YOUR SIZE FITS WITH ALL

Our Western culture is set up for perpetual notification of failure. Strange, I know, but think about it. Why the marketing glut? We are targeted with messages of "we could do better."

We either are too heavy or too sagging or drive a car that gets poor gas mileage or have mustaches too gray or own auto policies which are too costly. An hours worth of television or radio programming will assure us we are a pitiful sort....but help is around the corner.

Is is any wonder men, women, and children go through days feeling that, in whatever state, we have sorely missed the mark? The ultimate product for self-improvement is only an 800 number away. And, don't forget, if we place that call within the next ten minutes we can have two of the one thing we really must have in order to be top notch.

I experienced this in my earlier days of ministry; believing that regardless of what I brought to the table I could not possibly be close to adequate. I was too short or too uneducated or too silly...well that's enough for now. But I learned something from God which has reduced my complexes as well as my envies and jealousies.

I learned we do not work as individuals but as a body. Today I can be expressively grateful for Rick Atchley because he advantages me. To have him in the loop and on the team; I just got stronger. I don't have to try to be a good as Liz Pence. I can now enjoy the fact that her labor in the kingdom compliments my efforts (and mine hers). Furthermore, what little God can get from me is a plus for preachers here and teachers there for God's body in Jesus is fluid and effective---via each of us---by His Holy Spirit.

Room for improvement? Always. Discouraged because we are not ideal? No more. The body of Christ is ideal and we are set on maturing in him.

You are enough in Jesus. Your efforts are linked to those of believers miles away and even centuries away. God's synchronization is perfect and pure. We matter. Due to the Spirit we are good enough to be significant. We co-labor with Him.

We have reason to believe our size fits into the body with all others! Each of us counts. Each shines the light on the glory of another. God is to be praised. Honor is His alone.

WHAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR US MAY NOT BE WHAT THEY NEED

Church is always powerful. It can lift spirits to life or pull them down to death. Just because it is called church does not assure it to be a life-giving force. This surely needs our attention.

We are in that ever-threatening position of believing that what makes church click for us is what the unchurched need. Maybe what has been enough for us isn't for others.

Church stagnantism is the result of a religious group subtly shifting from robust theology to numbifying rote lethargy. Pattern---the pattern of course that we like---edges God from His throne and takes over the mind-set of the gatherers for self-pleasing consumption.

It is our ever-constant duty to find the methods which will do two things; align within biblical boundaries and draw the community's hearts. A matter of right and wrong isn't necessarily the issue. Putting together spiritual movement that hooks unbelievers is.

It is possible and probable and even normal to find those things which lift our spirits while drawing others. This post is simply to awaken any who could be stuck in churchianity to the point of neglect should we have forgotten to ponder what we might do differently to win our neighbors.

May we obtain a flow of wisdom from above which pleases God, engages us, and reaches seekers.

FROM FIRST GRADE READER TO THE BIBLE

Faith is not a step. It is the foyer to all of the kingdom rooms. Enter into faith and a new system opens before your very..... your very what? Before your very heart eyes...Eph. 1:18.

Why heart eyes and not the flesh ones?

This topic was born in the Garden. Sin happened and what was it of Adam and Eve that was opened? Their eyes. From such a negative moment, God has pleaded that we not fall for the deceit of what those carnal eyes see.

Why?

When carnal eyes evaluate (from the opposite system of faith), they are connected directly to human reason. Our bodies respond accordingly. What, therefore, is expected when carnal eyes take the back seat and the heart eyes lead?

Eyes of the heart see God in potential, possibility, and provision. Flesh eyes didn't see any of the three coming in the wilderness; except for Joshua and Caleb's heart eyes. Their faith led to the reality of God's promise. All others folded in the center of potential. Carnal eyes lack the vision of God. Heart eyes are invisible goggles with the ability to see into the....invisibles.

We are to walk by faith and not by sight; so Paul exhorted. The difference in the two depends upon the set of eyes used. Carnal eyes, if permitted, will talk the heart and mind out of effort for kingdom use (think back to the wilderness failures). Yet, the heart eyes will believe what the carnal eyes refuse to confirm (Joshua and Caleb).

The dynamic of faith is it can see probability when the opposite prefers to retract and hide in fear. The first word I learned on my first day at first grade in the Dick and Jane book was Look!

The entire message of God's book is wonderfully the same; Look!

AS IT TURNS OUT, I AM THE KIND I OPPOSED

Ah, Jesus surely stirs the kingdom pot. He is ever active. Taking the gospel to all of the world is of extreme fascination. Surprisingly, he first takes it inward to the heart of the taker.

To say I find joy in God is an understatement. To experience His hand is the ultimate. And it goes on and on. How merciful can He be?

Baffling to my mind is the reversal God has made in my approach to kingdom work....when I wasn't suspecting such a need. I have become the very kind of man I was trained to oppose. I get the critic's disdain for one like me for I was groomed to stand against what I now stand for.

My goal was to make Church of Christ out of Baptists and Presbyterians because we did Bible right. Furthermore, I was at the top of the charts in the Church of Christ as far as proper perspective and mighty goals.....so I thought.

I thought wrong.

I was a biblical character; to be sure. I was a Pharisee who was clueless as to the nature and mission of Jesus. Law was my sword. Debate was my glory. Jesus was my demise. Now I am the very kind I could not and would not tolerate.

I get my critics for I was hatched from their incubators. The grasp for "that's not right" can be all-consuming. Jesus? Well, we close prayers in his name. The Holy Spirit? Don't even go there.

The conversion of Saul to Paul is reflective in places. It wasn't just that he shifted from Judaism to Christianity. Transitioning from a law man with six-gun and holster to operating under the influence of one named Jesus was stark in its polarization.

I identify. To move from carrying my Bible as a snare for the stupid to being snagged by the Savior is a thrilling, surprising, and stunning journey. I wasn't looking for it...for I had no need....so I assumed.

As it turns out, I am the very kind of Christian I earlier opposed. Should you have a yen for living under church law, Jesus is looking for you, too.

JESUS IS A TRAIN WRECK THAT DID HAPPEN

Is it natural, or what, to assume that anything not going well is another's fault. That's how I took it. If what I was doing was the wrong direction, then I wouldn't have taken it in the first place (I assumed). I had to be right. Regarding any task at hand which seemed fouled, the fouler surely could not be me.

I had to think again. It could. It was.

What I am about to say could be regarded as overly simplistic. While it is, it is not to be disregarded with a shrug of indifference. I learned a major fact about a major deficit in my earlier ministry efforts; specifically my preaching and teaching. Both were Jesus-less.

I had no idea this was a problem. Because I salted and peppered his name into sermons, I assumed I was preaching him. I wasn't.

I was devoted to preaching Church of Christ. I read R. L. Whiteside and J. W. McGarvey to find out what I (no really what we) believed and why. When one preaches CoC with defensive gusto, quarrels and all sorts of divisive squabbling follows. But when Jesus is preached....long enough....two things seem to occur: (1) it quickly separates some, and oddly (2) and new kind of harmony begins to develop. There seems to be basic reasons for both.

Separation quickly arises because Jesus will not co-habit a doctrine(s) where he is not supreme. On the other hand, harmony develops because, as Jesus is pondered, our own personal guilt of blatant sinfulship abounds to the point we yearn for his righteousness for ours wreaks of denial and bias.

Both positions tout the Name. The legalistic me referenced Jesus to give him credit for the textual stories. The grace me sees him from a completely different stage. I now see him as a person. I watch his walk. I note things like his lack of panic. His tenderness with each underdog and underdogette is a slap in the face of legalistic tendencies.

Legalism is much easier for one doesn't have to study; but rather parrot and judge. Jesus, though, is ever drawing and ever growing and ever changing....us.

Just as some say they believe in grace when they seem to believe in the word (itself) and not in the activity of it, Jesus can become merely a proper pronoun. I hear others say, Well I believe in the Holy Spirit. Yet, they speak of Him restrictively meaning they believe in His existence but not His immediate activity.

