the Spirit led, the builder, the humbler, the light, the life, the voice of God, and finally the love letter. Through all that - it never changed - only I did. When I stopped looking for support for my doctrines and started looking for Jesus. It became a new book. When I quit piecing together passages and started listening to God's love, it became a new book. When I gave up seeking patterns and began seeking a relationship with God, it became a new book. Nothing improves your appreciation for the Bible like learning to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Now I see things that I never noticed before. Like how often the Bible talks about being thankful, and how much it challenges us to seek Him, and how His grace permeates every passage. When you're looking for what His Spirit is trying to say to you instead of pulling things out of context to back up your preconceived theology - it's the most simple, but deep book every to exist. When you think about it, is there anything that is MORE simple or MORE deep than love? The Word is the greatest love book ever read by man.
Isn't God good?

Wild & Wonderful West Virginia

( Rehearsal on Friday evening)

I don't like being gone from my church family - period! I say that, but I feel like people don't really understand how MUCH I mean it. For the last fifteen years, I've had four Sunday's of vacation time and three Sunday's of speaking engagements - to be gone each year - as part of my agreement with my elders. I average being gone about 2 to 3 Sunday's a year. If it's not a chance to be with family or to go on a special hunt, I don't want to be away from my church family, because I love them and I love what I do. It's not my job it's my life. So - that having been said, when my niece, Megan Haugh called us and asked us if Donna could make her wedding cake and I could perform her wedding - we quickly said yes because she's family and "ya just have to take care of family." We are so proud of Megan and so thrilled that she found such a great guy like Zack -it made the decision a no-brainer!
It was a beautiful wedding in a beautiful place. It was at Deer Park Lodge in Buckhannon, WV about an hour plus south of Fairmont. The weather was perfect and the fall colors were just starting to touch the trees. We had a wonderful time being a part of the whole thing, and we wish them both God's blessings.

This is the point when they get to kiss for the first time as husband and wife. Somehow I don't think it was the first kiss.

This is the cake that Donna made. It's very different and unlike anything she'd ever been asked to make, but it turned out great. It's what Megan wanted and she was very pleased with it. I know that Donna had a hard time getting the brown the right shade of color. I didn't get to enjoy a piece of it because we left before they cut the cake - which they were doing at the end of dinner and other things. We wanted to get a few hours down the road on Saturday evening so that Sunday wouldn't be the full eleven hour trip. We left a little after 3:00 and got to Moorehead, Kentucky at about 7:00 and stopped for the night.

The best part of the trip was getting to see so many family and friends. The Haugh family has always had a special place in our heart. We've loved them and been close to them ever since Kathy (Donna's sister) married Kevin three decades ago (maybe longer). There have been holiday's, hunts, weddings, funerals, vacations, and loads of great memories. We are very happy that we could be a small part of the beginning of Megan and Zack's life together.

So now the only big question is how long is it gonna take to turn Zack into a bowhunter?

Take A Walk

Since we are leaving in the morning for WV, and I will be gone through Sunday morning, I actually had nothing to prepare for today except my 1 Corinthians class tonight. I considered going hunting since it's the opening day for IL bow season, but decided I didn't want to get up early the day before we were getting up early for the trip. Nevertheless, I drove up to our hunting spot, put a tree stand up for next week's hunt, and did a little scouting for deer sign. It's amazing how different the whole property looks from last January. The undergrowth is thick, the trees are full of leaves, and the bugs are swarming like July. Still, there is something very therapeutic about just walking through the woods. It's quiet, except for the birds chirping and the squirrels scurrying around, and the wild flowers just seem to pop with color. I sometimes wish I knew what kind of flower each one was, but then I realize that it wouldn't change their beauty or the way they bless me. When I walk through the woods I can't think of any of the things that seem to dominate my brain 24/7. I have to be alert, see everything, and absorb the untouched wonder of God's creation. Now, sitting still in a tree stand is a great place to think through problems, get ideas, talk to God, and even take notes in my journal. But not when I'm walking. I enjoy seeing the spider webs, spotting the game trails, and looking for any signs of travel, bedding, or feeding. It helps to have a slight coolness in the air too. I can't wait to see the fall colors this year. There certainly hasn't been any drought to hurt it, like there has been in the last three falls.

It will be next week before I can add to my blog page. By the time we get back, the cake Donna will make for the wedding of our niece will be eaten, I will have pronounce Megan and Zack "husband and wife", and we will have spent eleven hours in the van each way. I'll be ready for some serious quiet time in the woods, but I will be hunting not walking.

If you get a chance, take a walk in the woods. See if it doesn't do wonders for you.

All Kinds of Construction

As I write this, a friend from church is replacing our back door. Like most home improvement tasks, this one had complications too. The boards under the old back door where rotten from water leaks. Fortunately, it's only the front outer board that attaches to the floor supports. Anyway, he's an expert and he will "make things all new." I refuse to waste time thinking about the losses and the destruction some selfish kids brought upon our house. We've just had a wonderful weekend - full of answered prayers and things to praise God for.
We had a shepherd's retreat all day Saturday. All nineteen shepherds, along with Jerry and I, met to map out how we can best function as a leadership to get the job done at Florissant. We ended the day with everyone coming to our house for dinner and some special sharing time. (Yes, that's 42 for dinner. See previous blogs ref. finished basement. PTL!)
When I told friends that we were installing twelve additional elders, they grimaced and couldn't believe we'd do such a thing. When I explained that we installed shepherds not CEO's, they understood. I am so thrilled to work with this wonderful group of men. They are humble, people oriented, sensitive, loving, and passionate about helping people develop a deeper relationship with Jesus. I am absolutely excited about what God is going to do through this wonderful group of spiritual leaders.
To those of you who read this and have sour feelings about past church leadership (or present), please be encouraged to know that there are men out there who just want to serve God and help his people grow. With nineteen godly men purposefully encouraging, guiding, and connecting with EVERY member - HOW CAN GREAT THINGS NOT HAPPEN? I can't wait to see what he's going to do! What I pray about for our church family more than anything else is that we will look for spiritual maturing - people growing in Jesus - and quit looking for the things that the world says is "church growth". With this many men and women, committed to changing lives, God will give the increase as more and more members develop a passion for being like Jesus and sharing him with others. After all, He is the Door!

