WHAT HELPS US CONNECT?

What is it....that magic "it"......which helps us connect to the flock? Sometimes we work and work only to find the members don't understand who we are or what we are trying to do. At other times, we seem to be coasting and for some reason the kingdom work flows with beautiful ease.

What helps ministers connect? Is it our gramatical command? Our good ol' boyness? Our intensive study? I offer an idea.

I believe we connect when we listen to the Spirit. I believe it has nothing to do with our talent nor our study capabilities unless we throw both of those into the mixing bowl with His Holy
Spirit. This is why listeners get good things from what we share that we didn't even realize we touched upon. He works in our inadequacies. Nothing comes from us. It's all from Him...II Cor. 3:4-5.

Before we can answer as to what we shall preach, we'll do well to discover what we have heard from Him. I listen week by week for information from Him which excites me. I figure if it excites me, it may excite others. If it doesn't motiate me, why would I want to bore them with it?

From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Let the Spirit of Christ fill your heart...and then you'll have something worthwhile to say.

DON'T FORGET TO BE THANKFUL FOR CRITICS

Criticism is tougher than death. While death temporarily stings deeply, criticism seems to keep pulling the trigger and killing off the joy. Bodies of preachers and elders and teachers and believers are strewn across every land having been button-holed by at least one notorious critic. Such was never the intent. We have simply misread the important role of the critic.

In God's world critics are an valued factor to every ministry. We need them. We must have then else we will be sickly, frail, and disadvantaged. If we were to move through church life with no criticism we would:

• begin to believe that everything working well really is because of us.
• never be challenged to grow up.
• assume a great mistake; that we are great.
• never understand there really are major tenets about us which need to be eliminated or redirected.
• never walk in the sandals of Jesus.
• have little meaningful counsel to those whose lives are being crushed by stress.
• eventually quit because criticism is our spiritual workout gym which builds healthy faith muscles. We would fade diseased by spiritual atrophy.

Criticism isn't a signal you drew the short straw. Criticism isn't a sign you are in the wrong congregation. Criticism isn't an indication you are no good. A critic is God's blessing upon every servant-hearted believer so He can get the maximum out of us.

Second Corinthians 12:7, And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself (FOR THIS REASON.....TO KEEP ME FROM EXALTING MYSELF.....FOR THIS REASON.....TO KEEP US FROM EXALTING OURSELVES) there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me---to keep me from exalting myself! The messenger from Satan had a message to keep the grand old apostle from exalting himself.....it was a critic.

Don't forget to be thankful for critics. They are not there to bug you. They are on your campus to iron the wrinkles out of you. They are present to help you learn the value of being totally unable. They are there to teach you power is perfected in weakness. Critics are all around you to develop you into the person God, alone, intends. You possess a miniature life of Job. Don't assume because you are criticized that something is wrong with the critic. No, sir. It is a wonderful sign something is yet flawed about us and we need to continue to grow through this process.

YESTERDAY'S THEME....PART 2

So, my message to the young guys on the block? DON'T QUIT!

To the Zac Pittman's, Josh Graves', Dusty and Tim Rush's, Eric Magnusson's and Jeff Jenkins', etc......DON'T QUIT. You are targeted by dark forces to get you to quit. You'll be tempted, due to repeated, repeated failure of others or yourself, to toss in the towel. You'll be tempted to believe because success didn't happen for several efforts in a row that you must have misunderstood your call......that you must be doing something wrong. WRONG!

You must have things go wrong. You must go wrong. Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation....I Peter 4:12-13.

Everything which comes your way to want to make you bolt carries hidden teachings and blessings. None of it is for the trash. Be still. Listen for Him. Learn from Him. He's in the center of the mess giving you a test. Will you believe He is bigger than the problem? In every situation......the correct answer is, "YES."

Don't quit!

TO BENEFIT PREACHERS, ELDERS AND MINISTRY LEADERS

I am wrapping up 30 years at Memorial this summer. I have not loved every minute of it. I have love very much of it. To cheer you on in your work, I share with you two things about my ministry at this special place:

1. THINGS I DID WRONG:

• For awhile I preached the five steps of salvation instead of the saving grace of Jesus.
• For awhile I preached the five acts of worship instead of the heart connecting true worship.
• For awhile I preached brotherhood issues instead of Jesus Christ and the hope he offers.
• For awhile I exchanged eye for eye in combatant discussions over legalism.
• For awhile I made sure I was in control of how things went....at least I gave it a good try.
• For awhile I tried to impress the louder and meaner voices so they would like me.
• For awhile I tried to abide by the false teaching that the Holy Spirit is not active today.
• For awhile I tried to persuade myself we were the only religious group saved.
• For awhile I tried to make the Bible say the things our heritage said it said.
• For awhile I tried to imitate and mimic other preachers for I knew I wasn't enough.
• For awhile I tried to save all sermon notes; yet, when I'd go back they had died in the files.
• For awhile I thought the sermon was the main thing about the assembly.
• For awhile I thought the Word needed my help.
• For awhile I thought "they" were the sinners.
• For awhile I thought I would never successfully teach anyone how to be saved.
• For awhile I believed stories about God working today were only imagined.
• For awhile I thought God only worked through Church of Christ affiliates.
• For awhile I thought my "shoe-box" answers gathered in school would fend of questioners.
• For awhile I paid attention to hateful, unsigned letters.
• For awhile I thought church was about faithful attendance.

2. THINGS I DID RIGHT:

• I didn't quit.

SPREAD THE WORD!

I need a favor. Would you pass along the program schedule for the Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop to your readers.....and add a comment which would lend support to this huge event? Thanks in advance!

Terry


JESUS: THE MODEL AND THE MISSION
March 22-24

THURSDAY

9:00
Pav. Don McLaughlin….Jesus: The Way to the World!
ExCtr Forrest/Patty Smith…Overcome Fear of Teaching Others
Expo 1 Robert Peek….Your Small Church CAN Grow: ATMOSPHERE
Expo 2 John Dobbs….Jesus Came to My Town In A Hurricane!
Café Debbie Smith….Jesus: The Model of Acceptance
Teen Zone UniversiTeens Sponsored by York

10:00
Pav. Rick Atchley….The Church Has Left the Building Pt. 1
ExCtr Tim Luster….Evangelism Isn't An Option....It's Our Passion
Expo 1 Barry Stephens….Leadership: From Good to Great Pt. 1
Expo 2 Tim Rush….Jesus Reaches To Guadalajara!
Café Terri Fanning….Jesus: The Mission of Connecting
Teen Zone UniversiTeens (continued) Sponsored by York
KidZone Misty Matthews Ages 8-10 Why Do Kids Need Jesus?

11:00
Pav. Terry Rush…Leadership: The Mystery of God Among Us
ExCtr Keith Lancaster Praise and Harmony Seminar Pt. 1
Expo 1 Buddy Bell…..Life Changing Small Group Ministry: A Model That Works
Expo 2 Robbie Goldman/Matt Wallace…Jesus Reaches All Streets!
Café Steve Diggs….Failure: The First Step To Godly Success With Our Money
Teen Zone UniversiTeens (continued) Sponsored by York

12:30
ExCtr Free Indeed and Friends

2:00
Pav. Jerry Taylor….Jesus: He Was Socially Evangelistic
ExCtr Wade Hodges….To Live In Resurrection Power God Must Live
Expo 1 Mitch Wilburn….Leading Through Love in the Community of Faith.
Expo 2 Lynn Stringfellow…..Effective Campus Ministry: Curb the Shrinking Church
Teen Zone “Just Relax” Sponsored by Dallas Christian College
Café Norm Herron….FORUM: Sharing Ideas for Benevolence Ministries

3:00
Pav. Rick Atchley….The Church Has Left the Building Pt. 2
ExCtr Buddy Bell…Life Changing Small Group Ministry: Transforming Power
Expo 1 Jay Jarboe…. Developing Life Transformation Groups
Expo 2 Dan Langdon..How To Monitor and Manage Our Missionaries
Café Brad Smith… FORUM: Preachers Only….Sermon Preparation
Teen Zone “Just Relax” Sponsored by Dallas Christian College
KidZone 8-10 Eric Brunson..Ways to Share Jesus with Your Friends

4:00
Pav Josh Graves……The Irresistible Revolution: God in the Margins
ExCtr Steve Tandy…Television: Outreach Ideas for Your Congregation
Expo 1 Robert Cox….Jesus Draws Everyone!
Expo 2 Jeff Switzer….Jesus Grew Our Church from 19 to 160!
Café Roger Thompson….The Holy Spirit and Us! Part 1
Teen Zone Just Relax (continued) Sponsored by Dallas Christian College

6:00
Pav. Singing Groups

6:45
Pav. Childcare Drop-off 3 yrs. and under
Café Bible Hour

7:00 Pav.
Bruce Marchiano…..Jesus: The Model



FRIDAY

9:00
Pav. Don McLaughlin….Jesus: The Truth to the World!
ExCtr Forrest/Patty Smith….How To Set Up A Bible Study
Expo 1 Robert Peek…Your Small Church CAN Grow: ATTITUDES
Expo 2 Kerry Cox….Jesus Reaches To University Campuses!
Café Debbie Smith…..Jesus: The Model of Discernment
Teen Zone UniversiTeens Sponsored by Oklahoma Christian

10:00
Pav Josh Graves….The Irresistible Revolution: Making Sense of the Mess
ExCtr Deron Smith…..Jesus Reaches Into the Darkness of My Soul
Expo 1 Barry Stephens….Leadership: From Good to Great Pt. 2
Expo 2 Angie Burns….Responding to Homosexuality with the Heart of Jesus
Café Terri Fanning….Jesus: The Mission of Risking
Teen Zone UniversiTeens (continued) Sponsored by Oklahoma Christian
KidZone Misty Matthews Ages 8-10 Why My Friends Need Jesus