So it is with Jesus. Do we drop his name as an endorsement of faith? Or, do we believe him to be alive, in person, and reigning Lord of the now? He is a personal savior and friend; not a mere religious brand icon.

As we grow into his personality, we will find ourselves more ajar to our religious habits. Jesus is a train wreck that did happen....to me. And....I'm grateful. It is ongoing. When I see him I am forced to lay down my plea to look at what I thought I had believed well and seek his mercy to be allowed to participate again tomorrow.

CATCH THE "TRAINING SEMINARS" OF GOD

Walls baffle our future mobility. We seems to encounter them in cycles. They might be shocking news or stunning reports or simply deep discouragement. Overwhelmed would be the sensation for each.

So what shall we do?

For too long I tried to maneuver each barricade with analysis and plot. Failure usually followed. Being a dreamer I would then do my best to create yet another set or two of concepts which might resolve the puzzling dilemma. More failure.

Finally, I learned to use these exasperating moments as "training seminars" to teach me how to rely upon God. Simply said, I know; but not easily encountered by my control-timed brain.

My mistake was in persistent effort of trying to fix things and people. Seldom would I succeed. When God convinced me I couldn't, He began to persuade me He could. Thus, from the "training seminars", I learned that God runs the show....and I don't. How quick of a learner must I be?

What can we really do to succeed when success isn't within our abilities?

When facing a mountain range of trouble, try to remember God's Red Sea power. When tempted to write off a failing friend, think about Jesus' compassionate style with the woman at the well. When suffocating by thoughts of distress and grief, lean upon the call to lift the eyes of your heart to the riches and the power and the glory of God....Ephesians 1:18ff. When buried in situations which kill the heart, apply God's resurrection power toward us who believe...Romans 4:17-25.

God isn't God only to call us to a church assembly. He is our God to walk with us and live within us day by day for the good, the bad, and the ugly. Jesus died to heal. Draw near to him when without explanation or proof such a move will be of any benefit. Let Him be Him. He knows how to bring about hope. We learn this when attending "training seminars" that He knows how to bring about hope. Good days or bad...hope reigns...Romans 5:1-5.

A threat we must take seriously is that we would be attending one of God's specially designed training seminars....and not realize we were there.

A ROLE SEEMS TO BE DEVELOPING

I am beginning to wonder if I am becoming "Dear Abner" as the male counterpart to "Dear Abby". My emails and phone calls seem to increase with questions about sticky-wicket ministry. And...I really enjoy it.

I am sure this role is coming about due to my age (which, by the way, isn't nearly as old as I once had assumed). Regardless, I am honored to be in touch with whomever because I first believe in whomever.

Never do I disregard inquiries. If the topic was important enough for one to ask, then it is also important enough to give thoughtful response.

Don't misunderstand. I clearly get it I am not the answer man. We all have colleagues and elders, etc. to weigh our thoughts or vent our frustrations. Yet, I thoroughly enjoy being in touch with (especially the young) preachers who run into stubborn walls here and there.

I am merely gladly paying back what others graciously afforded me. No one flies solo in the work of the church. It takes sympathetic agonizers and energetic cheerleaders to keep us afloat. Ministry that is worth anything is one which is framed in turbulence for we follow the Most Turbulent peacemaker of all. They killed him.

While I am really not soliciting something to do---really---my email is trush@memorialdrive.org in case you ever hit a day where you think you just may not survive. Maybe together we could team up to form a winning plan.

We serve a God who makes something from nothing and causes dead things to come back to life...Romans 4:17. He can do it!

THE THREAT OF IRRELEVANCE

For those intensely interested in kingdom life, an insistent consideration is whether we are current. Is what we are doing relevant?

I'm not one of those who believes the Word needs help. I believe we do....and we always will.

One of the reasons Jesus died unfairly upon the cross is because the religious leaders of his day could not keep up with the moving hand of God. They not only refused; they rebelled.

We must be ever so alert to not possess such hearts as they. Sincerity was in their genes. Missing the mark was, also. We view ourselves as having stepped into Truth when the Pharisees and Sadducees simply were too hung up in their traditions to notice God had long passed them by. Their rituals were irrelevant.

We walk the same threatening trail. We are steeped in tradition to the degree it is/would be easy for us miss the Prince and His Promises for our future because our hands are currently to the plow looking backward at the field we have cultivated.

We live in a time of explosion. Wars and threats of wars are brought to our living rooms in high definition with a scroll of disappointments and crises streaming the bottom of the screen. Technology can't even keep up with itself; it has become so imaginative and so fast.

The Word still matters. In its perpetual power, however, it would call us to be current in our culture and this is where I/we may be asleep at the switch.

In my opinion both political parties in Washington have become mesmerized by their past traditional working habits. While surely weary of their pace and demanding schedules, the back door to responsibility and effectiveness seems to be wide open. Such has left us with icons with name plaques on their doors; but have long left both the intentions of the original government drafts and the representation of the common man they were so elected to serve.

Thus, the church must ever awaken to suspicion we might fit into similar shoes. We must look at the original draft (Word) and never leave it. The challenge is to take a look at "church" and see how close (or far) we are from the original. The one instigated by Jesus will most likely rock our current belief system; not because we are not sincere but because he is Jesus and his ways are always higher.

There is a great threat of irrelevance within us. The world will not only be better off when the gangsters lay down their weapons; but rather when Christians awaken from a sleep disorder which has become a haven to keep us busy while we keep our versatile programs well-oiled.

May we give attention to keeping up with the pace of the Savior and the need of the people.

JUST EXACTLY WHERE IS THE CHURCH GOING?

The experience is a daylight to dark difference in working in the church which partners with the Spirit of God. One system is to give God your best and the other is to avail Him your strengths and your weaknesses and watch Him provide. There is a chasmatic difference.

One is under our control. The other is God's. We choose.

John 3:8 speaks of those led by the Spirit; not the Spirit but those led by Him. Such a one shifts according to the wind. Have we not sort of made fun of those whom we deemed absent of rock solid stability in their direction?

True, we are clearly called to resist being carried about by every wind of doctrine. Wind of doctrine is not the wind of the Spirit. Ironically, we have too long avoided the doctrine of the Holy Spirit engagement at His pace and direction.

To work beside the Holy Spirit of God has its ambiguities. We yield control. This alone is both tough for us to do...and vital that we do it. When He operates in His leadership, our role is to believe with anticipation He is working; although we can't guess where or how at the moment. To any who doubt the Spirit, such a position is useless and will raise an immediate, But where are we going?

Where is the church going? It is going to find funds for ministries it did not know God had in the kingdom mix. It is going to discover new members coming out of the local community due to brokenness that the church missions team knew nothing about. It is going to win souls in 2015 due to seed sown by authors and workers in 1549.

I have lived both positions; my effort or believing He works. I'll take His produce over mine any day.

Just exactly where is the church going today? If connected to the Holy Spirit of God, we are headed into more impossible-become-possible testimonies of the multi-faceted works of God.

WITH CARE

It is always a good thing to find what all might be right with those around us. They could use an infusion of faith.

Tell them of their gifts.

Let them know where they shine for it could be they have heard very clearly by far too many voices where it is they have failed.

Give 'em Life!

WHAT WE CHOOSE TO THINK ABOUT

God has such a gentle way of simplifying our walk. Rocket science isn't the requirement. Faith is.

But what kind of faith? Psyche up? Irresponsible? Denial?

Faith believes God and His activity when we can explain none of it. It is the assurance of things hoped for; the conviction of things not seen. Explanation doesn't belong. Mystery is welcomed.

Faith seems to center on what we choose to ponder. Where our minds go our feet follow. Faith's ABCs belongs to the mind. Concentration and evaluation are surely faith subjects.

Francis Schaeffer wrote, So this is where true spirituality in the Christian life rests: in the realm of my thought life. Verification is found in Philippians 4 where we are called to think on these things and the peace of God which passes understanding shall guard.

