A REALLY HARD THING FOR ME TO LEARN

I'm 62. Not until recent years have I finally experienced a breakthrough that has been a long time coming. I am able to resist so many temptations of being defensive. Cured? I assume not. New and improved? Yes.

This mistake is probably one sin (see comment on last blog) the church suffers over most and is clueless to its degrading nature. We just accept it as a part of us when it scuttles so much of His intended work among us. Defensiveness keeps the rest of the church tip-toeing around somebody about something....so much of the time.

How do we get over it? Well, I suffered a lot. Why can't we just say the words out loud, I might be wrong. I got it wrong. I'm sorry. Why? Instead we keep good works at bay because brother Vesper will get upset or sister Constance will withhold her contribution. When will we grow up? When will we break these invisible handcuffs which stop good works in their tracks?

It has been grueling to learn to let defensiveness die. I had to admit I didn't control....anything. I had to discontinue my thoughts that I was the drive shaft of the church. I never was. The Spirit is. It never was up to Terry who runs things or Terry who wills things....but up to God who has mercy....Romans 9:16....sorta.

If we can but continue to grow in trusting God more with His work than ourselves we will find ourselves more open to possibility rather than sealed in preservation. (Ah, another good blog!)

EYES FOR PEOPLE

Our small group prayed for an hour at our house and then went out to eat. Our waitress was the usual personable and professional. I noticed something about her, though, that said to me she would be open to God; possibly in need of God.

After our group interaction with her throughout our meal, I stepped away from our table to have a private conversation. I introduced myself and told her where our group was from. Then I told her I thought I could tell that she was a very good woman; that I could see God in her. I told her that if ever she hit a point where she needed encouragement just remember our church is one of those places she can count on.

What would you guess her reaction? She leaped to hug my neck. Very purposefully she went on to tell me of some big struggles recently and that she has been looking for a church.

I basically know nothing about her; her life, her schedule, her patterns. But I feel very good that God used me tonight to make contact with one He is reaching. Whether we see her again or she becomes a part of another Christian group elsewhere, it is very fun to have eyes to believe another would be open to God....and find out I was right.

See people. Sow seed. Win as He wills. How fun is that?

SHALL WE GIVE 'EM HEAVEN?

Don't look now but Sunday is running up behind us.

Any of you young men out there in a panic? I'm not in a panic; but I am on appropriate edge.

Be assured, God is working on the sermon from many places besides your head. He's responding to prayers offered for some maybe seven years ago and tomorrow those "prayed overs" will be dropping by your place. Give 'em heaven!

God has been working on your sermon. Brothers and sisters have invited guests and they are hoping against hope we have a message of good news. Oh, how they hope we are known as a place of good news tomorrow morning.

My sermon isn't done yet. I would guess about 55% completed. I have to leave tomorrow morning opened for Him. We've worked this way for years. I've thought and studied and prayed throughout the week. As a result things will occur to me in the morning that I have yet to consider.

Do this with yours; trust God and trust His Word. The church and her visitors are not gathering to see how interesting we are. They want to know if we have any scoop on life for where they have been seems to be burning out. We do have life! Give 'em heaven!

Do your best not to smother the Spirit in your over-preparation as well as your self-preserving control. Those in front of you care less about your outline. They desperately want to run into a preacher who believes with great enthusiasm that this message is directly from God and not from his preparation skills.

Preparing is of utmost importance; so don't misunderstand. If you haven't been listening for His input and interaction....you have put together a sermon one more Sunday....on your own.

Do you know how to give 'em heaven? You get it from heaven. You give it because you get it. Do well tomorrow. People want to know God is alive. Demonstrate it!

HOW WE ARE TO REACH TOWARD OTHERS

Are we on fire for God? Or, are we on fire of being on fire?

I feel sorry for the multitudes who have encountered my passionate religious exercises called Soul Winning. While indeed I had genuine interest in drawing the lost to Jesus, I had a bigger interest in proving I could do what I feared I couldn't; persuade any of His love. The contest wasn't would they believe the man as much as could I sell the plan.

From my perspective (which is surely only one) I would say to most of us, who want to move toward our neighbors, that before we move forward we might want to back off.

I made the process of leading others to Jesus far too messy and unnecessarily difficult. I had proof texts that I used more like sling-shots rather than seed. I had one goal; stand in the baptistery with them. I was not a soul winner at first. I was a trophy hunter.

But due to some miserable failures and a merciful God, I see opportunities differently. I don't have to sell Jesus; I merely want to tell of him. Our role is not so much to take him out there as to lift him up. Lifting him up didn't fit in my five steps; it's only one. One can't be right, can it? Didn't I understand God did everything in fives? Or, was that sevens? Or, twelves?

I encourage you to be even more aggressive in reaching out. This is sorely needed in every community. But I would encourage us to reach out with the patience of sowing seed while possessing the confidence God knows how to draw. If we would back off from our rules and regulations and replace such with our love for relationships, I think we will see a much more encouraging orchard filled with Holy Spirit fruit.

IN DESPERATION

Our world is in a world of hurt. There is so much entanglement. People are hurt; some are ruined. And we possess the heart of Jesus, so what do we want to do? We want to make everything better....now.

A homeless couple happened upon my office doorstep this afternoon. They have been staying under a bridge for two nights. I would guestimate them to be 25? She was a cutie and he was so handsome.

She had a job at a bar. They were evicted from their apartment for "some stuff that happened". DHS took their two children. Court is set a for a week from Monday. Get the picture? Their lives are a tangled mess.

I was able to give them money for three night's lodging and food. I don't know how they got into this bind. I haven't a clue what poor choices they made to bring this on. My heart wants to fix life for them. The most I could do was have them come into my office, sit, let me look them in the eyes, and listen.

I love this couple. It doesn't matter to me if any or all of this is their fault. I want to help.

What gets me more is this is a picture of community. Much of it is falling apart. I need God to work in me/us bigger.

I prayed to God early this morning to win the whole world. I want to see Him do that Jesus-stuff where thousands are reached. In the kingdom scope of things with so many members blanketing earth, I'm assuming it is happening. God is winning the world.

YOU ARE ON....

This blog reaches a lot of regions as well as leadership hearts. I'm always encouraged to learn of the great things God is doing. This is a special time of year. Gratitude prevails.

You are on...the mic is in your face (in this case at your fingertips). Tell us about a work the church or individuals are doing which inspire you and would inspire us.

It does us good to learn of God working. The mic is facing you....and you are on. What do you see?

LIGHTING HUMAN CANDLES

This is the week of being with people...in some cases lots of people. Notice everyone in your zone. Pick up on their hurts as well as their hopes. Inquire of those whom you would tend to ignore as to what is going on in their lives. The reason? Everybody counts. Inquire and inspire. There's a bumper sticker.