11:00
Pav Rick Atchley…. The Church Has Left the Building Pt. 3
ExCtr Keith Lancaster Praise and Harmony Seminar Pt. 2
Expo 1 Jerry Taylor….Jesus: Man of Spirit
Expo 2 Hollis Maynard…..Jesus Reaches to the Deaf Population!
Café Steve Diggs….The A, B, C’s of Godly Money Management
Teen Zone UniversiTeens (continued) Sponsored by Oklahoma Christian

12:30
ExCtr Free Indeed and Friends

2:00
Pav. Jeff Walling…. Abundant Life: Meeting Jesus in Baggage Claim
ExCtr Lynn Stringfellow Effective Campus Ministry: Finding Purpose in Outreach
Expo 1 Daryl Hayes…Mission Too Simple: See the People
Expo 2 Buddy Bell…Life Changing Small Group Ministry: Evangelize and Multiply
Café Roger Thompson….The Holy Spirit and Us! Part 2
Teen Zone Dudley Chancey…FORUM: Empowering Youth Ministers/Workers


3:00
Pav. Randy Harris…..Evil
ExCtr Marvin Phillips….Feeding The World’s Starving People
Expo 1 Lynn Ragsdale….Church Leadership: Upgrade Needed
Expo 2 Larry West….Jesus Reaches Through Campaigns In America!
Café Landon Norton….Software To Enhance Class/Sermon Preparation
Teen Zone TeenSurge: REPLICA with David Fraze and Watershed Worship
KidZone 8-12 Eric Brunson-Share Jesus with Your Friends- (Puppetry)

4:00
Pav. Warren Blakney…What Growing Churches Are Doing Right!
ExCtr Robert Cox…Planting Churches: What A Way To Grow!
Expo 1 Danny Sidders….Jesus: The Presence of the Future
Expo 2 Art Henley….Jesus Works In Albania!
Café Clint Davis…..FORUM: Bringing All of the Missionaries Together
Teen Zone TeenSurge: REPLICA with David Fraze and Watershed Worship

6:00
Pav. Singing Groups

6:45
Pav. Childcare Drop-off 3 yrs. and under
Café Bible Hour

7:00
Pav. AIM…..Flags Presentation
Jerry Taylor/Randy Harris….Jesus: The Messenger


SATURDAY

9:00
Pav. Don McLaughlin…Jesus: The Life to the World!
ExCtr Forrest/Patty Smith….How To Follow Up A Bible Study
Expo 1 Robert Peek…Your Small Church CAN Grow: ACCOUNTABILITY
Expo 2 The Holy Spirit and Us! Part 3
Café Debbie Smith….Jesus: The Model of Love
Teen Zone UniversiTeens Sponsored by Lubbock Christian University

10:00
Pav Josh Graves…..The Irresistible Revolution: Making Room for the Stranger
ExCtr Matt Crain….Fathers Need to Connect with Their Families
Expo 1 Barry Stephens….Leadership: From Good to Great Pt. 3
Expo 2 Alan Phillips…. Let Us Advance More Effective Global Missions
Café Terri Fanning….Jesus: The Mission of Winning
Teen Zone UniveriTeens (continued) Sponsored by Lubbock Christian University
KidZone Misty Matthews Ages 8-10 The Most Amazing Race

11:00
Pav Marvin Phillips…. Jesus Envisioned Winning the World!
ExCtr Keith Lancaster Praise and Harmony Seminar Pt. 3
Expo 1 Robert Cox….Jesus: How To Get To The Going Part!
Expo 2 Ken Bolden….Jesus Reaches Through World Radio!
Café Steve Diggs….Killing the Debt Monster and Getting Ahead
Teen Zone UniversiTeens (continued) Sponsored by Lubbock Christian University

12:30
ExCtr Free Indeed and Friends

2:00
Pav. Jeff Walling/Taylor Walling….God Shows Up In Amazing Ways!
ExCtr Jack Cummings…..Make Wednesday Nights Burst With Excitement
Expo 1 John Smith….Achieving the Mind of Christ
Expo 2 Larry Buck….Jesus Reaches to China!
Café FORUM: Ministers’ Wives Live In Glass Parsonages

3:00

Pav. Wade Hodges….To Live In Resurrection Power We Must Die
ExCtr Ron Clark….Jesus Unleashed: the Friend of Sinners
Expo 1 Eric Magnusson…. If You Kill It, They Will Go: The reBirth of Mission
Expo 2 Mark/Sherrylee Woodard….Let’s Start Talking All Over The World!
Café Landon Norton….Software To Enhance Class/Sermon Preparation (Repeat)
Teen Zone TeenSurge: REPLICA with David Fraze and Watershed Worship
Kids 8-10 Mike Platten…..Spot Lite Magic Presents "Illusions With A Message”

4:00
Pav. Randy Harris…..Good
ExCtr Todd Box…...How To Walk The Talk To Reach The Hurting
Expo 1 Lynn Ragsdale….Church Explosion Is Possible
Expo 2 Greg Taylor….Helpful Preparation for Short Term Mission Trips
Café Lynn Stringfellow…Effective Campus Ministry: Activating Hands-on-Faith
Teen Zone TeenSurge: REPLICA with David Fraze and Watershed Worship

6:00
Pav. Singing Groups

6:45
Pav. Childcare Drop-off 3 yrs. and under
Café Bible Hour

7:00
Pav. Jeff Walling/Terry Rush….Jesus: The Mission

WHY GO TO CHURCH?

Why do we do what we do on Sunday mornings? And, Sunday evenings for that matter? Why do we gather? Hebrews 10 says we are not to forsake the assembly, but to motivate one another unto love and good deeds...encourage one another. It seems when I started out newly converted to the Church of Christ way our purpose was not to encourage; but rather, to make sure we did the five scriptural things without any of the five items overlapping; i.e. no singing during the Lord's Supper because you couldn't have two practices of worship strike simultaneously. So, we sorta gathered to check off the items accomplished and when everyone thought we had hit all five, we wrapped it up with a closing prayer and.........we were done!

I am absolutely crazy about the Hebrews call of purpose. Don't let me preach, and I'll still do what I'm called to do....motivate and encourage. You may keep me out of the pulpit, but you can't keep me out of the aisles where the people are. I love these people and they know it. And, it's quite mutual. It's the best thing to get to do in all of the world. Show me a person who doesn't like to go to church and I'll show you a person who has no interest in motivating and encouraging others. If such is not their purpose, they will not find the church alive.

Do we need better classes? Usually. Could we have better sermons? C-a-r-e-f-u-l. What we will always need is to improve our ways to fulfill His call to motivate and encourage. I encourage you to get yourself over to that little church building (or that big one if that's your place) and wind yourself up like a clock and hit the flock with a warm heart of cheer. A thing I dearly love at Memorial is it is so actively engaged in it's purpose we have to interrupt the unscheduled fellowship in the auditorium just to get the first song started. And, what else I love is that after it's over....it isn't over. Thirty minutes after we've "dismissed" half of the church will still be there fulfilling their purpose....motivating and encouraging.

God saved me and I have lived and gone to heaven....it's Memorial Drive and it's a most wonderful place!

PAM COPE AND OPRAH

One of the most amazing stories unfolded before the very eyes of Oprah viewers Friday, February 9th. Initially, I watched the program mainly because I saw Mike Cope's blog mention his sister-in-law would be on. I am thrilled and inspired at what I got to see and hear.

First, Oprah was more passionate about the topic than any theme I've observed. She spoke with tears in her eyes about the child slavery in Ghana. Her smiles would shift in soberness, but her tears never left. Oprah aches for the underdog.

Second, the revelation of what these children endure is heart crushing! I can't stand it! I'm moved once again to robustly continue our kingdom trek of believing the entire globe is ours to approach with the immeasurable love of Christ. Such vivid pictures help me sort through which doctrines are important to debate and which dare never cross my lips again.

Third, Pam was beautiful. I loved her absolute grace and charm. She was perfect! She not only recued little-boy Mark from slavery in Ghana; she single-handedly, without a shot fired, captured and arrested Oprah. Oprah's closing line was she has interviewed hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of celebrities who do great social work, but Pam is the one who deserves "the" standing ovation. And.....she got it. The audience applauded while I cried hot tears of salute.

Fourth, God showed up on television! I have prayed for several years that God would show up in the media in a favorable way. He has. He showed up on Larry King Live many times; especially when the missionary's wife and child's plane was shot down in South America and the man sat on Larry King's show and told the whole world what he had merely intended to share with a small region in South America.

But who would have guessed God would show up in the frame and heart of a lady from rural Missouri?!?!? I cried and cried....I'm crying as I write. God showed up on television under the name Pam Cope. She really had little to do with it. While she took the ball and ran with rescuing Mark, it was God who took Pam and ran in connecting her to millions of hearts globally!

Finally, I believe this is not the end of the story. Oprah has such deep admiration for Pam that this relationship needs our prayers showering them both. All Pam needs to do is note an important move of God and call on Oprah. I haven't a clue what it is. I am sure, Oprah will respond to the name Pam Cope.....who has done a simple and common job of responding to the name Jesus Christ.

MEET REVEREND STAFF

What's it like where you work? Crummy? Too-good-to-be-true? Spiteful? Slip-shod? Indifferent? Successful? Well-organized?

I love where I work. Besides liking preaching and ministry, I mean I like "where" I work....my office part of life. I am the office manager! In my little preaching school of 11 classmates, none of us ever had a thought of being at a church big enough for "a staff". Upon graduatin we each had one basic goal: try to last two years. But now....I am office manager!

It took me awhile to get the hang of it. Due to the elders' patience and the staff's endurance, I feel really good about being "BOSS". I've changed my approach to this privileged work drastically over the years. For awhile I was the youngest guy on staff so I wasn't manager yet. After being here several years I became old enough to be everyone's dad.

Here's my goal for my people who are my crew, my friends:

• I want them to think they have the best working place in the world...really!
• I want them to be sure I believe in them more than I do myself!
• I want them to notice me catching them doing good, smart, faithful things!
• I want them to hear my praise "all the time"!
• I want them to know I revere them! Yes, I work with reverend staff!