I've been moving this week in three-digit heat. It is exhausting. I am exhausted. Yet, I choose to think about how many prisoners cramped in sweaty confines would love to take a ride across town in my U-Haul truck in need of more air conditioner juice.

I am a blessed man.

THE GOOD SHEPHERDS AMONG US

Church elders are a unique sort. Their mixturious traits can clearly be found in extremes. Some are tender while others are grumpy. One can find those of faith and others of withering fear.

Good shepherds are a true glory to God. From experience I find the effective ones live in glass houses and know it. They care for us because they insist the Good Shepherd be merciful to them. The poor leaders deny their own stark lack.

I have been blessed to have several good shepherds along the way. None of them pretended I was ideal and perfect just as they also assumed such was not true of themselves. Humility is the entire difference.

I often reference moving to Memorial and doing my best to work among philosophically poles-apart leadership with an immediate eye on the elders I'll have fifteen years from now. This congregation thrives due to the four we have at present.

Their secret? The same as the good ones all through the years. Sheer, adamant, intensely- aware-of-their-own-flaws humility. Is that not the example of the One Shepherd?

The good shepherds among us believe us into goodness. They bless us with what they need themselves; confidence in Jesus that we can position ourselves alongside God to accomplish kingdom life overflowing.

Good shepherds aren't perfect. They are highly aware that they are not. Ah, humility once again. Furthermore, they are acutely aware that we are not. They may correct and even rebuke. The good ones do so with ideal understanding for their feet are also fragile clay.

If you should be a shepherd reading this post, I encourage you to diminish the need to control and increase your power to believe in your flock. Your congregation has incredible talent, skill, and faith willing to break out in a glorious contagion. It does not need your approval nor your permission. It could use a clear signal that you believe they are intelligent, shrewd, and profoundly effective.

Great things don't get done in congregations because the elders weigh, vote, and endorse. Great things get done because they believe faith is a powerful force and the shepherds urge the flock to get on with its hopes and dreams.

My four good shepherds' motto is Stay out of the way! While they receive some criticism for this, the lavish content of fruit cannot be denied.

To the good shepherds among us, thank you. Thank you for trusting God with us when you hit so many points of not knowing just what to do next. Your love and freedom are showing.

I MOSTLY LAUGH...BUT SOMETIMES I CRY

Much of life has humorous opportunity. Am I ever glad of that! Comedy--others or my own--relieves the stresses of daily routine for me. But, sometimes I cry.

I know that crying is a sign of weakness; so be it. Recently a matter that breaks me down is the continued giganticity of the Tulsa Workshop. Oh, I've gotten used to and over the criticism which is freely voiced. Evangelism isn't about pleasing an impossible-to-please brotherhood. But it is about effectively reaching God's wide world.

The load of putting together "that program" which will inspire, encourage, and lead a great segment of His clan to deeper connections with God is wonderfully overwhelming. Currently, the 2013 workshop is on my plate. What will best boost a fine group who want to grow in the kingdom life of outreach?

I remain too little to take on the task. Littleness (weakness) is what works....but it still makes me cry.

So for you, I say thank you for enduring life in the necessarily ever-flexible work of the church. Vulnerably, I let you in on a private zone of my labor. I say so without whine; but with indication that we all surely live overwhelmed by His particular task in front of us.

If my weakness helps you accept yours...mission accomplished. God has a world yet to win and He Son-picked each of us to extend such a glorious work. Tears for the hope of others is a valuable part of our faith system.

REMARKABLE DAY AT MEMORIAL SUNDAY

We pray for God to sit among us. We expect Him to do so. Sunday He did.

We had a tremendous day of exhilaration brought about by the Leader.

First of all, Legrand Strickland walked into our assembly. He is the soldier lost both legs when his unit was attacked in Pakistan a few months back. What a thrill to see this young man enter with new legs and feet for the last visit we saw him in a wheel chair.

And then four of our recent visitors were baptized. I baptized three generations as they stood in the waters. A grandpa, a grandma, their daughter, and their grandson took turns as I buried each as they made pre-cemetery arrangements.

While I am robustly happy for their family, I am equally as overjoyed for the Memorial family for such a morning was a reflection of God shining in them. I am ultra-honored to get to preach at such a special place.

Memorial isn't ideal due to sentiment. The freedom in Christ is sensed, expressed, and lived. God is the gloried One. No committee, no personnel, no leadership provides the God-power; only the Three do that!

We had one remarkable day...endorsed by God!

DON'T OVERLOOK THE SMALL STUFF

God is big on small. From the Word we glean wonderful intake from the likes of Zacchaeus, to a small cluster of 12 (trimmed to 11), and then there is that mustard seed thing. Yes, there was the Red Sea and before that the Creation thing....but in God's system, dinky and insignificant matter.

I have worked with churches of 8, 60, and 500. All are small. All are dynamic and huge in the palm of God's marvel.

So today, be sure to notice the elderly gentleman hunched over and hardly able to lift his head as he wobbles down the aisle for his pew. Take note of the young mother as she tries to corral her three toddlers and when one cries all cry. See...actually look at...the lonely young man whose wife of three years ran off. These are brilliant tapestries of God.

Of course the sight of an ocean or a grand mountain range brings soaking satisfaction to the eyes. But I encourage you not to miss the sprinkler system's jutting spray or the street's temporary and inconvenient road construction. Both of these, too, are glorious in that you have the power to look them over and contemplate God's wonder!

Would you join me in being impressed with right now?

CHRIST CRUCIFIED: THE PROCESS IS TO BE REPEATED DAILY

Jesus died on the cross. Father and Son were without one another for 3000 years (or three days depending from whose perspective). The agonizing torture was frightful. Wonderfully so...it ended. Jesus resurrected and the reuniting is tighter than ever!

We are called to take up his cross. But rarely do we mean it. We sing it. But rarely do we mean it. We preach, teach it, and even believe it. But rarely do we mean it.

Oh, I'm not bashing us (me). Really. I'm saying the task is well over our heads as it is well beyond our hearts. Yet we must, must try.

The only way we could find salvation is for God to die. Away with Him. It was the only way. There was/is no alternative. Either He dies or else we never breathe hope....not once. Dying is the only way others can live. We must do so that enemies have legitimate hope to smile again.

Who isn't aware that we are to take up our crosses daily? Why is that? The answer is that sin and betrayal and violation happen day after day after day to someone in our circles. Therapy isn't the first step. Can we find anyone in their circle who loves the enemy enough to take on their guilt; their shame?

None of us can escape the Judas fit. We are him. Jesus rescued. None of us escape the Judas fit...today....and we must connect to someone Christ-like who will not scold us; but better yet die for us.

The only way to clear our messes of multiple things is through the cross procedure. It is the only way that works. The gospel is....it does work! There is a way to recovery. It isn't that the guilty are to be punished; but that the innocent are to take on the guilt....just like Jesus.

This crucifixion is a process to be taken on daily.....Lk. 9:23-24; I Peter 2:21-25.

A REMINDER TO ASK FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Lord's prayer instruction has been short-sheeted by our mere lapse of reading the rest of his admonition.

Luke 11 shares Jesus' response when the disciples asked about prayer. He offered the words which all believers have a grasp of familiarity. However, when he asked them a question it seems the linear movement of his prayer ground-work appears interrupted rather than continued. Not to be so.

Jesus poses a question regarding prayer's persistence; the traveler asks at midnight for three loaves. Quickly the shift is made to our proverbial ask, seek, and knock text. Each of these three are keyed to their question as to how to pray. However, within this context is his concluding question; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?

This, too, is to be included in his response to their inquiry as to how they should pray.

Ask the Father via prayer for the Holy Spirit? Didn't our heritage teach that we are to stay away from the Holy Spirit? This has been a most costly error.

If there are two elements which would radically change both individual and congregation, it would be the direct activation of both prayer and the Holy Spirit. We need more prayer and we need more Holy Spirit. The way to the latter is to ask, seek, and knock in the former.