This week is a tribute to one of God's grandest themes: thankfulness. Some among us may not believe anyone is thankful for them. We have opportunity to reverse their spirits. We can make them into new people by our acknowledging they exist....importantly exist.

Do what you can to avoid taking anyone for granted. Look into the eyes of those who feel lowest. State your case as to why you believe in them. Tell them why they are powerful in your eyes. Especially the young will tend to think they are family fringe and don't matter so much to aunts and uncles. Prove differently.

Let your light so shine that it brightens the eyes of another. You are encountering people as if they are human candles. You are the match. Light them up. Watch them glow. When you put one human candle ablaze there is great possibility they will pass it on. What a great way to live...lighting the human candles!

May we continue the contagion of liking right now and liking all of those around us right now!

A TRIBUTE TO MY FRIEND

It was announced this morning that Billy Joe Daugherty died. I did not know he was ill. When Van Priest announced it I sobbed deeply with grief; it hurt my heart so badly.

Billy Joe was one of those friends who was close in heart whether we got together only once or twice a year. Every time I we would talk on the phone I would ask how he was doing. His response was always the same, Blessed because of the work you do.

This man had my utmost respect. He preached for one of Tulsa's mega-churches and was what I call "the real deal".

I enjoyed every visit. We were constantly working on showing up at events at the same time. Recently he was planning to meet me at the prayer meeting with the Baptist preachers in South Tulsa. A few weeks ago I shot an email regarding another mutual meeting. When he didn't respond, I just assumed he was out of town; possibly out of the states.

We always discussed the Spirit. He was as much a student as am I. The two of us met for a private breakfast just to catch up. We got off onto healing. I was asking him how he saw that working. Eventually, I inquired of him how it would be decided to let a person die as sometime that had to happen. Such is a terribly shallow question I imagine. But in his typical gentleness he thought it was a good point worth weighing.

Billy Joe is quite a story. As a young man he had a vision while at a church near 4th and Sheridan of what ultimately led to the now-famous Victory Christian Center. He wasn't a showboat. He never left a hint of impure motives. The guy was devoted to Jesus in both his speech and actions.

One of the things I liked most about him is that while he was certainly high up in prestige, position, and connections of famous people, Billy Joe always had time to be attentive to our friendship which meant much to my heart.

Billy Joe Daugherty was a believer that God could do more than man imagined or thought. His fruit is testimonious. He was a sensitive leader. He would not be surprised at my sense of loss. He was more than a good friend; he was my brother.

DO YOU LOVE ME?

You recall Jesus asking Peter, Do you love me? Peter thought he did until it came down to the tough stuff. Who was it that had the nerve to rebuke Jesus? And why? It was, of course, Peter when Jesus told how he would suffer death. Suffering wasn't a part of Peter's vision.

Suffering isn't a part of the vision of many in the church either. Therefore, I encourage you to let such a concept begin to take over more of your heart. Why? Because if you do not love Jesus and his church, you will do as Peter....deny you know him, deny you ever met him, deny you had anything to do with him....and then flee. You'll run away from the church.

What I admire about the present day church is it is built with stones---generation stacked upon generation---which are committed to hangeth in there 'til Jesus wraps up all of life in his grand re-entrance. Just as Paul found he had to separate from his colleague because they didn't agree, neither of them left the church. They found ways to keep serving God while momentarily detached. We may serve down different lanes for the time being, but we must remain committed to the Christ in the most stressful of situations.

Even in the center of hurt feelings, our nature is what? Keep trying. Jesus wouldn't quit. He died in the process only to let the Father turn that moment into the biggest story ever to come out of Jerusalem! Yours is a continuation of his story. You are important. Don't forget that if you have to suffer and struggle over anything in life....let it be something as magnitudinal as loving the body of Christ.

Do you love me?, we asked of one another. Oh yes. And we won't stop.

WHY I'M THE LIGHTENING ROD OF TULSA PREACHERS

I have immense appreciation for the amazing crop of new preachers God has added to the church Tulsa force over the years. It's a pretty impressive group of guys. Relating to these men is so different than my earlier days in this city. As I thought back I recalled why it might be I am such a lightening rod (where some want to avoid me) in this town. There could be several reasons.

For one, when I moved to Tulsa I was pretty rough. I was a brash yeller and pounder of sermons. Since I knew myself to be weak, I compensated with the assumption loud meant power. It didn't and most knew, except me. There remain those who wouldn't walk across the street to hear me preach. If were still like that, I wouldn't go either. I was two things back then; (1) Jesus-less, and (2) loud. Many fled from Memorial and I don't know how those who stayed took it.

In addition I recall a key Preachers' Luncheon that permanently separated me from most. The meetings in those days were very dark in spirit. A heaviness of ego-gathering and divisiveness permeated meeting after meeting. Week after week I watched as the area men rolled their eyes/smirked as Marvin Phillips and Ron Swadley walked in. I always wondered if it was from jealousy. Whatever, I finally had enough.

After being in town for three months I was at one of those meetings. Of course we always went around the room to give our reports and announcements. When it came my turn I stood and said, Guys, I moved to town really looking forward to what I heard would be the Preachers' Luncheons. Where I'm from there were no other Church of Christ preachers. But I have to tell you of my disappointment. You men are the rudest, most hateful and divisive group I have ever been around. I don't like this. I'm amazed that this goes on.....and took my seat.

One by one they stood in direct and obstinate rebuke. I gave it and I would take it. They scalded. I'll never forget their serial venom. Finally, an older one named Lee Peters stood and said, Men, we might ought to fess up. We had it out against Terry or whoever moved to Memorial because we don't like the attitude coming out of Memorial (whatever that meant). He's picking up on what we all know is true. He probably has pointed out something necessary. We most likely need to hear what he has had the courage to tell us.

Next, a younger preacher named Jim from Bixby stood and said, Men, until Terry got here I was the newest in the area. I want to tell you that what he just told you is how I have felt all this time. He just told you the truth. I think the meeting sorta ended as I seemed to have lost consciousness or something. From that moment it wasn't good with me and area churches. I probably shouldn't have said it that way. I'm certain I could have said it better....but I still feel that way about those days, said better or not.

And then another thing I think makes me a lightening rod is my teaching that the Holy Spirit operates directly in the Christian's life. This one surprises me more. It is simply in the Word and while that same Word says there is no law against His fruit, I find there is in the Church of Christ...that true church that supposedly takes its stand on where the Bible speaks.

I'm not proud of the first round of upset at the Preachers' Luncheon. I could have been more patient. But this one about the Holy Spirit is going to have to stay. How can we read the New Testament and conclude the Spirit of God does not work among us directly? The words say so.