Whether you are the BOSS or the BOSSed, do the things which would make your colleagues believe they work around the best person in the world....because they do. His name is Jesus and He is residing within each of us. Hello.....Reverend Staff!

GIVE ME YOUR INPUT

I have a rather strange request of you. I have been working on a book for about four years. I have enormous hopes for its impact to shift the common believer from mediocrity to abundance. The book is about the great secrets I see leading to a wonderful, God-filled life; i.e. gratitude, being a nobody, power is perfected in weakness, etc.

Today the book is called, "Proceed Without Caution" (When Life Takes A Turn For The Better!).

God has given me a most paradoxical life. I'm all backwards and, yet, so much of it works. I would like to hear from you ideas which I might not have thought about as to what you think makes life tick for you or for me. What are traits in our walk that I would assume everyone knows, but you think others would be encouraged and motivated once they knew the thinking behind it?

WE ARE ALWAYS JUST IN KINDERGARTEN WITH GOD

Our people are so tied up in knots trying to sort through the church lingo that many have all but given up on sharing the good news with their neighbor because they can't keep the story straight. All know God is against man-made doctrine, yet we've accepted with open arms this Trojan horse. Enormous strain develops in trying to assure ourselves that much of our doctrine did not come from man but from God Himself. As far as evangelistic effectiveness is concerned, we live in fundamental neutral. How can we remember how it goes when the Word really isn't there to show our neighbor?

1. Our hermeneutic is made up: Man created it to claim the texts he wanted and to somehow dismiss those he doesn't. Hermeneutic is not a biblical term and was never taught by God. The "Direct Command", "Example", and "Necessary Inference" passages seem to have melted. Look at it. Necessary Inference? That's what man does to get his way when the Bible won't back it. One can claim, "Well, at least it's inferred."
2. Our stance on instrumental music is wrong: Man created this doctrine which makes it a toughy if we are going to share the true doctrine with our neighbors. Instrumental music was not an issue in the first century church because it wasn't an issue with God. Instuments of worship are not new. They were abundantly available back in Jesus and Paul's day. Did they not pick up on this potential threat and address it....at least once? So, do you not think it odd that such an element is present at the time of the N.T. writings, yet they never discussed it? Were they afraid to? Didn't they have some crossover issues from the old covenant to the new? It could be this was not an issue then and they didn't expect to be now.
3. Authority of Silence of the Scriptures is surely created by man. It seems very important to some as this guides their doctrinal stances. Where does the Word address it? I believe argumentative Christians made this one up to get their way when they couldn't get it any other. Those who stick by their guns on this one abandon it quickly when it comes to justifying the millions they spend on church buildings....of which the Word is silent.

True, very true, the Bible has enough of it's own marvelous depth to keep us at bay in admitted ignorance. It is a Life-giving stream which washes us in newness day by day. It's freshness will not be bottled and sold as "this is the way, the only way" based upon man's understanding. As great as ours gets, God will always be there saying, "My ways are not your ways, nor are My thoughts your thoughts, for My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts."

When one couples that with our man-made inventions (and we deny such trying to pawn it off onto God as if He said it), the wheels of outreach eventually succumb to the stress of trying to remember exactly how all of this goes.

Wouldn't it be easier to let the Word support itself without adding our attempt at genius to help it along where it's unclear. We can trust the Word. We can't trust us. That very much includes me. I will always be in kindergarten eager to learn from Him. Such will always involves sorting the God-words from the man-ones.

IS OUR EFFORT EVER ENOUGH?

Today is a good day. You are enough. Your effort is enough. You have succeeded. You are envied. Others wish they could be you. You are a success. You are a walking miracle. Blood flows through miles of your veins every minute (I saw that one on a commercial!). Your name is spoken favorably and repeatedly day by day by your admiring colleagues. You have every reason to like right now. You are taking people with you into heaven's region. You are making a difference for people who have yet to be born due to the power-seed you sow of goodness and hope and faith that will impact the year 2037.

Look at me. I said look at me. Do not toss aside these powerful words as if they apply to many others, but not you. Notice the gleam in my eye when you have doubt about yourself. You are a legend to someone. You are a hero. Traffic jams are your parade....the participants just didn't realize their value! Criticism coming your way is someone's way of bragging on you that they notice you do exist after all! Frustration is simply alerting you that you are still breathing on planet earth. Pain is God's glorious reminder that you aren't a leper. Irritations are the hands applauding the fact you do have anticipatory vision.

You are brilliant....in the literal sense. Go through your day with your head high and your attitude a soar. What a day. It's got you. It's got me. It's got us. Now, let's go out and do some great big damage to stinkin' thinkin'!

Convert the world to the mind of Jesus by letting Him have yours first.

BE CAREFUL WITH SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Growing in the Lord is most exciting. Such growth seems to be without charts to note progress. Where one church grows by addition another develops by subtraction. Biblical examples are Acts 2 for the former and the concept of Him pruning for the later. Such opposite processes calls for caution in matters when it comes to gauging the personal growth of self and of others.

We want to be careful not to allow ourselves to believe we are better than others because we have accepted some ideas and rejected other concepts while groups didn't seem to catch the wave of spiritual brilliance we thought we snagged. That's not good news.

We must refrain from believing we read the best version, do the best church, sing the best way, or do missions better. None of those can be established without comparison. Paul wrote in II Cor. 10:12 that anytime we compare ourselves to ourselves....we are without understanding.

Be thrilled over what God let's you do in the kingdom. Let us refrain from believing we are a notch above any other believer. It's by His grace any of us get to be a part of his fabulous work.

Would the True Church Please Stand Up?

• My first comment: I say for the Super Bowl.....Colts 41 Bears 24.

• I say global warming is due to the heat accumulatively arising from earth due to billions of people and billions of animals which numbers have increased dramatically from the original two people and few animals. You know what it's like to meet with two in a small classroom and then meet with 50 in the same small room....whew! Global warming!

Below is an article I wrote yesterday for our webpage. A little weekend snack for thought.

The True Church

Jesus is building his church. And, I love it. I can’t believe I get to be a part of his work. To participate in matters which defy man’s organizational, religious efforts is surely a rush. I never knew the church could be so alive; so exciting.

Occasionally, comments surface about the “true” church which seems to collide with the heart of biblical kingdom life. Usually such a true church is defined by the few practices that particular group just happen to deem their trump doctrines. For us, to have “Church of Christ” (or better yet, “church of Christ”) over our doors seems to make it clear we have the Bible name; the true name. But, God never named His church. He simply claimed it.

If we base the claim to be the true church upon our doctrine (assuming ours to be right and theirs to be wrong) how do we handle our discovery subsequent need to adjust our doctrine? When we moved from little grace to more grace are we now the true church, but weren’t before? Or, were we the true church then? And where do we stand when we discover even more about grace? True church; level three? We’ve done an about face on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Which doctrine counted us as the true church?

I wonder if we would do well to be reminded of Jesus saying if they are not against us they are for us. I wonder if the true church is comprised of several faulty Christians and their churches striving to mature in the lifestyle of Jesus and at the end of each day (or end of each individual life) find they have no defense against His wrath, due to our ungodly lack, save the blood of Christ.

IMAGINE WITH US

Yesterday morning I had a strong pull in my spirit, out of the blue, to begin thinking about creating a blog for seekers. I can't describe it, really, but there was an awareness or a sensation going through my mind which made me ponder what possibilities could be in starting an evangelistic blog. I love to dream and off I went on unlimited tangents of imaginational design.

Then, Dusty (My son who preaches in Conway) called yesterday afternoon. He had met with a guy at church who was burdened with an idea he felt needed to be shared with Dusty. His friend has developed a strong interest in Dusty beginning a blog for those who simply are seeking God. In turn, Dusty wanted to know if I'd be interested in doing it with him. Wow, a new blog which would reach to the non-churched! Now, that seems to me something's up!

So we talked....enthusiastically....a lot! I'm in. He's in. His friend is in. We are working on this project.

I was wondering what ideas some of you might have. Concepts? Name of the blog? Ideas? Who knows who's reading this that has fabulous ideas to add to the process as we wade through our own.

Say "No" to Guilters

I address those of you who find your lips saying "yes" to service requests when your weary heart and tired body beg of you from within to say "no". We live in demanding times. Higher goals, bigger projects, greater returns; all press on us to keep the activation mode clicked on. And, we find ourselves sometimes very tired.

Do you ever catch yourself lying to get out of someone else's pressured scheduling so you can keep from going to one more thing? Do you find yourself at an event bored to tears and frustrated with yourself for taking on the commitment to be there; especially when it's not that important you are?

Beware of GUILTERS. These are fellow servants/friends who cannot say "no" themselves; thus they feel obligated to share their rat-race, jam-packed, clock-ignoring lifestyle finding themselves spread so unhealthily thin their lack of discipline spews over onto you. GUILTERS make us crazy.

Learn the call of Jesus. Say "yes" when you mean "yes" and "no" when you mean "no". Don't offer excuses. Such are not needed. You don't owe explanation as to why you won't be at a birthday party; give such if you want, but mainly learn to say "no" when your mind/spirit/body are whispering the two-letter word clearly from within.

GUILTERS want you to please them. Somewhere along the way.....YOU WON'T. It's a selfish game and you will be the loser. Don't spend a lot of time trying to please those who cannot be pleased. Love them? Yes. Buckle to their guilt-trips? No.

Sometimes (as cowardly as I am) I've found myself saying to a pressing GUILTER who would not quit, "What part of "no" do you not understand?"

A RICH BLESSING....HIDDEN

I love American Idol. It's been good for me to practice not hating Simon. I actually like him, now. The past couple of weeks have been tryouts.

H-O-R-R-I-F-I-C. Some are stars-in-the-making and some will need counselling after the brutal and sarcastic treatment they received. But I saw something in the negative part of the program which awakened me to one of our hidden riches.....REJECTION.