Would you be reminded to ask, seek, and knock for the Holy Spirit to present himself upon your walk of faith? Life will surely change.

GOD STILL TALKS

A false doctrine our tribe has developed is the one where the Bible is delivered and God is done talking. This hideous belief is destructive beyond measure. Many regard it as the utmost of faith foolery to believe God still speaks in the present.

Yet, His Word--His Revelation--calls for intimate relationship with Him. For too many there is very little connection with the Divine. Rather relationships are given to church buildings or toward a service project; but not with the Living Lord.....which is heresy.

We are co-laborers with God. We are co-communicators. He calls. We hear. We pray. He listens. He responds. We listen. Sadly, half of these equations have gone dead. This great disconnect/false doctrine of ours has either caused a muteness of God or else a deafness of our own.

God shares ideas with His children according to the Word; but never in violation or contradiction of it. Therefore, we can relax. We can abide in His Word. We are to pray for wisdom from above. He will send it in. How are we to know such a message if, after we have prayed, He no longer answers?

I find great joy in the "learning to listen for God" process. He gives me perpetual ideas. I study every day. I seek His input as often. A drastic change for me was to begin to believe the Bible authorizes and anticipates an authentic interaction available directly between the human and the Divine.

Some call this goofy. I call it active faith....that God still talks. We will be advantaged to listen.

WHEN THE "ENTERTAINMENT CARD" IS PLAYED

Being Caucasian I resent the race card accusations. Bigotry is condemnable. From my admitted bias, the race card complaint is the pinnacle of racism. And I find its equal in the church; but not under the race umbrella.

I find it when worship is experienced and a non-worshipper plays the entertainment card. That group standing up front with mics is just entertainment, we occasionally hear.

First, it could be such. Just as padded pews and air conditioning could be scorned as modernism, some could be guilty of showing off. Lone song leaders have been found guilty. Thus, it isn't the number nor is it the direction one faces which brings the entertainment card into play.

The entertainment card is played when (just as the race card) one doesn't know what else to bring forth as accusation for something they don't prefer. Worship is a matter of the heart. Inspiration is fuel from many reservoirs.

Playing the entertainment card is a cheap shot from the pattern and ritual tradition of men; not from God's engagement with His people. However, in a way our people have been groomed to work from this facade as long before this we played the "scripture is silent" card when we could not calculate any other approach to defend our ultra-narrow prejudice.

ALIVENESS

I believe the most significant factor in a congregation's existence does not depend on but one thing. The elders' philosophies or the staff's talent is not what makes a church live. Committee leaders and varieties of ministry opportunities do not provide the answer. One does. The activity of the Holy Spirit among us.

Most in the church will express faith in the Holy Spirit. For many they simply mean they believe He exists; not that He works directly in us. Others believe He exists and labors with us. The former is the death while bustling about in various good deeds. The latter is the Life-blood and the heartbeat of a vibrant congregation.

A church's "aliveness" is neither determined by the number in attendance nor the several good deeds supported. "Aliveness" is based upon the faith that the Spirit of the Holy God co-partners with us....II Cor.6:1.

From experience, I find that churches either stand in pride against other congregations because they are so glad they "are not like other churches" or churches stand in awe that God blesses them. I like my life better when dependent upon Him rather than comparing to others.

Activity isn't the mark of a lively congregation. Doctrinal stance is begging if within that doctrine the active Holy God in Spirit form has been shelved. Aliveness does not come from man's ingenuity nor from his organizational prowess. It comes from the lively presence of the invisible Spirit who loves to bear His fruit in us.

CORNERED AND ANTICIPATING A BREAKTHROUGH

I am experiencing God! He has taught me so much about walking with Him. He is a terrific walker-througher.

We are set to move a week from Wednesday. Our house sold. We bought another. Closings are due in a few days. They are packing. We are packing.

But yesterday we found that the couple who bought our house has run into a financial hiccup. For the moment the deal is off. That means our purchase is off as well. Bummer.

Bummer? Oh no. No bummer.

Anytime we find ourselves cornered with perplexicity, we can be assured God has the perfect scenario ready for His unveiling. Remember the Israelites cornered by a mountain range, the Red Sea, and an opposing army headed their way? Yes, the people were a panic; but God was setting the stage for His display of a fabulous"Ah-ha!" moment.

So it is for us, precisely, when we are cornered or perplexed. Everything is in perfect order. He has not forgotten us. Rather He is mindful and He wishes to show us another facet of His glorious talent.

How God works out my dilemma, I am totally clueless as to the how....but not the Who. It is a done deal. I anticipate a major breakthrough according to His standard; not mine.

Every day, He says, can be certain for those who live in the Spirit that it is absolutely a good one...Rom. 5:1-5! I am having a very good day!

READY TO GIVE AN ANSWER

Much about God is unexplainable. Yet, we try. His mystery is so...mysterious. However, we believe we hold the solutions.

Yes, we are guilty of overreaching the "be ready to give an answer" command for we so quickly move into dishing out responses which are really, importantly, and wonderfully...unknown.

Surmises aren't truth. Neither is putting 2 and 2 together. God won't fit human reason. He said so. His ways are higher as well as His thoughts...Is. 55:8-9.

While we are very much responsible to give answers for our hope, we are to avoid answering for God. He handles that portion of the kingdom experience.

I find I enjoy the church so much more when I don't have to have an elaborate response to every probe. I have great hope in Christ. I am free to say why I am full of such hope. And one of the first reasons is I am learning to let God be God which allows me to pull back from living as an answer man.

MY WORK WITH THE CARDINALS CONTINUES

After all these years my special ministry with the St. Louis Cardinals rolls on. Next January I hope to attend my 29th camp. Chuck Swindoll told me that to live in the baseball world and the church to live a dream. I agree.

Initially, I was criticized for such a move as many of my close friends felt there was really no legitimate kingdom facet to the venture. I understood them...and with all my heart I knew God would work. He has an still is.

Three times I have recommended that Memorial discontinue this mission as it wasn't clear if it was producing or else it could be a financial burden. All three efforts were overridden.

The first time was when I needed $3000 to attend and lacked $1000 from our Missions Day collection. I accepted the signal that I should not go that particular year. As camp time approached the director called from Chicago noting I was not on the roster.

I did not tell him the reason for my intended absence, but told him that one day I might be back. He said, I don't know if this would help, but we really want you in camp. So, take off $1000 from our bill. That did it. I went!

A second time I voiced that maybe Baseball Evangelism has run its course when Upper Deck Baseball cards called out of the blue inviting me to play ball at the Field of Dreams with celebrities. Then they wanted me to preach from the mound on Sunday morning to a non-denominational church group...wearing the Sox uniform. They paid all expenses and the baseball ministry continued.

In January of this year I returned from camp---happy as usual---and offered that we discontinue this work due to the economy, etc. The elders said this was not a good idea. They believed it should continue and I was thrilled to get their observation. Still, on our Missions Day in May we lacked $2000.

I thought this may be God's signal to dispense with the work. I didn't want it that way, understand; yet I wondered. The elders assured me to move forward as they were certain the work would continue. Then in June I received a very rare birthday card from a couple (from a distant city) who were oblivious to my need. Their note expressed appreciation for my ministries and included a check for $2000 for baseball camp.

The story continues. I spent a day last week doing good mission work at Busch Stadium. I walk in a dream world. I've been honest about the work and even tried to stop it three times....but it just keeps on. Indeed, I am most grateful and extremely enthused.

The Cardinal work continues and I am amazed at His grace.

I CELEBRATE!

This Friday marks my 34th anniversary of being a part of the fabulous Memorial Drive Church of Christ. It makes me, indeed, very happy!

My love for this congregation is unspeakable. I am fascinated by it. The Life in it is remarkable. I have caused none of it. The reverse is true. It has been my goal to grow into it.

One of the marks of the Holy Spirit is that wonder occurs and those involved don't know how it happened. So it is where I preach. Marvel takes place and our only reaction is to praise God for all other clues seem to pale.