Hunting Wonders

As mentioned earlier, I don't believe in Murphy's Law. I don't even know if it's spelled with an "f" or a "ph" - and I don't care. It's a negative - pessimistic way to look at life. However, the belief that "what can go wrong will go wrong" is the heart & soul of defensive driving. Never assume the other person is going to do what they are supposed to do. That's why great drivers still have accidents.
That being said, I still can't help but wonder why so many things seem to consistently "go wrong" on a hunting trip. For instance, why did I KNOW that if I bought a "cow elk only" hunting tag, I'd be surrounded by giant bull elks? I wonder...
Here are some additional HUNTING WONDERS: (penned in my journal while in Colorado)
* Why do I glass the same rocks every year? (To the ignorant, mule deer have bright tan tails that show up long before the rest of the deer can be seen.)
* Why is there a bird that makes a call that sounds, especially while your walking, an awful lot like a cow elk mew? (You must stop, listen carefully, w/ heart racing, only to find out...)
* Why do cows (beef type) always see me when I'm totally camouflaged in a blind or stand?
* Why does the pond I'm hunting always seem to be a cow hang out?
* Why can't they make insulated underwear that disappears when you start climbing the first mountain of the morning?
* Why can't the herd of elk you're stalking all face the same direction?
* Why is there no strait trails through sage brush?
* Why does Nature have to call at 7:30 A.M. during an uphill dash to get ahead of some elk?
* Why do barbed wire gates shrink from the time you open them and when you close them?
* Why do I have more T-shirts with Meeker, Colorado on them then I do pictures of arrowed animals?
* Why so many whys?

Whale of a Gift

Isn't this incredible? This is part of the several gifts the cast and crew of Jonah presented to me for being their "Dictator" for the play. It was commissioned to be done by the award winning wildlife artist Mike McKelvey. It's a wood carving, in case you couldn't tell because of the colors, and it's the logo from the play. It just came in last week and Jerry presented it to me before I got up to preach last Sunday. They had told me it was coming back when we had our cast party in June, the week after the play, but I had no idea how what an amazing piece of art it would be. It is so beautiful. This artist has won loads of awards for his carvings of fish, ducks, turkeys, and other critters, but I'll bet this was his first whale. I understand that it was especially hard because the logo was more cartoon oriented rather than real-life, but he did a marvelous job. Needless to say, I am very humbled and thankful. The greatest joy of the whole experience - creating, writing, casting, set design, directing, etc., is just getting to share so much with so many wonderful brothers and sisters. There is nothing like working hard with those you love, on a joint adventure, and seeing it blessed so much by God. I don't know how many of them read my blog, but if you're one of them, thanks again for the beautiful gift, and thanks again for being part of our attempt to share a story from God's Word. Have I said it enough? God is good.

Mountain Top Experience - Again

Can you believe this is a rest stop? It's smack in the middle of the Rockies on I-70 just before Vail. It was breath-taking and cold. At this point, Danny and I are about 2 to 3 hours from Meeker, CO and the start of our elk & mule deer hunt. This year I determined to buy a "cow elk only tag" because in the past, I've always purchased the "either sex" (bull or cow) tag, at a much higher price, and always got so fixed on hunting the bull elks that I didn't take shots at cows - and bring home some meat! I don't like to believe in Murphy's Law, but I do think it applies in defensive driving and in hunting. With my "cow only" tag, I was in the middle of six huge bulls - like I've never been before. One was the largest bull elk I've ever seen in twenty plus years of hunting this property. One (a huge 5x5) even stood at twenty-five yards broadside and never knew I was there. Temptation? Never - just amazement. Seconds later this large cow elk crossed in front of me at about fifteen yards. The shot was high and there was no blood trail, but it didn't matter since she dropped in her tracks just forty yards away - exactly where I'm holding her.

It doesn't look like it here, but she is huge. I couldn't even roll her over and begin the field dressing by myself. I had to go for help.

It took the three of us a long time to muscle her into the back of Darryl's Polaris. She was, I guess, about 400 pounds pre-field dressing. Praise the Lord, we have a freezer full of awesome meat. Elk is soooo much sweeter than venison and even has less fat per grams than venison - like I care!

This is for Kevin and Brian, who couldn't go with us. The ranch is still there, but - are you ready for this - Sleepy Cat has closed! Sad, I know, but Cary's Steakhouse is still there and it has awesome hamburgers.

Thank God for safe travel and a wonderful week in His special playground. Unfortunately, we came home to find out our house had be broken into, messed up, and several things stolen. Just stuff. I feel sad for the kids who did it. They're headed in a painful direction.

God is good and I'm thankful that we got to enjoy another great week of hunting and Donna got to spend some time with all the crew in Nashville.

Now - bow season is open in Missouri and it opens in IL next week. Life is good.

On The Road Again

This is a picture from last years hunting trip to Colorado. Well, we leave in the morning for this years trip. Hopefully I'll have some new pictures with some critters on the ground, but like I tell most people, if you have to come home with meat, you shouldn't hunt with a bow and arrow. I love the challenge and I'd rather come home without something for the freezer than use any other kind of hunting weapon.

So, there won't be an blogs for the next week. Donna is with all our crew in Nashville, and I am envious even though I'm going hunting. We both are getting a break. I'm looking forward to having a lot of fun with my hunting buddy, Danny Younger, and spending some quiet time in a blind and/or stand. I get to do a lot of communing with my Father, and that's always good.

Keep us in your prayers. It's a seventeen hour road trip each way. God bless.

Special Moments

I didn't preach a normal sermon yesterday, but it was still one of the most exciting and encouraging Sunday mornings I've ever been part of. We spent the entire sermon time installing twelve additional shepherds and reaffirming the existing seven. All nineteen brothers accepted the charge to serve and to be examples of the Great Shepherd to each member of the Florissant family. The above picture is when the existing shepherds, minus Ken Fester attending his daughters wedding in California, where called to the front as we thanked God for sending us spiritual leaders past and present. These are all men that I love a respect and feel blessed to be able to work with.

