Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Jim
Sunday was another one of those amazingly wonderful days at Long Beach. It's difficult for me to put into words (and keep it short enough to print) how much this church family lifts me up on a given weekend.
Last year, the theme of my preaching was "Sanctuary." I used a lot of ideas from John Ortberg's excellent book, Everybody's Normal 'Till You Get to Know Them. We all come with an "as is" tag on us ... usually off the "marked down / slightly damaged" shelf of humanity. The purpose of this focus of preaching was to help us think in terms of being a community that doesn't have it all together and come out of the various stages of denial that make us think we have it all together and be a safe haven for those around us who are searching for sanctuary. That's a tough order for our heritage and culture. We're so programmed to think just the opposite.
Anyway, I preached a sermon on hearing the voice of God back in November and made a comment that there is no program ... no book ... no 12-step program that can tell us how to hear the voice of God. Jim wrote a rather lengthy email and shared with me his journey from alcoholism to sobriety and how the AA Step Program actually did help him hear the voice of God. (Don't you just hate it when proven wrong? Especially the preacher!) I wrote Jim back and asked him to think about and pray about sharing his story with our church family. His first response was one of great hesitation. Then he decided if it would help others, then he'd do it.
Sunday Doyle (our worship leader) selected some of the best songs to set an environment in which Jim could share his story. It was powerful! We were all touched. And Jim was affirmed by so many in our church. I think we came a little closer to what the assembling of the saints should be about on Sunday.
Last year, the theme of my preaching was "Sanctuary." I used a lot of ideas from John Ortberg's excellent book, Everybody's Normal 'Till You Get to Know Them. We all come with an "as is" tag on us ... usually off the "marked down / slightly damaged" shelf of humanity. The purpose of this focus of preaching was to help us think in terms of being a community that doesn't have it all together and come out of the various stages of denial that make us think we have it all together and be a safe haven for those around us who are searching for sanctuary. That's a tough order for our heritage and culture. We're so programmed to think just the opposite.
Anyway, I preached a sermon on hearing the voice of God back in November and made a comment that there is no program ... no book ... no 12-step program that can tell us how to hear the voice of God. Jim wrote a rather lengthy email and shared with me his journey from alcoholism to sobriety and how the AA Step Program actually did help him hear the voice of God. (Don't you just hate it when proven wrong? Especially the preacher!) I wrote Jim back and asked him to think about and pray about sharing his story with our church family. His first response was one of great hesitation. Then he decided if it would help others, then he'd do it.
Sunday Doyle (our worship leader) selected some of the best songs to set an environment in which Jim could share his story. It was powerful! We were all touched. And Jim was affirmed by so many in our church. I think we came a little closer to what the assembling of the saints should be about on Sunday.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Twenty-One!
Both of our children were "church babies" in that Josh was born on a Sunday night and Jessica on a Wednesday night. Jessica exactly 21 years ago tonight! No matter how old you get, there is a part of my heart that wants to forever keep you that sweet little blond-headed girl with a lisp. The first year of your life, we wondered if you would ever grow any hair! But life was never any sweeter to this daddy than when I'd play "Beberly Hillbellies" on my banjo and you would sing the lyrics as best as you understood them!As the old song goes, "Sunrise, sunset ... swiftly fly the years..." I can hardly believe you're now an adult in every respect.
As a baby, you never wanted anything to do with anyone other than brother, mama, and daddy. Everyone wanted to hold you and love on you and you would have none of it. Interestingly (and this indicates what a history we have with Cecil Walker's family), the night you actually allowed Barbara Walker to hold you is still a vivid memory because it was so out of character for our little Jessica. It was a Sunday evening ... a special Sunday evening because one of our very best friends had decided after our church assembly to go back to the building and be baptized. We'd been praying for this for a long time. After Jim's baptism, all of our closer friends came to the house to continue our evening together of food and fun. Barbara and "Thethil" have always been center of your (and Josh's) heart.
You always loved to wear your daddy's shirts, which were always HUGE on you. I remember being in the school office when you were in pre-school or kindergarten and another girl your age was there with her mother. The girl was telling her mother she wanted bigger clothes to wear. The mother, not knowing who I was, answered, "No, you'll look like that Jessica England!" That particular family sort of looked down their noses at everyone else. If your mama had not been on the faculty of that school (and, of course, I had not been a preacher and pretty well known in the small community) that woman might have had a fight on her hands! I'm pretty sure I could have taken her. You can say all you want about me, but don't talk about my wife, my children, or my dog!
Jessica, you've has always been very intelligent. Very spiritual. Very determined. Very friendly. Very social. Very committed to your family, friends, school, and peer group. And very much a pride of my heart. You've taught me so much about love and acceptance of others. You consistently demonstrate character in your life that I only teach about. (You are so much like her mama, which is a good thing!) When you asked to be baptized at the age of 8, I never hesitated nor questioned your decision. You'd had a long relationship with God that I envied. To my knowledge, you've never wavered from your commitment to the Lord and are such an example to others. Your closeness to Josh still amazes me. I don't know what we did to foster such a closeness between sister and older brother (especially with the two of you graduating from rival high schools) but your closeness and love for one another is wonderful medicine for my aging heart! So, birthday girl, enjoy your new status as being of legal age for things you should never do! (Inside joke) With you and Josh (and now Heather), your mama, and a few guitars, Chipper, and good friends, I could not be blessed more! I love you, sweetheart!!!
[The pictures are from our dinner together on Sunday at the Cheesecake Factory in Pasadena, CA. Top: Jessica. Middle: Josh and Heather. Bottom: Janice and Jessica. There was one of Jessica and me, but Mondays are bad enough without having to face my face!]
Friday, January 27, 2006
Varsity!
I gave much thought to sharing this and almost backed out, but then I have no dignity left with this crowd! Cecil's blogs about Steven trying out for and (eventually) making the varsity baseball team reminded me of a similar time in my life.By the way, we've known Steven from the moment of his birth. I was with Barb and Cec and Jean (Cecil's sweet mom) when we all went over to Orlando for his birth and his homecoming with the Walkers. My wife and children remained behind to decorate the Walker's house and make dinner for us all. So we truly have a "rejoice when you rejoice, weep when you weep" relationship that goes back two decades.
I never doubted Steven would make the team. He could dribble a basketball (a much needed skill for varsity baseball) almost before he could walk and has always had an amazing eye-hand coordination. I've never seen a kid throw and catch a ball at such a young age as did Steven.
But making varsity is not all it's made out to be. Case in point: Your's truly. I was attending Alabama Christian High School in Montgomery (my final year as I was invited to move my student-ship to another school, but that's another blog) in 9th grade when I made the high school varsity basketball team. A ninth grader on varsity basketball ... I was impressed! So much so that I would wear my uniform warm-up jacket as a regular jacket just so people would know they were in the presence of somebody! I know you're getting goose bumps just reading this. It was so cool to have accomplished so much in such a short lifetime.
We were going to be "the team" that year. The season began with a tournament among Bible schools in Alabama and was held that year in Athens. I don't remember all the participant schools, but Mars Hill (Florence, AL) was always the tournament champ. Everyone else played for the glory of second place. Fate dealt us an evil hand that year as we drew Mars Hill for the opening game of the tournament. After a 200-mile drive to Athens, we came out on the floor ready to make history. We were going to finally be the team that unseated the perennial champion. (I would later move my studentship to Mars Hill, meet my future wife and graduate ... somewhat with honors. See what Alabama Christian missed by their invitation for me to go elsewhere ... an honor student!) When the final buzzer sounded the score was 100 - 30. The first of many, many defeats for us that year. I sat the bench that game but I doubt my participation would have made much difference.
Then came my first opportunity to play in an actual game (rather than team scrimmages). I was point guard. Missed shot ... we got the reboud. Pass to wingman. I was far down court awaiting a pass for my easy lay-up. We'd practiced this dozens of times a day. As far as I was concerned this was a walk in the park, even if there were hundreds of eyes watching me. I was completely alone on my end of the court when I received the pass ... took a couple of dribbles ... and threw the ball over the backboard and out of bounds! Apparently hundreds of eyes watching makes a huge difference to a 14-year-old varsity basketball player playing in his first actual game.
For some reason our coach called for a time out and I was invited to join him on the bench ... for the rest of the game. We won three games that year, if you count the post-season annual Varsity - Faculty game. I think they may have let us win for some morale reason.