Rejection is a test which leaders and children must learn to pass. No one climbs any ladder in any field without learning to handle rejection well. For me, this was one of my weakest links. I was raised rejected. All I did with it was learn to hate it.

Jesus, though, is the epitomy of this issue. He is the rejected cornerstone. If we are to follow him, we are to be certainly rejected. Therefore, we must arise into the realization that being disregarded in opinion or in idea or in person is a hidden richness from the walk of Jesus.

Sunday I was invited to speak in chapel at the Cardinal's baseball camp. I had acute laryngitis. My own body rejected an opportunity dear to my heart. I stood in my room on Sunday morning with hands lifted and whispered to God how much I praised him for this problem....that even it would be credited as honor to Him. I did not speak in chapel and I was content.

"Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." II Cor. 12:10

I AM BACK FROM BASEBALL CAMP

I spent five days last week in Jupiter, Florida at the St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training complex attending my annual Legends Camp. We play ball each day and listen to the old-timers rehearse their legendary lore of their playing days.

Lou Brock told how the Cardinals constantly studied the opposition to gain some slight advantage. The Cardinals knew picther Don Sutton of the Dodgers was obsessed with keeping his uniform clean so Lou would begin the game as lead-off hitter by approaching the plate, picking up dirt and rubbing it in his hands, making sure Sutton saw him do it. Then Lou would bunt, run down the base line and as Sutton covered first base, Lou would swipe his dirty hands on Suttons clean uniform the very first inning.

They told how they study the catcher as well as the pitcher. They know if there is a certain pitch the catcher has trouble hitting, he will call for that pitch in a tough setting believing the batter to have the same weakness he has.

What's the weakness you study in a non-believer that gives you kingdom advantage to draw them into His fold? These ball players knew something about their opponent. I know something about every person who opposes (or is at least indifferent to)the name of Jesus. Every one of them has traits of insecurity and, too, a real need for purpose. Whether celebrity or homeless, I know these traits are present and I work from there with everyone I meet. That's why my life is marked by encouragement. Every range of social class is plagued by the same disorder: each is battled discouragement over some circumstance or person.

Knowing the players on our field advantages us for the transfer of the good news. It lets me in through an otherwise closed door.

BTW...for those Cub fans out there...Whitey Herzog believes this is their year. And I say, "Hey, all of us can make room for the Cubs once a century." Don't you agree?

YOUNG PEOPLE AND GOD

First, I am headed out to baseball camp with the St. Louis Cardinal old-timers early Wednesday morning and won't be back 'til Sunday night. This will it for my posts this week.

Second, what's your take on the younger generation? Defined, the YG would be any group younger than you. Are we in trouble? Good hands? Do they seem to be lazy or committed to kingdom matters?

I love what I see. True, there's laxness in every generation. The ones (plural because I'm old enough to talk in plurals these days) I see are richer in Christ than me. They are deeper, they are authentic in hunger to grow in His love and grace and mercy; so am I, but they even more. I believe the church will change a lot for the good.

I see a healthy bravery to stand for the things that matter: to grow deeper in the things God expects, and to dismiss the cheap man-made traditions which pose re-slavery in spirit. The thing I hope they continue is the growing effort to break from trying to live like Old Testament people in a New Testament frame. The YG smell the need to be NT people in the NT frame. Hallelujah...or how ever you spell it!

I am sold on the new ones coming along. I must be careful as I can tell the "weak me" is only progressing in even more lack. Thus the truth, I must decrease that those stronger in Him may increase.

I am proud of how the younger look! I'm simply wowed!

ICED IN...AND GOING SLOWLY

The template of Oklahoma weather is snow on Thursday and 60 degrees on Friday. It's that fickle. This winter has been different. We got over 4 inches of ice last week and it's still on my driveway. Basically, the community was 70% house-bound from Saturday to Thursday. Friday found some peeking out to see if the sun was shining or if there'd be the feeling of six more weeks of house-boundery.

I love such a time. People slow down....they have no choice. Even those who do get out find the streets depleted of traffic and the coffee-shops basically bare of customers...if they are even open for business. I love it that the hustle quits.

Women have cleaned drawers, cabinets, and closets and found things they had forgotten they possessed. I'm sure some are now well-prepared for a Spring garage sale. Men have caught up on files and correspondence and even cleaned off their work benches. "Ah-ha, so that's where my pliers have been!" "Under the lid of the left-open paint can I didn't put away because I decided on a dime to change the air-filters."

We all need "shut-down-time" to clean up the clutter accumulated in our hearts. We forget the simplest beauties of life because the loudness of hurry and pressure insisting we move to the next leap of activity.

Whew! It surely feels good to touch base with ourselves and find out what it really is we want to be about. Slow down this week. Pray. Or, don't pray. Just be still. God has bigger plans and dreams than our hurriedness will allow.

I like right now. Tomorrow may be great, but right now is simply adorable.....and I'm going slowly enough to realize it.

GOOD FRIDAY

Is believing easy or hard? Do you ever feel the shackles of doing faith? I mean, do you ever get frustrated with wanting to possess simple faith only to find it so complex? I do. So, today I want to be supportive of your faith trek.

Faith isn't a sheet of ten or fifteen instructions one picks up at Mardels. Relax, it's a lifestyle of fluidity due to perpetual growing, increasing, strengthening, and adjusting. Faith won't work for the lazy of mind and heart. It just won't because the mind that wants all matters set in stone is called to operate in matters set in Spirit.

I used to have a faith as frustrating as herding cats. I was spending all my time trying to keep every i dotted. I was nervous and neurotic. Such a life is wearying; eventually depressing.

I discovered I was trying to control God...and others. Romans 9:16 forced me to hand back the badge and the whistle. Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know I am God" was like shock to my not-be-still antsiness in the church.

Take a look at your day...and your schedule. Dismiss the things you've cooked up as "musts" and relax. Cancel some meetings. Stop the madness. Give yourself and others a break. Back off. Enjoy your Living God, His Living Word, and walk as if you are full of Him....Eph. 3:19.

Let's vow to really like today!

I KNOW A SECRET...ABOUT YOU

I received the following note yesterday regarding the (shoe)SHINE post from one of my seriously-greatly-highly treasured friends.

"I would've posted a comment but was too ashamed for others to see it. Conversation seems to come so easily for you. I always assume that no one would want to talk to me, or that I'd say something stupid. Sometimes I just don't want to be bothered, so my nose is in a book. I so want to be like you when I grow up."

I love her! Such wording is what ignites my fire for cheering on the world. If you could meet the woman who wrote this, you would not believe (you just wouldn't believe it) that she made this comment. She is magnetic. Everything about her seems ideal: she is picture perfect in health, appearance, demeanor, attitude, intellect, and spirit. For being human (meaning we each have flaw and sin) she is one of those you'd say is as good as it can get. You'd wish you could be like her....I do.

Yet, her response to yesterday's blog expresses so much of how we all feel about ourselves. We'd rather spare ourselves and everyone around us by pulling inwardly.

My point with all of this is what my friend has said about herself is what each of us feels in some zone. I battle enormous inferiority...yet I've made it my secret power. Not all of us are magnetic like her, but each has major strong points which we tend to hide "so that we don't say something stupid".

What's my secret? You see, I know a secret about everybody I know. Everybody has this lady's fear in some pocket of their being. That's why I can sit on a tour bus for hours with Loretta Lynn and be so comfortable that she ends up asking for my counsel....because I know she is world famous and still doesn't get past the self-flaws she feels certain stand out in public. That's why I can visit with Swindoll or McGwire or a homeless person....all of us are the same.

What can we do to break out? BE FREE TO SAY SOMETHING STUPID! I do. (Isn't that hilarious?) I do. I figure if I happen to say something stupid (just by accident, understand) it will let others in...because they are locked tight in some fear. My preaching has power in some areas because I'm not afraid to say "I was wrong" or "I did this poorly" or "I failed". It let's people in.

So? You are fascinating in places. You are strong. You are a blessing. Don't hide under a bushel (or a book, as she wrote). Risk. You'll make a difference for someone.

Finally, if you were in an airport and met the one who wrote this comment to me....you honestly would marvel at someone so beautiful would think you were worthy of her conversation. You'd feel honored!

Build up someone by telling us where you get afraid to try.
--

LET YOUR LIGHT (shoe)SHINE

So I'm flying out of Tulsa Monday morning and have the time to get my shoes shined before my flight leaves. I'm perched high overlooking the crowd as a man about my age approaches the area to be next in line for the shine.

The nice man working on my shoes inquired as to my destination. I told him Lubbock. The man waiting asked me if I lived in Lubbock. I told him that I lived in Tulsa. He said he lived in Lubbock, but is moving to Tulsa Thursday (lights go off in my head to bend this conversation to THE MEMORIAL DRIVE CHURCH OF CHRIST!)

So I inquired as to where he would live and he said Glenpool. He wanted to know where I lived (perfect door I was looking for). I said, "Well, I preach for the MEMORIAL DRIVE CHURCH OF CHRIST AT 9TH AND MEMORIAL, and I live about 17th and Memorial area."

His eyes lit and he began telling me that he was supposed to look up a Church of Christ preacher when he moves here but he couldn't remember the name. He said he was a Methodist and in a Bible study back home with a Nazarene, two Baptists and two Church of Christ preachers. One the the Church of Christ preachers told him to look up a guy who preaches in Tulsa and he paused...and he began fishing through his billfold to find the name. He couldn't find it.

He said, "Well, I just can't remember his name. I'll have to call Wayne and get it. I know he has a ministry with the St. Louis Cardinals and he directs some sort of big workshop that Wayne and I are going to attend."

He paid for my shoe shine and we sat together on both flights to Lubbock!

WHAT'S YOUR THEOLOGICAL POSITION?

How is a plain person supposed to fit into this church stuff? Listen to us. Deep need to express opinions find instant opposition, but no one individual seems to have most issues right. True, many believe our own stances to be of the One True Way, but even a child can step back and see each one of us has a common glaring lack about something...about many things.