This is the whole group. I shared some scriptures about shepherding and submitting to our shepherds, I read the Shepherds Covenant, and then read the Charge to the Shepherds - asking them to say "I do" if they accepted it. I then had the congregation stand and I read a charge to the Family and asked them to say "I do" if they accepted the charge. After that, we presented each shepherd with a basin and towel as a reminder that they are servants just as Jesus was. The basin and towels were delivered to them by someone they've served - like a spouse, child, or grandchild.

This is part of the group that delivered the basin and towel.

This was a total surprise to the shepherds and there were a lot of tears, smiles, and hugs.

I asked the congregation to come down and lay their hands on the men who will be laying hands on them in the future. I don't understand all the reasons why they did it in Bible times, but I believe there is something special about touching and praying as you call on God's help and guidance.

I am truly excited about what this can mean for us as a congregation. We now have the number of spiritual leaders to truly touch, mentor, and care for every individual in the family. Nineteen elders is not about increasing our number of decision makers but increasing our shepherding. We want everyone connected to the family - growing in love - and deepening their relationship with Jesus. Anything is just playing church. These are all wonderful brothers who represent a wonderful cross-section of our church family. Most of all, they really want to be servants. How can you keep good things from happening when you have those kind of leaders?

God is good!

Passion Over Paycheck

Teaching a class on 1 Corinthians 9 is a true "double edged sword." It's nice to point out to everyone how clearly Paul taught that those in full time ministry should be financially supported by those they serve. He doesn't just make the point in passing, he used multiple illustrations to pound home his right to expect support. "If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?" (vs.11) Just in case his logic isn't proof enough he adds, "...the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel." (vs.14) Preach on Paul!

The other side of the sword is the "ouch" part. He didn't want them to pay him and he never let them. This speaks to passion over paycheck. "I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" (vs.16) It's not a job but a journey, a calling, a mission, a life of devotion to the One who devoted His life for us! But I like getting a salary, and my brethren have always been wonderful about taking care of me and my family. I think I've asked for a raise one time in thirty-five years and that was decades ago. I've never moved to increase my salary. So, how-much-am-I-compelled-to-preach??? Regardless of the "material harvest" I reap?

I believe it's total - but I don't want to have to find out. I know that I will never do anything to hurt the body of Christ. I plan to preach until my last breath is expelled from my lungs. I won't compromise the truth to protect my income. I am thankful to be blessed with financial support for my ministry, but it must not control me, drive me, and define me.

I was stunned by something Paul said in chapter 9 that I hadn't paid much attention to before. After clearly declaring his right to reap - he said, "But we did not use this right." Get this, "On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ." (vs.12) Anything? Yes, even a well deserved salary. Ouch - again. Ministry without integrity is mercenary. Ministry with integrity is - well, what it's supposed to be. I must be willing to do "anything rather than hinder the gospel." That's my plan - and I'm sticking to it.

My President

Yes, I'm "old fashion" when it comes to my President. The words "old fashion" and Mike Root are rarely ever put together - at least in my mind. But when it comes to my President, I'm very old fashioned about being loyal, supportive, bi-partisan, and proud. I don't like the attack mentality that has permeated our media and society since the Nixon years. I WANT to believe the best about MY President no matter how much I disagree with a specific decision or course of action he may take. He's the leader of my country! He represents us, the greatest nation to ever exist on this planet, and he deserves our respect and support. When we let our petty politics and personal preferences override our pride for our country and our loyalty to our leader - yes it's our right, but it also just make us look like the spoiled, ungrateful, and bully nation the rest of the world thinks we are. I refuse to let the news media make me a cynic! I refuse to let the political speculators sell me their negative, depression, suspicious way of thinking! And I also refuse to let "Holly-Weird" industry make me feel like a victim who is entitled to government hand-outs, tax-free living, and cheap liberty!
I can not vote for any party that says ending a babies life is okay and simply a matter of choice. It can't be just another side issue for anyone who believes God loves those little lives. That being said, I like both candidates and their running mates. I don't agree with every policy of either one. I believe they are both some of the classiest men we've had running for the chief office in a long time. I will be proud and supportive of whoever gets to the the Oval Office. In spite of what the News people and the partisan myopic say, they will no longer be a Democrat or a Republican to me, they will be my President, and I will pray for God to help them and guide them as they lead us.
There ya go! That's my political comment for the year. Father, give us leaders who listen to You!

Branding or Bonding?

What would you like to see changed at your church? If you are like most church folks (c of c or otherwise), the first thing you thought of was what you'd like to see happen in the assembly - what we have unscripturally called "The Worship" for the last fifteen or so centuries. I am still amazed at how mature Christians still focus on what kind of songs they wish were sung, or whether the style should be traditional, progressive, or - truth be told - short. What do you think would be the #1 topic at any church focus group meeting? What do you think is the single most important "appeal" that your church has to outsiders? What is the most often mentioned "need" that is not being met that causes people to "jump churches"? What defines your church?
I am ready for the church to be more concerned with bonding than branding. As I've said in many lessons, blogs, and articles - church/Christian togetherness, is a God-given tool to help us build spiritual relationships that will help us learn how to love God. Christian togetherness must be a giving experience not a receiving experience! Giving is love in action. It's love growing! It's being like Jesus. It's still the only thing Jesus said showed the world that we belong to Him! Until we "get it" - church will continue to be ineffective as a life-changing effort, disappointing to those seeking a deeper relationship with God, and unappealing to a world that feels no need to give up their Sunday morning sleeping in time.
Some of the "mega-churches" are starting to discover that church can't be about branding without bonding. With all the focus in God's Word on love and with all the "one another" passages spread across the New Testament, it's incredible to me that we have to "sell" Christians on the preeminence of building relationships. Could it be that we only "Restore" what we want to from the New Testament? And if we continue to do what we've always done - wait - maybe we don't want any different results?
If we're going to Be Real - we must be about what God truly wants.

Permit In Hand

After showing several pictures over the last year and a half about the transformation of our basement, I thought it only appropriate to have a final blog about it's FINAL FINISHED CONDITION! Yes, it is really done. I'm holding the County permit in my little hands, which we really got last month, but I didn't get the base board molding finished until this past Saturday, and the caulking on yesterday. Notice the nice, neat, white trim around the carpet. It's tempting to put off the little finishing stuff, but I am so ready to start decorating it. We've got stuff in the store room that we haven't unpacked or looked at since we moved into this house three and a half years ago. As you can see, we've had the grand kids toys down there for several weeks already. Anyway, we're happy and just wanted to share it with you. We will get a chance to truly "break it in" next month as we host all our elders, ministers, and wives at our house for dinner. With the new twelve shepherds coming on board this next Sunday, that will be about 42 people in for dinner. With the two levels available, we plan to split the men and women up after dinner to allow the experienced leaders to share some insights with the new leaders - and of course, to pray. So visualize this space with some long tables and folding chairs. I am very thankful that we have the space to do just that kind of thing. God is good!

