Friday, March 31, 2006
"You never know...."
I got a phone call last night from a friend battling a recurring cancer, trying to recover from two different surgeries, and fighting a nasty infection. To say the least, he's discouraged ... which is not something usually associated with this man.For many years, we've looked up to him as the epitome of health and self-discipline. He runs several miles a day ... does hundreds of push-ups and pull-ups a week ... works out with weights ... and eats healthier than anyone I know. And until recently, looked years younger than his age. But this round with cancer is taking its toll on his emotions and his once-youthful look ... not to mention his attitude. I'm not criticizing him. He's probably handling this far better than I would under similar circumstances. I just really feel bad for my friend.
We talked for about 5 minutes, but it was his first comment that really stuck with me. Without so much as a "Hello," he imparted his most recent advice: "Greg, you need to take your wife out for a nice dinner, buy the finest wine, have the best of chocolate for dessert, go home and enjoy the best sex of your life because you never know when it's all going to come to an end!" Sounds very ecclesiastical and Solomonical (a word I made up meaning "of or from Solomon"), doesn't it?
Being married to a school teacher and not liking wine, not all of those options are always available, but I know what he meant. Take advantage of the opportunities God gives for life is short, and it may not end as we planned or hoped it would.
Paul put it like this, "Be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days.... Let the Holy Spirit fill and control you." (Ephesians 5:16, 18b)
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Just a Beggar
I stopped by the mortuary to pick up the body of a dear sister and take her to be buried next to her husband, who died some 20+ years ago. Another service was in progress in our chapel and I stepped into the foyer of the chapel to speak to a co-worker before leaving for the service I was conducting. The preacher was just about to wrap up his "few comments" that had gone now for over 30 minutes. (It's an occupational hazzard that can only be understood by a fellow-preacher.) I was asked if I had time to help dismiss the family and friends before leaving for my service. Since I had to wait for them to clear the parking lot anyway, I gladly agreed to help him out. In the actual final moments of the preacher's encouragment to this group of grievers, he was sharing the good news of life in Christ. It was the typical appeal we've all heard from any number of televangelists, only this one lacked the plea for financial support! He did make a comment, though, that struck a chord with me. He told them he didn't have all the answers and wasn't trying to come across as someone who did. Then he said: "I'm just a beggar telling other beggars where I found some food."
I like that analogy. I appreciated his humility.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Encouragement
I preface this blog with two posts from Steve "the thurman8ter" Thurman. The first blog had to do with an obstinate student and his threat-breathing father, and Steve's desire at that point to be in another profession. It was followed with yesterday's blog about Parent Night and the irrate father failing to show up, but a former student taking the time to come by and tell him how much she missed his class, and even hugging his neck in appreciation. [Note: We're just hoping her father doesn't come after Steve for sexual harassment!] Words of encouragement don't seem to come often enough, but when they do, they can completely turn around an attitude, or a moment, or a day, or a week, or even a life! Words are powerful. Words of encouragement have an almost resurrection power to them.
Many years ago, while preaching for a small church in east-central Florida, seven of the eight years we served there were horrible. During the final year or so, my wife and I walked for miles in the evenings just so I could vent some energy and anger over circumstances and situations I was powerless to change.
During those years in Florida, two things (outside of grace, family, and a few close friends) kept me alive and functional. One was seasonal, but it gave me plenty of opportunity to have some control in my life and to use up massive amounts of energy. I was a high school basketball official. Because of my schedule, I was able to accept almost any game at any time, so between afternoon games with middle schools and junior high schools (the worst of basketball), and varsity games two nights a week, I worked around 100 games per season.
The other thing that kept me alive and functional was my work as a chaplain for the local police department. Police officers are a very tight fraternity and not easily entered into by non-police officials. I broke into the ranks the day I went to the shooting range and qualified with a hand-gun, outscoring some seasoned officers. They were not as impressed with my score as they were with the fact that I cared enough to come out and be a part of their world. I immersed myself into that world, going on frequent ride-alongs (sometimes all night) as well as taking numerous classes and seminars offered only to police personnel. In time, I wrote the department SOP (standard operating procedure) for death notifications and helped write the SOP for post- traumatic event debriefing. I worked a number of homicide cases with investigators, my job being a support role for the survivors as well as for the police personnel involved. I worked in the neighborhoods with families and friends when children drowned or were killed in auto accidents (and that happened too often).
As strange as it may sound, one of the more meaningful moments of that ministry was walking into a morgue with Detective K. W. to do some follow-up investigative work on a four-year-old boy that had drowned. The officer had a four-year-old son. My son was about 6 at the time. Both of us looked at that little boy in that cold morgue and saw our own son on the gurney. K. W. couldn't thank me enough for going in with him. He'd been in the morgue many times, but never for something that would hit so close to home. We both left with tears in our eyes, hoping the other wouldn't notice. I later attended the autopsy of a little 8-year-old girl who had been beaten to death by a foster father. He was not only acquitted on some legal technicality, but was allowed to continue keeping foster children! We all felt dumped on with that news from the courts. Sometimes life just isn't fair and it doesn't make sense on any level.
Officers would call or invite me to go on ride-alongs so they could talk with me about their problems or just share the latest news with me. I had an open-door invitation from both the police chief and the mayor. My two best friends in the department were both lieutenants. One (J.) was head of detectives, the other (C.) was over all departmental training as well as internal affairs. In spite of all you've seen in movies about IA people, C. was well respected by everyone in the department. J. became police chief. I have no idea what C. is doing these days. Both had a great impact on my life and were truly brothers. Incidentally, I received two or three (can't remember and they were stolen when our house was burglarized) medals for service to the department and to the city. I felt like I was making a difference in the lives of some people, though at church I felt completely paralyzed, and useless. I was spiritually depleted the moment I went onto the church property.