I played one year at Mars Hill and hung up the old Converse All-Star tennis shoes. I always found it interesting, though, how proud we were to wear our varsity letter jackets as freshmen in college only to conveniently leave them at home first opportunity as no one in college is impressed with a high school varsity letter jacket!
I'm sure Steven will have a much better first year as a varsity player than his uncle Greg.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Leadership
Wednesday afternoon, I was browsing through some church leadership magazine that came in the mail and stopped to read an article by one of the foremost Christian financial wizards. A sure-fire method for getting out of debt. Here it is in two steps (and I kid you not): Step One - Pay off your debts. Step Two - Accumulate wealth. I'm in the wrong profession!For several years, I took Leadership magazine and read it cover to cover. Well, I looked at all the cartoons cover to cover and read some of the articles.
When I moved to Long Beach, this church staff was big into John Maxwell's leadership material, with shelves of audio cassettes and volumes of printed material. We had regular meetings with our staff, elders and deacons for leadership training. Being the new Minister of the Word, the teaching often fell to me. We'd go down to San Diego to "sit at the feet of rabbi John." We came away with tons of ideas and pearls of wisdom. We implemented some of it as best we could. Never saw much result from it other than we looked like leadership material.
I've been to week-long seminars that taught me step-by-step how to take three people in a living room and transform them into a mega church of thousands. I've been to other seminars that taught me how to transform everyone in our church into dynamic personal evangelists.
Yet other seminars to just keep me focused and energized. Still others to bring life and pizzaz (I find I use that word often these days ... must be a good word.) to our worship. I've been on panels for church leadership discussions. Mountain prayer retreats. Small group sessions for leadership.
I read over the books others are reading (far beyond just this blog family) and invariably leadership books top the list with high recommendations. With all our personal investment in the books and seminars, I don't see a lot happening in our faith heritage. Certainly no ratio between reading / implementation / and change indicating it's all working for us!
Seminars. Workshops. Conferences. Forums. Lectureships. What have I learned? Lots and lots of ways other people have been blessed in their ministries by the Lord. A few ways others have made their ministries appear to be blessed by God ... enough so to pull together a seminar and get saps such as myself to pay money to hear their stories.
The main thing I've learned is to keep the main thing the main thing. Which usually means when I try to mimmick someone else's success, the result is basically frustration. When we try to import other's "programs" we never get the same results. We hardly get results at all.
I've decided if I keep the main thing the main thing, then I'll be God's servant where I am and he'll bless that. And if enough of us do this, the kingdom is enriched and enlarged. I have no doubt there are wonderfully gifted men and women among us who are, indeed, God's leaders in their churches. And when God gifts a leader, it's evident. For the rest of us, my leadership model is rather simple: Stay faithful and focused.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Perception
For two years I taught a couple of psychology classes at Alabama Christian College's (now Faulkner University) north Alabama extension campus. My favorite chapter in the intro course was that on perception. I've found optical illusions fascinating. During my years as a hyno-therapist, I was equally fascinated by our ability to either misinterpret what we saw, or just the distortion of what we thought was reality. I've hynotized people for memory recall and found huge differences in what they thought consciously and what they'd stored subconsciously. It's all about how we perceive the world around us. Unfortunately, what we see in life, including the judgments we make about others, are often wrong because we see what we are conditioned to see. For example ....To some, I am perceived as a liberal. Hard to believe, isn't it? Me, a liberal? Say it ain't so! For that matter, exactly what is a liberal? Theologically, liberals deny the deity of Christ or even the existence of God. On a more practical level, we usually define a liberal as someone who doesn't believe all that I believe to be true. For the record, on the core issues of our faith I am as conservative as they come. Jesus is the only Son of God. Born of a virgin. Died, was buried, and resurrected. Ascended to the Father and returning some day. I don't waver on that at all. That God exists and is the only living God ... no question! Miracles? No questions.
The Word? Infallible. Inspired. Able to cut right through the human heart. Profitable for every aspect of our lives. Historically accurate. Living and active. Indwells our hearts through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
On the "second tier" issues, I'm equally conservative. Things such as baptism as an act of obedience and an integral aspect of our faith response to God's grace ... I'm right there. The act of baptism doesn't save as we're saved by the blood of Jesus. But I don't believe baptism to be an optional, take-it-or-leave it matter. To do that, we have to remove some words regarding baptism from the mouth of Jesus and I'm not prepared to do that on any subject. So I teach it, practice it, promote it. I believe communion on a regular basis to be one of those sacraments that takes us right back to the cross of Christ (as does baptism).
But when it comes to some of the more peripheral issues such as role of women in the assemly, or the use of instrumental music in our praise and worship, or the acceptance of people outside my own faith heritage as brothers and sisters in the Lord, then I guess I'm a liberal. But those who really know my heart, know it has nothing to do with liberal / conservative and everything to do with the liberty we have in Christ and my rejection of some of our traditions and orthodoxy that I simply do not find in Scripture.
Another aspect of perception is how others actually see us. I have a perception of Greg England that is reflected in my memory and, occasionally in a mirror ... but whenever I see a recent photograph of myself, it blows my perception out of the mirror. I don't see multiple chins in the mirror. Or the bags under my eyes. Or the crow's feet. Or the thinning hair. Or the extra pounds around the waist. I see myself at about the same weight as when I married. Interesting what the human eye sees.
One of the teens in our church drew a picture of me one Sunday as I was preaching. I wonder if he really sees me like this? I hope not. After all, he is a rather talented young man and I know he can draw better than this. Maybe he needs glasses? Maybe he has a future as one of those caricature artists at an amusement park? Anyway, it humored me. And sort of shocked me!Bottom line: How does God perceive me? By grace, he sees me through the sacrificial blood of Jesus, my Savior. If only I could see others through the same spiritual lenses. If only.... There would be no labels other than a spiritual sibling. A brother, a sister in Christ. Another sinner saved by grace.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Planning My Obituary
Occasionally while sniffing around in Google for something legit, I come across sites that just raise my curiosity. Last week I came across a couple regarding "death clocks." One of them was a running world clock of how many people just died of what cause ... pretty interesting, very sobering. I was there 17 seconds and 34 people somewhere in the world died during my 17 seconds. I figure the best I could do for the world was stay out of that site!Others "predict" your date of death based on the input you provide. Seems just since last week my life has been extended 21 years! But I'm not so sure I want to live to be 97!
Based on several visits to two different sites, I should expect to be around another 12,306 days. Okay, make that 12,305 by the time you read this. Either way, I figure I've got to work until the end of those days to pay off the college loans! Not to mention the possible purchase of additional guitars.
One prediction has me cashing in on Dec.29, 2029. Later, the same site updated my demise to March 5, 2050. Another site gave me until October 4, 2039. What to do with all this information?
If you want to join the fun, you can click below on either site ... have it calculate your demise ... and let me know. Maybe we can all plan a party before our dates come up!
DeathClock gave me the longer life but bases much of its calculation on body mass index ... a fancy way of telling us we're all not just fat, but actually OBESE! Go ahead, check it out.
FindYourFate was a bit more specific as far as input provided.
On earth as it is in heaven
Jesus taught his disciples how to pray (Mt.6:9 - 15), and a part of that model prayer or disciple's prayer are the words, "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Of course, those words are preceded by "Thy kingdom come..." which, we were taught, made the prayer irrelevant for modern Christians. After all, with the establishment of the church on Pentecost of Acts 2, the kingdom of God had come, so why continue to pray that it come? Such was our reasoning, faulty as it was.
What Jesus taught is that whenever the will of God is done on earth as it is in heaven, there the kingdom exists. That being true, I am puzzled over the words of Revelation 15:2-3 where we see the redeemed (who had been victorious over the beast) holding harps of or from God and singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Whether or not God actually handed them harps is not clear in the Greek, but we do assume they were to be played during the singing by the redeemed. After all, that is the purpose of holding harps, is it not? They serve no other purpose in the scene ... regardless of how one interprets John's Revelation.
So-o-o-o-o-o-o ... if it is the will of God for the redeemed to hold (and we assume to play) harps of or from God while singing the song of Moses and the Lamb, how could it be against the will of God for the same act to done on earth? If it is God's will in heaven and we do the same here, wouldn't that be his will "on earth as it is in heaven?" And yet our religious heritage continues to hold on to an opinion that has become the "settled law" and given doctrinal status ... that the use of instrumental music in worship is a sin. That just doesn't make sense to me.