As far as my personal role, I think Will Rogers tagged my walk when he said, Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. I am experienced!

Thank you church, thank you blogFriends, and thank you God for letting me get to be in one of those right places at the right time. I still like right now!

IN WHICH TONGUE SHALL WE SPEAK?

Some find it much easier to speak in the language of pessimismeze. Such friends simply aren't thinking or they would realize it is much easier and more impacting to vocalize the language of optimisticeze. The latter is the one for believers.

When we distribute the seed-words of hope and love and assurance, life breaks out. We may never go on a mission trip to China or Russia. But when we plant the seed-thought of approval into the hearts of our colleagues day in and day out, inspiration circles the globe for those whose fields received the cheer implant will likely pass it on.

Yes, our funds are important for Mexico and our service is vital in the food pantries. Yet I find our words bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit when we speak two things well; our faith in God and the obvious fact that we also believe in people.

Sometimes people aren't performing at their peak because they have been filled with information since preschool; yet they have not received the confidence to be themselves. We carry the torch by saying in faitheze those things that fill ears with the grace to become.

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Why do I feel so strongly about this? It is because I have had incredible men and women speak in tongues of encouragement for decades. I once listened to the naysayers; but the spiritual cheerleaders are clearly God's voices for us plain people.

Watch your language for both kinds produce. Your tongue will negatively set a forest on fire or else it will fan the flames of hope and joy and life!

CHEAP CRITICISM IS EXPENSIVE

Cheap criticism is that nonchalant and inconsistent critique we allow to flow from our uncurbed hearts. From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks...abundantly. To voice yackety-yackety disapproval without wisdomic thought is both ultra-cheap and highly expensive.

It is cheap because of its free-flowing, uncontrolled speech pattern which might be found to be 4% true. The rest is bad mood or ignorance at best; yet puts into motion spiraling discouragement which could be unrecoverable.

It is expensive because it kills the creativity as well as the ambition of our God-called dreamers. Furthermore, the expense is calculated when we each need very accurate and necessary criticism...but ignore it. Important criticism is likely to be dismissed due to the abundant unnecessary glut of complaint and whine.

Cheap criticism is a determent to our spiritual growth for its abundance blinds each of us to that portion of correction which is essential to our maturity. We desperately need critiqued. We are to grow up in Him. Random cheap shots perpetually thrust forth with abandon are costly for we are, therefore, programmed to miss that adjustment which might be crucial for our good.

INFLAMMATION OF THE SPIRIT

Age brings with it aches and pains. Arthritis talks. It is negative without usefulness as far as I can tell. Our bodies resist and balk. But complaint does little good. So we learn to try to manage it at best.

Our spirits take on a special pain as we mature. This ache, though, has positive and necessary ramifications. Specifically, I speak of the cross.

The cross is far from comfortable or convenient. The more we grow into the framework of Jesus the more we will experience the ache of being a believer for we will carry the cross in more circumstances.

The cross is the cross for one reason; pain. It is neither a liberal symbol nor a conservative topic for discussion. It is the painful zone of the Christian walk of which all who mature in Christ absolutely must carry. There is no exception. The cross is our only pavement to growing up.

We don't like the cross. It isn't fun. We experience inflammation where our spirits live with aches and pains when we don't get our way, when things don't go as planned, and when we encounter offense or betrayal.

The cross is a vital part of daily church. In 2011 it is still rugged. We must help one another hold on and hang in there when life takes our breath away. It is very hard to endure....but the call is great and the reward is out of this world.

WHY CURT FLOOD AND I BECAME CLOSE FRIENDS

Today's USA Today has an article referencing Curt Flood's legal battle for baseball's free agency which went all of the way to the Supreme Court.  Curt lost the battle and won the war.  Curt believed trading a person from one team to another was illegal.  He regarded it as a Civil Right issue. 

Curt Flood is the reason mega-bucks now flow to the players.  Because this theater played out in the sports arena, such money can have its bitter dregs for more than just a few.  Yet, I get the case.  I spent hours with him talking about his position.  Should a St. Louis high school have traded a Superintendent and two teachers to a Philadelphia high school for four teachers and a janitor, perhaps his cause would have clarity.

Yes, Curt was a dear friend.  Yes, his mother adopted me as an honorary son.  The thing that glued us in heart was he and I stood for the same cause; freedom.

Leaving Cardinal Legends Camp in my early years of participation, I sat on the plane waiting for the others to board.  In stepped Curt.  We had been together at camp for a week.  Once in flight, I asked Curt about his bold move.  In great humility and equal assurance, he sorted through the ins and outs of the case.  He felt baseball owners were treating the players as slaves with no say so where they lived, who they worked for, etc.

I shared with him we hold the same concerns for I see many in the church in slavery.  I was beginning to note my own legalism which I was imposing upon others as well as, in general, the overall church was suppressed by a legalistic hierarchy.  We were in more desperate need of the slave freer named Jesus than ever. 

It was upon this basis that Curt and I connected in heart.  We both found/find ourselves misunderstood at times.  But the root of our drive was the same.  We lived in two very different worlds.  In both we found a people suppressed; often without any awareness.

May Jesus set us free to live....to really live.

THE JOY OF BUILDING COMMUNITY ANY WAY GOD PROVIDES

As I see it, the blogsites are defeating privacy fences. We are becoming neighbors once again. Blogs allow our visits to be brief while our days remain free to get so much done. There is value in gaining connectedness in a world which seems so crowded, yet leaves some feeling so lonely. I am all for seeing that all feel absolutely connected to someone.


I'm not sure how often I can or will pay attention to this site. I am a very green novice. I know this....people are important. In future notes, I will join with many others to be another voice to cheer you on.

For now....enjoy your weekend!

The above note was my first post on November 3, 2006.  It was one thousand seven hundred and fifty-one blogs ago.  Since then there have been over 365,000 hits.  Considering the fact that my mom doesn't have a computer to run up the tally, I am grateful for the interest.

I broke into blog-world totally by accident.  I commented on Tim's blog for the first time and accidentally established my own.  Two hundred hits came on the very first day and there were no words because I didn't even know I had a blog!

The point is to watch your world.  God works with you in ways you don't even intend.  My guess is God does more with us by what we would regard as accident than we do on purpose.  I could be wrong...but it surely is fun to think about!

DON'T LET THE CUP PASS

Jesus faced execution torture style.  The brutality of the cross was only a part of the burden.  The weight of mankind's sin which would separate him from Father would be excruciating.  As we are called to take up our cross and follow, surely there is that similar tempation he faced, Father, if you don't mind, let this cup pass.

Could it be that we have taken the cross to speak in allegory and not absolute?  Is it likely that punishment 'til dead finds a substitute of lesser means for our walk; irritation and frustration?  When we examine our taking up the cross, does this more likely mean we had a rough two hours at the committee meeting?  Or, did somebody drive off to the church picnic and forget to bring the horse shoes?

Do you know that the church's great strength is when we live from the cross?  Whether in the church building or at Wal-Mart, we will encounter the hateful as well as the obnoxious.  We tend to take the other aisle.  This is the temptation to abort the cup.

The irritable, the frustrating, the wounded, and the enemy cannot encounter the Son rays until his followers enter the cup.  They cannot afford for us to pass on it.  We much arise to the challenge.  Try to remember this when you would rather offer road rage or line-at-the-super-market rage. 

Ugly behavior from others merely induces our commitment to carry the cross on purpose.  We will do our best to refrain from letting the cup of personal sacrifice pass.

MY TWIN GRANDKIDS

Terry and Terri

SUBMISSION

Submission in line with Jesus is always the right way to go.  It takes a combination of courage and humility to walk in the path He forged.  Submission seems to become more novel in today's age of a self-serving society.

I don't like submission.  It sets me back from getting what I think I want.  Regardless of how many sets of elders I have had in any congregation, I always did my best to be obedient.  I've argued, debated, and spoken in opposition.  When the words settled, I knew my role.