Staying A Head!

I always love to read my daughter's blogs about the funny things our grand children say. It's always so cute and precious. I love it when they use words in an incorrect way or at the appropriate time. So why is it that when you're fifty-seven and you totally massacre the English language it's about as far from cute as it can be? This morning I was reporting to my lovely wife what my doctor said about me at my check up earlier in the day. I meant to say, "He's sending me to a dermatologist." Unfortunately, what I said was, "He's sending me to a taxidermist."

I don't know - call me crazy, but there was something incredibly hilarious about my doctor sending me to someone who was going to mount my head on plaque and hang it on the wall of our house with my deer heads. Actually, Donna laughed much more than I did. She could probably visualize a whole new decor for our house once I'm gone. Hmmm. I wonder if it's cheaper than a funeral?

Anyway, was it a Freudian slip, as I've been thinking about our hunting trip to Colorado in three weeks? Was it my subconscious desire to increase my trophy collection? Was it really my discomfort with the idea of a total stranger checking every inch of my skin with a magnifying class? Ah, perhaps I doth psycho-analyse myself too much. It was all just a mouth talking in gear while the brain was still in neutral. Still, if I don't make it back from the dermatologist in one piece - well, maybe I really will be an "off-the-wall-preacher". Ha!

Slipping Away?

We managed to sneak away the other day and finally catch Momma Mia at the movies. If you liked the play you'll love the movie. If you don't don't love Abba, don't waste your money. Personally I can't pass up any chance to hear Dancing Queen. It's a little bawdy and risque' in parts, which keeps it from being a future "Family Night" with the kids kind of movie, and it's got a terrible message about marriage and commitment, but, hey - it's entertaining and that's what you go to the movies for.
Actually, the scene and song that moved me the most, was when the mother was helping her daughter get ready for the wedding and she sang "Slipping Through My Fingers." Wow. She reminisced about her little girl going off to school with her back pack on her shoulder, and remembering her coming to the breakfast table still half asleep, and so on - each time followed by the refrain - "Slipping Through My Fingers". At the end of the song she sang, "Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture and save it from the funny tricks of time."
I felt the sadness as I reflected on all the things I couldn't remember - and never would. The thousands of hugs from little arms, the glorious sound of happy children laughing, the precious smiles on the faces of our three special gifts from God. The stories, the quotes, the jokes, the songs, the bedtime prayers, the rocking chair pile-ons, the Bible questions with heads resting on Dad's stomach, and the million other things that have fallen to "the funny tricks of time."
Then I thought, maybe we've had it all wrong. We tend to think that we are molded from our never-forgotten-memories, but maybe it's all the little experiences - that weren't so outstanding but just a normal part of our life - maybe they are far more responsible for who and what we are. God's building blocks may not be the huge unforgettable events of our life, but the small, daily, constant doses of love - maybe they are what really count in the long run. Maybe we were never made by God to file away every tender memory any more than we were meant to see every nail that holds our house together. Still, they hold us up, keep us together, and give us more to be thankful for. After all, what's "Slipping through my fingers" is also allowing me to take hold of eternity.

The Big Seven-O

This picture is from a couple years ago, but it's the only picture I have of Jerry and Lynn Jones. I do have another of Jerry, but it's too scary to show publicly. Last night, along with a huge crowd of their friends and family, we were part of a surprise birthday celebration for Jerry. Jerry, who many of us affectionately call "The Pope", turned seventy, and I have to say that he makes seventy look much better than most of us generally think of it. It was a great time of hugs, humor, and humility for Jerry. Lynn and his family organized the surprise and kept it sweet, focused, and fun. I know if they'd opened it up for comments and stories about Jerry from the crowd, a crowd with several preachers, teachers, elders, and old hunting partners, it would have lasted all night. They did a wonderful job and, all humor aside, he is worth the attention and honor.

I will forever be indebted to Jerry for many things in my life, but two things are at the top. He was my primary Bible teacher at Harding. He returned from his doctoral work in New Orleans as I started my second year at Harding ('71-'72), and taught all the preaching classes I took. Jerry had a huge impact on helping me to love and respect the job of preaching. He single-handedly taught me the importance and power of expository preaching and that has been my approach to preaching ever since. I live to expose scripture, make it come alive and have meaning, rather than use it as a source to support a preconceived conclusion. I don't believe I would have been as open minded and truth seeking if it had not been for his directions in how to share the Book.

We only had occasional contact through the years from 1974 until 2004 (Is that really thirty years?). In the late Summer of '04, I faced my greatest challenge and hurt in my life. Men who were friends, brothers, and my shepherds betrayed our relationship and our ministry, and I found myself swimming in shock and disappointment. The amazing element is that it strengthened my faith and my walk with God. He helped me walk with love and integrity, and then He sent more help. Just as this happened, Jerry and Lynn were previously scheduled to do their Marriage Matters Seminar with our church, and he stepped right into the role of friend, comforter, and mentor as if those thirty years had been thirty days. And maybe his greatest feat of friendship was getting us connected with the most loving church family we've ever known - our family for the last three and a half years - the Florissant church.

There are a lot of people a lot closer to Jerry than I am. That is just a factor of time and events. But there is no one who appreciates him any more than I do, and I will always be indebted to him as a teacher, mentor, and friend. So Happy Birthday, Bro. Long live "The Pope"!