Finally, this leads me to a great appreciation for the area preachers. It is surely a new crop of Spirit-minded men. From Danny Sidders in Bixby to Elliott Dunn in Sand Springs to Tim Luster at North Sheridan and over to John and Dan at Open Door on out to Tim Pyles at Broken Arrow....what a classy bunch. Judge and Bob and Ron and Tracy and Charlie and Warren are probably the basic old guys like me as far as tenure.....yet we feel renewed in our partnership day by day. But when you add these young pups including Mitch and Greg and Joel and others, it is so encouraging.

I wish I had done several things better. Who doesn't? Some of my blunders will always haunt me. I'll necessarily carry that burden. But I remain electrified at the caliber of young men filling area pulpits in addition to the spirit of us older men who keep hanging in there with attitudes to grow toward one another. Opposition is clearly not a part of the area preachers any longer. Thank you, God, for your patience.

WE WORK GOD'S WILL. BUT WILL GOD WORK?

Serious disciples of Christ want to know God's will. I'm in. I want to know quite a bit of it...that part that goes easiest on me and for me. I'm pretty spoiled so I don't want the tough stuff. I'm serious about the kingdom life; but protective of how it affects me.

A lot is said about doing God's will. I'm in. I love seeing His will performed. But something I see as a real challenge to the church is the question of will God. Will God keep His promises? Will God provide what we can't imagine? Will God work in ways we cannot program? Will God supply as He vows?

Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

At the end of the day it really isn't a matter of church money in the bank, but faith account in the hearts. Faith will make the church hum, not books in the black. Faith will see the glory in darkness, not flashing lights of show. Faith will unveil surprise in the midst of unforeseen blessings. Faith will launch the meagerest of hearts to see the grandest victories.....because God will show up.

We talk kingdom. We debate truth. We argue right versus wrong. But a question very needed among us is do we really expect---really believe---God will work marvels beyond our programming? I do. I think many do.

But I also think many in leadership capacity hold their god at the furthest distance their own arms can reach. A passage that is really important to the one yielding to the Spirit operation is Romans 9:16....it isn't up to man who wills or to man who runs, but up to God....

I met with Tim Pyles yesterday; the new preacher at Broken Arrow. It was my first occasion to have a lengthy conversation. I'm highly impressed. We are already great friends. What I like about him most is he hit that point in ministry (and we each have to hit it somewhere) where he could not pull it off....ministry...any longer on his own steam. God broke him of his own confidence and now he possesses God's....II Cor. 3:4-5. The work had never been up to Tim...he had misunderstood.

One of the things that would rock every congregation is to believe two things wholeheartedly; (1) we must know the will of God, and (2) we must be absolutely unequivocally sure God will work.

LIVING IN THE LAND OF AHS

Spread thin lately? Pressured? Discouraged?

I've been thinking about God....wondering what He's up to with me. I am at a temporary point where I feel uneasy. Surely you've been there where you are disappointed in people or situations. Anger isn't in the picture, but uncertainty is.

And then I remember something He taught me a long time ago. Once again I'm pressed to recollect His astute truth. God is quick on His feet....and I prove not to be.

The Spirit inspired the apostle to write, That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong... II Cor. 12:10.

I and many around me are not being persecuted; nothing of the kind. But the weaknesses, insults, hardships, and difficulties ring a bell. Kingdom work is hard work. It's like no other. Paul wrote in the verse just ahead of this that therefore I boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

The church doesn't have an authority problem or a truth problem as much as it has a believing problem. Can we take His word at face value? Or, shall we run to one of our "solid in the faith" slogans while ignoring a very magnitudinal call to boast gladly when we don't have a clue how to handle kingdom matters?

This truth always brings me back. Where I waver and wonder if I can make it over this hurdle or through this next hoop, God reminds me to salute His brilliance of working so very backward to fleshly organization and evaluation.

Being bruised, being crushed, being unsure? All these rigors simply thrust each of us into that wonderful Land of Ahs.....ah, God is doing it again. We are powerful...the Word declares....because we are so weak that often we don't know if we can do another day...another meeting....of church stuff. And yes......we can for His power is draped upon us as a robed champion because of the very thing we didn't want to possess.....weakness.

Good for God. Good for us.

BREAK FREE FROM THE QUAGMIRE THAT CHOKES

My heart dreams day after day. It does not stop....really. It dreams about you. It dreams about God. It dreams about my enemies. It dreams about possibilities. Such isn't an assertion I perpetuate. Rather it simply rules my mind. I am enamored with being in kindergarten always learning about kingdom matters. I still hunger to learn.

One of my biggest dreams is freedom. As the African-Americans hold a special understanding of slavery that Caucasians can only read about historically, I sense and experience similar slavery in the church. Something unbiblical came along and was swept into our camp as a Trojan horse. Before we knew it we had been sold out as slaves to carry an unnecessary weight throughout our days. Shame on any of us who dare call it a golden calf.

Yet, it is. I speak of the Restoration Movement. Before our early American church fathers broke camp a non-Bible word was connected to us that buries its people: restoration. Restoration insinuates that putting our hands to the Bible plow and looking back is right; something evidently Jesus didn't understand.

The fruit of this movement is a growing quagmire of hardened hearts who cannot stand the genuine call of the New Testament...grow in the Spirit of Christ. Restore is the motto. Explore is taboo. Exploration has been stymied because we have reverted to digging up the past of the church instead of the future fascination of God.

We continue to hear it said by the restorationists that we must take our stand. Such a stand implies in harmony, never out of step, and always cooperative with everyone who holds such faith. Hardly a picture of Jesus. Controversy is assumed satanic when, in reality, it is promoted by Jesus as necessary to hold to the true pattern of Holy Script.

I encourage you to develop a love for your enemies which would match that of Jesus' for you. And then I would encourage you to take your stand and break free from the quagmire that is choking off hope from a very needy culture; that of restoring a hand full of sacred calves with just a smidgen of spirituality mixed in.

I don't like being in trouble. I am insecure enough that everyone liking me is a big deal. But I must say our God surely has bigger fish to fry than that of calling all people to look back in any other direction than the cross. When we catch a vision of the cross....we will explore with great freedom those regions of the soul...theirs, ours, and mine.

WATCH OUT....UNITY IS COMING IN THE BACK DOOR

A storm has been brewing off of the coast of the kingdom and it is about to hit land. Several elements are leading to the formation of this gust of enormous need. Jobs are fading. Foreclosures are rampant. Credit and its interest are causing bulging discs in the spinal column of fiscal America. Yes, a big storm is brewing and the church should be encouraged to prepare for participating in the solution.