Just one of many things about which I wonder. Whaddayouthink?
What Jesus taught is that whenever the will of God is done on earth as it is in heaven, there the kingdom exists. That being true, I am puzzled over the words of Revelation 15:2-3 where we see the redeemed (who had been victorious over the beast) holding harps of or from God and singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Whether or not God actually handed them harps is not clear in the Greek, but we do assume they were to be played during the singing by the redeemed. After all, that is the purpose of holding harps, is it not? They serve no other purpose in the scene ... regardless of how one interprets John's Revelation.
So-o-o-o-o-o-o ... if it is the will of God for the redeemed to hold (and we assume to play) harps of or from God while singing the song of Moses and the Lamb, how could it be against the will of God for the same act to done on earth? If it is God's will in heaven and we do the same here, wouldn't that be his will "on earth as it is in heaven?" And yet our religious heritage continues to hold on to an opinion that has become the "settled law" and given doctrinal status ... that the use of instrumental music in worship is a sin. That just doesn't make sense to me.
Just one of many things about which I wonder. Whaddayouthink?
Friday, January 20, 2006
The Smell of God
Michael came by the house Thursday evening and knocked on the door just as I sat down to complete a movie I'd rented earlier. He needed some help to pay for a motel room for the night. You have no idea how many people ask me for help financially and were I to help them all, just a little, I would be unable to pay my own bills. Our church is generous and doesn't mind helping, but it's not my place to make those decisions and we have a policy not to hand out cash.
So ... I don't have the money to help him. He says I can write a check to the motel. I don't think so. Then a blog from that Randy fellow kicked in ... something about ministry to those in need. Though I didn't have the money on me to pay the balance of his motel bill, I did have some rolled coins in the office. I usually put them back until I need a little extra cash for a trip to Guitar Center or some CD store, but I couldn't get past that Randy fellow's blog yesterday. I told Michael to meet me at the office door. I got enough rolled coins to pay his motel bill and give him money for dinner. And I felt very good about it! Thanks, Randy fellow! A timely blog indeed and a gentle reminder of what it means to be Christ to others.
Now for the blog I wrote prior to Michael's visit. . .
Click here and you'll be taken to another web site containing a wonderful story that will just make you feel good! I checked it out @ truthorfiction.com and it's at least based on the family's story. Whether or not you believe it is up to you. Personally, I want to believe it ... if for no other reason than we had a somewhat similar experience with our son's premature birth and a dreary prediction of his chances of living a normal life.
Enjoy your weekend and don't be surprised if you encounter God as you've never done before! All you have to do is look around at his creation and you'll see him to be the God of pizzaz!
So ... I don't have the money to help him. He says I can write a check to the motel. I don't think so. Then a blog from that Randy fellow kicked in ... something about ministry to those in need. Though I didn't have the money on me to pay the balance of his motel bill, I did have some rolled coins in the office. I usually put them back until I need a little extra cash for a trip to Guitar Center or some CD store, but I couldn't get past that Randy fellow's blog yesterday. I told Michael to meet me at the office door. I got enough rolled coins to pay his motel bill and give him money for dinner. And I felt very good about it! Thanks, Randy fellow! A timely blog indeed and a gentle reminder of what it means to be Christ to others.
Now for the blog I wrote prior to Michael's visit. . .
Click here and you'll be taken to another web site containing a wonderful story that will just make you feel good! I checked it out @ truthorfiction.com and it's at least based on the family's story. Whether or not you believe it is up to you. Personally, I want to believe it ... if for no other reason than we had a somewhat similar experience with our son's premature birth and a dreary prediction of his chances of living a normal life.
Enjoy your weekend and don't be surprised if you encounter God as you've never done before! All you have to do is look around at his creation and you'll see him to be the God of pizzaz!
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Church Programs
I'm going to go on the record (for whatever this blog is worth as "the record") and answer the question: "Are church programs a good thing?"
My answer: "No." Make that an emphatic "NO!"
Those of you who want to disfellowship me may do so at this time.
Several years ago, with a change in eldership (a very positive transition, by the way) our church pretty much shut down all existing "programs." Wasn't easy, but we believed (and still do) it was the right thing to do.
Why? We came to the conclusion that programs are not very healthy for churches and they stand in the way of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus ascended back to the Father, he told us to "go ... make disciples ... baptize them ... and teach them to obey." That last part is the process of equipping people to put their faith in action and involves developing skills, attitudes and actions consistent with the life of Christ. In reality, it is the process of allowing Christ in us to live through us (basically the whole point of Colossians). If Christ is, indeed, sufficient for the development of our faith. If Christ is committed to finishing the work he began in us. If Christ is really "my all in all" as we sing. Why do we substitute Christ with programs, hoping they will produce in us what only Christ can produce in us? Namely, the attitude of Christ!
Consider a statement from a Sunday School (rats! that's a program, isn't it?) class taught by one of our elders:
When I look back over almost 30 years of ministry in the churches of Christ (I've only served four churches in those years. One was a volunteer, non-paid youth minister. The other was a part-time ministry. Then 8 years in Florida and 13 here in Long Beach), I began to realize that church programs never really had any lasting effect on people and failed to produce the desired effects. Basically, the church remained about the same. Some people came and went, but for the most part, it was the core group that remained and the same core people that did most of the work. Every once in a while someone else emerged as a part of the core. More often that was not the result. How many people in your church are basically the same after all these years? They attend and occasionally fuss, but offer very little to the body? Those who study us say the percentage of those who actually work and those who just attend have not changed over the years. It's still about 20% of the people doing 80% of the work. The rest, as Cecil would tell us, are parking on someone else's nickle!
With all our programs, the churches of Christ have failed to produce any positive growth (statistically) in what ... 30 years or more? Oh, we get some people fired up for a while, but they seldom stay fired up unless we keep stoking the program. They seldom seem to actually grow and mature into the fullness of Christ through our programs. They seldom become excited simply about being in Christ and motivated by His love and Spirit through our programs.
We're very much like the school principal in a nearby city out here who was discussing the problem with her staff that their students just were not learning to read. This floored her because (in her words), "we have an excellent reading program! Other schools have copied our program." Great program! One small problem: The students aren't learning to read. But that's our program and, dog gone it, we're sticking with it! Looks great on paper ... even if it doesn't work.
So we still have our ministry fairs and we still try to hype the programs and attempt to get as many people involved as we can so we can at least look like we're accomplishing something. All the while, people come and go. And we keep doing the same things hoping for different results if we just try harder. Isn't that the definition of insanity?
Here's a truth that may shock you: Jesus didn't use programs! As our elder said in Sunday School, "Programs are our best guess, try-your-luck, hope-it-works-but-it-probably-won't attempts to move a large group of people into discipleship."
Jesus' "method" was relational. Caring enough to be aware of a need and then meeting the need through sacrificial servant-hearted relationship. My guess is you are a believer today through relationship rather than some church program. And I dare guess your growth has been more a product of your relationship to Christ than it has been the result of church programs. Mine has been in spite of church programs.
Maybe that's why we love programs ... they are so much easier than sustained relationships that can drain us emotionally, physically and spiritually. Maybe we love programs because they absolve us of personal responsibility and accountability.
The New Testament document we call The Acts of the Apostles has less to do with the acts of the apostles (only three of them are even highlighted in the book) and more to do with the actions of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people willing to submit to his indwelling leadership. And what happens in Acts? Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the world was "turned upside down by the message of the gospel" and churches exploded in growth! People were willing to give up everything for the sake of Christ ... even life itself. In my opinion, we've substituted our programs for the work of the Holy Spirit and the results have been all but pathetic. Am I wrong? If so, where is the reproduction of the growth of the early church in our generation?
And look at places in the world where the kingdom is actually growing ... China. India. Africa. Places with no programs (and few preachers) but a strong reliance upon the Holy Spirit and a commitment to the Word. For the most part, they don't even have a church as we know it. They meet in houses, in secret, and in faith! And when they meet, they do so to praise God and encourage one another by meeting needs.
One of the best metaphors of the church is that of family, so let me ask you: How many programs do you have working in your home so that you can function as a family? My guess is NONE. A functional family is that way because of unconditional love, selfless and sacrificial service to one another, a forgiving spirit, and a consistent attention to meeting needs with no ulterior motives. We simply do what it takes to make it work. Hmmmm ... I wonder if that just might work in a church family?