How many find themselves firmly committed to a thriving ministry only to have onlookers see a spiritual, even critical, smugness has equally developed? How stable is our stance to reach the world with the Good News only to find some aren't feeling so good about the church? How many parents are devoted to seeing their children "raised in the church" to build a dynamic faith only to jerk the rug from them when their developed faith makes the parent fearful?

I find myself tossed to and fro due to my own misaligned systems of faith and effort. My stances keep unravelling, but my desire to build kingdom muscle continues to thrive! What's a plain person to do in determining his/her faith position?

Isaiah gives us a pretty good frame of reference: undone and in awe. Famous and inspiring chapter 6 shows this great prophet ruined into glory....his theological position was he had become so aware of his complete uselessness that his God seemed breath-takingly glorious! That's me!

That's my position!

I'm not and He is I Am!

FIERY FRIDAY....DAY OF MIKE

Fiery Friday is a day I've designated to counteract all the insensitive cold-water-throwing upon great ideas, wonderful projects, or amazing people. We choose to toss gasoline words upon greatness to see increased explosion of hope and joy. We build up by firing up!

Today let's heap gasolinic words onto Mike Cope. He's rehabbing from knee surgery. Let's pelt him with explosive phrases of cheer.

Mike is way too cool. He blesses the Kingdom everywhere he turns. A lectureship, workshop favorite, he has a knack of being genuinely normal. How many times is "Cope" quoted and he hasn't the foggiest he'd been honored? How many million times is "Cope" read from the pews of Blogville Church? How many times do we encounter him and our common vocabulary gasps for oxygen as we so wish we could say better what our minds already believe about his touch upon our happy hearts.

My heart desires to pour flamable wonder upon his life today that he might be made aware of at least a small smidge of the greatness he is to us. I want him to tuck our comments away for those dreary days when he wonders if he does any good for anybody anywhere.

What would you pour upon Mike Cope?

DON'T YOU LOVE RIGHT NOW?

I believe I may have missed much of my life.

I didn't realize for the longest time that Jesus said he came to give us life; life abundant. I merely possessed "getting by", "making it", "same ol' same ol'" kind of existence. God wants us to really live!

When we really live we don't sweat the small stuff, but we praise Him for it. If your shoes wear out, you must have legs and feet which are not crippled. If your eyes are strained, evidently you are not blind. If your back aches, the assumption is you are able to sit up on your own. If you have too many people clamoring for your attention, you must be either popular or in an important position or both.

Wax museums are full of "life-like" figures who look so real....but have no life. Streets and cafes and even churches have the same kind of inhabitants: people who appear real but have no life in them.

I'm on a campaign to love life right now! I tell God thank you that both arms work. One day a stroke might change that. I tell God thank you for headlights approaching me and taillights leading me...for the time might come I can neither drive nor see.

I tell God thank you that I am so mobile I am very tired at the end of the day. The day may arrive when I can't get to be as busy as I am now tempted to complain about. I tell God I am so happy He lets me read about Him via writings of Yancey and Nouwen, etc. Evidently my brain is still engaged in learning.

I'd hate to never realize the privilege of getting to be my many assorted wonders until it was all stripped from me. Liking myself has nothing to do with ego. It has everything to do with appreciation and gratitude.

I like right now! I won the lottery....and I'm it. How about you? Do you get it you've won the lottery and discovered He lives where you do?

WHAT? NO McGWIRE?

Baseball's Hall of Fame voted in Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn. Mark McGwire didn't make the cut. I feel sympathic toward him, not because I'm a Cardinal fan but, because I am a Mark McGwire fan. I like him. He is a normal person comprised of the same confidences and insecurities many of us hold.

If the voters are right and he should not be in the hall, that's the way it goes. But, I draw your attention that while millions, literally, view this public rejection as the news flashes across tv screens in thousands of bars, airport terminals, and in homes, there is a valuable and lonely individual who feels the rejection.

I know full-well this is a touchy subject. My point is this: how touchy of a subject do you think it is that God elects us to the Halls of Heaven? I think it scandalous! Yet, we seem to be accepted. I think I am a most fortunate man! How about you?

THE TULSA WORKSHOP

March 22-24, 2007 assumes to be marvelous. Check out the excitement building at www.tulsaworkshop.org. What an array of events being assembled: new classes for kids 8 to 10 years old, Forums for four specialty groups, the old standby speakers while usually 30% of the speakers are rookies!

The Tulsa Workshop is never a dull routine for me. We work on each year two years at a time. Think about it. I am now working on '07 AND '08 both! How fun!

Share with me...I want to hear your heart...what is the Tulsa Workshop like for you? What has it done for you? What does it mean to you?

THE MORE WE PRAISE HIM

We have the most wonderful gatherings at Memorial Drive on Sundays! In years gone by we would hit an occasional WOW! But, they seemed far and few between. I'd make every effort to duplicate an awesome format and it wouldn't show. Nowadays, we see such intense majesty and glory of God show up Sunday upon Sunday. What changed?

Several factors have greatly improved. The study of "Experiencing God" awakened us to get on board with God instead of begging Him to endorse our imagined programs. The determination to no longer preach about brotherhood issues and only preach about the hope of Christ, I believe has had its favorable effect.

The one thing from all of it that I observe as major is we have learned to praise God. We have learned by two outstanding workship leaders (Allen French and Shane Coffman) to truly capture the accapella thrill of connecting with Him. And, we've become a church more open; even expecting, to speak of the "God-things" going on in our midst.

The more we praise Him it seems we have more to praise Him about. It's like having good things happen backed by compound interest.

CHURCH STORIES...She Eventually Arose From the Grave!

When I first moved to Memorial I was 30 and eager to prove to the congregation I had what it took to be "their next great man". They had recently fired the previous preacher and I was bent on impressing all.

It wasn't long until two large sisters responded to one of my mega-powerful pleas for salvation and they were simultaneously moved to be baptized. The first sister fainted once she arose from the grave. The baptistery curtains were already closed and I scrambled trying to figure how to hide the body of the stranger who just now (I believed) had died in my arms. I could not recall us covering this in preaching school. No onlookers would help; each was frozen in stunning shock! Yep, she was dead all right!

Draped over my body, the lady was twice my size and I began to edge her soaked remains toward the steps (I had to dispose of her somehow; yet, she was way too big to hide) as the water began to slosh. In fierce and understandable panic, the noise of sloshing water (I felt) was tipping my hand to the audience on the other side of the curtains that preacher-murder had just been committed. I couldn't keep a simple thing like a baptized woman alive and now I couldn't even keep the fickle water quiet.

Drenched in inconsolable fright, I broke out in uncontrollable laughter because the setting was too much! A dead woman in my arms....I sent her directly to heaven and she never even got to have communion. I felt sure once the elders learned of this lady's death, we'd most assuredly have to have an elder's meeting. I would never be able to explain this one away.

Ultimately, to my great thrill, she came to about ten minutes later. I did baptize her sister next...but not without hesitation....from both of us.

What story do you have to share?

THE DONALD AND ROSIE

The media is filled with the hassle between Donald Trump and Rosie O'Donnell. Their voices are loud and their presence is bold.

I want you to study them: study their debate, their demeanor, and their disposition. What is it you see in them which needs to change that, upon reflection, you see in yourself as needing to be adjusted?

God Works

One of my favorite characteristics of God is He actually participates in our lives; in us. I pray constantly asking him not to leave me up at the pulpit by myself. I expect Him to connect the dots when I don't know who the dots/what the dots are nor how I fit in.

I encourage you that our Living God is an Active God. From cover to cover of the Word, He steadily reveals His love of defying the odds by working wonders for/through/with the underdog.

I fit into the kingdom perfectly because I am so nothing. So do you! "And such confidence we have through Christ toward God, not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.

Feeling a little lacking lately? Good. He's the One who makes life pop!

THE GOLD NOBODY WANTS

Kingdom gold is buried beneath every path we tread. It sits waiting extraction from the pragmatic to be drawn into the practical. Seldom do we dig it. The gold I speak of is the enormous value of rejection. Rejection is why preachers quit and elders resign. Too, it's why many potential leaders never start. If anyone is to become all they can be, they must learn to accept the framework of being insulted, abused, neglected, and injured. It doesn't go with the territory, IT IS THE TERRITORY.

Did He go to the cross? Are we expected to take up ours? Everyday? Are we called to count it all joy when we suffer? Really? Are we called to endure harsh treatment? Why are these important questions?

Because the answer to each one determines whether the believer will make it or break it. Too many good leaders quit. They just gave up. The church wasn't too mean. Their ideas weren't too stupid. They didn't understand God way of leadership. It carries the weight of perpetual and persisent burden. Such is our training ground. Many good leaders are in the making. Many will never finish because they don't like conflict; they don't like being rejected. Who does?

It's the path of Jesus....the slaughtered lamb. There is no other route to take. Nada! "We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." "Death works in us, but life in you" and on and on the text calls forth believers.

If your life is pretty rough at the moment, you have my sympathy and my applause. You may not be doing everything right. You surely are in a postion to discover gold!

SUPER SATURDAY....LIVE WIDE-EYED

Accept nothing you see as permanent. The unseen is the real.

When I moved to Memorial I often encountered the question, "How are you doing with your elders?" My response would be, "Of which ones do you speak? The ones I have now or the ones I have in 15 years? The ones I have now are great, but wait 'til you see the ones I have 15 years from now!" Don't assume the best of life has already been discovered and lived....by someone else. The greatest treasures, I believe, are yet to be discovered within the range of our very own paths.

I find it especially fascinating to think about some of God's best intended blessings which are secretly buried within the hearts and minds of the unbelievers in our neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces just waiting to be released into faith.

We must continue to dig, to sow, to reach out. Blessings for the church are hidden in unbeliever's hearts. They have God-gift awaiting release. We must uncover such marvelous, wonderful buried treasure so the kingdom can gain even more momentum!

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart!

Dare to live wide-eyed! Ignore the bemoaning skeptic. The church has yet to arrive close to its fabulous potential. That's why I would never want to leave it.