I speak of ministering to the poor among us. Several churches, St. Louis, Memphis, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Oklahoma City, Denver, Tulsa, (on and on the list goes), have been deeply involved in inner city ministries. Orphans, addicts, abandoned, and deserted are blessed because of a plethora of devoted workers already in these trenches. In addition nearly every congregation has pledged some effort through benevolent works for decades.

But I see the storm coming where the need is rapidly increasing. Reaching into the communities through this opportunity has the look, as well as the demand, of our bus ministry days. The community wants us! It really needs us. If it thinks it doesn't....it will. Wonderfully....this is what we have needed.

The bus ministry was a mighty tool. I believe it impacted all three of my kids as much as anything in the church as far as leading them to develop hearts for people. God is back with a new work. Get ready church.

We will need to work wisely. The need is so great that if we don't prepare our people for this storm they are likely to be swept out to sea in bitterness and frustration. The demands will be big. We must work with our people to get ready that they not suffocate in irritation for the tides will tempt to overpower. This work will insist we trust God to hold the workers together by His mercy; not our running or our will....Romans 9:16.

When this storm hits land, cries for food, pleas for housing, and calls for clothing will escalate beyond anything we America has seen maybe since the Great Depression. Signs of such already pose challenges. The church is faced with one of its greatest moments of our time.....encountering humans on the streets of poverty as did Jesus. It will be one of our finest hours....if we help us get there.

I'm not preaching doom and gloom. I'm communicating we are already seeing signs...constant signs that can no longer be ignored. Communities are decaying.

We cannot face such flood gates without preparing church hearts for company. In a positive way this surge will break the backs of our whining intra-church criticisms. It will thrust all of us into a pool of such overwhelming capacity we will be forced to need each other. With religious terrorists on one side and poverty on the other, we are going to find ourselves very blessed as God will squeeze the selfishness of our four-wall pride out of us. We will be plunged into the ocean of devastation while our eyes will be opened to two things: the wonder of God...and of each other.

Unity is coming. Need is going to sweep through our villages. Jesus....the name of Jesus is going to be the code word. Get ready church. Bus ministry days are back. This is a strong storm brewing. I believe unity among believers will filter in....for we are really going to need each other.

MINISTERS: HOW TO WORK YOUR SCHEDULE

Ah, I write as if I know everything. Well, I hardly know anything. From experience, though, I pass along ideas in case you could latch on to one or two with promise of lightening your heavy load. You know Jesus is deeply interested in easing our loads. Remember?

When I first hit ministry my days and evenings were cataloged. One night for visitation, another for church, another for committee meetings, another for evangelism, and then there was Friday family night. I followed instructions and maintained a faithfulness to my calendar.

It wasn't long 'til my assumed approach to successful ministry became buried in the quicksand of conflict. Life didn't seem to align with my predicted schedule. Adjustments had to be implemented.

First, I relaxed. This was new. I gradually learned to lean on God's provision rather than my synchronized schedule. My major adjustment came when I made every night family night. Instead of Tuesday night being evangelism night I went with my family to the kids ball games...and guess what? We began to see the friends I made at the games begin to become a part of our congregation. Who knew it would work this way? And....it was family night on the wrong night!?!

It became clear that wherever my kids were, there were people who needed encouragement and ministry became an entirely new animal. It transcended from either-or to God is involved in life abundant.

I shed the robes of being the church's little governor where I tried to show up at every birthday party or hospital room of every member. I couldn't get there....but the church could and I learned to do as Jesus exemplifies.....be present in the spirit of another without physically being on site. This is key.

Right now I am present in Florida, Utah, New Mexico...anywhere you want to name because I am connected directly to the Spirit of Christ. So are you.

I'm not lazy. If you are looking for an excuse to be lazy you don't bother reading this anyway. What I am is excited at the impossible and amazing work God does in, through, and with us while we try to figure out how to do His work.

My recommendation is to ease up. You'll like your work longer and I think you'll see more of God in your work if you'll back off and enjoy Him a bit.

IF YOU NEED ENCOURAGEMENT

http://www.workshopmultimedia.com/index.php?subpage=memdrive

If you go to the above website and click on "The Gleam of Life" sermon, I think you might be encouraged.

I love to watch for signals from Him as to how we can find yet another reason to hope. The quote at the end of the sermon is the one from Dr. Larry Crabb which is at the right of all posts on this page.

Preachers, we have much good news to share. Keep looking at the Word. Keep digging. Keep waiting on Him. Catch the gleam in His eye that you are amazing!

Have a really good week!

STANDING FIRM

Standing on solid ground, remaining sound in the faith, and being steadfast to the Word have been the clarion call before I was ever converted. These were drilled into us in preaching school. Stand. Don't bend. Be firm. Each ordered us to never cower from the Truth.

What I didn't know is the cowering had already been done. The true church had been sold off at debate auction to the loudest bidders. Our claim to fame was we possessed the distinction of the one true New Testament church. The problem is we weren't exactly such. We were a mixture of Jewish-minded traditionalism, a version of the Lord's Supper, and semi-biblical worship services.

Certain texts had been set aside. Others had been ignored; i.e. the warning of holding to form rather than power. The Church of Christ is now known in many places for being all about form without power. Preaching of Jesus and him crucified had already been replaced by preaching the distinctive marks of the true church. Church of Christ was preached. And finally, the New Testament Holy Spirit had already been retired since including Him messed with our patented and now answerable doctrines.

True church? There is one. The one Jesus was and is building. I am taking my stand. I want in on that one. I don't want to be a part of the one I once was where wounded souls now litter our communities because they ran into the "true church" (us) and were mutilated by our harsh pronouncements of which we knew very little about.

You'll likely catch me slipping back into the Restoration Church of Christ on occasion, but I really want to be a part of the biblical one; that one where division and suspicion do not rule, but hunger for God does. I want to be a part of that one where I find myself really worshipping God rather than applauding ourselves for how good acapella sounds. I want to be a part of that church where every one counts, where the Word is still acknowledged but our pride in having stored up nearly all that can be known about God is not our trait.

I want to be a part of that distinctive church Christ is building where hope and joy and life abundant flow uncontrollably out of our mouths and into the streets where both the rich and the poor cross paths. That's where I want to stand.

I DELETED MY OWN POST

Ah, now that was new experience. I posted a new blog an hour ago....ran my daughter-in-law to the airport....and came home and deleted the post.

Why? Oh, it just had to much whiny-ism in it. It doesn't matter....I cut it out.

Years ago I preached a constant barrage of brotherhood issues. It kept the church stirred. It kept me stirred. What I found out was I was tickling the ears of some strong-willed members I wanted to please. I was feathering my nest so-to-speak.