We're trying it at Long Beach. It's not been an easy process and it's taking a lot of time, but we're committed to becoming far more relational at the expense of our programs. Why not? The programs never produced much.
Okay, the response line is open: Give me your best shot ... but remember that I love you!
My answer: "No." Make that an emphatic "NO!"
Those of you who want to disfellowship me may do so at this time.
Several years ago, with a change in eldership (a very positive transition, by the way) our church pretty much shut down all existing "programs." Wasn't easy, but we believed (and still do) it was the right thing to do.
Why? We came to the conclusion that programs are not very healthy for churches and they stand in the way of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus ascended back to the Father, he told us to "go ... make disciples ... baptize them ... and teach them to obey." That last part is the process of equipping people to put their faith in action and involves developing skills, attitudes and actions consistent with the life of Christ. In reality, it is the process of allowing Christ in us to live through us (basically the whole point of Colossians). If Christ is, indeed, sufficient for the development of our faith. If Christ is committed to finishing the work he began in us. If Christ is really "my all in all" as we sing. Why do we substitute Christ with programs, hoping they will produce in us what only Christ can produce in us? Namely, the attitude of Christ!
Consider a statement from a Sunday School (rats! that's a program, isn't it?) class taught by one of our elders:
Our temptation is to believe that we must possess impressive gifts or abilities. Without something impressive or flashy to rely on, what kind of impact can we hope to make in the lives of others? But by dealing with the truth about ourselves, namely that we are flawed and sinful people, [we come to realize] that we in and of ourselves have nothing to offer anyone. But we have found Christ, and that changes everything. The one genuine gift we have to offer, we possess in abundance. The greatest need of the world is one we are able to meet. We can say, "I may not have impressive academic or religious credentials, polished answers, an unblemished background, a perfect marriage, or even a dramatic personal testimony, but I have Jesus. and more than anything in the world I would love to share that gift with you."That's good stuff, I don't care who you are!!
When I look back over almost 30 years of ministry in the churches of Christ (I've only served four churches in those years. One was a volunteer, non-paid youth minister. The other was a part-time ministry. Then 8 years in Florida and 13 here in Long Beach), I began to realize that church programs never really had any lasting effect on people and failed to produce the desired effects. Basically, the church remained about the same. Some people came and went, but for the most part, it was the core group that remained and the same core people that did most of the work. Every once in a while someone else emerged as a part of the core. More often that was not the result. How many people in your church are basically the same after all these years? They attend and occasionally fuss, but offer very little to the body? Those who study us say the percentage of those who actually work and those who just attend have not changed over the years. It's still about 20% of the people doing 80% of the work. The rest, as Cecil would tell us, are parking on someone else's nickle!
With all our programs, the churches of Christ have failed to produce any positive growth (statistically) in what ... 30 years or more? Oh, we get some people fired up for a while, but they seldom stay fired up unless we keep stoking the program. They seldom seem to actually grow and mature into the fullness of Christ through our programs. They seldom become excited simply about being in Christ and motivated by His love and Spirit through our programs.
We're very much like the school principal in a nearby city out here who was discussing the problem with her staff that their students just were not learning to read. This floored her because (in her words), "we have an excellent reading program! Other schools have copied our program." Great program! One small problem: The students aren't learning to read. But that's our program and, dog gone it, we're sticking with it! Looks great on paper ... even if it doesn't work.
So we still have our ministry fairs and we still try to hype the programs and attempt to get as many people involved as we can so we can at least look like we're accomplishing something. All the while, people come and go. And we keep doing the same things hoping for different results if we just try harder. Isn't that the definition of insanity?
Here's a truth that may shock you: Jesus didn't use programs! As our elder said in Sunday School, "Programs are our best guess, try-your-luck, hope-it-works-but-it-probably-won't attempts to move a large group of people into discipleship."
Jesus' "method" was relational. Caring enough to be aware of a need and then meeting the need through sacrificial servant-hearted relationship. My guess is you are a believer today through relationship rather than some church program. And I dare guess your growth has been more a product of your relationship to Christ than it has been the result of church programs. Mine has been in spite of church programs.
Maybe that's why we love programs ... they are so much easier than sustained relationships that can drain us emotionally, physically and spiritually. Maybe we love programs because they absolve us of personal responsibility and accountability.
The New Testament document we call The Acts of the Apostles has less to do with the acts of the apostles (only three of them are even highlighted in the book) and more to do with the actions of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people willing to submit to his indwelling leadership. And what happens in Acts? Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the world was "turned upside down by the message of the gospel" and churches exploded in growth! People were willing to give up everything for the sake of Christ ... even life itself. In my opinion, we've substituted our programs for the work of the Holy Spirit and the results have been all but pathetic. Am I wrong? If so, where is the reproduction of the growth of the early church in our generation?
And look at places in the world where the kingdom is actually growing ... China. India. Africa. Places with no programs (and few preachers) but a strong reliance upon the Holy Spirit and a commitment to the Word. For the most part, they don't even have a church as we know it. They meet in houses, in secret, and in faith! And when they meet, they do so to praise God and encourage one another by meeting needs.
One of the best metaphors of the church is that of family, so let me ask you: How many programs do you have working in your home so that you can function as a family? My guess is NONE. A functional family is that way because of unconditional love, selfless and sacrificial service to one another, a forgiving spirit, and a consistent attention to meeting needs with no ulterior motives. We simply do what it takes to make it work. Hmmmm ... I wonder if that just might work in a church family?
We're trying it at Long Beach. It's not been an easy process and it's taking a lot of time, but we're committed to becoming far more relational at the expense of our programs. Why not? The programs never produced much.
Okay, the response line is open: Give me your best shot ... but remember that I love you!
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Willie the Wimp
Today's post is late but I simply could not get Blogger to work with me last night. Anyone else ever have that problem w/ Blogger?
I'm working on the final sermon in a series (bleeding over from last year) on the nearness of God. This final sermon has to do with heaven, in a sense, but more with the fact that God invaded our space so we could have just a bit more than a glimpse of heaven, and that when we do his will on earth, heaven once again invades earth. I'll let you know how it goes in terms of numbers of sleepers verses listeners verses listeners with obvious interest verses our worship leader staying awake!
Anywho, I was reading (again) through some of Yancey's book, Rumors of Another World, and came across an interesting story of a two-bit Chicago ganster and rip-off artist (no, it wasn't Jesse Jackson but that would have been a good guess) by the name of Willie Stokes, Jr. Son of Flukey Stokes. The two gained a very bad reputation on the southside of Chicago -- beating people up, selling drugs, becoming very rich. Junior was known in the neighborhood as "Willie the Wimp" and was somewhat immortalized by the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan in his song, "Willie the Wimp."
When Willie was murdered in 1984, his father gave him a lavish funeral followed by an equally lavish party. Willie was buried in a casket sporting a grill, tires, steering wheel, front and rear lights (that were flashing), dashboard, and trunk resembling a Cadillac Seville. Willie was propped up with his hands on the steering wheel. Fingers covered with rings and five $100-bills rolled like cigarettes stuck between his fingers.
Flannery O'Connor wrote a short story with the title, "You Can't Be Any Poorer Than Dead." With all the flash and glitz of Willie's funeral and death party that followed, I'm sure at some point the family must have realized that Willie couldn't be any poorer than dead!
Interestingly, knowing that truth we tend to continue a lifetime pursuit of trying to accumulate more. More money. More possessions. More guitars. When all along, Scripture tells us the true value of life is found in pursuing "God's will on earth as it is in heaven." A lesson I'm still trying to learn.
If nothing else, this blog is worth a sermon illustration!
I'm working on the final sermon in a series (bleeding over from last year) on the nearness of God. This final sermon has to do with heaven, in a sense, but more with the fact that God invaded our space so we could have just a bit more than a glimpse of heaven, and that when we do his will on earth, heaven once again invades earth. I'll let you know how it goes in terms of numbers of sleepers verses listeners verses listeners with obvious interest verses our worship leader staying awake!
Anywho, I was reading (again) through some of Yancey's book, Rumors of Another World, and came across an interesting story of a two-bit Chicago ganster and rip-off artist (no, it wasn't Jesse Jackson but that would have been a good guess) by the name of Willie Stokes, Jr. Son of Flukey Stokes. The two gained a very bad reputation on the southside of Chicago -- beating people up, selling drugs, becoming very rich. Junior was known in the neighborhood as "Willie the Wimp" and was somewhat immortalized by the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan in his song, "Willie the Wimp."