Fighting Sin

Since writing the last blog about being comfortable with our sins, several people have asked for copies of my outline from that Sunday evening class. Unfortunately, my class came from a sheet of paper with notes all over the place, including top, bottom, and margins, which I did intentionally so that I could let my heart, and hopefully the Holy Spirit, guide me through what needed to be said. That being said, anyone who knows me knows that my driving principles in teaching and preaching are three-fold. It must be biblical, logical, and simple. So there was a very rough outline in what I said. With the possible chance that it may bless others, I want to share the main points. The title is Fighting Sin - Fighting Addiction. Here are the bones:
Introduction:
A. We must recognize we are slave to something - Romans 6:15-18
B. Sin is terrible, addicting, and means we aren't in control.
C. We must honestly remember why we do it - James 4:1-10
D. Addiction triangle: B= belief, leads to A= action, brings C = results, which whether negative or positive feed the belief that we can fill the void in our heart with something. We must change the Belief part - about self & what we need.
E. How to fight?
1. Desire to change. Nothing happens until we want it to.
2. Be accountable for our sins. Confront secret sin. God wants a broken heart. To Him there is no big sin vs. little sins, like society teaches us. Acts 8:18-24 what's the big deal?
3. Get help! We can't do it alone. We need friends to trust & hold us accountable. One another stuff was given to us as a support system. What does God call help? Church! Acts 2:41-47 shows his original intent for people helping people in Christ.
4. Do some Mental Reprogramming of your thinking. Change the belief about yourself. Think powerful and enjoyable thoughts. Phil.4:8 Replace bad stuff w/ good, Eph.5:18. Use songs & prayers to remove evil thoughts.
5. Change your actions. Do things you enjoy that aren't sinful. Too busy to sin. Do what builds self-esteem (healthy). Don't miss things that are positive = church.
6. Help some one else fight sin & addiction. Gave rather than have self-pity. Barnabas helped those who failed -maybe he had been one. (Paul & Mark)
Nothing that improves life happens by accident. We choose it!

Safe Sin?

Several years ago I was impressed and challenged by something I heard Rick Warren say on his Church Growth Seminar CD I was listening to. He said, "The longer you are a Christian, the fewer non-Christians you will know." That is such a true statement for most of us. As we bond closer together and deepen our family relationships as a church, the less we spend time with non-Christians we can witness to. This is especially true for those of us in full time ministry. I'm not out in the community meeting new people, participating in group activities with non-Christians, because all my time is focused on encouraging and equipping my brethren. I have thought a lot about this and I'm still trying to not only find the time to do "outside of church" stuff, but stuff that it available to do!

I share that principle of disconnecting with outsiders as a downside of spiritual togetherness because it's similar to a statement I made Sunday evening in our special Summer class on Social Issues. I said, "The longer you are a Christian the more lightly you will tend to think of your sins." By "lightly" I mean less serious, less terrible, and less unacceptable. We know better than to think that some sins are worse than others, but the reality is that we are the product of our culture that classifies sins as socially acceptable and socially unacceptable. Our sins are Christian sins! They don't hurt anybody and we still look better than anyone who does the really "bad stuff!" Greed isn't as bad as murder! Pride isn't as bad as adultery! Materialism isn't as bad as rape, robbery, and racism!

Our view of our sin is a reflection of how precious we view the blood of Jesus.

A Dad Joke and more

Forget the personal stuff, the deep theology, and the religious ranting. It's time for what my kids call "a Dad joke." It's not original, but I don't know who came up with it - so now it's mine.

A skeptical anthropologist was cataloging South American folk remedies with the assistance of a tribal medicine man who indicated that the leaves of a particular fern were a sure cure for any case of constipation. When the anthropologist expressed his doubts, the medicine man looked him in the eye and said, "Let me tell you, with fronds like these, who need enemas?"

I love puns! They are an integral part of my life, my teaching, preaching, and all levels of communicating. Did you ever realize that puns mean nothing to the hearing impaired? When I use a pun in a lesson that Donna is interpreting for the hearing impaired, she has to explain it and why it's funny. Without hearing the play on sounds - it totally loses it's effect.

I wonder how much we are spiritually hearing impaired? How can two people read the same Bible and get two completely different mental pictures of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Back to the joke! Can you see Jesus laughing at that joke or is your view of Jesus seeing Him scowling and looking like He's had a permanent botox treatment on His face? Do you see a loving and kind Father or a harsh and angry God? Does the Holy Spirit scare you and make you want to lock him in a book, or does he excite you with what he does in your life that you CAN'T know about? Is humor a work of Satan or a gift from God? Are you looking forward to laughing in heaven or to pun-ishment? Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Even the hearing impaired will hear the last trumpet. Father, help us to hear what you are saying to us long before your instrumental music calls us to attention.

Stop And Smell the Berries

No, Donna is not holding up plums but blackberries. We drove over to Eckerts, a pick-your-own orchard just outside of Grafton, IL. We picked this half gallon of berries in about ten minutes - not counting the ones Donna ate before they hit the bucket. These are seedless and the vines are thorn-less. How nice is that? I'm not a huge fan of blackberries, at least not like Donna is, but I might become one after trying these super-sweet seedless giants - in a cobbler of course. I am a huge fan of fresh peaches and this place had them already picked and ready for eating. It was a fun time, especially since we went earlier in the morning and did it before the triple digit temps hit on Monday.

I kept thinking about all kinds of lessons I could make about the fruit we picked and comparing it to the Fruit of the Spirit. You know like picking only the ones you like or that are easy or thorn-less. Or getting only the ones that someone else picked for us. Or acquiring them when it's cool and convenient. So forth and so on... You can probably make you own lessons. It was just a nice time for us to get away and enjoy getting some things that we hope will entice our kids to come visit us sooner - - - can't you taste the peach pie already? Wait, isn't patience one of the Fruit of the Spirit...

"I'm Not There Yet!"

In my opinion, nothing would impact our understanding of scripture like hearing the tone of voice of the one who was doing the talking. The great disadvantage of written word over the spoken is the tone of voice, the facial expressions, and all the other visual signs that give purpose and intent to what was said. Without that, it's easy for what was intended as encouragement to be interpreted as criticism.

Yesterday I sarcastically asked in my sermon if anyone had ever "Over dosed (OD'ed) on thankfulness." Of course, none of us have. None of us are as thankful as we ought to be. Even the ardent Christian tends to be situational about thankfulness as opposed to it being an attitude or a way of life. By situational, I simply mean we are thankful for specific or isolated situations or good things in life. We don't maintain a spirit of thanksgiving towards God on a 24/7 basis. We react or respond to things rather than view life through grateful eyes. That's the challenge for us all.