When we moved to California, I was determined to stay here three years and then leave ministry forever. I spent those three years dumping my garbage on this church family and trying to figure out what I could do to support my family. I was in a pit of discouragement. But I look back on it almost historically now that I'm into my 13th year in Long Beach and I see the encouraging hand of God through it all. And this church family had every reason to invite me to leave, but instead they loved me and encouraged me (for the most part) through a much-needed healing process.
The point of this blog is simply to say if there is someone in your life who has encouraged you, by all means, please let them know it! Return the gift with a "Thank you" and tell them specifically how they brought you through a tough time in your life!
I can't close this without saying how this blog family has encouraged me, so without being specific (and, thus, going against my own advice to you) let me say to each reader who has responded to my blogs to challenge, teach, chide, or encourage me, "Thanks!! ... a million!" That you would even take time to even read this stuff, much less respond to it, often makes my day.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Coach Wooden
With March Madness in full swing, as well as UCLA's appearance in the final four, I thought some of you might enjoy the following story from this week's Preaching Now, Vol. 5, Number 12. (Original source is unknown.) "On the 21st of the month, the best man I know will do what he always does on the 21st of the month. He'll sit down and pen a love letter to his best girl. He'll say how much he misses her and loves her and can't wait to see her again. Then he'll fold it once, slide it in a little envelope and walk into his bedroom. He'll go to the stack of love letters sitting there on her pillow, untie the yellow ribbon, place the new one on top and tie the ribbon again.
"The stack will be 180 letters high then, because the 21st will be 15 years to the day since Nellie, his beloved wife of 53 years, died. In her memory, he sleeps only on his half of the bed, only on his pillow, only on top of the sheets, never between -- with just the old bedspread they shared to keep him warm.
"There's never been a finer man in American sports than John Wooden, or a finer coach. He won 10 NCAA basketball championships at UCLA, the last in 1975. Nobody has ever come within six of him. He won 88 straight games between January 30, 1971, and January 17, 1974. Nobody has come within 42 since. . . ."There has never been another coach like Wooden, quiet as an April snow and square as a game of checkers; loyal to one woman, one school, one way; walking around campus in his sensible shoes and Jimmy Stewart morals. He'd spend a half hour the first day of practice teaching his men how to put on a sock. "Wrinkles can lead to blisters," he'd warn. These huge players would sneak looks at one another and roll their eyes. Eventually, they'd do it right. "Good," he'd say. "And now for the other foot."
"Of the 180 players who played for him, Wooden knows the whereabouts of 172. Of course, it's not hard when most of them call, checking on his health, secretly hoping to hear some of his simple life lessons so that they can write them on the lunch bags of their kids, who will roll their eyes.
"Discipline yourself, and others won't need to," Coach would say. "Never lie, never cheat, never steal," and "Earn the right to be proud and confident."
"If you played for him, you played by his rules: Never score without acknowledging a teammate. One word of profanity and you're done for the day. Treat your opponent with respect. He believed in hopelessly out-of-date stuff that never did anything but win championships. No dribbling behind the back or through the legs. "There's no need," he'd say.
"No UCLA basketball number was retired under his watch. "What about the fellows who wore that number before? Didn't they contribute to the team?" he'd say. No long hair, no facial hair. "They take too long to dry, and you could catch cold leaving the gym," he'd say. That one drove his players bonkers. One day, All-America center Bill Walton showed up with a full beard. "It's my right," he insisted. Wooden asked if he believed that strongly. Walton said he did. "That's good, Bill," Coach said. "I admire people who have strong beliefs and stick by them, I really do. We're going to miss you." Walton shaved it right then and there. Now Walton calls once a week to tell Coach he loves him.
"He's almost 90 now. You think a little more hunched over than last time. Steps a little smaller. You hope it's not the last time you see him. He smiles. 'I'm not afraid to die,' he says. 'Death is my only chance to be with her again.'
"Problem is, we still need him here."Monday, March 27, 2006
This is the time of year I would love to live where the cherry blossoms are so beautiful, which has nothing to do with this blog other than I wanted a picture of cherry blossoms!Five days after the fact, Janice and I got together with our children to "celebrate" my birthday ... which basically means I picked up the tab and we enjoyed a meal together. But I'm not complaining. I can't think of anything I'd rather do than be with my children ... all three of them. Jessica is incredibly busy this semester and it was good to spend some time with her. I'll take whatever I can get!
Saturday, Josh and Heather came over and she brought a sack full of 8mm video tapes made back in th early 90's. She'd never seen them and probably would have edited a lot of what we saw and laughed over! It was a fun, raw, unedited glimpse into her childhood. But it also reinforced what I've already decided: Heather grew up in a loving, nurturing, God-centered family and we enjoyed walking through a part of her childhood. We've been talking about taking out our video tapes and converting them to DVD, but I'm not sure I want to see how much I've aged since those movies were made. We had a potato bar and dessert after our praise & worship time and a lady asked me (as we were indulging in dessert), "Are you doing anything for excercise these days?" I told her it was none of her business, but for her information I do walk to work daily. Geez ... people can be so intrusive, can't they? I am trying to grow about six inches taller as that should take care of the perceived weight problem!
Our March Celebration! tonight was topped off with the baptism of two young ladies. The S. family came into our lives about 18 months ago and have been a huge blessing to our church family as we've watching them grow so steadily in the Lord. They are moving at the end of April and now I know (again) the importance of intentionally grounding new converts in the faith. Though they have grown by leaps and bounds in the year and a half they've been walking with the Lord, I still feel as if we're putting chidren out of the house to make it on their own! I pray the Lord will open up to them a church family that will continue the walk with them.
I've taken enough of your time. Have a blessed week and thanks for stopping by!
Friday, March 24, 2006
Ahrrrrrrg!