When Willie was murdered in 1984, his father gave him a lavish funeral followed by an equally lavish party. Willie was buried in a casket sporting a grill, tires, steering wheel, front and rear lights (that were flashing), dashboard, and trunk resembling a Cadillac Seville. Willie was propped up with his hands on the steering wheel. Fingers covered with rings and five $100-bills rolled like cigarettes stuck between his fingers.Flannery O'Connor wrote a short story with the title, "You Can't Be Any Poorer Than Dead." With all the flash and glitz of Willie's funeral and death party that followed, I'm sure at some point the family must have realized that Willie couldn't be any poorer than dead!
Interestingly, knowing that truth we tend to continue a lifetime pursuit of trying to accumulate more. More money. More possessions. More guitars. When all along, Scripture tells us the true value of life is found in pursuing "God's will on earth as it is in heaven." A lesson I'm still trying to learn.
If nothing else, this blog is worth a sermon illustration!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Things I've Learned
It's been a whirlwind of a weekend for this old man and his bride. We spent much of Friday evening trying to pick up some of the last odd and ends to help Josh in his move to independence. Saturday we were up early and spent the day in Temecula, arriving back home about 14 hours later. Sunday was a long day in that we had a teacher appreciation luncheon immediately after our assembly. It was a wonderful day, but long and tiring. I had to take down all the audio / video equipment after the event. After a brief snoozer, we were off again mainly just to avoid cleaning up Josh's room. After dinner at Chipotle's, we finally worked in there until about midnight. But through it all, I learned that I'm not too old to learn new things.
For instance:
I don't handle both of my children being gone as well as I thought I would. And in the words of F. Gump, "that's all I have to say about that."
I learned that even though I know a lot about sound equipment, Sony can trip me up with one of their newer surround sound systems ... but age and experience will eventually win out.
I learned that when Janice sees a table at a thrift store that she really wants, it's best for me to just go to the car and let her negotiate a price, for we will be taking it home! Even if we have to go pick up the church van and return later to get it. While sniffing around one of her many favorite thrift stores last Friday evening, she found an oak round coffee table that she liked. Then she noticed it had a metal handle underneath the top ... this table has a hydrolic system that allows the top to raise and lower so it can be used as a coffee table or a card / eating table! Doesn't matter that we have no place to put it, we are now the proud owners of this "cute" and unique table. She did get it for about $40 under the original price.
I learned that no matter how hungry Chipper may be at 9:30pm ... if we've been gone all day she is more interested in playing than eating!
I learned that our church doesn't quite know what to do when the sermon is less than 20 minutes ... but they are willing to learn if I'll just cooperate on a weekly basis.
I learned that I've been missing a wonderful Sunday School class taught by my good friend, Steve! It was good to be a student again rather than a teacher / co-teacher.
I've learned that when I don't have much else to blog about, I resort to blogs such as this! And that some of you will actually read it.
For instance:
I don't handle both of my children being gone as well as I thought I would. And in the words of F. Gump, "that's all I have to say about that."
I learned that even though I know a lot about sound equipment, Sony can trip me up with one of their newer surround sound systems ... but age and experience will eventually win out.
I learned that when Janice sees a table at a thrift store that she really wants, it's best for me to just go to the car and let her negotiate a price, for we will be taking it home! Even if we have to go pick up the church van and return later to get it. While sniffing around one of her many favorite thrift stores last Friday evening, she found an oak round coffee table that she liked. Then she noticed it had a metal handle underneath the top ... this table has a hydrolic system that allows the top to raise and lower so it can be used as a coffee table or a card / eating table! Doesn't matter that we have no place to put it, we are now the proud owners of this "cute" and unique table. She did get it for about $40 under the original price.
I learned that no matter how hungry Chipper may be at 9:30pm ... if we've been gone all day she is more interested in playing than eating!
I learned that our church doesn't quite know what to do when the sermon is less than 20 minutes ... but they are willing to learn if I'll just cooperate on a weekly basis.
I learned that I've been missing a wonderful Sunday School class taught by my good friend, Steve! It was good to be a student again rather than a teacher / co-teacher.
I've learned that when I don't have much else to blog about, I resort to blogs such as this! And that some of you will actually read it.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Closed for the Weekend
I'm taking the day to do some much needed cleaning! Read someone else's blog. Be back Monday ... maybe. Besides, it's Friday the 13th and just plain bad luck to be blogging.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
A Confession
I think I am relatively safe in confessing this to my blog family ... okay, bear with me as I need to not rush into this moment.
My name is Greg and I am a ... wow, this is tough!
I ... uh ... I am ... you know ... a ........ ahh...............
I'M A CLEANLINESS ADDICT!
[At this point, you're supposed to say, "Hi, Greg!" with lots of enthusiasm and then applaud my confession.]
There ... I've said it! Is that so bad? Do I need professional help? Will this lead to other, more serious maladies? Is there some miracle drug that would prevent me from moving toward deeper and more disturbing disorders, such as wanting to take revenge on people who take up three parking spots or those who leave perishable goods on a non-refrigerated shelf? (Couldn't resist, Randy!)
I like things clean. I like carpets clean, I like my car clean, I like the house basically clean, I like my office clean. Truth be known, I've taken more than one shower in a day. I want Chipper clean when I pet her. I like looking out clean windows. Eat from clean plates with clean utensils.
Whew!!
I mention this tongue-in-cheek (honestly) because Josh gives me a hard time about being a clean freak. Once he had a few psych classes toward his degree, he even went so far as to try and diagnose me as "anal retentive," which not only sounds like some terrible fungus you don't want to get, but conjures all types of mental images I don't think Freud intended. Or maybe he did, since (in my opinion) Freud was about as nuts as his patients and disciples!
But I do clean our carpets several times a year simply because they need cleaning several times a year. And I never cease to be amazed at just how dirty the water is even after cleaning a given area several times. The carpets look great for a few days and then slowly begin to show the spots until, after a couple or three months I decide to go through this ritual all over.
Up until what I'm about to reveal to you, I was beginning to think Josh could live in a place where carpets were actually growing experimental plants from the accumulation of soils and bacteria and he would never even notice!
As you know, we moved Josh into his apartment last weekend. Very nice, very clean place. Carpets had been recently cleaned (I would notice that) and everything looked almost pristine ... until later that evening. I noticed several places on the carpet that needed some attention. In the move, we'd tracked in some pretty dark spots on his clean carpet and we forgot to bring a vacuum to clean up after the move. Josh stayed in Temecula when Janice and I returned home last Saturday, so when she talked with him on Sunday evening and asked what else he and Heather had done after we left, he told his mama they'd bought some carpet spot remover. At first I was sure she'd called a wrong number and was coincidentally talking with some other Josh who'd just moved into an apartment in Temecula and had a fiance by the name of Heather! This simply could not be true. Had he been talking with me on the phone, I'm sure he would never have mentioned this.
YES! Like Father, like Son! Now, at long last, I can bring to bear on his conscience and soul some of my graduate degree in psychology! Who is on the fast-track to being anal retentive now? Maybe we can actually find a 12-step program ... or better, start a program for people with a need to clean carpets. Perhaps (doesn't hurt to dream) even a reality TV show or an afternoon talk show just after Oprah and Dr. Phil? The possibilities out there are staggering! At this point I just know there is a sense of justice in this universe, and I'm just thankful to have lived to witness this particular manifestation.
Thanks for reading, now I'll attempt to gently ease back into a sense of normalcy in my life ... and decide on a day to rent a carpet cleaner. It's been a few months.
My name is Greg and I am a ... wow, this is tough!
I ... uh ... I am ... you know ... a ........ ahh...............
I'M A CLEANLINESS ADDICT!
[At this point, you're supposed to say, "Hi, Greg!" with lots of enthusiasm and then applaud my confession.]
There ... I've said it! Is that so bad? Do I need professional help? Will this lead to other, more serious maladies? Is there some miracle drug that would prevent me from moving toward deeper and more disturbing disorders, such as wanting to take revenge on people who take up three parking spots or those who leave perishable goods on a non-refrigerated shelf? (Couldn't resist, Randy!)