FIERY FRIDAY....RADICAL CHRISTIANITY

I have an idea which would set Islam and Judaism and Christianity and the rest of the religious world on it's head. There is a move I could make if only I could get permission granted from the Iraqi government. Oprah, Larry King Live, and the O'Reilly Factor would clamor to give God praise. The media would bombard by seeking interviews and they would be granted over the next 30 days. The message for each venue would be the same: THE GIGANTIC LOVE FOR THE WORLD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

Through such an extreme measure the world would be a stage upon which everyone would view with interest the unfolding of God's wisdom and compassion. The motive would be to gain fame and glory for the Master who has been lost in the shuffle of war by indifference, war by force, and war by words.

What I would like to do is get permission to hang in Saddam Hussein's place. Is that not what Jesus did for us? Would this not rock every corner of earth? Would God be fabulous in His working not yet tried for quite some time?

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...." Is that not what we should be doing? Wouldn't it be something if the word "radical" was used for once to describe a believer's love?

While one might be tempted to chalk this up as verbal nonsense, I suggest that the seed of courage just entered hearts which will (unknowingly at this moment) take profound stances of staggeringly brave love against forceful enemies of the future.

MIX UP A GOOD BATCH OF FAITH

I love God's teaching of how He creates something out of nothing and give life to the dead. Romans 4:17-25 is the text and it's conclusion is this remarkable thing called faith. It is available to all believers with the backing of resurrection power! I love it! We, therefore, are free to look at a need with no indication of possibility showing in the wings and create a solution.

I have been praying over the years for God to show up in the mainstream media and that Jesus would receive deserved recognition. Remember, maybe two years ago, Larry King Live interviewing the missionary in South America whose light plane was shot down? Days later the surviving Christian sat on national television and freely gave his testimony. Two days ago, December 25th, Rick Warren was on Fox News for an hour telling the story of Jesus and his call to the world. The program was repeated later in the day at least once.

I encourage you to take a look at needs in your work--in your area---and mix up a good batch of faith. Draw upon the resurrection power funding of God and let us know along the way what He does!

PRAYER: What's Your Story?

Let's build up some prayer steam as we encounter the new year. I'm not what you'd regard as a famous pray-er nor a great pray-er nor a deeply focused pray-er. So don't jump to a mistaken track as we discuss this. My point is prayer is for the ordinary....and such lets me in. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would register at the low end of prayer devotion.

About 30 years ago (I was 29 years old), I began praying that God would let me reach thousands of people before I die. I would pray this desire over and over while standing alone in the church auditorium in Quincy, Illinois. A call came from Memorial Drive in Tulsa to interview with them. While I was wowed beyond measure that they would ask me, I told them emphatically "No". God and I were building something special in Quincy.

When I was back at my prayer once again rehearsing my request to reach thou......it hit me! Maybe Memorial's call was His response. I felt ill, guilty, and ashamed that I'd even consider bailing on the church I loved so dearly. I called Tulsa and they did want to talk to me. I was hurt. This is not how I saw it going at all. "Quincy, God." "From Quincy for the world!"

I met with Memorial's elders and told them emphatically I could not move to Tulsa. But God's response to my prayer seemed to powerfully and clearly override my heart's desire.

Today He lets me reach the thousands through this position at Memorial, the impact of the workshop, and even this matter of blogville!

I cheer you on to keep praying. Sometimes we feel we nearly have to beg Him to answer us. In my case I found myself begging Him not to answer...but He wouldn't quit....AND I AM SO GLAD HE DIDN'T. I love being at Memorial....while I still love and adore the church in Quincy.

He has a way of making life explode! Keep up the praying. Don't let it slack off. GOD WORKS!

Share with us...encourage the rest of us...about a move God made with you along the way as a result of prayer.

Super Saturday...It's Christmas Eve Eve

Don't you just love right now? It's the day before the day before! I love Christmas!

Today, I throw gasoline on you! Thank you for being the kind of person you are. Thank you for caring about others and, yet, finding yourself sick over how selfish you are on too many occasions. Thank you for believing God is awesome and, yet, finding you are plagued with a double-portion of Thomas's doubting.

Thank you for believing in me when I can no longer believe in myself. Thank you for seeing the good in me when I botch one effort after another.

Thank you for your patience when I am at the end of the rope with mine. Thank you for continuing to give to me when I am a huge taker.

You bless the world....and I'm glad I'm in on it. You thrill so many....and thank you for including time for me.

Have a Super Saturday!
Terry

Fiery Friday....Unmentionedables

I made up a word....unmentionedables....to fit this day's intent to toss gasoline on heroes among us. Let's assemble a list of a few among us who serve so well, yet never stand with a microphone in their hand or have their picture hanging in the foyer beside an elevator named after them. My three are...ta ta da dat ta da....

JACK MAYNARD....retired television station engineer handles our sound (though he is handicapped with severe hearing loss), constructs our wiring landscape, and produces every sermon on audio and visual. I call him Dr. Maynard because the man is so smart he can fix anything! I love this man!

ETHELEN MAGNUSSON...retired...mother of two kids and a boo-koo of grandkids...and now a greatgrandmother, Ethelen comes through the church doors and beats it for the Teacher's Supply Room where she and partners keep the teaching materials flowing. Ethelen doesn't have the greatest of health, but she has the grandest of heart and attitude. She means very much to me!

JACK GILL....is recovering from surgery and illness right now. He is a humble man somewhere between 42 and 78 years old...just not sure, but I think mid 50s?
This man works in the Day Center for the Homeless, is often seen sitting at the bus stop for this next juncture of travel about town, and is one of the most loved members at Memorial. Jack loves us! He brings such power to the heart of this church. I am better because Jack showed up!

I have tons more "Unmentionedables" to toss into the fire....but for today, this will have to do! It's your turn to talk......

....who say ye is a great unmentionedable?

WE'LL ALWAYS BE SEEKERS

"First seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness" was voiced by Jesus in "The Sermon". The kingdom part is obvious. We want to be about "My Father's business", but why His righteousness?

We are to seek His because ours won't do....ever. Our combined right way of doing things...any things...many things....will never meet the standards of God. Never. Not even close. Until one accepts this fact, he will forever be seeking the kingdom on his own righteous standard....and he'll never find the kingdom. The kingdom is a wonderful secret buried in front of only the surrendered eyes.

I am a louse. Fact. I am not close to shoring up a couple of my strengths in order to impress Him...or you. I can't cut it. Jesus rightness cuts it. God switched out my sour rightness with Jesus's sweet rightness while Jesus wasn't looking on the cross!

Am I right with God? Oh, yeah! But never because of anything I do, but because of all He did. "He made Him who knew no sin be sin on our behalf that we might be come the righteousness of God(II Cor. 5:21)." I am right---not on the basis of how good I've done, but---on the basis of how wrong Jesus became on the cross.

"He saved us, not on the basis of deeds we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy....(Titus 3:5)"

The only ones saved are all who reach a clear understanding we cannot save ourselves.

RELAX, REGROUP, AND REACH OUT

Beware of me. Beware of us. Jesus is the Truth. We are not. The truth will set one free. Truth has died a thousand casualties due to name brand religions or churches building their courses of faith on a hand full of passages. Thy Word is Truth, thy Word says. It is. Thy Word also warns of claiming man-made rules as truth....yet, we do anyway. Thy Word says we are to resist the captivity of men's traditions....and how God's people cry for release from such captivity.

A problem with all of this is it's tough to differentiate between Truth and Tradition if we have been programmed to believe Tradition is Truth. The reason the majority of our members do not teach their neighbors about the love of Christ is not because they are smug or heartless. They haven't a clue how to make the Bible fit their form of Truth. It's just too complicated.

Explain our stance on the three laws of interpretation when the Bible doesn't express such. How should our people teach what true worship is when their pattern is the congregation in the 50s and 60s, but not displayed in the New Testament? How shall our people
teach from the New Testament many congregations with many elderships when the Truth shows only one set of elders per city? How can our people justify no instruments in worship, yet endorse buildings and land?

The truth is our people can't. They may never say it...what's worse they don't say it. They don't say anything to collegues and neighbors because it's too hard to share this dead-end maze. Our wonderful people are tied up in knots; entangled in opinion and wishful thinking.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. There's a neighborhood near us crumbling and dissentegrating in front of our eyes. We have the best news in the world. It's not the news men have made up. It's the news Jesus delivered...and there is such a difference. May we get better at saying what he said and reporting the results. Relax in the Word. Regroup your thoughts to fit his walk. Reach out.

IF YOU COULD NAME IT

I am deep into March '07 workshop and am putting intial touches to the '08 one (Garnett is taking a break so Memorial has it for '07/'08/'09...and we are quite pumped!). We are seriously looking at the theme for '08 of "PRAYER: Our Declaration of Dependence"

If you were in my chair would you go with that theme? Do you have other ideas?

Small Group Study Book

I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm wowed at what I'm experiencing and simply passing it along. I often recommend books and this time I'm recommending my own...for a special reason. This study is bringing new life to individuals and congregations.

Years ago I wrote a little book called the Holy Spirit Makes No Earthly Sense....because He makes heavenly sense. The book didn't really fly well until it was finally out of print. Afterward, we took calls for years (literally)of many trying to find the book. Finally I rewrote it in studybook form and renamed it Empowering the Ordinary (the Holy Spirit helping inadequate believers). It's going like crazy. Has for a year now. It's being used in Russia (translated) and Nigeria as well. Small groups are soaking it up.

If you'd like a copy, email me. The books are $14.95 plus s/h. Six or more orders are $8.50 plus s/h. Ladies classes, small groups, and individuals are enjoying the study of the Holy Spirit participating in our lives.

Contact me: cardinalmuseum@memorialdrive.org

Fiery Friday...Impact People

We throw no water to kill dreams. On Fridays we toss gasoline to grow even greater fires of effectiveness. Today let's comment on two or three (or four) who have made benchmark impact on our lives.