I received a rather interesting email from a cousin of mine who discovered that in our family lineage was a somewhat colorful character by the name of Captain Edward England. Were you to compare his picture with some of mine, you would immediately see the resemblence, as I have a pair of high heels just like that!Apparently Capt. England gave up honest work as an officer on a Jamaican sloop to join the ranks of Carribean pirates in the 1700's. He captained (is that a verb?) a ship by the name of Pearl and later captured a larger ship (which just happened to have a much needed armory of 34 guns) called the Fancy. As I comtemplate the naming of his ships, I think I have an insight into his high heels! Maybe not. With the capture of the latter ship, he was elevated from Captain to Commodore.
Anyway, his career began on the upswing as he successfully plundered two dozen ships. At a point in his career when he should have finished off an officer of either the English or Dutch navy,
he allowed the captain (James Macrae) to live. England's crew was so angered by that decision, they turned against him and voted him out of his rank as captain, putting him ashore on Mauritius (wherever that is?). He eventually made his way to St. Augustine Bay, Florida, living out his life as a pauper, taking the charity of other, more successful, pirates.I always figured we had some bootleggers and horsethieves in the old family tree, and for a while we thought maybe an uncle was on the FBI most wanted list for bank robbery. As it turned out, the real culprit (by the same name) was arrested and my great uncle cleared. But a pirate? And a pauper-pirate at that! Ahrrrrrrg!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Learning Division
Last week I listened to a sermon via internet by Bro. Rick Atchley (preaches for the Richland Hills Church of Christ in the Ft. Worth area, TX.) on learning division. It's worth your while to either listen on internet or buy the DVD for $5.Anyway, Rick's point is worth not only sharing but considering ... I mean deeply considering! Basically he says we learn to be divided as believers. We didn't come to Christ as liberals or conservatives or moderates. Most of us came to Christ via a church system that taught us to be liberal or conservative or moderate ... that taught us to be divided. We bought into a mindset and an historical perspective that was hardly biblical or Godly.
For example (not from Rick's sermon), in the recent past, there was a huge annual event among us known as Jubilee! Held in Nashville and sponsored by some of our known "liberals" (sarcasm intended), Jubilee drew thousands to a weekend of uplifting worship, praise, teaching and fellowship, as well as constant fire and brimstone from the conservative side of our dis-fellowship. Amazingly, in distant mission fields lines of fellowship were drawn in the sand over whether or not one supported Jubilee! I talked with people returning from the former Soviet Union where new believers were confused as to whether they were pro- or anti-Jubilee. They didn't have a clue what Jubilee was or what side they were supposed to be on, but they were under pressure from stateside churches to declare allegiance to the anti-Jubilee camp! How that must sadden the heart of God.
Rick gave an historical perspective on our 100+-year division and pointed out in his sermon some of the various "issues" over which we continue to divide and sub-divide. Issues such as style of worship (instrumental / a cappella ... use of worship teams / single song leader ... inclusion of women / silence of women ... etc.). Whether or not we have a located preacher. Do we have Sunday schools? Do we support Christian colleges and orphan's homes? Do we use one or more cups when taking communion? Can we have a kitchen in the building? Can we have a building? Ad nauseum.
Suppose a person were to simply find a Bible and read it, believe it, and practice a life of righteousness, trusting only in Jesus. Would that person, upon reading just the Bible with no commentary and no pre-conceived theology from the rest of us, come to the same conclusions we've reached? Would they come away from a reading of the New Testament with the rock-solid belief that the use of instrumental music was a sin unto eternal damnation? (How could they when Revelation pictures the redeemed in heaven being handed harps by God himself?!?) Would they decide that when taking the Lord's Supper, they must use only a cup and take it only on Sundays? What if they lived in a culture where Sunday was not the recognized first day of the week? Would they decide that lifting of hands and clappping and any external sign of emotional response to worship was sinful? Would that person conclude that only people who agree on every minute detail of faith were in the kingdom of God?
I'm putting a lot of words into Rick's sermons, but you see where he went with it. We learn to be divided! And, in my opinion, most of what divides us has absolutely nothing to do with salvation and everything to do with culture and tradition and personal comfort zones. It's called orthodoxy, and it suffocates faith.
We are saved by grace through faith and not by performance. And certainly not by some flawless adherence to a perceived doctrine shaped far more by culture than by Christ.
[If you are interested in hearing Rick's sermon, click on his name and then go down to the March 1 sermon. Or you can just go to their link "Sermons to Go" and order the DVD for $5.00.]
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
No Greater Love....
You'd never know Mike was a successful salesperson by looking at him. I like Mike because he's the exact opposite of every salesperson I've ever known. (He's also very active in his church, very missional, and working on his masters degree in theology.) Usually Mike dresses in jeans and a pullover or sweatshirt. I've never seen him in a tie, or even remotely dressed beyond extreme casual. That's one reason I gave him our account five years ago. The other reason is there is no "b.s." (bad sales ... c'mon, what else could it mean?) with Mike. He'll give you the best price on the best machine and doesn't tie up your day pulling your string to make another dollar. A bottom-line kind of guy. Before we met Mike, we hated it when an office machine sales person would come in the door. Now we just tell the others we have a person who works with us and we're not interested in what they have to offer ... whatever it is they have to offer! We're very loyal to Mike.Yesterday afternoon he came by and stuck his head into my office just to say, "Hi," and to ask how things were going. I told him I'd just returned from a trip to D.C. He got excited (about as excited as Mike gets) because he is going to D.C. for the first time in May. As we talked about what I'd seen in my two very short trips, I told him the most impressive and most haunting memorial to me was the Korean Memorial (pictured, in part, above). He shared that his uncle (who lives in Virginia and is hosting him for this trip) was a WWII and Korean Marine vet who had survived some of the very worst Pacific Theater and Korean Theater battles in our history.