I have spent most of my life as a chronic worrier - looking for and expecting that infamous "worse case scenario." And that's in the midst of a life that has been incredibly blessed - where I've won far more than lost, succeeded way more than failed, and prospered and been healthy - not most of the time, but nearly all of the time. At 57, it wasn't that many years ago, about a dozen, that it finally dawned on me how important it was to be thankful. It's the key to spiritual growth, to our personal relationship with God, to our prayer life, and to having "the peace that passes understanding." And here's the most critical part - we are in total control of it and we can choose to make it happen anytime we want! This isn't some superficial "Oh, just get over it kid" kind of slogan stuff that you throw at someone who's struggling. Developing a thankful spirit is probably the most life-changing decision we will ever make.

I love these verses in 1 Thessalonians 3:7-8, which were part of what I used in my lesson yesterday. Paul said, "Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord." It's easy to skip over this and miss how their thankfulness for the spiritual maturity of the Thessalonians actually made them feel good in the middle of their own "distress and persecution". Wow! That's the power of a developed spirit of thankfulness.

I'm not there yet, but I want to be, and I'm thankful that my "want to" is finally heading in that direction.

Please Take My Burden

As powerful and moving as The Shack is, it's easy for us to miss the point. It's not just about getting a warm and fuzzy feeling about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Maybe the focal tragedy is so huge and heavy, that we don't see the fact that we all have a Shack. It's the place in our life where we question God and why He didn't do the things we expected Him to do for us. We all have a shack because we all, at some time, sit in judgement on God. It's not always a matter of facing a tragic crisis. It can be our disappointment that He didn't lift the burden we asked Him to take away from us - which we have been told we should do - right - "Give it to God!" - but...it didn't seem to work. We are crushed and unable to find answers.

We have a loved one who is struggling with her anxiety about the future. It's scary, unknown, and potentially disastrous. Her love and faith in God is wonderful, but why hasn't He taken the burden away from her? Since she is struggling with an anxiety that is "common to man" I want to share a few point for us all to meditate on (and I hope it helps).

First, we need to take responsibility for our anxiety. We're not victims of some ruthless attack or suffering with some unexpected illness, but simply suffering from our own self imposed perspective. We are anxious because we choose to be anxious. We choose to look at the unknown with worry and concern. Why does one person look at the unknown future with excitement, seeing an adventure, and another see only things that cause fear? Choice.

Second, that is also why we need to be careful about blaming God or thinking He hasn't answered our petitions. How much has He already saved you from? How many potential burdens has He already removed? How many resources has He placed at your disposal so YOU could deal with the challenges ahead? How many people has He put in your life to love and support you, and "be there" IF something should happen to go wrong? He's really pretty incredible. We will never know how much He does for us because we really don't know what we need.

Third, and final, the absolute most important cure for anxiety is thankfulness. We are so bad about seeing all we have and all He's done that we allow what "might" happen to scare and sadden us. I watched a survivor of last year's bridge collapse being interviewed yesterday and all she could talk about was how important and valuable life is. She wanted to live each day to the fullest because it was too precious to waste. Thankfulness is all about recognizing what you already have, what God has done, and how incredibly blessed you are. But it's also about priorities. Someone who has just survived cancer isn't worried about finding a job or a house or what tomorrow may bring. If it brings life, everything else is secondary.

When you pray for God to protect a loved one who is in harms way, and He does that for eighteen months bringing him safely home to you, is it really that important to know what's going to happen next month?

If I start to worry too much about the future, I like to go ahead and picture the absolute worst case scenario and then objectively look at it. As I coolly review it, I think to myself, "I can handle it. God will take care of me, as He always has, and the the worst that could happen will only bring me closer to Him. Even if it means home with Him."

A Postponed Father

I can't remember who said it, but I like it. "The older I get, the smarter my Dad becomes." That wasn't a comment on his Dad's aging, but one his own maturing. I never got to experience that as a son, but I think I'm getting to experience it as a Dad - with adult kids. I think every parent goes through moments where they can't wait for their children to get older - move on to the next level of growing up. You can't wait for them to walk, talk, dress themselves, turn on the TV without waking you up on Saturday morning, fix their own cereal, go to school, catch and throw a ball, sit still in a restaurant, and so on and so on. Hopefully, most of the time, you simply enjoy who they are and where they are in life, and at times, even find yourself wishing they could stay like they are for ever - until it's diaper changing time again.
I wonder how God, our great Father who gave us life, looks at us through out our life. I can see Him smiling at my crazy antics as I learn painful lessons about what not to do in life. I can see Him enjoying me, each day, and never being anxious for me to "move on" to the next stage. But I can also see Him wanting me to want Him. Waiting patiently for me to realize what an awesome Father He is - smart, loving, totally trustworthy, and totally on my side. I can see His hurt as I stumble along being distracted by selfishness, sin, seeking the approval of people, and worshipping a career as if it was going to matter in fifty years.
Is He a "postponed Father" to me? A Father I put off appreciating, respecting, and truly loving while I, like Solomon, gave myself over to the pleasures of this world? No, like a Dad, He was always there, and I always knew it. I would occasionally drop Him a line and acknowledge His existence - knowing that someday, I would need to give serious thought to how much I really wanted to draw close to Him.
I did. I grew up spiritually. And you know what? I'm amazed at how much He loved me - in spite of me. He never gave up on me and He never stopped cheering for me from the sidelines of my busy life. He patiently waited for me to grow up. He is not a postponed Father any longer. Yes, the older I get, the smarter my Dad has been.

The Curtis Reunion

It's good to be back home after being out for a week. The retreat we attended was awesome. Good friends, great lessons & singing, and just a great time to renew our excitement about living for God. Then we went to the Curtis family reunion in Searcy. It was a short-quick trip, arriving on Friday afternoon and leaving for St. Louis on Saturday afternoon after the reunion. It was wonderful to see all the family. We had a huge dinner at Donna's folks house on Friday and got to spend some time visiting with family. On Saturday, we had the official Curtis family reunion in the fellowship hall of the College Church of Christ. The picture above is us with Donna's Dad and Mom. Dean was look much better, but still has some cancer treatments ahead. Please join us by keeping them in your prayers.