LANDON SAUNDERS preached in a sermon in 1978 that Jesus came to work in the marketplace. My view of Jesus improvedly shifted to living where we live. Awesome sermon.

TROY SINGLETON, in about 1979, taught us that Jesus was so normal he had earwax and stomach cramps. I've never forgotten yet another improved concept of how Jesus related as a human.

WILLIAM BARCLAY wrote that the believer tends to only begin a ministry where he/she can start and finish the project. If one is traveling through New York and meets a waitress seemingly interested in God, Barclay points out many believers tend to not reach to her because they will soon be out of her life. Then Barclay points out the Holy Spirit knew how to put such a believer in her path and knows how to follow-up with the next believer to continue the conversion process. It opened my eyes to His working so vastly beyond my imagination.

LLOYD AND LUCILLE ERNST transformed my fear of reaching to the lost. They showed me how to reach, how to let God do the converting, how to believe their are masses who still want to know about God. I didn't believe it at first. They patiently stuck with me. Lloyd and Lucille taught me to believe everybody wants to be saved somewhere along the way.

Who impacted you?

Dream Forward

Clint Davis's comment on this blog (yesterday) about planting Christmas trees in Uganda (http://www.kibogroup.org/mvuleproject.html) is precisely the kind of stuff I love to hear about.

This morning's paper reports the death of Lamar Hunt. He is credited with establishing the K.C. Chiefs football team and naming the Super Bowl. One idea failed. He wanted to buy Alcatraz and turn it into a theme park/shopping destination. The local community protested and the idea died. Can you imagine the community would rather have a prison? How often to great ideas die because preference to keeping the prison in tact overrides building an exciting park?

I thought I had a great idea for Memorial which would have worked but it didn't fly. I wanted to sell the building and transfer the proceeds to establish ministries to the poor. What church does this except maybe one in Acts...where they sold their possessions?

We could establish drop-in care for abandoned mothers as they ran to the doctor or went back to school. We could get dealerships to sponsor vans to transport the elderly to the doctors. We could get land donated (since we had given up our property) for camps for inner city kids and mentally handicapped children and use such camps to train our church teens how to minister all summer long. On an on the proposal continued.

Paul Harvey would have reported a church in America that gave itself away and, I believe, someone would have donated a facility for our church family to assemble in. A new vision of Christianity would capture the doubting/indifferent in our communities. I saw it as a way to get the community to help us and minister with us and eventually become a part of us. But we didn't try.

Of course it was extreme. I understand the hestitation. During the time I was proposing this to a set of elders many years back, an unsolicited offer to buy our property came along. Without checking with anyone else the seeker was told no we weren't interested in selling. I felt we should be.

Maybe my idea was way wacky. Maybe it was a foolish dream. My point is the grand march around the Jericho Walls and the reduction of Gideon's army was just as wacko and if we keep our dreams opened sometimes there'll be a match.

Soon into Christianity, dreamed of getting to be a preacher. The church which converted me told me I really didn't want to preach. But I did....I did at least want to try.

When your Alcatraz's die under protest, don't let your imagination suffer setback. Keep dreaming forward!

Nothing New Under the Sun

Don Millican's article (yesterday's post), I think, has a larger message I wanted young leaders to note. Don wrote what many have felt or pondered, but had yet put into words. His thoughts are clear; yet, with such depth they continue to call for our sorting/wading through.

I draw your attention to the fact he did not parrot the norm. He thought past the coffee shop chatter and beyond the Bible study rhetoric. Whether facing acceptance or rejection, he went out on a limb with his idea.

Everyone has in-built dreams from God. I wonder how many life-changing, church-changing, eternity-changing concepts go unannounced because we forget to dream from God's ability. Walt Disney is reported to have said, "Anytime I propose a great idea to the board and it is unanimously rejected, I start work on the project immediately."

Walt Disney was a dreamer. Joseph was a dreamer. You are a dreamer. If one billion concepts have been successfully released upon mankind, there surely are a million billion mega-zillion ideas awaiting hatchment. All of the potential ideas have not yet been thought.

Do your best to cooperate in harmony with one another. Then, dare to imagine what could be if God were to land in the center of another great idea.

I'm glad Millican said what he did. I'm more encouraged that he said something in a way I had not yet heard. I believe it true, there is nothing new under the sun. However, for me, there're a lot of square miles under the sun unexplored.

Being Salt and Light

I must share my delightful surprise to see a note from my friend, Philip Yancey, pop up on a previous post, "A Great Gift for Christmas". And then, I found out Sunday that Theresa Underwood reads my blog! I am still on a spending spree of friends!

On to another matter, Don Millican, elder at Park Plaza in Tulsa, wrote a most challenging article in Sunday's Tulsa World. I have felt increasingly uneasy over the years about the portrayal Christians are taking on for ourselves in the political arena. Thus, I pass the article on to you for consideration. If you don't care for the political scene, I'll catch you tomorrow. If you do, take a look.

Readers Forum: Being salt and light to all the world By DON MILLICAN 12/10/2006 View in Print (PDF) Format
I am, though imperfectly so, a conservative evangelical Christian. I make no apologies for that. And, if you are not one, there are obviously significant issues about which you and I will disagree. Perhaps that discussion is for another time, but for now, I invite you to listen in on a conversation with my fellow evangelicals:
Brothers and sisters, it is time for us to no longer allow our political affiliation and views to be presumed or for a single political party to assume our allegiance to the point that they can ignore our interests. And it is time that we cease allowing our views to be marginalized by being relegated to a two or three issue platform, prompting the rest of America to cast us as extreme and irrelevant -- the religious right. How did this happen to us? How did our witness for the teachings of Jesus become distorted so? As is often the case with unintended consequences, I'm afraid that much of the answer lies with us.
We speak, as we should, for morality, and yet do we speak for morality in all its facets? It is clear that Jesus considered morality to include taking care of the poor. One cannot read the 25th chapter of Matthew without understanding the centrality to the teachings of Christ of care
for the underprivileged. He tells us that He is embodied in the poor and the outcast, and warns that how we treat them is, in fact, how we treat him. Is it moral that we are spending hundreds of billions of dollars giving tax breaks to people like me and in executing a war, while the basic educational and health-care needs of the poorest of our society are being inadequately met? Is it moral if workers' wages are inadequate to allow them to reach self-sufficiency or that more and more working families have no health insurance?
Scripture has much to say about the proper treatment of workers and severe condemnation for those who mistreat or take advantage of them. And speaking of workers, is it moral for us to enjoy cheap products if the Third World workers who produce those products are being paid less than a living wage? Where has our evangelical voice been in addressing morality issues such as those?
We say that we want a Christian nation, and yet are we prepared to accept what the hard teachings of Christ would say to a Christian nation? Rather than practicing an "eye for an eye" or "life for a life" retaliation policy, Jesus taught "turn the other cheek" and "love your enemies." Those teachings are unequivocal and cannot be explained away.
Are we really prepared to apply those teachings of Jesus to our foreign policy and our criminal punishment laws such that we are "pro-life" in every aspect of our policy agenda and such that we do not give up so easily on non-violent solutions? Jesus said "I was a stranger, and you took me in." Would Christ be so harsh in His immigration policies as many today would propose? The prophet Isaiah defined "fasting" that God wants from us as "to loose the chains of injustice" and "to set the oppressed free."
Are we prepared to accept from these teachings that civil rights must be a passionately espoused component of any Christian policy agenda, even civil rights for those whose lifestyles and beliefs we might not accept? Do we also understand that any policy platform that we advance must be forceful in its support for international human rights if we are to be true to the charge given us to free the oppressed?
By these comments, I do not suggest for a moment that we abandon one political party and run headlong into another. As E.J. Dionne Jr., said, "If the church causes discomfort only to one political party when both are in need of repentance, it is not being the church."
What I am suggesting, though, is that it is high time that our evangelical Christian voice begins to speak with the prophetic force by which it was first delivered, on the full range of Christ's teachings -- and addressed to both political parties.
If Jesus were walking the Earth today, from his actions and his words, some might understandably describe him as a bleeding heart liberal. But in truth, he is more accurately described as a bleeding hands, feet and side compassionate. And so must we be if we intend to bear his name.

One Huge Spending Spree

MLB's Winter Meetings concluded Thursday and several mediocre players signed for millions on top of millions. When you ponder that kind of money the mind can drift into la la land considering all one could do with "that kind" of dough! Due to envy one could become blind to his or her own marvelous possesssions.

However, I really believe I already live there. I am "millions-dollar-wealthy" in friends. I live in the church like I'm on this perpetual spending spree of trying to be with everyone I know. I feel like a kid at church going from one aisle (hallway) to the next greeting and cheering and hugging all my friends. I love today....and every day called today.

From Darrel and Barbara way down South to Greg and Janice way out West to Jeff and Trinity way up North to Doug and Tiffany way down Southeast....and everywhere in between...I am wonderfully rich in friends. From Lynn, Shawn, Tracy, Marvin, Charlie, etc of the locals and then add Dan and Theresa, Lee and Marcy, Tony and Lea Anne, Randy and Kerrie, and on and on and on of Memorial's members...I'm a "million-dollar-kind-of-guy"! I pass by our office crew often with the words, "Don't you just love me?" They crack up...of course. But it's one of my ways to breaking them loose from routines which, if not careful, can turn potential shopping sprees into mediocre moments of daily rote jobs. Love the moment!

Do we not find the church the most brilliant, popping, and exhilerating place on earth? Did not Jesus say he came to give us life and go give it abundantly? And don't we think being of "million dollar gratitude" would fit the abundant description?

We are on one huge spending spree every day, folks. Notify your heart and your face and your step. Wake up early and get on the with the celebrating. We have spending to do!

Don't you just love getting to be you?

FIERY FRIDAY

It's that time of week, once again, to toss some gasoline onto someone deserving of applause. We take this day to shower some with gasoline that their productive world go up in flames....flames of success....rather than having cold water tossed resulting in quenched ambition.