I also knew God would bless submission.  Why does He bless?  Because He reads our hearts of faith.  He notes our disappointments as well as our underlying dreams.  When we submit we signal to Him we will wait....on Him.

Jesus became obedient to the point of death.  Regardless of our assumed amazing insights and opinions, the truth is we are to work in harmony with all.  Often this insists upon submission.  God runs the show.  Not you.  Not me.  Not us.  If any of us do...it's the wrong show.

Don't be afraid to voice your opinion.  Be bold in leadership.  Be outstanding in submission to those with whom you work side by side.  Within such is the secret blessings of God beginning to permeate our future.

THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT

We are forever growing in understanding the trinity both as a cluster and each as individuals.  God is the Father, He is the Son, and He is in Spirit form.  Why the church has fought accepting the third wing to the Trinity is surely an ignorant bias developed from parroting strong voices of our past. 

Scriptures will not support an insistence the Holy Spirit is inactive in a modern believer's life.  If we are to grow in the Lord our grasp of Spirit understanding must have devout attention.

Leonard Allen and Danny Swick wrote, The Trinity is an attempt to affirm that God is a thoroughly relational being.  The doctrine of the Trinity accents this truth by claiming that God not only forms relationships but that He is a relationship.

God is relationship.  The doctrine of God is relational.  The church has devastatingly slipped when proudly assuming it stands for Truth and Right without a deep perspective on connection to others.  Mistakenly, we have assumed it is all right to enter an assembly with the goal to make certain instruments of music aren't used while caring less for the broken brother two pews to the left.

The Trinity pulls at our hearts to enter the utmost doctrinal stance of the New Testament church by engaging and expanding relationships; one with another and all of us interfacing with the Trinity.

AN OPEN APOLOGY TO CONGRESS

Did I do that?  Did I cause a sudden scrambling of the curbed recess in D.C.?  It really wasn't my intention.

It all started a few months back when a representative of Oklahoma U.S. Senator Tom Coburn came by our office.  Dan seemed nice enough; almost a professional friend.  Senator Coburn was sending him around the state gathering a list of our concerns.  My rarely skeptical mind sensed it might also be combined with a vote-getting ploy.

You know my heart for those in public life; I think they are every bit as lonely at the top and those forgotten at the bottom.  I was, indeed, intrigued by Dan's visit and my comment to him was, What can I do to encourage Senator Coburn when he is so famous, in such demand, and surely so lonely at times? 

Last week I received a notice from Dan that Sen. Coburn would be conducting a town hall meeting the evening of July 5th...next week.  I was invited (along with all other breathing Oklahomans).  I responded with a request to meet with the Senator beforehand to pray.  It was a sincere move by simply knocking on a door.  I try to walk only through the ones that open.

Dan responded that he was not sure if such would work; but would bring it up to the Senator.  It now seems obvious Senator Coburn rejected my offer in a big way.

Yesterday Dan emailed me that congress' recess has been shortened due to the debt ceiling debate and the town hall meeting was cancelled.  I fired back a note, Dan, I have had a most interesting career of various people going to great extents to avoid meeting me. I have to say this is the first time it took an “act of Congress” to pull it off.  If Senator Coburn didn’t want to meet me all he had to do was say so!

Wait 'til I tell mom what I caused!  Too, I apologize to congress for being called back because of me.  It is all my fault.

WHAT CAN ONE REALLY DO TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE?

One of the most exciting concepts to be known is that one person can change the world.  For good or bad, it has been repeatedly accomplished.  We have experienced such mentorship for good from various dimensions; seminars, classes, small groups, videos, etc.  You and I possess such a capacity to make a positive impact.  Our problem is too many of us believe we are the ones who drew the short straws and, therefore, could not make a dent in this needy society. 

Think again.

One can make a difference because of the One.  Given our meager size and slighted intelligence, we must believe our way into effectiveness.  Faith is the major key.  By oneself, why bother?  But we are different.  We are to place ourselves within the frameworking of Jesus' body.  We are not loners in a big work.  We are connected to ligaments and tendons of the entire body of Jesus. 

The body, by the way, is that one established after his resurrection.  We are connected to all who are in him, regardless of race or creed, from the earliest death of the first believer to be extended to our connection with the body of believers in the years 2048 and 3511 should the Lord tarry.  We make a difference because we link up with the power of Christ as he continues to roam the earth within us....all of us. 

Therefore, one person can make a difference by placing ourselves onto the path of God's timing and empowerment.  By the time God connects our efforts to other ligaments of other regions and other generations, wow!  Do you think the apostles Peter and Paul, Billys Sunday and Graham, Madame Guyon, Henri Nouwen, Beth Moore, R.T. Kendall, and Max Lucado could have imagined the stretch of God in their localized efforts?  The range in which we work is literally eternal---never because of us---but by of our ever-growing faith in the Spirit of Jesus.

Today I am launching another ministry from the shoreline of faith.  It comes about because of the enormous amount of faithful influence I have received from believers of asundry sorts and brands.  God has used them all to help me set into motion a new work which is an old idea.

See in 3E begins today.  I have prayed for two years that I could have the funds to buy tools (books and tapes) which would equip preachers.  Tuesday a young couple handed me a check for $1000 to begin this dream of sending such surprise gifts.  Won't they be enthused? 

Whether young and green or weary and lonely, preachers need to know that they are still valuable.  Too many quit.  Others fumble because they are off in a small place and are fed little to guide them with faith and vision.

See in 3E will boost such laborers with much needed Encourage, Energize, and Empower equipment.  I will buy materials which have given me timely insights and pass them along to a list of servants.  In the process I will ask these recipients to imagine ways to help their colleagues See in 3E.  None of this is novel.  It is just another way to accomplish Jesus' style on earth and it is perpetually needed.

I draw in the readers of this blog.  If you would ever have interest in assisting the See in 3E mission of cheering preachers on, email me at trush@memorialdrive.org with:

1. Names and addresses of ministers you would like to be blessed by See in 3E.  I will reach as many as I can with the funds God gives.
2. If you would want you may send funds made out to the Memorial Drive Church of Christ to support this work.  I will need such for books, tapes, and postage.
3. Comments as to how this blog gives you an idea as to how you will start your own See in 3E ministry.  I want to know. 

I fully expect men and women of all Christian brands to become of a part of See in 3E to the extent that within 24 hours this idea will have exceeded the range of reportability.  It will explode.

Go!

A WORD TO PREACHERS

While I have already written a blog for today's group, I toss this one out to preachers because you are continually on my heart.

I know discouragement.  I know encouragement.  Both are necessarily signficicant in the grand scheme of Jesus-ness.  So allow me to give you a bit of elderly advice.  Keep growing forward.

From experience, I believe the biggest problem among us is the man in the pulpit.  It is us, guys!  And when we get a glimpse of who we really are and how very lacking we really are, at that moment we begin to become the biggest solution in the brotherhood.

It isn't that the church doesn't want to grow.  It is in need of someone like us to help them endure our uglies that we might latch onto His beauties.  We can do it because He has done it for us.

I know your ache.  It is severe; at times hardly bearable.  But ache and injury should be viewed as God's discipline for each of us to grow on.  We are not going to get our way with many of our "brilliant ideas" for a reason; God is growing us into a better/maturer world of service. 

It is essential that we struggle; that we not get our way.  Ministry isn't easy.  It is fun and delightful and brutal.  Isn't that what we signed up for?  Meaningful life following the Son? 

So don't give up.  Don't get down on the church for they are merely mocking our attitudes.  Scowl at them and they cannot help but scowl back.  Build them up in the faith and they will walk faithful steps.  Admittedly the church is tough terrain. 

We are robbing Satan one trophy (soul) at a time.  Therefore you have a huge target on your heart.  Stick it out.  Don't quit. 

When you think you can't take it anymore, think again.  You can.  And....you will.  We will together.  Agreed?

WHAT HASN'T OCCURRED TO US YET?