Just in case you've wondered what the rest of Donna's immediate family looked like, here they are. Donna is the oldest (but still young) sister, and then next to her is Kathy, Carol, and in the back is Randy. One of my life's greatest blessings has been to be part of the Curtis family. I love them all and cherish the wonderful memories God had given us through the years.

Those of you who know what a hunting fanatic I am may wonder how it all got started. Not when I was a little kid - growing up int Washington, D.C., obviously, but when I started going rabbit hunting with Dean, back when I began dating Donna. Those were some great times that I will always treasure. May He give us many more reunions, but if not, we know there will be one that all of us will attend.

Another Fish Story?

Several have asked me about our short fishing trip while in Alaska and I shared the fact that my brother-in-law Kevin caught a huge King Salmon. Of the five fisherman, only two caught fish, and Kevin's was clearly the largest. In fact, never even got to touch a fishing pole. But you know what? I was very happy for Kevin and it really didn't matter that all I was was a cheerleader. It was important and special to him and I'm truly thrilled that I got to share it with him.
Back in 1986, on our first bowhunting trip to Meeker, CO., we were all a bunch of newbies at the whole western game hunting thing. On the third full day of hunting, I dropped a huge mule deer buck with a 42 yard shot through the heart. There are a lot of memories that float around my brain about the trip, but right up there at the top is the excitement that Kevin showed over my success. He was ecstatic and doing more back-slapping than everyone else in the group put together. He was truly happy for me, and that made it a lot more special (because not everyone was that happy about it - but that's another story). He's always been a great encourager to have along on any hunting trip - or fishing trip.
So see! I wasn't' just telling another "fish story" and it really was huge! Congrats Kev!
We'll be at a retreat for the next few days in TN, and then at a family reunion in Arkansas, and plan to return home Saturday evening. There probably won't be much on this blog in the mean time.
God bless - and have I mentioned that you need to real The Shack?

Just Another Day?

We probably have it backwards. The older we get, the less we care about celebrating our birthdays. A couple years ago, we were traveling on my birthday and the day was two-thirds over before I remembered it was my birthday. Most of us just really don't want anyone to make a fuss over our birthday. After all, big birthday celebrations are for kids - right? I personally like to keep mine very low keyed. But, when I start thinking about how much I have to be thankful for, how incredible it is that God has blessed me with 57 years, and when I think about how many days that totals out to being - days that many never got to enjoy - maybe it should be a bigger deal. Not for others to celebrate my day of birth, but for me to thank God for all those opportunities to grow, learn more about Him, and enjoy all the wonders of life He has given me. I haven't deserved any of them, and I don't deserve, nor should I expect, the days yet to come. Each day is another day to celebrate loving relationships. That's why this birthday present from Deborah and Elizabeth (and their supportive husbands of course) is so special. They made me a photo album filled with pictures of everyone in our family, but especially with lots of pictures of all the grand kids. So when you come to our house, be ready to look at pictures.

Thanks kiddos. It was a very appropriate and thoughtful gift that truly helped me be thankful for 20,805 days that God has allowed me to enjoy. That was as of yesterday, my official birthday. This morning I'm up to 20,806. God is so good!

One More Time

Yes, I know I just did a blog about The Shack days ago, but there are still some of you that haven't read it yet. What are you waiting for? You can order it online for about ten dollars! It is a powerful book, a life-changing book, if you're heart is ready for it. I would go so far as to say that, other than the Word, if you only read one book this year, make it The Shack. I got copies for all our shepherds and their wives, for the staff, and I got a case of 30 from CBD (Christian Book Distributors) and had them available for sale last Sunday and everyone was purchased. (Actually, I did give two away.) A sister, whose family experience an incredible tragedy several years ago, told me that of all the books she's read since the tragedy, The Shack helped her more than any.
Let me warn you. It may rattle your notions about God and how he might appear if you got to visit with Him in person. I loved it. It shocked me at first, but then when I reflected on how William Young depicted God, it made total sense. Again, it will give you mental images that will stick in your heart and help you to draw closer to a personal God like nothing you've ever read.
I suspect that those folks who are drawn to law over love will have a difficult time accepting the images and the theology of this work of fiction. For those who are seeking the Spirit, it will touch you with challenges about forgiveness, judging, legalism, organized religion, and understanding how God works - well, like nothing I've ever read.
One more thought. If you haven't experienced serious tragedy in your life, you know you will. It's not whether but when! The Shack is one of the most comforting and encouraging books anyone could read whether it's for healing or for helping you get ready. One of the most powerful and life changing things anyone could do, in my opinion, would be to get a group of seekers together who have read this book, and discuss it chapter by chapter. I think you'll be surprised about how much we all need to adjust our theology.
Thanks Bill, but mostly, thanks Papa.

It's Not My Fault!

This picture (thanks JV) just touched my "Ironic Button" since it reminded me of something I was sharing at Florissant just last night. I am constantly amazed how people don't want to take responsibility for their mistakes and their poor decisions. IT IS easier to blame the gun, the pencil, the car, or the spoon rather than own up to the fact that we not only do wrong things, but we like to rationalize away any guilt or liability.
Last night, at a special Summer class we're having on Sunday evenings, we looked at the subject of abortion. Not exactly one of my favorite subjects to talk about. Still, while I had no trouble jotting down some thoughts to share, I still did some on-line research to just bring myself up to date on the contemporary arguments both pro & con. Why do the Pro-choice people like to call themselves Pro-Choice instead of Pro-Death? Or why not be honest and say they're Pro-Abortion? Why form a nationwide policy based on the less than 1% of women who want/need an abortion based on rape or incest? Or the less than 3% that are based on the health risk of the mother? Even if a person isn't a believer in God, how do you totally disregard love, sacrifice, values, and unselfishness that are innate maternal qualities? The truth is, that most abortions truly are a matter of convenience. It's simply a way to end an unwanted and unplanned pregnancy, so nearly one and a half million lives a year get sacrificed on the altar of selfishness and are dismissed as a side issue to freedom of choice.
The reality is that people want to have irresponsible sex and then not be responsible for the consequences. I don't even want to think about how that might be said on the above T-shirt.

The Magic House

"I've been framed!"
"And that's the way it was."