But it wasn't right. What I wrote an hour ago may have been acceptable; but it just wasn't right. It was too much back in that defensive mode of which I made a break years ago.

So write this post to say, Do what you can to break the bonds of impressing others. Just do away with it. God has much to say about Him. Preach about Him. Fill churches with the fresh news of the freshest news in the land. Nothing about the experiential God is boring nor uninteresting.

Fill the world with word about Him. May we tell what He's doing, where He's been, and where He's going. Plain people still want to know. They don't want to know about our pet peeves or our sour grapes. They want to know when and where the Jesus-stuff is going on.

I'm one who wants it to be going on where I preach. How about you?

OUR BLESSED DAY

We've just had a great day! First, I wasn't feeling my best but it had no bearing on the Spirit and His ability to escort us through a marvelous day.

Early this morning Jason Thornton performed a wedding in the chapel at St. John's hospital. It was the first to be performed there. Scott Wallace and Kylah Ottinger were baptized three weeks ago, had a child Friday, and were married this morning. God really is putting their lives together.

Later in the morning Connie and Shawn were baptized. This is the couple that managed the Cove Apartments when back in the summer our small group had an ice cream social for the Cove's tenants. Who would have guessed a dish of ice cream would result in a family being added to the church? Well.....we would....we did.

Too, one of our Memorial families fell apart this afternoon due to sin. Why would I mention such a matter when the report was going so well? I write this because Memorial Drive doesn't live a Story Book life. We live a real life and both of these matters fit into the composite of what the church is like and who we are.

The latter couple will have some high hurdles. I'm believing they are at the right place at the right time. Too, they will now realize one more time what it means to be able to start life over.

Baptisms, marriages, and painful bruises; that's what our congregation is about. Perfect? No way. Placed in a perfect position to rest upon His finished works...absolutely. We have had a blessed day. We saw God emerge into our paths from all sorts of angles. We are much because He is everything!

COMMUNICATION HELPS

I've experienced a major breakthrough in ministry. I learned it from my elders over a period of years; the value of communication. While This is nothing new could be shrugged, it is something very new and very needed among us.

By communication, I don't mean information transfer. I mean understanding each others' hearts. Memorial's elders/staff meetings are every Monday morning from 6:30 to 8:00. We have no minutes; old or new. We get together and just talk. Always we work on a few important matters to go over. But the bulk of the time is spent laughing at one of us--usually Ron or me--mixed with sharing stuff that concerns our hearts.

What I'm trying to describe is a secret to an elder/staff relationship I've never experienced nor heard of anyone else experiencing. We communicate heart to heart....not head to head...detail to detail...dot to dot. We have learned to appreciate where the other is coming from.

This has helped me immensely to relate to our part-time staff as well as our members. I've learned over the years what I knew academically but not practically; people vary in thoughts and needs and each variance is terribly important to the kingdom fabric.

I've calmed down. Agitation lessens for while I may not agree, I can understand where opposing views are coming from. The harmony isn't in agreeing on every detail. It is on grasping a truth that those who disagree often have good reason.

When we communicate with understanding---a deep-seated wanting to know why the other thinks the way he or she does---unity is much easier because we really desire to work with all involved. I believe much of the bitterness and hatred in church circles are perpetuated by rumor and assumption....but not by understanding for we rarely listen. We conclude without knowing the person with whom we have the debate.

Communication helps. When we get why some personalities take differing views and then speak to one another repeatedly in conversation as friends, God's work finally has a better chance of leaving the meeting rooms and impacting the streets.

HOW DO WE HANG IN THERE?

A positive thing I like about the church is it works at being biblical based and spiritually responsible. When such is a central part of the kingdom fabric, we can count on stability.

Our world gets rocked with steady upset and discouragement. What do we do about it? How do we hang in there?

First, we admit every one's concerns are legit as each is doing his or her best to seek what's best for the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Any of us might be selfish, but certainly that is not our intent. And if we catch ourselves behaving that way, we are overall willing to back down.

Second, how we hang in there is we simply recall the empty tomb. Our God is the God of many things but I know of none more fascinating than being the Lord of possibilities. Our problems are not that challenges face us. Our basic struggle is that we forget He is both the provider and the protector when we feel absolutely clueless.

Now clueless I get! I know of no one in the kingdom more clueless....and that isn't a false humility statement. Show God your weakest link and He'll show you His mighty muscle. We can breathe easy and at the same time help others breathe easy because God will show us possibility.

How do we hang in there? Together. I hold on to you. You hold on to me. While we may be clueless...at least it will be together. Now this we can live with.

PEOPLE....WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT 'EM?

Drink in the wonder of knowing and being with people. That's what I get to do everyday. I go to sleep thinking about it. I wake up thinking about it. Time may fly....but it will not be without me noticing the "right nowness" of....right now.

The presence of people fascinates me. I mean it. How did I get to be so fortunate to be a man instead of a locust? I revere the most splendid creations...people. I want to just look at you. Let me rephrase....I do sit and look at you.

While some eyes are struck by the beauty of an ocean kissing the sky blue yonder, other ears are satisfied with the strong voice which says, It's a girl. Grills give off summer scent. And, touch becomes so sensational in the simplest of hugs. Senses...how powerful they are. How easily they are taken for granted. Not so with me.

Nothing exhilarates like people. How do we drink in such wonder? God is right....the Spirit flows as a river and when He indwells people....then we sit beside the perfect stream...you and me in the togetherness of the moment. Moments matter.

I often say I am the luckiest man I ever met. Too many years passed by before I could genuinely make such a claim. But what's weird for me now is the older I get the more I seem to thirst for the finer things in life.....really good people.

People....what would I do without 'em? I'd be disappointed for sure.

MINISTRY IN FRONT OF US

Would you be a part of a group, a team, or a circle of friends who dream about some mission in the kingdom? I am. I dream day after day. I imagine reaching everyone. I took a homeless man to Wal-Mart yesterday for work boots and gloves. I just wrote a young preacher this morning cheering him on as to what he can be. My prayer for Bill Maher to know God has never slacked.

We have much to do.

But I ask you a question while we each, to our faith credit, seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. I ask you if you have been praying for your enemies?

Enemies are in our personal world. We must pray for them. Someone must. And we cannot be the cynic who prays for their demise. Have you prayed for the Major who gunned down the soldiers at Ft. Hood? I prayed for him this morning.

I pray that God would not hold one thing against him; not one dot of sin. I pray that this man would, in some unfathomable way to my small mind, find the peace of Christ and stand at the Judgment Day in linen white.

While we seek missions on a grand scale, I do not know of a more needed shift in the church heart than to see the enemy, pray for the enemy, and thank God for not holding their sins against them.