That's when I shared a story about my brother that became known to me only this past year at the time of my mother's funeral. He served for nearly 30 years, reaching the rank of Sgt. Major. Served in Viet Nam and Panama (and maybe other places that I don't know). He was in 'Nam at the time I was in college and subject to being drafted. He told me there was a law that preventing a sibling from being drafted and sent to Viet Nam if another sibling was presently serving in Viet Nam, so he signed up for a second tour as an Army Ranger just so I would not have to be sent to that hellish nightmare. I almost didn't tell him that my draft number was in the high 300's .... but I did. In hindsight, he didn't need to make that second tour. But he did because of a brother's love. I'm not even sure we were all that close at the time, so it was not just love, but unconditional love.Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends...." Fortunately my brother didn't have to lay down his life for mine, but he was willing to do so and I was reminded of that today while talking with Mike. I don't think my brother knows the depth of my respect and love for him.
I hope you have such a friend on this earth!
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
The Christian Rock Star Ringer!
On the flight out the DC last week, I was seated next to a woman who travels all over the world with her job and has done so for years. When I got home last night I told my wife, "Hopefully, this is my only flight this year!" I don't like leaving home. Anyway, we started talking about the final 20 minutes of the flight because she had been so busy the first part of the flight reading over some reports needed later that day. Of course, the inevitable question was directed to me during our conversation, "So, are you on business?" I never quite know how to answer that question since in my "business" just about any and everything I do is ultimately related to ministry and trying to be what I believe. I replied, "Part business, mostly pleasure," ... that a friend had asked me to come and play with his praise band. She asked, "What kind of music do you play?" Now I thought the term praise band might have given away the secret, but what do I know? I told her we play contemporary Christian music. She got all excited because her son listens to "that kind of music" and loves it! "I can't wait to get home and tell him I sat by a Christian rock star!"
So there you have it. In the eyes of one woman who lives somewhere in Orange County, California, and flies all over the world, I am a Christian rock star! But it gets better. When we had rehearsal on Friday night, the keyboard player introduced herself to me and when I told her my name she said, "Oh, you're the ringer Randy brought in." No pressure here! This ringer managed to completely mess up one song both evenings. Not to mention a conversation with my wife before I left on the trip. I'll summarize her comments: "Don't go to Washington and try to tell them how to play their songs. Just let them do it their way and join with them!" It wasn't so much a suggestion as it was a threat. I'm somewhat particular (okay, I'm very particular) about learning the chord nuances that make a song come alive. So guess what I did? Suffice it to say, I apologized several times to Randy for my borderline OCD behavior.
We did see God's hand through all of our efforts to bring a message of grace to an often graceless world and that was what we set out to do from the start.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Going Home
I had a great time in DC with Randy and his family. The two concerts went very well (considering the visiting musician). We played for an outreach ministry at Randy's church Saturday night and then for a neighboring Nazarene church on Sunday night. What a sweet spirited group of people. Their preacher prayed with me just before I left and I appreciated so much his spirit and love for the Lord.I met several people at Randy's church Sunday who knew my grandparents in Alabama (I was all but a celebrity to them). Mentioned in my sermon a professor at Harding Grad. School of Religion, only to find out her neice was in the praise band! Nice surprise. I'm very glad my comment about my professor was a positive one! Those things can go either way... Connected with a guy I knew 30 years ago in graduate school. Made a new friend in Brad (Associate Minister with Randy). Spent time with Janet, whom I met in Nashville a few years ago (she sings in Randy's group), and was a classmate of my wife's sister. But all in all, I'm ready to go home.
My Monday will be spent touring a couple of the local museums (not Guitar Center, Cecil) and then cruising at about 37,000 feet, in a very small seat, next to someone I don't know, with my knees up near my chest, and my thoughts on my sweetheart, Janice! It was very good to be here. It will be even better to get home.
Friday, March 17, 2006
How to be Thankful Every Day
Note: This post is NOT from Long Beach, so it doesn't count as a final post of the week. But it is the final post of the week, as I don't post on weekends.
Yesterday, Randy and I spent most of the day setting up sound equipment for the concert this weekend. Of course, really good bands have people who do this type of work (or, with praise bands, this type of ministry) but Randy's roadie is on vacation with his wife. By the time we hauled everything up two flights of stairs, I was thinking "vacation with wife" is a pretty lame excuse! And as for the national monument trips, we only had to make one visit to Guitar Center. So far.
I met a person (whom I shall refer to as "P" as in person) yesterday who said, "I read your blog sometimes." I (whom I shall refer to as "I" as in me or myself) was rather offended by his comment. Particularly the word sometimes. I didn't want to embarrass myself since he knows I am a preacher by throwing a fit, but sometimes??? He reads this blog sometimes? I would think he would awaken ... maybe have a cup of coffee or a couple of tylenol ... read the Bible and spend some time in prayer ... and then EVERY weekday check out my blog. That just seems the reasonable thing to do in the mornings.
So here's a suggestion (which is stupid since most of you reading this probably already read my blog every weekday): When you awaken, spend some time in prayer. Spend some time in the Word. Then read my blog. That way, no matter how your days goes, no matter what happens to you or around you, you can always think, "At least I'm not that Greg England guy!" which will result in a tremendous spirit of gratitude. Just a suggestion ... you could probably read other blogs within this little community and come away with the same thought.
Have a great weekend. I'm having a wonderful time (except for schlepping sound stuff up two flights of stairs) with Randy / family!
Yesterday, Randy and I spent most of the day setting up sound equipment for the concert this weekend. Of course, really good bands have people who do this type of work (or, with praise bands, this type of ministry) but Randy's roadie is on vacation with his wife. By the time we hauled everything up two flights of stairs, I was thinking "vacation with wife" is a pretty lame excuse! And as for the national monument trips, we only had to make one visit to Guitar Center. So far.
I met a person (whom I shall refer to as "P" as in person) yesterday who said, "I read your blog sometimes." I (whom I shall refer to as "I" as in me or myself) was rather offended by his comment. Particularly the word sometimes. I didn't want to embarrass myself since he knows I am a preacher by throwing a fit, but sometimes??? He reads this blog sometimes? I would think he would awaken ... maybe have a cup of coffee or a couple of tylenol ... read the Bible and spend some time in prayer ... and then EVERY weekday check out my blog. That just seems the reasonable thing to do in the mornings.