Today I applaud my daughter, Wendy Michelle Rush Chapel. Fifteen years ago last night her fairly steady world began to completely unravel. Her fiance, as well as his brother, were victims of gruesome murders. The days, weeks, and months ahead were blinding as cavernous darkness.

An immediate battle with Epstein-Barr soon took over. Continuing college was not feasible. We brought her home. Wendy's life was now reduced to long hours confined to her bedroom; her best friend absent in finality and her pursuit of education derailed. But she didn't pout; she didn't quit. She moved to Dallas to start over. The day she pulled out of the driveway en route to Dallas, I waved a tearful farewell and then promptly checked her room to see if she had forgotten anything. I opened the closet door and their encountered everything completely removed....except one wedding dress hanging alone off in one corner.

In Dallas she met on of the greatest men on earth, Chris Chapel. He reversed her life. Our family adores Chris.

A year and a half ago Wendy gave birth to premature twins. Ana Rush Chapel died after a few days. She was indentical to her baby sister and looked like a store-bought babydoll. We stood at the grave with Chris and Wendy and said farewell to one we briefly met.

Wendy has not wasted tragedy. She has insisted it be productive. Her stability runs optimistically deep. While she and Chris reside happily in Atlanta, Wendy has encountered a young deaf woman grieving over the loss of her husband eight months ago. The young woman is fearfully lost. Wendy knows all the feelings; she knows how to face this tough-stuff head on and win. Simultaneously, she is helping a close friend bear up under the fears of her child born prematurely and weighing in at two pounds.

Wendy is one of my heroes. The neat thing about her is she's normal. One would give her a break if she wanted to have moments of "poor me", but she has never spent one such moment. Her life praises God.

Wendy-the-Pooh.....you look like you know the Living God! I love you today!

Elders Who Feed Us Freedom

Last night Memorial experienced some amazing event! We adopted a nearby elementary school. Some of our people go in every week and read to the kids. This week the church took gifts to the three secretaries.

Lindbergh accepted an invition to perform their Holiday Program for us at Memorial Drive last night. 65 kids stood on risers and sang with occasionally wobbly choreography. Applause was everywhere! There were maybe 150 parents and neighbors....mostly from our community to join in on the cookies and drinks afterward. The place was a wonderful buzz.

No one went to the elders to get permission to do this. They gave us permission a long time ago to pursue opportunities in the kingdom. There was no elders' meeting to discuss, arrange, or gain approval. We get to try around here. Sometimes we fail. Sometimes we succeed. For the mostpart we have the room to make the effort.

To be fair there are occasions when, through discussions, there will arise an idea the elders will deem unwise and will properly impose their judgment. I say that to say they lead; they are not out of touch with us. The opposite is true. They still recall being younger and having ideas which died in the meetings.

If there was one thing I believe would inspire 90% of our church families it would be to increase the number of elders who trust their members' opinions as much as their own.

In this week's bulletin our elders will read for the first time an announcement: the women of Memorial will be having an event called WinterBlast. It's a gathering of our ladies on a January Saturday for a brunch, games, and door prizes, etc. Of course it's all right to have this. Of course the elders didn't know about it. They respect the faith of our people. We simply go to work....and the shepherds are in there helping us set up, take down, express their pride in us. WE FEED FROM THEM.

I urge other elders to move away from the board meetings and let your flock breathe freedom to minister in their many potentialed ways. Stand down from the permission givers and step into the applauding cheerers role. I marvel at what God gets done around here....and I love it!

Forward With A Focus

I love right now! Kingdom opportunities are everywhere! As leaders we are challenged to know where He leads. There are three main areas of Kingdom work I sense God's call for my followship:

1. The Memorial Drive Congregation
I love this church with all my heart. I dream about it and
for it every day. Because of the leadership freedom I get to
be around, I find I am still able to dream some of the wildest
stuff and just see "if" it just might work. I know the name of
every member and care for their personal thrill of feeling
connected to the mighty workings of God. It is my focus to
charge this flock with too-good-of-news-to-be-true every
time they hear me speak.

2. The Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop
I have felt for a long time I was called to Tulsa for the
purpose of influencing and impacting the workshop. It is
more than a buzz. It's a Holy Spirit calling. I love it,
believe in it, am still enamoured with it. I see God get more
done with me in three days than the rest of the year
because of the adventurous spirit of a renewly ignited
brotherhood!

3. The younger ministers/leaders in the church
I am not old, yet. However, I am older than many which is
exciting. God has given me a keen eye for the new guys on
the block. Three work on our staff at Memorial. There are
hundreds and hundreds arising. We are in good shape
brotherhood-wise as to the future men and women being
groomed. I want in on it. They have my attention.

Yesterday I received an invitation by Free Indeed to go to Africa with them next summer. How good would that look on my resume`? Mom would be proud! However, I declined as I want to do a good job with the three things above. That doesn't mean I'll never go to Africa. It does mean I can decline without feeling pressed, guilty, or like a failure who appears disinterested in global evangelism.

Are you feeling good about your direction? Do you feel it's becoming clear as to your mission? Mine evolved over time with Him. I never wrote out a personal mission statement....but rather I noticed He had developed one for me. Much funner!

The Wonderful Dread of Preaching

A young preacher, Gilbert Kerrigan, asked if I would make a comment on his blog regarding sermon preparation. I really hadn't thought much about the process. As I wrote concepts, God's real participation and interaction became apparent. Thus, I share with you my response to Gibert hoping it will encourage you to risk the vulnerability to believing our Living Lord participates in our lives. Here's my response.

Admittedly, mine may be way out there, but it’s what actually goes on and what works for me. I used to be thrilled when I finally thought of next Sunday’s sermon and sick as soon as it was over. What’s left to study….to say? Now things are much different.
I study during the week to learn. If I haven’t learned something about God and His Kingdom during the week, I have nothing to say. I study to learn for me. As I go through that process I listen for Him to speak through society: i.e., a song on the radio, a comment by a waitress, a conversation with a friend over coffee. God will, somewhere along the week and every week, speak to me about what He needs to be addressed the next week.
Then I go to a computer file called LIBRARY where I have logged topics/scriptures referenced in the maybe 150 books on my shelves. I have hundreds of entries and if I need to recall what I studied about “fathers” I can go to the LIBRARY and it will tell me the six books and page numbers to recall what I’ve read earlier…often years earlier.
I study that material and wait for Him to speak about what He’s thinking. Often what I preach does not come from flesh and blood…it comes from ideas He gives me. Ideas….that’s as close as I can come to explaining His speaking to me. Too, I’ll go ahead and say, He always gives me the trump point on Sunday morning when I’m shaving or showering. We always meet in the bathroom.
I don’t rehearse the sermons because mine are never done until I’m done delivering them as He may change a point along the way. I meet with a few men at 7:30 every Sunday morning for pray for an hour over the morning ahead. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I THINK I DO ALL WEEK.
I fully trust Him to stand with me and say things with the level of Life He intends. It’s a scary, sickening privilege to get to preach. I have a love/dread of the role. I’m enamoured with the thrill of it and sick with the thought of missing my audience….every time I preach. The pressure still makes me cry about it every week.
Now, I’ve let you in on something here. Don’t tell anybody.

The Gold Rush Lives On

How would you like to own a gold mine? I mean really....guaranteed to contain the real thing. How would you respond to such discovery? If you were notified of such an acquisition, what would you say to everyone you meet? And then, how would you feel when informed of the risk and cost of extracting the prized ore? Wouldn't it be worth the struggle and concentration and effort in order to tap into promised wealth? Imagine the harvest!!!!!

We have such hope. We are promised God's grace that we may have an abundance for every good deed. The risk is we have to prime the pump by giving what little we have away. It is true, every believer is actually sitting upon their own gold mine of God's grace that we may have an abundance for every good deed.

It has been my conviction for three decades the greatest undiscovered secret to mankind is the thrill, the joy, the risk, and the result found in giving. When couples seek my counsel regarding their financial straights, I advise them to increase their giving. When I visit with a young pair for pre-marital advice the one thing I am certain to cover is risking by intentionally developing a habit of giving money to God.

Malachi shares God's call to try Him out on this one. He says, Test Me. Just wait and see if the Heaven's don't open up to you. I've tested. He's right. I cheer you on right now. You, my friend, own your own gold mine.....backed by God....so live like it by giving like it.

Fiery Friday....AGAIN

10 1/2 inches of snow this morning in Tulsa, OK!!!!!!

Let's continue that Friday thing we've been trying by throwing some gasoline on some good people who make a difference for so many. This week let's explode on those who influenced us as kids or who influenced our kids in good ways they may never know.

CHARLES COIL inspired me to preach with passion. I met him while at Preston Road. I was 24. When I heard him preach, my grades soared in homeletics. Fortunately, I got to share such with him over the years as we became close friends. I'll not forget what Charles Coil showed me regarding pulpit skills.

MINDY PITTMAN was a huge influence on Wendy. Approximately four years older, Mindy gave special attention to my girl; treated her with kindness and thoughtfulness. The power of a teen mentoring a pre-teen is priceless. Wendy grew to return the treatment to those younger than her because she had a friend who trained her well. MINDY PITTMAN.....I salute you!

CHRIS JONES was Dusty's hero. Chris remains a solid leader in the church. Without realizing it, he provided Dusty with a tangible vision of what a popular, successful business man can accomplish for God. Chris' role...while totally unassigned...fulfilled what each of us dreams of. He walked the talk and inspired a boy to become a man of God. Chris, I applaud your true and consistent leadership.

LINDA JONES taught Timmy to read. He later grew to be known as "Tim". Teachers and two tutors had not been able to connect his mind to the written page. Linda asked if she could work with him. He quickly learned to read. (I don't think they ever worked on spelling.) Even today she will tell you she didn't do anything special except build confidence in him. How special! Linda, I throw gasoline on you to continue to brighten life in all directions!

Share what someone did for you or your children along the way which seems to never be forgotten.