I like things clean. I like carpets clean, I like my car clean, I like the house basically clean, I like my office clean. Truth be known, I've taken more than one shower in a day. I want Chipper clean when I pet her. I like looking out clean windows. Eat from clean plates with clean utensils.
Whew!!
I mention this tongue-in-cheek (honestly) because Josh gives me a hard time about being a clean freak. Once he had a few psych classes toward his degree, he even went so far as to try and diagnose me as "anal retentive," which not only sounds like some terrible fungus you don't want to get, but conjures all types of mental images I don't think Freud intended. Or maybe he did, since (in my opinion) Freud was about as nuts as his patients and disciples!
But I do clean our carpets several times a year simply because they need cleaning several times a year. And I never cease to be amazed at just how dirty the water is even after cleaning a given area several times. The carpets look great for a few days and then slowly begin to show the spots until, after a couple or three months I decide to go through this ritual all over.
Up until what I'm about to reveal to you, I was beginning to think Josh could live in a place where carpets were actually growing experimental plants from the accumulation of soils and bacteria and he would never even notice!
As you know, we moved Josh into his apartment last weekend. Very nice, very clean place. Carpets had been recently cleaned (I would notice that) and everything looked almost pristine ... until later that evening. I noticed several places on the carpet that needed some attention. In the move, we'd tracked in some pretty dark spots on his clean carpet and we forgot to bring a vacuum to clean up after the move. Josh stayed in Temecula when Janice and I returned home last Saturday, so when she talked with him on Sunday evening and asked what else he and Heather had done after we left, he told his mama they'd bought some carpet spot remover. At first I was sure she'd called a wrong number and was coincidentally talking with some other Josh who'd just moved into an apartment in Temecula and had a fiance by the name of Heather! This simply could not be true. Had he been talking with me on the phone, I'm sure he would never have mentioned this.YES! Like Father, like Son! Now, at long last, I can bring to bear on his conscience and soul some of my graduate degree in psychology! Who is on the fast-track to being anal retentive now? Maybe we can actually find a 12-step program ... or better, start a program for people with a need to clean carpets. Perhaps (doesn't hurt to dream) even a reality TV show or an afternoon talk show just after Oprah and Dr. Phil? The possibilities out there are staggering! At this point I just know there is a sense of justice in this universe, and I'm just thankful to have lived to witness this particular manifestation.
Thanks for reading, now I'll attempt to gently ease back into a sense of normalcy in my life ... and decide on a day to rent a carpet cleaner. It's been a few months.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Fun Stuff
It was a slow day for me. I had all intentions of doing more but simply had no energy at all ... which results in nothing to blog for today! Thought I'd share some fun pictures and hope Wednesday is a more blog-productive day.
A cause I can support!
One of many reasons why I don't attend baseball games,
though I doubt a bat ever reached the section where I can afford a seat.
I may have to get one more guitar. How much is 79,800
"whatever?" in U.S. dollars? Anyone out there know?
McDonald's as they all should be.
Just another reason why I'm so proud of my children.
Okay, here's another reason ....
If I ever go completely bald, this just may work for me!
A cause I can support!
One of many reasons why I don't attend baseball games, though I doubt a bat ever reached the section where I can afford a seat.
I may have to get one more guitar. How much is 79,800"whatever?" in U.S. dollars? Anyone out there know?
McDonald's as they all should be.
Just another reason why I'm so proud of my children.
Okay, here's another reason ....
If I ever go completely bald, this just may work for me!Tuesday, January 10, 2006
A Bittersweet Farewell
Bill and Carol. To me their names are synonymous with the Long Beach church. Bill was an elder here and my first contact point in what led to our moving from Florida to California. Later in the process he and another elder, Bud, flew to Florida to meet the people who knew me as their minister. I was equally impressed with Bud. Their visit to Florida was a wonderful time. To work under these men was a blessing in many, many ways. I grew under their spiritual guidance and example.Carol is quiet, reflective, and spiritually deep. When my mother met her, she told me, "I believe Carol is one of the most spiritually beautiful women I've ever met." I agreed with her then. I've seen it time and again over the past 13 years.
We said "Farewell" to Bill and Carol last night. A bittersweet goodbye. Our fellowship hall was filled to capacity. We sang some of their favorite songs ... I've never heard our church sing any better. After a great meal of grilled Italian chicken, mashed potatoes (Bill's favorite), beans, salad and rolls, we shared testimonies for about a half hour. The church presented them with a beautiful (and authentic) Thomas Kinkade painting of a church building glowing in light. A reminder of who they are to us and, hopefully, who we've been to them. Very pretty.
We love them dearly and will miss them greatly. Carol was always a willing voice on our praise team. She was a caregiver in many ways to many people. When a family in our church needed a LOT of work done on their house and the father was no longer able to provide for them, Carol simply put out the word that she'd be at that house on Saturday and if anyone could help, please let her know. For several Saturdays as many as a dozen people would show up to help Carol paint the interior of the house, make some repairs, and completely replace the floor! It was a fun time, even if the work was, at times, back breaking.
Bill was an encourager as no one else. At least to me. As an elder, he stood up for the preachers and was a "Yes" man. He might not be completely comfortable with a given proposal, but he trusted us and gave his support and encouragement time and again. He learned from his fellow elder, Bud, how to "embrace truth at the expense of tradition" on many levels. Bill approaches everything with energy, whether it's praying or teaching, or playing basketball, or eating! One Sunday while giving the communion devotional, he got so wrapped up in his remarks he swept his hand in a wide gesture to make a point and sent the body of Christ sailing toward the floor! Though he made an impressive recovery before the plate of unleavened bread actually hit the floor, he was forever after known as the guy who knocked Jesus off the communion table! He was also known for his somewhat lengthy prayers, but I didn't care how long he went (and he could go for 20 minutes and not even break out a holy sweat!) for when he prayed, I felt closer to the throne of God. I was closer to the throne of God. Professionally, he was an engineer with his degrees in physics. Personally, he was just a good guy and a friend.
Carol worked for years as a charge nurse in a local hospital and later returned to college to earn her master's degree in social work, as well as qualifying as a counselor. She has a heart for people and an understanding nature that I've seen in few people. When Josh and Heather decided they were going to marry, I wanted so much for them to be able to sit down and soak up some of my mother's wisdom. With mom's death last July, that dream could not be fulfilled ... or could it? I asked Carol if she would meet with them. She asked what I wanted her to accomplish and I told her, "Be a grandmother to them. I want them to hear words of wisdom from a godly grandmother." She met with them and blessed us ... again. She was also very skilled in wood work. Built her own kitchen cabinets w/ a radial arm saw and pieces of oak. She and I worked together on a Mexico mission trip one year as "the outhouse team." We built (in our opinion) an impressive outhouse! She is a very skilled carpenter. Come to think of it, with them living in Alabama, we just might be able to form a business back there ... custom-made outhouses! Hmmmmm...
They are moving to Huntsville, Alabama to be close to their children and grandchildren. Who could blame them for that? They promise to come back for visits often. I hope so, but once they settle down I'm sure there will be a lot to keep them on the right side of the country. Not the least of which is their new grandchild ... coming soon.So goes life. I don't like it, but it's reality. A reality that has happened in my life and ministry far too often.
And if he reads this blog today, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my brother, Rex! Love ya!
Monday, January 09, 2006
Rules of Combat
I don't know who came up with these rules, but I got them from an internet friend, Alan Smith. He has a weekly devotional that's well worth reading. (You can subscribe by sending a blank email to: join-thought-for-the-day@xc.org) I found these "rules" to be remarkably relevant to church ministry ... which probably isn't a good thing!Maybe one or more of them will help you somehow in this new year!
If the enemy is in range, so are you.So-o-o-o-o ... which one of those rules hit you right between the eyes?
Don't look conspicuous; it draws fire.
The easy way is always mined.
Try to look unimportant, they may be low on ammo.
The enemy invariably attacks on one of two occasions: When you are ready for them. When you are not ready for them.
Teamwork is essential; it gives the enemy someone else to shoot at.
If your attack is going well, you have walked into an ambush.
Don't draw fire, it irritates the people around you.
The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.
When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is "not" our friend.
If it's stupid but works, it isn't stupid.
When in doubt, empty the magazine.
Anything you do can get you shot -- including doing nothing.
Make it too tough for the enemy to get in and you can't get out.
Mines are equal opportunity weapons.
A Purple Heart just proves that you were smart enough to think of a plan, stupid enough to try it, and lucky enough to survive.