So here's a suggestion (which is stupid since most of you reading this probably already read my blog every weekday): When you awaken, spend some time in prayer. Spend some time in the Word. Then read my blog. That way, no matter how your days goes, no matter what happens to you or around you, you can always think, "At least I'm not that Greg England guy!" which will result in a tremendous spirit of gratitude. Just a suggestion ... you could probably read other blogs within this little community and come away with the same thought.
Have a great weekend. I'm having a wonderful time (except for schlepping sound stuff up two flights of stairs) with Randy / family!
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Final (?) Blog for the Week
This is my final post for this week, superseding the earlier final blog for the week. There is a remote chance that something may happen in DC that I'll feel compelled to share (mutual friends tell me they are not sure if Randy and I are good for each other or not, to which I respond, "You're right!"). But from Long Beach, this is it. Final post. Unless, of course, something horrible happens to one of my favorites on American Idol tonight causing me to blog-grieve. In that worst case scenario I'd have to actually update this blog with my absolute final final post from Long Beach!
[Update: American Idol was horrible! Stevie Wonder songs? Who decided they had to sing SW songs? I've never cared for Stevie and the song selections were pathetic. Not to mention, the judges thought Kellie was boring. If she didn't do anything but stand on stage and smile, it would be far from boring! But that's just one southern man's opinion.]
What better way to sign off for the week than to reveal to you some stunningly amazing news? I now know the plot underlying this season's 24! Click on this and hold on to your mouse! Since I was unable to pull myself away from doing absolutely nothing to watch 24 Monday evening, I turned to my trusted 24-advisor, humorist Dave Barry, for his keen analysis. Unfortunatley he is in Ireland pushing his latest book and drinking a lot. But here is what he had to say prior to Monday evening's episode:
On a very serious note, my heart goes out to our friend, Judy, and her sister Doris, with the death of their brother. This small blog community has become my second spiritual family and I feel a deep sense of nearness to each of you. Our love goes out to our sisters and their family.
[Update: American Idol was horrible! Stevie Wonder songs? Who decided they had to sing SW songs? I've never cared for Stevie and the song selections were pathetic. Not to mention, the judges thought Kellie was boring. If she didn't do anything but stand on stage and smile, it would be far from boring! But that's just one southern man's opinion.]
What better way to sign off for the week than to reveal to you some stunningly amazing news? I now know the plot underlying this season's 24! Click on this and hold on to your mouse! Since I was unable to pull myself away from doing absolutely nothing to watch 24 Monday evening, I turned to my trusted 24-advisor, humorist Dave Barry, for his keen analysis. Unfortunatley he is in Ireland pushing his latest book and drinking a lot. But here is what he had to say prior to Monday evening's episode:
Here is the situation as we begin tonight's episode: I have no idea. I missed last week. All I know is that Edgar went to that big Krispy Kreme store in the sky. Also Jack finally shot somebody in the thigh. Apparently she was an innocent woman, but sometimes Jack just gets to a point in his life where he has to shoot somebody in the thigh, and there she was. Also of course the Lethal Fatal Deadly Death Canisters of Doom are still loose in Southern California, where they have been seen shopping on Rodeo Drive as well as in the audience of the Jay Leno show.Personally, I find Dave's blogs on 24 to be far more entertaining than the actual show. As the final credits were rolling on Monday, I did ask Janice how many other CTU agents died. Four. If they get rid of enough cast members, they may bring this thing under budget and make some money!
That's all I know. I'm counting on you to keep this blog posted on tonight's developements. I'll be reading your comments from Ireland, where Ridly and I will be strumpeting for our book Tuesday. Of course if, God forbid, anything happens to Chloe tonight, we will cancel everything and go straight home.
On a very serious note, my heart goes out to our friend, Judy, and her sister Doris, with the death of their brother. This small blog community has become my second spiritual family and I feel a deep sense of nearness to each of you. Our love goes out to our sisters and their family.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Paul's "S-Bomb"
Okay, so I'm blogging again and it's not the middle of next week, but here's an interesting thought from my study last week ... at least it was of interest to me.Paul was a man consumed by God's grace. His letters begin with grace and everything he writes is seasoned with grace. As John Ortberg observes, grace is what knocked Paul to his knees over his sin, and grace is what removed the sin. Grace blinded his eyes and grace removed the scales from his eyes. Grace was Paul's thorn in the flesh to keep him from being destroyed by arrogance and God's grace was sufficient for him. Paul never recovered from the wonder of grace! (Paraphrased)
While on his knees on that road toward Damascus, Paul realized all of his accomplishments in life, including his pedigree, were nothing compared to the grace of God. In his own words:
I once thought all these things [see verses 4-6] were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (Philippians 3:7-8 NLT)The word translated in the New Life Translation as worthless is the Greek word, skubala (some would render it skybala), and the Philippian passage is the only time it is used in the New Testament. Other translations render the word "dung" or "garbage" or "refuse" ... words that are far too polite in translation. We've all pretty much known this, but I looked up the definition of skubala in Colin Brown's New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and found his comments rather insightful.
In secular Greek this depressing word means rubbish and muck of many kinds: excrement, rotten food, bits left at a meal as not worth eating, a rotting corpse. Nastiness and decay are the constant elements of its meaning; it is a coarse, ugly, violent word implying worthlessness, uselessness, and repulsiveness.... (New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Vol.3, p.480.)To get a modern feel for what Paul was saying, think in terms of a bumper sticker ... as in: Skubala Happens! It's a word that, when I used it at a younger age, resulted in my mouth being washed out with soap! Too often to recall. And when I use that "s-word" today (in a context that allows for it, such as "Okay, which one of you stepped in dog skubala and tracked it in the house?"), my wife is not very happy with me. It's a southern thing but somehow she missed out on this part of southern things, so I don't use it much. At least not where she can hear me. I typically reserve it for elder's meetings. :)
Paul said, in essence, anything that would keep him from living in grace - no matter how good it otherwise might be - is skubala. I have a new appreciation for Paul ... not that he would use a word that might get my mouth washed out with soap, but that he considered grace such a wonderful gift that everything in comparison is skubala! Because I come from a heritage that has so limited and misunderstood grace, it had no power whatever to change our lives. Grace was taught as the distance God came to us when we'd done all within our power to please him by our works. How wrong we were!! And for those who still view it that way, how wrong they are! Grace gives power to love, and I live in and for grace. I serve the Lord from grace and I try to dispense grace as best I can. And though I fail miserably to live in and by grace at times, it is still my highest desire and it's what keeps me going every day.