Radical? Oh, yes. One only finds this source of foolishness promoted from one small hill in ancient of days where a beaten man was publicly draped....yet continually uttering instructions about how to treat an enemy.....it was......coming from the Savior on the cross.

I think we have work to do.

IF THE WORLD FALLS down

9/11 is forever etched into our minds. Desire to think the best competes with sobriety to think reality. The Muslim radicals are convincing. They are bent on extreme disruption.

I read a piece recently; whether fact or fiction, who would know? A presentation of terrorism was explicit. Ruin is forecast for those who are left behind. The warning was the next attack on America will be far more severe than 9/11.

The article caused me to wonder about us; especially our possibility and responsibility as we would operate actually on earth but perched from our citizenship's native land of heaven. What would we/should we/could we do? What if banks closed, highways became impassable, communication systems melt, and food and water supplies were disrupted?

Likely what might happen is man would turn on man in the name of survival. It is here we would want to train our people to lose our lives by caring for all others first. In that move, Jesus promises we would find the very life we surrendered.

What form would it take? How would it look? We won't really know until the actual event. But I do believe it valuable to know that if the world falls down....Christians will have a great option. We will not join the herd in panic; but will be a stable force of peace and hope.

Courage instead of fear. Compassion rather than self-serving. Love over fright. Calm over dread. His people will become even more needed as lighthouses to show the clear path to hope.

All of these things have been written assuming the world would fall down. Do you realize it already did and everything written above is the approach we are to take....now.

It isn't "if". It "is". We are on duty....now. We can do this.

IT JUST TAKES TIME FOR GOD TO HELP US ALONG

Take a look at my last post and note the comment Cary made. Read what he wrote by clicking "here" on his comment. Then come back and I'll tell you another part of the story.

(Reading Cary's "here" comment right now.)

Are you back? All right. Here's something interesting about his referencing the multiples who respond each Sunday at the conclusion of the sermon. It is a fascinating thing to see. I don't take it for granted. If one responds for prayer it seems two to ten people will be down front joining them; sitting beside them in support.

How this got started was over twenty years ago our teens came back from camp. Immediately if one came forward at an invitation song, the whole group would move to the front as well. Crowded on the front pew and packed nearby on the floor, teens supported teens...and it was moving sight to behold.

But a large group of older folks didn't like it one bit. They called for a meeting and before the meeting was over they tried to have me fired over this. Their claim was this wasn't decent and in order.

I had no idea of Cary's blessing from such a scene. But I will join him in saying there is everything decent and orderly about it. It is called compassionate understanding and caring about others. That youth group now finds itself sprinkled about the nation carrying out decent and orderly works for the cause of Christ from their 35 to 40 year old bodies.

You can see why Cary's note blessed me more than he could have guessed for he had no clue about how we got to the point he would be so enriched.

For you? Don't quit during the hard stuff. I'm sure there are those who were pretty upset that evening about 20 years ago that don't feel like that now. Sometimes our reactions are just that...reactions. The good news is we grow up, don't we?

It just takes time for God to help us along...don't you think? Thank you Cary for pointing out another thing that goes right around this place.

A PLACE OF SECOND CHANCES X 70

What was intended to be only a series for Bible classes for a quarter two decades ago has embedded itself into the fabric of Memorial. I was merely trying to think of some phrase to cover the over-all class theme. That was my job. And, it has become a life message to our community.

Jeff Buckman loved the concept. He had entrance and exit signs made for the parking lot, "A Place to Start Life Over". Today Jeff, as a young man, resides in heaven alongside David who visited us one Sunday....and eventually started life over. Both were good friends, died at young ages, and continue to impact this marvelous place.

Richard hadn't been to church in 20 years. At an invitation by his brother, he came to visit us. When he saw the phrase on the large exterior rug at the entrance, he wondered if it could be for him.....and it was.

Gail was headed to church....a different one. She pulled into the wrong parking lot and saw the canopy that reads "A Place to Start Life Over". She stayed and did.

Two months ago Scott and Kylah saw that same slogan on our lawn sign. So they came in...and did. We baptized them two weeks ago.

This phrase sticks. For years now it has signaled we are among a people who can start all over. That is the message of Jesus to the entire world...rebirth now!

For all who could use the phrase in your community, take it and run with it. Everyone we encounter has those battlefield moments where they wish for anything they could start life again. This is what Jesus is about. Nicodemus heard it first...and we pass the baton.

We are a people and a place of second chances x 70.

FISH AND LOAVES REVISITED

First, today we cleared 250,000 hits on this blog. Thanks for the encouragement you have sent my way during this fun time.

Next, I was talking with my daughter, Wendy, today. Their congregation in North Atlanta has issued to every member (due to a generous donor) thousands of dollars to give away to the poor. Wendy and husband Chris and kids Hayden (6) and Campbell (4) have been studying various ways to share their assigned funds.

Initially, it has been a fun thing. As they find needs; a homeless family in Hayden's school, the hungry along the street, Wendy said the need is so staggering they feel they can't make any difference.

Isn't that how many of us feel about our portion of the kingdom work? Don't some feel overwhelmed regarding families without food while others grieve over children without homes? Still others try to think of how to spread good cheer while I, personally, strain to help everyone I can believe that they are valuable...and good enough to be saved.

Ours is a very challenging life....really. There isn't a need one can find but what further research will leave all completely overwhelmed by the size of monstrous need.

Enter Jesus. Remind us of that fish and loaves ordeal? How did that one go? He took too little and fed too many with too much? Is that how that went?

Yes and such is precisely what we need to remember. I don't know of a servant of Christ who does not appropriately and faithfully live in humility (humiliation) of feeling completely undone and overwhelmed by his or her assignment/calling. Such insists, therefore, that Jesus will have to do the grunt work of and for the body. He will be the provider. He will be the fruit-bearer.

Our job? To believe the impossible. May we count how little we have....and then turn it all over to him. Watch him make the difference.

WHY MEN ARE POOR LEADERS

Ah, I might have titled that better. Too, my data is anything but professionally accumulated. From experience I share ideas as to why men are poor leaders.

First, I don't mean all men. Many are very good leaders. Neither do I mean men versus women are poor in leadership abilities. I believe many men are poor leaders; some choose to not lead at all. Why?

My opinion is just and only an opinion. My observation says men see ourselves as macho and we have an immediate image to protect as well as project. Therefore, it becomes paramount that we be in control. Being in control is supposed to be under God and not us...Romans 9:16.

We men hesitate to expose ourselves to areas of kingdom work where we don't already have some sort of confidence. Confidence in the Spirit is not sought because we tend to hide out only in those smaller zones of safety to the male ego.