Don't ever be the first, don't ever be the last, and don't ever volunteer for anything.
The quartermaster has only two sizes: too large and too small.
Five second fuses only last three seconds.
It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed.
Friday, January 06, 2006
A Large(er) Table for Four
For about 7 years of our marriage, I did not want children simply because I did not want my child doing to me what I'd done to my parents! As difficult as it may be for many of you to actually comprehend this, I was not a nice person during my early teen years. I certainly did not want a teenager of my own who was anything like I was.In retrospect, I would have had my children earlier and, had circumstances allowed, had more of them. Josh would have had a brother and Jessica a sister, had we been able to make the calls. Our children have been the most significant blessing of God in our lives ... as have been your children in your lives (if you have children).
So here we are in our early 50's. Fast approaching middle age. Except for a short period in our relationship when an alien being or a demonic spirit came into my mind and we broke up for a couple of months, Janice and I have been together as a couple 38 or our 52 years. Of those years, 31 have been enjoyed in marriage, and 24 have included parenting. As much of a pain in the derriere as I was to my parents, I just can't imagine what it was like to mom and dad when I left home after 9th grade to live with my grandmother. I can't imagine either of my children leaving home at the age of 15! But I did and they let me do it. In retrospect, considering I met and married Janice as a result of leaving home, we all agreed the good outweighed the bad, though I'm not sure her family felt the same way! And under totally different circumstances I'm going through the emotions of my children leaving home.
We were having breakfast together this morning (Thursday) and I told her, "Looks like we'll be having a lot of meals at this table ... just the two of us." Can't say that I like that, but I'm very grateful when we sit down at that table for four ... just the two of us ... we can do nothing but thank God for the joy of our family and our relationships together. Though Jess has not moved out permanently, she does live out of town in her apartment and we'll see very little of her at our house this year. She plans on taking some classes during the summer so it will feel as if she's left permanently.
This whole empty nest stuff is new to us and we'll navigate through it and come out on the other side even more blessed with the addition of Heather to our family as well as the addition of her family to our larger family. But right now it comes into my life as a somewhat uninvited guest. Maybe more of an intruder. Something I'd love to call mom and talk over with her. Some of you have been where we are, others of you will face it in time. For now I feel like it's just Janice, Chipper and myself, and I have no control over either of them so life seems pretty much out of control.
Just some thoughts. Thanks for reading.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
What a heartbreaking story from West Virginia. What those families are experiencing is beyond my imagination ... to be told 12 of 13 trapped miners are alive only to learn three hours later the news was wrong. That 12 of the 13 are, in fact, dead. How can you wrap your mind around that? How do you process that if you are living through it? To go from ecstatic rejoicing and praising God to questioning His divinity. One person who had been in the Sago Baptist church praising God for the "miracle" earlier in the evening was quoted as asking, "What the h--- has God done for us?" just three hours later. Human emotions can take dramatic, irrational turns. Thousands of generations later, we are still in need of the heart of Job (at least initially) that we take the good and the bad ... but God is to be praised in worship!
While showering this morning, I was thinking of a parallel to life in general. Those miners were almost 2-1/2 miles into the earth. Far from home. Surrounded by deadly gas over which they had no control. Their survival, if there would be survival at all, would come from a rescuer. There was nothing they could do other than put up a piece of a curtain and hope it would shield them from the gas that would take their lives. They had oxygen, but only about an hour's supply for 42-hour ordeal. It was useless. All their attempts at survival were ultimately useless because they were in a situation that was hopeless ... short of a rescue.
The news that they were "alive" was the greatest news imaginable to the families and friends awaiting their rescue. The news that followed -- that they had perished -- was the worst imaginable news. Beyond comprehension. How could this happen? How could such good news turn into such awful news?
In a sense, we live far from home and surrounded by evil forces that will kill us. Eternally. Our only hope is a Rescuer. Someone to come to where we are and take us out alive. We can group together and work as hard as we might, but we'll never overcome the forces smothering the life from us. Not by our own efforts. At best, we can pull a curtain around us and hope ... but our hope is in a rescue from beyond. There is a great crowd of witnesses above who are cheering our rescue for they have experienced rescue from a similar entrapment.
The GOOD news is a Rescuer came down to where we were trapped and, indeed, gave us a way out of the despair. Didn't just show the way, but led us out by dying in the "mine" on our behalf. The bad news (and this is where this whole analogy falls apart with respect to the events of West Virginia) is that the vast majority of those trapped in the mine prefer death in the mine to life above! How ironic that anyone would reject the rescue ... but that is the power of the evil determined to take our lives. It's deadly and demonic. And for the most part, it drowns out the news of deliverance.
P. S. Regarding yesterday's blog about Josh and his work situation. We got a phone call during lunch and he'd talked with his prospective employer ... they worked out the details and we all have a very good feeling about this. That "feeling" is very much the result of a lot of prayer about this as well. His new employer / boss is a Christian man of faith and spiritual values. We're thankful for that as well. So it looks like we'll be moving him to his new apartment over the weekend and he'll actually work his final day at his present job on January 13. As always, I appreciate more than you know the responses where you affirmed us in prayer.
While showering this morning, I was thinking of a parallel to life in general. Those miners were almost 2-1/2 miles into the earth. Far from home. Surrounded by deadly gas over which they had no control. Their survival, if there would be survival at all, would come from a rescuer. There was nothing they could do other than put up a piece of a curtain and hope it would shield them from the gas that would take their lives. They had oxygen, but only about an hour's supply for 42-hour ordeal. It was useless. All their attempts at survival were ultimately useless because they were in a situation that was hopeless ... short of a rescue.
The news that they were "alive" was the greatest news imaginable to the families and friends awaiting their rescue. The news that followed -- that they had perished -- was the worst imaginable news. Beyond comprehension. How could this happen? How could such good news turn into such awful news?
In a sense, we live far from home and surrounded by evil forces that will kill us. Eternally. Our only hope is a Rescuer. Someone to come to where we are and take us out alive. We can group together and work as hard as we might, but we'll never overcome the forces smothering the life from us. Not by our own efforts. At best, we can pull a curtain around us and hope ... but our hope is in a rescue from beyond. There is a great crowd of witnesses above who are cheering our rescue for they have experienced rescue from a similar entrapment.
The GOOD news is a Rescuer came down to where we were trapped and, indeed, gave us a way out of the despair. Didn't just show the way, but led us out by dying in the "mine" on our behalf. The bad news (and this is where this whole analogy falls apart with respect to the events of West Virginia) is that the vast majority of those trapped in the mine prefer death in the mine to life above! How ironic that anyone would reject the rescue ... but that is the power of the evil determined to take our lives. It's deadly and demonic. And for the most part, it drowns out the news of deliverance.
P. S. Regarding yesterday's blog about Josh and his work situation. We got a phone call during lunch and he'd talked with his prospective employer ... they worked out the details and we all have a very good feeling about this. That "feeling" is very much the result of a lot of prayer about this as well. His new employer / boss is a Christian man of faith and spiritual values. We're thankful for that as well. So it looks like we'll be moving him to his new apartment over the weekend and he'll actually work his final day at his present job on January 13. As always, I appreciate more than you know the responses where you affirmed us in prayer.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
I haven't had much interest in the bowl games this year ... not that I've ever had much interest in them. Just not much of a football fan. For that matter, sports in general doesn't interest me that much (sorry, sports fanatics), though I spent much of 20 years as a high school basketball official. I enjoyed working the games ... just never got into them as a fan.
At one time in my life I was a staunch Crimson Tide / Alabama / "Bear" Bryant / Gene Stallings fan. Today I really have no emotionally investment in Alabama other than to see Mike Shula successful as a coach. I think he is a classy guy. Something Alabama coaches lacked in the recent past (Coach Francione exempted ... but then he resigned, the bum!). I buy Bama apparel from time to time simply because I think it looks good. Certainly better than Auburn colors! (Who ever decided orange and blue looked good together?)
I watched Florida State / Penn State battle it out this evening in the Orange Bowl (it was the Orange Bowl, wasn't it?) and really didn't care which way it went as I respect both of those coaches as much as a non-fan can respect a college football coach. For Cecil's sake, I suppose, I would have wanted FSU to pull it out. But honestly, I didn't care. It was interesting to watch those freshmen kickers blow one field goal attempt after another!