Soooooooooo... what are some things that keep us from living in and by grace? I have some opinions, but I'd like to hear from you first.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Temporarily Closed
Due to my being out of town until Monday, March 20, my blog site is temporarily closed. Actually it isn't closed or you wouldn't be reading this. You can still look at previous blogs and some of them, quite frankly, are worth a second look. But you'll look long and hard to actually find one that's worth a second look! Go ahead ... try it ... I dare you!Anyway, unless something really important or exciting or boring or just plain interesting happens in my life (ha!), I'll not be blogging until I return home. And since I'm not coming home until late that evening (March 20), it may be middle of next week before you hear from me again.
Hope you had a good weekend. Ours was COLD and windy and just enough rain to make driving tricky. Enjoyed a 65th birthday celebration for a friend on Saturday. Janice cleaned out our closet and I actually have room for shoes! (You have no idea what an accomplishment that was.) Had a good day at "the Beach" on Sunday. Restored an injured relationship with a friend. Rehearsed for about three hours with our praise band, so my fingertips are very tender and it's hurting just to type on this keyboard. I'll catch up with you later!
Thursday, March 09, 2006
I have no idea which season of American Idol we're in, but it's the first year I've become interested at all in the show. Didn't watch much of the preliminary stuff where they decide the final 24, but have tuned in since then. From 92,000 hopefuls to 12! To a person, those who have been eliminated the past couple of weeks say it was a blessing beyond belief just to make it that far.As I write this, we're 20 minutes away from the elimination show for this week. My favorite of the guys is the chubby gray-headed guy from (where else?) Alabama, Taylor. But the bald-headed guy (Chris?) is pretty good, as is the long haired Ace. Not that it has any impact in my life, but I would be happy with any of the three. I'm predicting the Donny Osmond looking guy and Kevin go home tonight. But America seems to be as enamoured with Kevin as is Paula Abdul-Jabbar!
My favorite of the girls is the little blonde country singer from North Carolina ... Kelli, I think is her name. She's cute as a button and has an incredible voice. But she's up against some tough competition. I know it will come down to just one girl and one guy, but I'd be happy with any of the girls left in the competition.
I have no idea why I'm blogging this, but for at least a few short weeks in 2006, I have a life on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights enjoying some wonderful talent and Simon's comments. So far I think he has been right on with every singer, but I'd hate to hear what he might have to say about my singing!!
Thursday results:
Guys Gone:
Will Makar. I'm surprised, but only that he made it this far.
Gedeon McKinney. I've never seen a warmer smile Great voice, and he's a believer!!!
Gals Gone:
Kinnik Sky. No surprise.
Ayla Brown. This surprised me. You couldn't help but feel her pain.
How cruel is it to make those going home re-sing the song that sent them home??
Next week I'll be in DC area on Wednesday / Thursday ... I hope the Wrays have a life ... an American Idol life!
Church Leader's Forum
Over the weekend, I was a part of the second "Church Leader's Forum" sponsored by Pepperdine School of Law. Specifically, the Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution. Professor Randy Lowery (former director for the Strauss Institute, now president of David Lipscomb University), and Larry Sullivan (associate director of the Strauss Institute) decided a couple of years ago to bring together church leaders, not to hear lectures, but to sit in a small group forum and share ideas. They called several people together to discuss it and then put it together last year, not having any idea how many people would support it.We had about 140 or so last year, representing over 30 congregations in California. This year we had around 60 - 70 people, still representing around 30 congregations. I was asked to facilitate sessions again this year. Our sessions were much smaller and, in my opinion, much better. Last year I had as many as 30 participants in a session. I also had one session where no one showed up, but it was against a standing-room-only session discussion women's role in the church. My session was on the topic, "When Your Church Is Growing Smaller." I never had a chance, but I think had they scheduled the women's role discussion first and then my session, it would have been a natural follow up for churches of Christ expanding women's role!
This year I had 6, 8 and 14, respectively in the three sessions involving myself. We had about 90 minutes alloted to each session. You might think it would be a formidable task to keep strangers talking for an hour and a half, but we actually left each session wishing we had more time! We enjoyed a great exchange of experiences, ideas, and questions. The spirit among the people was far more positive this year. Last year we had people from much broader theological perspectives, which was good, but it led to some hurt feelings and people not feeling as free to express their views.
One lady in my first session particularly impressed me. She was about my age (just over a youngster) and had grown up completely unchurched. The holiest place she'd known growing up was school! In our discussion of Obstacles to Outreach, I asked her what drew her to the church of Christ in Culver City. One thing, in her words, was the incredibly beautiful acappella singing. In all the other churches she visited (and this is not a criticism of any other churches), she said she hated the church organ! (For the record, if you keep records, I hate church organs, too.) As a lover of singing and hoping to some day sing in a church choir (that would be chorus to us coC-ers), she was ecstatic over being a part of a church choir that involved everyone!
Another factor that brought her into the kingdom was simply a willingness on the part of the preacher to giver her his business card with an offer to study the Bible with her at any time. She was hungering for that and had received no offers from the other churches.