New comes along every day.  Technology advances.  Educational formats shift.  Medical approaches improve.  Safety standards change.  Why, therefore, do we insist on making the church today function the way it did in the last century and call it the first century church? 

New is an old tradition to God.  He is not static.  We are set free.  One of His most meaningful calls in my opinion is to believe He can trump our greatest imaginative efforts.  All of this says to me that we are to continue the kingdom process of doing church better.

None of this is to say that nothing good is being done for it most certainly is.  Neither is it to say that we are to wind down our many stronger and stable traits.  It is to say that the creativity of God is still flowing as strongly as ever and we are obligated to explore the faith region in order to strike His gold.

Note the constant needs you see in your community and then imagine ways He might work.  I think we are poised by faith to make significant advancement for today.  And then?  What's next for tomorrow?

MAY WE GUARD AGAINST THE SUBTLE GOLDEN CALF

Today is yet another wonderful day where God will hear from His people regarding our immense love for Him.  At least such is our claim.  And....such will be the case from millions of hearts from sea to shining sea.

Sometimes I find myself slipping from worshipping the invisible true God to personally enamoured with the physical about our assemblies; the sound to my ears, the smile upon the faces, and greeting the many friends now known as my brothers and sisters. 

This is why the Golden Calf dilemma is so subtle.  We are to assemble to build one another up.  To miss this call would be violation of a serious New Testament charge.  Subtlety is the issue. 

We must be on our toes to see that the Father is worshipped, that the Son is remembered, and the Holy Spirit is acknowledged as in our midst.  We cannot insult the Them by gathering primarily to get, to receive, or to obtain. 

Rather, we are gathering world wide to say to Them, We adore You and praise You and thank You and worship You!  We cannot take one step without You?  Thank You for all you have done and for all that You are going to do!

We do not gather today because we like our specific congregation first and foremost.  No.  Instead, we first assemble to send a loud and clear message to His throne room.....We are wild about You!  And Lord, it thrills our hearts to know this relationship began because You were wild about us first!

THE PARABLE OF THE FINISHED FATHER

Dear Child,

As your mother I want you to know that I am very proud of you.  I want to tell you about the workings of father.  He lives here in the house with us.  You are free to ask him questions; but he will not respond directly.  He has left a series of love letters on your night stand.  Skim over those in search of the answers you need....and do know he doesn't mind if you ask him...but he has already written down everything you will ever need to know.

Don't let this confuse you.  It isn't that your father isn't interested.  He has simply finished his work.  We are on our own now.  Yes, he is here but our relationship with him is in reading the instructions he left on the nightstand. 

Should you need his wisdom you are free to ask for it.  Just remember the answers are on the night stand.  His works have ceased.  Your father will no longer respond directly.  Any who believe that they have a direct relationship with their fathers are liberals who live on a slippery slope of error and....well, we all know it's just wrong.  Our family doesn't believe in father-child interaction. 

If your friends say they have a closer relationship with their fathers, you just hold your ground.  You have letters on your night stand.  These guide us now.  We don't need more emotionalism and a childish imagination.  We have those letters.  Once he completed his work on those letters that's all we will ever need. 

When you don't know what to do with your life or when you hit a wind of controversy, read the letters on the night stand.  Your father left them for you.  He will not address you any other way for those days have ceased.  He is done communicating.....he loves you but left the letters for you to figure the tough stuff out.   

Good luck,
Mom

WHEN YOUR BLOG GETS NO COMMENTS

This post is for co-bloggers.  I am sensitive to those who write and at the bottom it reads "0 comments".  How should we interpret no public responses?  Do not be discouraged.  Nothing planted for God is done in vain.

We must not interpret by comparison; but rather by faith.  If we compare ourselves to others, God assures us we don't understand (II Cor. 10:12).  One cannot note the many comments to Mike Cope's blog and conclude that mine/ours is of little value.  Not the case. 

I approach this blog the way I do evangelism....I simply sow seed and water.  I assume God is faithful to His revelation that He alone will cause whatever increase He would generate from my/our very meager efforts.  I believe hundreds are reading this blog everyday.  The counter says so.  Yet, to receive three comments is a strong showing....of responses. 

Am I to feel bummed because less than 3% take the time to leave a note?  Not at all.  I am to be delighted as I feel sure God used these words to build someone at an office desk whom I have never met or another just before heading for the ironing board who felt energized because of God's perfect synchronization.  From Utah to Germany, good people are reading our blogs.  Hurraaaay!

So you...when you post....do not sense that "0 comments" mean you are not making a healthy dent in darkness.  You make a difference because of your Spirit connection which changes the world.  By the time we combine our efforts, darkness has suffered another day's sting. 

Good for you.  You can share your God-loving heart with the world with the assurance someone(s) who may never respond to your post has been unusually and perfectly blessed by God's merciful timing.

I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE WHAT I BELIEVED

God comes through.  He has a delivery service.  His grace and mercy overflow in liberal provisionary supply.  We love to watch Him work.  The challenge for us seems to be in waiting for Him to happen.

My direction is for you when you feel inwardly vacant and wonder where God has been in the past few days.  I have those.  I talk to Him and myself about it, too.  I don't feel comfortable when days line up with my own actions reportable; but nothing from the unexplainable and mysterious God.

I periodically pray for God to do something that can't be explained.  I tell Him I want to see Him do those things out of nothing (Rom. 4:17) that can only be attributed to His glory and grace.  The waiting is the task at hand....waiting and noting whether I believe Him while I am waiting.  I try to.  I had a breakthrough in the past few days and I share this with you to build your confidence in God where you roam. 

At Memorial our missions team allotted me funds for the Cardinal baseball camp in January minus $2000.  My job was to raise this much money.  I am a lousy fund raiser for myself.  Others?  Yes.  For me?  Not so much.

So I would tell God about it.  I would thank Him for taking care of something I knew little about.  Weeks later I would thank Him again.

Saturday I received a birthday card from a couple in OKC.  Included was a check for $1000 for my ministry.  I applied it to the Cardinal camp and shot off an email declaring what a relief this was.  I explained to them why.

Yesterday I received another email from them saying they were so happy to know where I was putting the $1000 that they will cover the other $1000.  This is one of those deals where I can hardly believe what I believed!  He is able beyond my imagination.

Isn't that an awesome place to be?  Isn't it just fascinating that we can go out on a faith-limb and discover He really is there?  So, I encourage you to do well in the waiting room for God is arranging the resources.  We are us.  We love the mountain top experiences.  Our job is to remember them when we are in the valleys waiting. 

You have and will encounter God's hand, too.  Maybe you, too, will hardly be able to believe what you believed.  Isn't that a wonderful way to live?

CHURCHES THAT REACH THE LOST

William Willimon's insightful books speak wonder and awe to my heart.  I deem him brilliant because he can transmit his genius into my simplicity.  He speaks in depth and I understand in shallowvocity.  I share with you a mere portion of his writings.

Superfluity is a big problem for my church family, mainline Protestantism.  At best we are little more than "ambulances on the battlefield of life."  At worst we are a rather sanctimonious self-help society, a Rotary club, meeting on Sundays at eleven.....

.....I contend that, through evangelism, through repeated confrontation with the intrusive grace of God, the church can be born again.  By letting God use us in God's never-ending pursuit of the unbaptized, the baptized can rediscover what it means for us to be the church, that unlikely gathering of those who are called to sign, signal, and witness to the graciousness of God in a world dying for lack of salvation.....

.....the good news of Jesus is so odd that we never get so good at hearing it and living on the basis of it that we don't need to hear it again.

When we remain evangelistic the church is in a perpetual state of rebirth.  When not, the church quickly slips into a deep rut of judgmentalistic non-productivity.  Churches that reach the lost are the churches Jesus is building.  To be otherwise would be to function as trees with big leaves and no fruit.