My mind was more wrapped around Josh and his current job situation. He has a job in Temecula if he decides to take it, but the man is not offering Josh nearly what he needs to be able to make the move. Josh did put down a deposit on an apartment, but that was on the premise the man would actually come through with the money Josh told him he'd need. Seems (from my perspective) as if the guy is jerking Josh around a bit. I know it's causing Josh not only some frustration (understatement) but a bit of growing up! An experience that is seldom pleasant.
It's one of those moments when I really want to step in, take control, and fix the situation, though I can't and wouldn't if I could. My role is that of a sounding board and bystander. He has to make that decision and then live with the consequences. It's that painful part of growing up. Sort of like learning to walk.
There are a lot of things we pray about. I actually heard a friend on Jan.2, while watching some play during the Ohio State / Notre Dame (is that who played?) game declare that play was nothing short of divine! Ho-hum. But no prayer strikes so close to the heart of a parent as the prayer for a child ... regardless of the nature of the prayer. We're praying for Josh to trust God and not rush into something out of frustration. We're praying for God to develop whatever character He so desires in Josh through this situation. We're praying for peace and wisdom for our son.
At one time in my life I was a staunch Crimson Tide / Alabama / "Bear" Bryant / Gene Stallings fan. Today I really have no emotionally investment in Alabama other than to see Mike Shula successful as a coach. I think he is a classy guy. Something Alabama coaches lacked in the recent past (Coach Francione exempted ... but then he resigned, the bum!). I buy Bama apparel from time to time simply because I think it looks good. Certainly better than Auburn colors! (Who ever decided orange and blue looked good together?)
I watched Florida State / Penn State battle it out this evening in the Orange Bowl (it was the Orange Bowl, wasn't it?) and really didn't care which way it went as I respect both of those coaches as much as a non-fan can respect a college football coach. For Cecil's sake, I suppose, I would have wanted FSU to pull it out. But honestly, I didn't care. It was interesting to watch those freshmen kickers blow one field goal attempt after another!
My mind was more wrapped around Josh and his current job situation. He has a job in Temecula if he decides to take it, but the man is not offering Josh nearly what he needs to be able to make the move. Josh did put down a deposit on an apartment, but that was on the premise the man would actually come through with the money Josh told him he'd need. Seems (from my perspective) as if the guy is jerking Josh around a bit. I know it's causing Josh not only some frustration (understatement) but a bit of growing up! An experience that is seldom pleasant.
It's one of those moments when I really want to step in, take control, and fix the situation, though I can't and wouldn't if I could. My role is that of a sounding board and bystander. He has to make that decision and then live with the consequences. It's that painful part of growing up. Sort of like learning to walk.
There are a lot of things we pray about. I actually heard a friend on Jan.2, while watching some play during the Ohio State / Notre Dame (is that who played?) game declare that play was nothing short of divine! Ho-hum. But no prayer strikes so close to the heart of a parent as the prayer for a child ... regardless of the nature of the prayer. We're praying for Josh to trust God and not rush into something out of frustration. We're praying for God to develop whatever character He so desires in Josh through this situation. We're praying for peace and wisdom for our son.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Books
Okay, okay, the pressure's getting to me. Since others have listed the books they've read, I finally pulled together my list as well. Believe me, the temptation to "pad" the list with scholarly tomes was almost more than I could resist. But I've actually read the books listed (in no particular order) and look forward to reading some of the ones you have listed.God in the Flesh: What speechless lawyers, kneeling soldiers, and shocked crowds teach us about Jesus. Don Everts. Intervarsity Press. 2005.
God Is Closer Than You Think. John Ortberg. Zondervan. 2005. I like everything Ortberg has written to date. He is a clinical psychologist (Ph.D. Fuller Theological Seminary) turned preacher and now serves the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church near San Francisco.
Everybody is Normal Till You Get to Know Them. John Ortberg. Zondervan. 2003. I used much of this material as a springboard for a series of sermons that defined the "theme" of my preaching this past year at Long Beach. Our theme was "Sanctuary - Becoming a People of Hope."
Storm Front: The Good News of God. Brownson, Dietterich, Harvey, West. Published by Wm. B. Eerdmans. 2003. This book was sent to all registrants of the Zoe conference as a "pre-read" for the worship conference. I never saw how they connected the book to the conference, but then I was at Guitar Center and Gibson Guitar Factory much of the weekend. Though not a very interesting read for the most part, chapter 2 had some excellent thoughts on being the community of God and chapter 3 has a section on the crucifixion that would preach on any Easter Sunday ... and will be preached here on Easter Sunday!
So, You Want to be Like Christ? Eight Essentials to Get You There. Charles Swindoll. W Publishing Group. 2005. I read anything published by Swindoll. This book covers the topic of the Christian disciplines.
Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives. Swindoll. W Publishing Group. 2005. Interesting stories from the Old Testament lives of obscure people.
Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity. Nancy Pearcey. Crossway Books. 2005. This is the "scholarly" book I'm presently working through. Interesting, but will take a while.
I also read a very engaging 7-book series by Dee Henderson called "The O'Malley Series." The lives of 6 orphans who become a family together ... follows their stories of coming to faith. Fiction but good fiction. Janice read them and talked about them so much I finally gave in ... and couldn't wait to read the next one. My first venture into Christian fiction. Tried to read the "end of times" stuff so popular in the past few years and found it all less than interesting. This series by Henderson has been passed around our church for the past two years. Seems well liked by everyone who has read them.
Henderson wrote another series (four books) called "Uncommon Heroes" that is equally good. I highly recommend both series.
Dr. Gilbert Morris (Ph.D. professor of English and former Baptist preacher) has written 35+ book series called the "House of Winslow" series and is very, very interesting. Basically, he weaves a fictional family (Winslows ... hence, the name of the book series) into the history of the founding of our nation, and presents a fascinating and interesting read. Their family is traced from pre-Revolutionary War England to America (Pilgrims) and through the recent Gulf Wars. I've read six of them and finally put them down simply because I can't afford nearly 40 books at $12.95 a pop. Thanks to a tip from Brady, I did find 7 of them through Abebooks.com for a total of $16.
Cecil sent me the book, Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive (John Eldredge), for Christmas and it looks like a good read. I'll let you know when I'm finished. At first I thought it was a veiled reference to what I have to do at the end of my sermons ... but his note in the front of the book leads me to believe he may not have had that in mind at all!
Happy Reading!
Monday, January 02, 2006
It Never Rains in Southern California . . .
This weekend has been a messy weekend for Southern California. If I want this kind of weather, I could have stayed in Florida and enjoyed the hurricanes! The main problem here is that people are idiots in the rain. They don't know how to drive in the first place, but get the freeways wet and it's a circus!
It's Monday as I write this. Alabama just beat Texax Tech by the ugliest field goal you've ever seen, but nobody said it has to be pretty to win a game. I'm glad for Mike Shula, though much of my emotional fervor for the Crimson Tide is long gone. I no longer have a favorite team unless it's the team playing Miami Hurricanes at the moment! I still have a passionate hatred for that team.
Anyway, while we're watching the game, Chipper suddenly goes nuts and we hear a strange sound from the back yard. Very much like the sound of a tree falling onto the house. Bless Bess (southern saying), it was a tree falling on the house!
Granted, this is nowhere near as extensive as a car parking in Steve and Lisa's kitchen at 3am, but it was a bit of excitement for us. Actually, more of a nuisance than anything. Very minor damage to the back porch. The worst of the event was Chipper, in her excitement and fear, and being soaking wet and covered with mud, running into the house and basically "sliming" everything she touched. Gives me the excuse I need to clean carpets, though.
We went with close friends to Downtown Disney on Friday night (my first trip to DD) and walked around looking and listening. There was a guitarist (wouldn't you know it?) there accompanied by two percussionist and they were incredibly good. He played a classical guitar but flat picked it instead of finger picking it. I immediately purchased his 2-CD album and have listened almost non-stop since that night. He's coming out with another CD this year of Beatle's songs. I'll definitely be purchasing that one as well. He is David Wayne if you are interested in checking him out (click on his name). Many of the songs are his compositions, but he includes some impressive arrangements of Eagle's, Beatles, Hendrix, Sting, Kansas, etc.
We're off to spend the rest of the day with friends ... watching bowl games that have no meaning to me ... and playing games, but mainly just being with friends who mean the world to us. Wish you could be here as well.