Bottom line? The family atmosphere of the church ... a much older lady who effused her love of that church family so much she never wanted to miss being with them. Our new sister wanted that kind of church family. She wanted to love others and be loved as this lady loved and was loved by her spiritual family. Who doesn't want that kind of church family?! After only 8 months in the Lord and working through a divorce, this lady is already radiant with the joy of finding the Lord and a true family.
When it comes to evangelism, though, the greatest obstacle is .... (shades of Blue Like Jazz) ... simple. It's me. The church of which I am a part is only as evangelistic as I am evangelistic! Pretty simple, isn't it? Doesn't really take a church leader's forum to figure that one out.
In the final session involving me, we were discussing worship as an outreach. I mentioned that several times we'd completely thrown out everything we'd planned for a given Sunday to simply minister to someone in need, giving a couple of examples. The others (especially some of the old time elders) loved the idea that we could do that, but were absolutely stunned that anyone would have the guts to not go through the "acts of worship" that constitute a given Sunday morning! And to a person, they all had stories of when that should have happened in their church and didn't happen and the awkwardness of going through a ritual while ignoring an obvious need.
I suggested to my friend, Larry, that next year we explore a radical idea that just might have transforming power in all of our churches ... getting rid of the bulletin! Imagine what the Holy Spirit could do if not limited by our bulletins and church worship schedules?! I fully convinced many, if not most, church-goers who do make it to heaven will expect (if not demand) a bulletin upon entering the gates of Glory!
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Geez ... how many cast members can they kill in a single episode? I don't know their names, but I've seen enough of 24 to recognize them as regulars ... until Monday night. I told you earlier this season when you have canisters, it's just bad news! Put those canisters (any canister) in the hands of terrorists with strange accents and that bad news gets worse!Here's what turns me off about 24, a show I can't seem to avoid so far this season: Nobody, NOBODY, can take that much stress in a single day! Each show begins with: "The following events occur between..." and then they tell you what hour of the season you're watching. That many events couldn't normally occur between January 1 and March 23, let alone a twenty-four hour day.
The somewhat attractive girl computer operator ... the chunky-guy computer operator ... numerous not-so-well-known CTU agents ... possibly Jack's friend w/ the burn on his face who lost his wife ... all dead. Nerve gas from one of those darned canisters! Didn't I warn you this wasn't good? Could it be this is the final season? With everyone else, is Jack going to finally die. I mean really die? Is this what inevitably happens to a show that's the product of the Random Plot Generator? Can next season possibly rate as high when so many people have died this season? With all the deaths, why hasn't someone killed that whimpy president yet? Can I stop asking questions and finish this blog?
Sometimes I wish the kids were home again. With just the two of us home, if I want to be where Janice is on Monday nights, then I have to endure another episode of 24. And this week, two episodes! I suppose if Jack Bauer can calmly go through any given day of his life, I can endure 60 minutes a week of this fantasy.
Catch ya later ... I'm going on eBay. See if I can find some canisters. Stir up a little action in our church!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
A Sad Reminder
"Memories of the times we shared together will remain in my heart forever. You are my heart and my soul mate for life. Now that you are gone, my life will never be the same again. You made me whole and complete, and the happiest person in the world. Every night I lay in bed wondering what my life will like tomorrow ... but nothing seems to bring a smile to my face. I cry because of how much I miss you. The pain of losing you plays over and over in my mind. I ask God, "Why Lord? Why my husband?" Your smile brought life for me each day, your warmth kept me on my feet, and your heart made me love you more and more each day.... So many questions come to my mind, but not enough answers...."Those are the words of a wife for her husband of 50 days. They were married on January 1 and he died on February 19 of a brain aneurysm. Sudden and without warning. I directed his funeral this Monday. Those are the tough funerals. Right up there with children and infants.
Can you imagine having to bury your spouse of 50 days? In an instant, all of your dreams become a recent memory? Though we've been together three decades, I never want to take my wife for granted. Nor my children. Or friends! Maybe this blog will help us be more generous in spirit with one another as we never know when our days on this earth are going to quickly come to an end.
Monday, March 06, 2006
A World at War
Cecil gave me a book for Christmas, Waking the Dead, by John Eldredge. Since it's only March, I decided to start reading it. I'm only into chapter three, and not only do I highly recommend it, I want to share some of John's words to encourage you this week!In chapter three, he's writing about Daniel's revelation and his subsequent mourning for three weeks (Dan.10:1-3). Here's where I'll let Eldredge speak to you:
Something has happened that Daniel doesn't understand. I think we can all relate to that. We don't understand about 90 percent of what happens to us, either. Daniel is troubled. He sets out to get an answer. But three weeks of prayer and fasting produce no results. What was he to conclude? If Daniel were like most people, by this point he'd probably be headed toward one of two conclusions: I'm blowing it, or God is holding out on me. He might try confessing every sin and petty offense in hopes of opening up the lines of communication with God. Or he might withdraw into a sort of disappointed resignation, drop the fast, and turn on the television. In an effort to hang on to his faith, he might embrace the difficulty as part of "God's will for his life." He might read a book on "the silence of God." That's the way the people I know handle this sort of thing.Eldredge gives us a couple of things to chew on here. One, this is a world at war! In his words,
And he would be dead wrong.
On the twenty-first day of the fast an angel shows up, out of breath. In a sort of apology, the angel explains to Daniel that God had actually dispatched him in answer to Daniel's prayers the very first day he prayed--three weeks ago. (There goes the whole unanswered prayer thesis, right out the window.) Three weeks ago? What is Daniel to do with that? "The very first day? But ... I've ... I mean, thank you so very much, and I don't want to seem ungrateful, but ... where have you been?" You haven't blown it, Daniel, and God isn't holding out on you. The angel goes on to explain that he was locked in hand-to-hand combat with a mighty fallen angel, a demonic power of dreadful strength, who kept him out of the Persian kingdom for three weeks, and he finally had to get Michael (the great archangel, the captain of the Lord's hosts) to come and help him break through enemy lines. "Now I am here, in answer to your prayer. Sorry it's taken so long."