Again, I am not saying that no men lead well. That isn't the truth. I am saying that many men in leadership roles in the church are not efficient because they are more concerned over protecting their image than providing courageous guidance. Men are cowardly when it comes to becoming what we are not; sensitive, compassionate, or understanding.

It is easier to rule than to lead. Too many men neither study the Word nor pray. I lived in that climate for years....as a preacher for the church. I worked from the guts and muscle I could muster; but not from admission I was a complete mess unless He stepped in.

Therefore, what works best for the male gender regarding leadership? I think vulnerability. We aren't much. God is. We don't know how to do most things. He does. We are of no adequacy...except that which comes from God...II Cor. 3:4-5.

A matter which has given me a boost in the kingdom work is to realize we are all alike....and we really need Him to help. When we humble ourselves, He promises His grace. Men need grace. Hiding in self-protection is not leadership. Launching out doing what little we can under the name of Jesus with hearts of humility will see that others have someone meaningful to follow.

Our greatest times of leadership, guys, is not when we conquer any portion of the world. It is when we rebel against our own spirit of insisting we come out looking good. Looking good is for God....it is called glory.

May we offer ourselves in authentic, unpretentious sacrifice. May the world notice our God.

BREAKTHROUGH....MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH

Would you be discouraged if I tell you that the one great break you wish for has already happened to you? It isn't that you may have missed it; but it is possible you have forgotten the treasure you possess.

I speak of faith. Faith has taken a bad rap. First it got tossed into the five-step salad which left most with eyes focused on the big baptism conclusion. Because of that formula Faith was not just a part of but became the topic of debate against.....highlighting baptism.

Faith is the wrecking ball for the Christian community. It can say to a mountain, Go squat in the water, Jesus declares....and it will go. Faith can look at anything dead and believe it will live. It can notice something lacking and believe fulfillment will arise in that very place....Romans 4:17.

It is faith---not confession of sin nor baking of a pie for a needy neighbor---which takes the slightest or the largest bit of factual information and transforms (wrecks) its report. Remember the Spy-Report? It came down with overwhelming majority vote. Yet, Faith upset the democratic process.

Faith is THE major breakthrough for every heart. We can wipe away the tears and dismiss all fears. Because of Faith we can see hope when others see trouble. We can see probability when others see only problembility.

Faith....is a breakthrough...a major breakthrough....and you already have it.

Awaken to the wonder of yourself!

PREACHERS....IT'S FRIDAY AND SUNDAY'S COMING

To a favorite class of guys, I address those who preach from Sunday to Sunday. I encourage you to prepare in a way God breathes on His people. Being one of us, you know I know the rigors of arranging words for the Sunday sermon. It still scares me...for what if I speak and what I say doesn't matter?

We want our sermons to live in the Holy Spirit. Our tendency is to smother the flock by our gathering multiples of stories, slogans, supportive quotes, etc. We possibly overload our lessons as we flesh out the sermon. "Flesh out" is a key warning. Our goal is to let the heart of God channel His voice through our lips to their ears.

One of the more difficult hurdles in sermon preparation is to relax. The responsibility before us is surely intense; but we must learn to trust Him enough to relax. God will work with us. No, I'm not suggesting laziness nor lack of preparation. I am calling for us to leave room for God to work. He loves to interject Himself into all works as He is actually partnering with us.

Trust the exposed Word. Trust it. I love it that each passage I read from my Bible is also on the large screen behind me. As the church looks at the words the Word is looking back at the church performing its MRI....Heb. 4:12.

Try---as hard as it is---to refrain from thinking of a good illustration and then building a sermon around it. Trust the exposed Word. Find illustrations to fit around the Word.

Try to be confident to tie a series of scriptures together which support one another. Usually my sermons have one point....whatever the theme is. I want the church to know there is hope and that hope will be found in one main point.

Finally, know you are good enough because Jesus make us that way. Pray for Him to speak in ways you would never guess your English words would convey. Sermons don't live because of our cleverness nor our antics; but because the Holy Spirit alerts the ears of the conscience of God coming through.

MORE LIKE JESUS

There is a strong movement taking place in America. Churches are increasingly aware of the poor. There are more poor.

We are going to find ourselves challenged by his nature...interacting with people not of our culture. The church will want to encourage one another as long as it is called Today that we grow in hospitality to those who do not have the blessings we perceive ourselves to have.

There is a poor woman in our community who has begun to visit Memorial. When she sits at a table for class, most go to another table. Not until one or two brave souls draw to her, does the table fill. For most we certainly don't mind her being here....but we don't intend to interact.

Discouraged? Nope. Just pointing out what may be one of many new ways we will want to develop like Jesus. If we will address this, it could be that's all it takes for some as we simply tend to move about unconscious of following our most natural trail....friends.

Therefore, I encourage you to keep your eyes open for the strangers from our town. They are in great need of food. Many of them (as this woman) have no cars. They need help. One of the best gifts we can offer them first........is to notice their presence.

May we become more like Jesus with eyes for everyone in the room.

THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

What kind of statement is it when we claim we are the New Testament church? Does that justify our souls in God's sight? Is this supposed to cause those around us to go silent regarding debate and argument?

I believe Jesus established and continues to build his church. Too, I think what we look like today has little reflection of what he started and continues. The main reason is modern day believers have fallen for a New Testament Church Legal. Jump the hoops, dot the dottable and cross the crossable....wa la....there you have it....THE CHURCH!

A thing I like about the N.T. church of today is the legal is appropriately losing ground to the spiritual. Legal can be explained. Spiritual lavishes in mystery. Legal follows rules. Spiritual believes in the invisible supports from the heart. Legal bosses. Spiritual yields.

There is the true church. We want in on it. A thing going well today is the legal church is shifting to the spiritual. One area this is appearing is the transfer of activity from the building (of which the early N.T. church did not have) to the streets in service.

Our teens have led the way summer to summer via local and distant mission efforts. Congregations follow suit as ones in Ft. Worth, Memphis, St. Louis, Little Rock, and even the Contact Church of Christ in Tulsa are doing. These numbers are growing.

The church is gaining momentum when it wins fewer arguments and wins more hearts through the hands-on-touch of Jesus to the homeless and abused in society. More and more congregations, as is Memorial Drive, are beginning to see their meager efforts to the poor begin to open wider and wider doors.

It is an encouraging thing to see the N.T. church develop to look more like the N.T. Savior. Yes, we have baggage. Yes, we have lots to overcome. I'm both a part of the baggage as well as the obstacle to overcome. Nonetheless....we can be wide-eyed as the things which really matter (people) to the Son of God seem to be ever increasing to the N.T. church....his body.