It's been great having Deborah, Joshua, and Caleb with us this week. It's always good to see family and spend time visiting all the St. Louis sights, and doing what we do best- eating. Yesterday, Nana took them to the Magic House. It's a wonderful hands-on experience that all our grand kids truly enjoy. I've only been there once and I was amazed at all the cool stuff there was to see and to interact with.

I'm glad they got to spend some time with us while Pat was out of the country on a mission effort. We are so proud of the wonderful way Pat and Deborah, and Elizabeth and Chad are raising our grand children. They are really super parents and I especially love the fact that God and Jesus are always part of their family activities. I can tell that my ability to relate to small children has gotten pretty rusty over the years, but you know what? I enjoy just watching them rip and run through the house and having so much energy and so much fun. I get tired just watching them. Today I was the delivery boy and brought MacDonald's to the park where Donna, Deborah and the boys were. We had a picnic and enjoyed lunch under a nice shade tree. I think the amount of time they actually stayed seated could be counted in seconds. The play ground was calling and there were places to run to - so lunch was wolfed down pretty quickly.

Every night when we ask God to take care of our loved ones, we also ask Him to let us be together soon. I suspect we'll be praying that prayer for a long time to come.

The Missing Question

Last Sunday I asked my church family to update their spiritual resume. In fact, I asked them to totally rethink what needs to go on it. I gave a quick sample of mine, with decades of church and full-time ministry, with degrees and books, with baptisms, wedding, and funerals, etc., etc. After each pronouncement, I could hear God ask, "Great Mike, but who do you love and who loves you?"
I scares me that we have so misunderstood "church" for so long. When did it stop being a tool to use and become a goal to achieve? When did we start defining our faith by attendance rather than love? How can it be possible that we find ourselves trying to sell members on the priority of love when it's still the only thing Jesus said that shows the world that we belong to Him?
I heard about a congregation in another state who are trying to hire a church growth minister. Someone who will be able to examine their situation and tell them what they need to do to become a larger church. Which verse in the New Testament would you use to justify that purpose? Oh, don't hit me with that lame "We only care about numbers because it means more souls?" rationale that we've been using for decades. Jesus told us to "Beware of practicing your righteousness to be seen of men." It sure seems to me that our paradigm of church comes from a worldly need to impress others and ourselves, with our success.
When I say that I always hear the screams of those who say, "You mean we don't care about numbers anymore?" To them I say, let's start bringing people into a closer relationship with Jesus and then see what that does to our numbers. As long as our number one goal is having a "dynamic worship that attracts" and an education structure that doesn't build loving relationships, any numerical growth will simply be a temporary fad that makes the church a spiritual nursery school for members who love receiving more than they love one another.
When church leaders stand before God and He asks, "What did you do to help YOUR flock develop a deeper relationship with Jesus," what will they say? What will I say? What good is a church-going, money giving, ministry working body of Christians who aren't growing in love for one another and thus learning to love God and be like Him?
We need to rethink what belongs on our spiritual resumes. See yourself sitting on a beach with Jesus. It's early morning and you're roasting fresh fish over an open fire. You're struggling with doubt, fear, and guilt. You want to know what you can do to get your spiritual life on the right track. Jesus has only one question - even if He asks it several times. "Do you love me more than these?" THAT'S the single most important question every child of God must be asked and must honestly answer. What are we doing to make sure everyone answers it the way God wants it answered? THAT IS WHAT CHURCH IS ALL ABOUT!

The Need to Read!

I have read many books in my life that have inspired me, challenged me, humbled me, and excited me, but it usually wasn't one book that did all of these and it certainly wasn't a work of fiction. I just want to encourage anyone who reads my blog to consider getting a copy of The Shack, by William Young, and reading it. You will want to share it with everyone you love. If I could afford it, I'd buy a copy for all my family and friends and give everyone a copy. I have discovered, however, that giving gifts of books does not guarantee it will be read. I've given away plenty of my books to family and friends who never read them. This is a book that will make you think and it will touch you like no other book. While it's a work of fiction, the insight into God - the Trinity - is incredible. It will bring you closer to God and give you an understanding of how He works, better than anything I've ever read. I really want to give a summery of the story, but I'd rather you be gripped and moved by every turn and surprise that you read in it.
I don't recommend a lot of books, but to all our friends and family, from Arkansas, to Virginia, to Texas, to Tennessee, to Florissant, and anywhere else, get this book and read it. It's in paperback at most Christian book stores. I'm going to see if I can purchase copies at bulk rates for my church family at Florissant. Let me know if you find a really good deal. I suspect I'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time.

Back from Vacation

We got back from our Alaska cruise Tuesday morning at about 7::30. Yes, it was an over night flight from Anchorage, via Detroit, to St. Louis, and yes, we both stayed awake the whole time. I never have been able to sleep on a plane. So between catching up on sleep and work, I haven't been able to do any blogging until this 4th of July morning. So HAPPY 4th!
We got to share part of the trip with Kevin & Kathy (Kathy is Donna's sister, brother-in-law Kevin is my long-time hunting buddy too). They flew to Detroit and then on to Pittsburgh. It was an incredible cruise. Like I've said before, it's the one cruise we chose to repeat because it's so beautiful. Princess is a wonderful cruise line, this was our fourth cruise with them, the food was amazing, and the ship was first class in every way. Still, the best part was the scenery. It's ALWAYS there and always beautiful. I did more glassing with my binoculars on this trip than I do when I hunt in Colorado. It's like traveling in a postcard.

This is three of the glaciers you'll see in College Fjord. The ship just parked in the middle of the bay and turned slow circles showing the glaciers on every side. The sun was shining and the water was smooth as glass. And this was the last evening of the trip which was wonderful every single day.

This picture was actually taken at about 10:00 P.M. I have a picture of my Micky watch at 10:00 as my hand blocked out the sunshine behind it. We introduced Kevin and Kathy to our favorite travel game - Fargle. It's great because all you need is six dice and it doesn't matter how many people are playing. You can also visit and enjoy fellowship while you play. Yes - it's not always about the competition. It was truly a blessing to spend time with Kevin and Kathy, all the crew from Florissant (past and present), and our great friends Bud and Betty from Nashville. We actually had 26 in our group and even had some visitors to our Sunday morning communion service in one of the ship's lounges. After the service, one visitor had a special prayer with Donna and me asking God to heal my voice problem. Never thought that would happen on a vacation cruise.