"We live in a far more dramatic, far more dangerous story than we ever imagined." He goes on to say that without this fact burning in our hearts, we lose the meaning of our days. "It all withers down to fast food and bills and voice mail and who really cares anyway?"This fact--that we live in a war--is the fact that forces us to live by faith. Interestingly, those who try to remind us of this fact ... Jesus, the prophets, the disciples, the biblical writers ... were killed to shut them up!
The other morsel to chew on: we have a crucial role to play in this war. Obviously, John develops these points in greater detail (and using a lot of references to things that don't interest me, nor do I understand by my choice: Lord of the Rings ... Matrix ... Star Wars). God has given us a role in this war and to fail to recognize this is to fail to live the life to which we are called. It's more than going to church and being religious. It is to take on the full armor of God and step up to the battle line.
Ouch! So maybe it isn't all that encouraging, but it certainly is a necessary perspective from which to walk out our days on earth.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Just Another Day
I told my wife the other day I'm about ready to let this part of my life go ... the blogging that is, not her! When I began blogging last May, I made a commitment w/ myself to blog each weekday so I would be aware each day of something worth my attention. Look for some way that God was speaking ... trying to get my attention. An opportunity to be His ambassador. A chance to help somone or be helped by someone. Some days I really have to stretch to come up with a blog. This (Thursday) has been one of those days.Not that today was void of anything significant ...
I did a "live scan" at the police department as a part of the prerequisites for taking the state board exam to become a licensed funeral director. (I take the exam in late July, so much of my summer until then will be in study for this obstacle to my future income!)Nothing amazing. Nothing clever. Nothing earth-shattering. Nothing really spiritually inspiring. Just a more-or-less routine day in my life. You know what? Some times I just thoroughly enjoy a day when nothing spectacular happens!
I spent some time on the phone with my son ... enjoying hearing about his day and sharing in it, even if from a distance.
I talked with my daughter for a few minutes and found out she wasn't coming home this weekend. Rats!
Spent time on the phone with a good friend ... he had a good day following some surgery yesterday.
Made another call to a dear friend awaiting news of a medical test. Nothing yet.
Fine tuned a fine sermon for Sunday.
Quick trip to Guitar Center to look at some sound stuff . . .
Got the oil changed in my car.
Finished up some prep work for the church leader's forum up at Pepperdine Law School this weekend.
Worked on some songs, both guitar and percussion. Picked up three new worship CDs for some ideas / arrangements.
Stopped by the mortuary and visited with friends (the people working there, not the stiffs). Picked up a job for Monday morning that will require most of my day. People at the mortuary really appreciate it when we part-timers take on those funerals.
Had dinner with my wife and watched Chipper inhale two large cans of dog food. The expensive kind. Heaven forbid that she (Chipper, not Janice) would develop a taste for the Sam's / Wal Mart brand of dog food! Nope, she's gotta have the stuff that's 29 cents more per can! Pedigree.
Watched American Idol (fast forwarding w/ DVR). So far my favorite male and female singers are still in the running. This is the first year I've had any interest in this show.
Read more in a good book given to me by Cecil.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Am I Available?
I linked off of Steve Thurman's blog site to one called "don't call me Veronica" and found an interesting question: How available should a pastor be? That site linked me to a radio show by XXX Church (helps Christians get off of porn) where the two pastors of XXX Church called some of the larger churches across America simply requesting to speak to the preacher / pastor. Of the numerous calls they made, only one preacher agreed to speak with them. If you have DSL and about 20 minutes to listen, it's interesting and a bit convicting.I will always take a phone call from the members of our church family, but refuse to take calls from sales people. Big Clue: when they act as if I'm their best friend and call me by my first name, it's a sales call. After 30 years of ministry, I have my secretary screen people who come in off the street and want to speak to "the pastor." I really don't mind talking with people who have legitimate needs. Most of them have the same story and really want nothing more than whatever money they can get from you. So I have Sharon break the news to them that we don't have money available to give away. Nor do we have a budget for paying people's monthly expenses.
But I was somewhat convicted by the radio show because to the stranger, I'm not easily available. But your response to the question posed on the blog is of interest to me: Just how available should the preacher be? For that matter, how available are you?
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
The Return of Jesus
It's happened again. This time in Connecticut. Jesus showed up on a $15.49 piece of sheet metal at Hardy's Hardware. While unloading a shipment of sheet metal (can you say "shipment of sheet metal" 10 times really fast?), Thomas Haley noticed an oil stain that, in his opinion, resembled the face of Jesus. He and a buddy quickly set aside the piece and purchased it for the purpose of selling it on eBay. If you are interested, you have until March 8. But you're up against at least 32 other interested parties and the bid is up to $1,025 the last time I checked.This fascinates me ... how hundreds or thousands of people will flock to a church to see a piece of cloth that supposedly has the outline of Christ on it. Or a statue that is crying blood and tears. Or a piece of cinnamon toast that has the image of Mother Teresa on it. A priest in New Jersey was cleaning up around the altar in his church when he noticed a statue of Christ wink its right eye at him! I'm sure the attendance at his church will explode as the news leaks out to the masses. We are still awaiting the word from "experts" as to whether or not we have a verifiable miracle in New Jersey. I'm all aflitter with anticipation!
No doubt about it, Jesus is alive and among us and quite visible ... in such things as our loving and serving and being compassionate and humble and extending grace and forgiveness toward others and being generous and hospitable. Perhaps if these expressions of Christ in us were more evident, people would be flocking to churches because of the risen Christ rather than the resemblancs of Christ.
For the record, not everyone agrees the image on the sheet metal is that of Christ. Some actually see Jim Morrison's face! Personally, I see a very blurry Dracula, but that's just me, so I'm not going a penny over $1,150 in my bidding.
P.S. I just had eBay calculate shipping costs to Long Beach. Almost $50, so I'll have to re-think my highest bid.