A PROBLEM WITH ISMS

Isms. Is that a word? Not exactly. It is the caboose to branding words; pharisaism, legalism, conservatism, etc.

A problem with isms is they ride upon the rails of comparative form. In order to be labeled as conservative such must be in comparison to some other standard. So, the question is, Conservative compared to what? Liberal compared to what?

Comparison isn't the first big problem with isms. The standard is. The standard tends to be each other. For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding (II Cor. 10:12).

When the standard in kingdom life is others we become more like Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. When this happens Push often comes to Shove. This is why the religious world is such a gigantic and embarrassing mess. We live comparing what is good about us against what is wrong with them....whoever them happens to be who are not like us.

The Standard is? Jesus. He is the standard way, standard truth, standard life. It isn't enough to be doing assumed well in living by comparison to anything other than Jesus Christ. Until we arrive at The Standard we are off.

The problem with isms is they pit us one against another. Isms...according to God's law...leave us believing we know the truth; yet we do not have it because we do not understand.

The solution to isms is Jesus. When comparing ourselves to him.....we tend to step back and lay down our swords of accusation toward others of whom we assumed ourselves to be superior by comparison.

Now....this is a good post!

DID YOU SEE JESUS ON THE BIGGEST LOSER?

The reality show The Biggest Loser hooked me when I didn't care to watch it. Too much sadness. But I can't help it, I have to see how well the contestants who remain are holding up.

Tonight Tracey lost. She's been an irritant to the other contestants along the way. Finally, she found she was the one voted off by her teammates. Tough times for her to be eliminated.

To wrap up her time on the show, various clips showing her workouts and interviews passed by. There was one scene where Jesus showed up. Did you catch it? It was when she flew back home to be greeted by family and a crowd of fans.

Did you notice her children's shirts? All of them wore purple tees that said "Jesus" on the front while the back quoted, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

One of my constant prayers is that Jesus would show up in the national/world media. Tonight...he did it again!

3RD BLOGIVERSARY CONTINUES

Today marks the beginning of Cardinalmuseum's Morning Rush three years ago. It all began.....oh, never mind.

Looking over 1,113 posts....this is one of my favorites. I decided to dust it off and reprint for those three or four of you not around back then.

Friday, June 15, 2007

"HEAVEN, MEET HELL." "HELL, THIS IS HEAVEN."

Heaven and Hell met in a showdown at noon on Friday. Hell was boisterous tossing belligerent comments to and fro. Heaven was quite the opposite. To many it seemed Heaven was nearly a no-show. Hell marched onto the scene with multiple soldiers in proud array.

Curiosity seekers were sprinkled among the crowd. Intimidation was in the air. For Heaven's side? Well, only one representative entered the arena wearing a torn robe already matted with blood mixed with his own tears.

The crowd began to wonder if Heaven sent a soldier or a dog? Heaven barely limped onto the scene already beaten to a pulp overnight back in City Hall's dimly lit rooms by Hell's underground thugs .

Winning psychology? One blind could at least smell Heaven was not favored. Really, he had been brutally whipped before the fight was to begin. Hardly fair. The scene was so extremely imbalanced Hell began to take jabs with one hand tied behind his back.

The Cross, though, was more than timbers taking on descriptive formation. It was the locale where Heaven and Hell would meet to have it out...once and for all. Hell came well- prepared. Its Goliath presence would intimidate anybody.....anybody except Heaven, that is.

When the final round began, Heaven had a plan to undo Hell. Heaven would die so Hell would lose. The plot was amazing; yet, was not detected until days later. It was creation's most outlandish slug fest. It was a bloodbath. Hell walked away without a scratch. Heaven couldn't walk or talk.

Heaven died. Hell lived. However (and with Heaven there is the perpetual promise for everyone to own a "However"), Hell was blindsided by Heaven's astute scheme. Hell did not see his imminent fatality as he was too busy bullishly bragging to all creation. While he paraded his troops through the streets of Jerusalem in assumed victory, Heaven was rummaging through Hell's storehouse freeing prisoners like mad.

When Sunday got here the headlines were more shocking than Truman pulling out the election.

"HEAVEN DEFEATS HELL....TOTALLY!"

What a knock-out scheme. Heaven went to Hell. He died to get to Hell's core and deliver the fatal punch! Such bravery cannot be understood. Dark parking lots scare us.

We win, world, we win. On M-Day---Day of Misery---Hell forgot to sign the scorecard. Heaven only looked defeated. It was, however, merely fulfilling its V-Day plan.

We will never be the same....because Heaven met Hell and Hell was introduced to Heaven. Thank you God, for your brilliant plan for Victory!

HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY

Can you tell me what is significant about November 3, 2006? That's when I put my first words onto my blog. I had accidentally established a blog the day before when I merely believed I was commenting on Tim's. Somehow I had set up my own blog and there were 200 hits in that one day....yet, no words. I didn't know anyone was looking in. I didn't realize what I had done.

So, on that date I began to put words to the page. There have been over 248,000 hits since. Of course, one needs to know nearly 247,000+ of those are mine checking to see if anyone looked in!

Therefore I take you back three years to ponder my very first blog. It was nearly the same sentiment as my first day in first grade. Take a look at the words from a "green novice".

And...thanks for faithfully checking in from time to time.

Happy Blogiversary to me!

WHAT'S THE VALUE OF BLOGGING (11/3/06)

As I see it, the blogsites are defeating privacy fences. We are becoming neighbors once again. Blogs allow our visits to be brief while our days remain free to get so much done. There is value in gaining connectedness in a world which seems so crowded, yet leaves some feeling so lonely. I am all for seeing that all feel absolutely connected to someone. I'm not sure how often I can or will pay attention to this site. I am a very green novice. I know this....people are important. In future notes, I will join with many others to be another voice to cheer you on.

For now....enjoy your weekend!

Terry

THE ROLE OF OTHERS

Others are key to how well any of us are doing. We are neither an island nor an isolated work. We are a church....full of variation....filled with multi-giftedness.

The role of others is as important (if not more) than our personal role. Others are the stage from which our works live or die. We are a group...unit.

This is why we must see that all of us are in good health in the Spirit. The blood of Jesus must be pumping throughout the body for all organs to be repeatedly cleansed, refreshed, and rebuilt. The overall body must go into all of the world; we can't make it alone. Jesus couldn't do it from one body and neither can we.

Jesus sent his Spirit to live in multiple bodies...the group. He is everywhere. Everywhere.

The great thing about getting to be an individual is we are among the "others" for everyone else. We count. We matter. We contribute to the new body of Christ.

Awaken to your own value as you begin to notice it in all others. We.....make a great difference....together!