IF WE KNOW THE DEADENING OF LIFE WHILE WE TRY TO LIVE

How is it that fullness of life is all around us; yet its wonderful roar seems illusive for some?  Why is it we struggle at times to drink from its fountains?  Rather, too many merely sip from a slight trickle.

John Eldredge is a major voice championing meaningful life.  Regarding man's theology he declared, We have dissected God, and man, and the gospel, and we have thousands, if not millions, of facts---all of it quite dead.  It's not that these insights aren't true; it's that they no longer speak.  I could tell you a few facts about God, for example.  He is omniscient, omnipotent, and immutable.  There---do you feel closer to him?  All our statements about God forget that he is a person....We must return to the Scriptures for the story that it is and stop approaching it as if it is an encyclopedia, looking for "tips and techniques".

We must watch our steps for loading up on God-facts can deaden the heart should relationship with Him have been redirected down a path of reciting scripture.  If we know the deadening of life while we try to live, why not rather learn the living of life while we connect to Him personally in heart...Jn. 5:39-42?

WE ARE WHAT OTHERS BELIEVE INTO US

I know the thought-line that we are what our hearts imagine; as a man thinketh in his heart so is he.  I raise the question, From where do we believe that thinking came? 

I love my life in the church.  It hasn't always been a walk through the garden of beauty.  There were days of pulling necessary stumps---yes in others---mainly in me.  Throughout some lengthy days (like two decades) people believed in me.  I fed from their faith for mine was notoriously puny.

First, four of Memorial's elders believed in me when I was a scared, defensive, and immature man.  Later elders Harriel and Darrel applied confidence my direction.  Today all four of our guys draw out of me what I don't possess on my own; God's grace.

Believing in others is an intentional move of the Spirit.  Jesus was perpetually operating from the base of faith.  Yes, we are each lousy beyond report.  When the faithful love us and believe in us we actually find an arena in which we can grow and bloom.

I believe in our staff.....and they know it!  I believe in this congregation....and I tell them so! 

What I am telling you is a magic twist of kingdom life.  When any fail, direction and correction may be necessary at times.  All of the time, though, expression of belief in a colleague will see kingdom fruit develop. 

Personally, I think offering faith in one another is one of the best weed killers on the market.  As a man thinketh will largely be found in the mix of what others thinketh about them.  Why else would God call us to watch our words that they might give grace to those who hear in time of need?

WADE HODGES' NEW BOOK; "BEFORE YOU GO"

Before You Go just hit the Kindle waves on Amazon.com.  It is written by my good friend Wade Hodges.  It is a winner.

Before You Go specifically addresses preachers and ministers planning to make a move to another congregation.  Wade's insights are from that fairly secret kingdom launching pad of perplexity and disappointment.  There is little so valuable as resurrecting from a bad scene(s).   Wade has done it.

Before You Go is packed with the right questions to be asked of yourself and of the congregational leadership doing the interviewing.  While Wade's work is highly helpful to those planning to move, substantial assistance awaits those who are on the other end; the search committee.

To move because a preacher needs to get out of Dodge isn't necessarily a God-moment.  I believe Wade has pegged a hang-nail problem of the church; preachers and churches who don't match. 

Take a look.  I believe Before You Go ought to be required reading....if you want to read it of course.

EXPECT DISCOVERY

Mapologists knew all about terrain limits until Columbus added a significant fact in 1492.  Thomas Edison hit upon a few things in his life that continues to bless all who visit my house.  Henry Ford surely impacted travel as well as Mr. Internet changed communication.

Who reading now would assume discovery has ceased, inventions are things of the past, and the Patent Office just as well close?  No one!

This is precisely how it is in the reading of God's love letter.  Discovery has been intense and truths yet to be unheavened (unearthed?) is immense.  We have just begun.  I pray to God often that He will teach me from His Word things no one has yet taught me or ideas no one has yet found. 

Two things are true about my potential in Him: (1) others have knowledge I haven't yet had the privilege of learning which will always be the case, and (2) God has things for us to know that no one has unheavened which will always be the case.

In some areas we may have lost our learning senses by rehearsing and rerehearsing the few things we know which have developed brain callouses.  We are not as sensitive to His well of Living Word which continually springs forth new life.

I encourage you to pray for discovery; what does He have for us that no one has found so far?  After praying I urge you to expect discovery.  God is not wearily out of ideas.  We haven't touched the hem of garment's life.

When I pray in this fashion I am tempted to do so cluelessly.  I couldn't fathom what He might say.  And, I do wonder if anything is left He would share.  Yet when we move forward expecting response, it is such a joy to realize He's still with us.

Ask.  Seek.  Knock.  There are enormous doors of information yet to be opened.

PRAISE GOD FOR THE GREAT BIG STUFF

If you see the messes others make, praise God for the great big stuff....that your eyes can see.

If you overhear discouraging words, praise God for the great big stuff....your ears still hear.

If you pinch your hand in the cabinet door, praise God for the great big stuff....you can still feel pain...lepers can't.

If your boss is, again today, grumpy and impossible, praise God for the great big stuff...you are evidently employed.

If you are sick and tired of picking up after your spouse, praise God for the great big stuff...your back and knees and hands and arms still function.

If you are bored, thank God for the great big stuff....you have a mind sharp enough it waits for a challenge.

Don't miss the glory of now because you veer onto a side road of complaint as well as indifference.  But if you do...thank God for the great big stuff that you remain young enough to return to the road of God's great big stuff.

EVANGELISM: ARE THERE OTHER PERTINENT CONCEPTS?

Evangelism for some may have become sterile.  Not only is such a non-effort, it could be that it is a non-thought.  I understand it because I could not pull the outreach trigger for several years in ministry.  This left me both unproductive along with being saddled with guilt.  I was the preacher; the evangelist who couldn't do the main job.

I have become aware of something about Jesus which might just open the heart-doors for a few among us.  Not all would claim the concept as theirs.  For those who might, I toss out this avenue as yet another way to place some among us onto the mission path of winning souls.

I wonder if maybe we have some courageous soldiers who cannot find motivation or satisfaction in our present systemic approach.  Could it be possible that for these servants, who have yet to find a place of deployment, we have cleaned up the church's approach to a devious and dirty world?  Have we polished the Son of God without letting his true nature fly?  Has the "go" of His commission been diluted to "sit n be safe"?  Have we moved too far from aggressive outreach to subdued "contribution" toward? 

I wish not to sound like nothing is being done...for it is.  But I merely wish to jar some from possible crustification of unimagination. 

Jesus wasn't "in their face" but he was surely aggressive in his approach to humanity.  He was clearly after their heart.  The bottom line is that I wonder if Jesus is more rogue than we realize.  We would tend to veer from such an image and make his work among us more....conventional?  We would do so to make the most important and necessary work on earth....respectable?

What did Jesus do?  Among his many tactics He trained rebels.  The Son did not talk men into going to church; but rather to get the church to move out in protest that the deeds of darkness might be defied.  He built a sub-organization of misfits and losers groomed to infiltrate existing systems.  Jesus pirated world religions and hi-jacked (Saul of Tarsus being one) important people who were on their, otherwise, merry and persecutory ways.

Currently we have many evangelism tactics that are effective.  Creative missionaries and more creative business men and women offer us variety of outreach opportunities.  All, who think souls, have latched on to one or more ideas and ran with them.  We celebrate conversions in the church every day.  This is to be acknowledged as well as applauded.

Yet, I wonder about another pocket of believers who haven't been stirred by conventional calling.  I wonder what we could do to train rebels.  Would this have much greater appeal to some of our own who have a hunger to do something major; yet can't find it in our existing order?  What could we do if we trained our young to rebel in a form that would be God-accepted and God-endorsed?

What could we do to begin infiltrating the current internet/technology drift?  Would you know of a pattern any are using to spread the Word through the magic of Facebook?  Twitter?  Email?

Surely new tech components are coming to our present world.  I urge the creative among us as to ways to infiltrate these approaching newbies.  And what's next?  Grok?  sYnc?  (I just created the terms.)  Just as Facebook and Twitter were recently created more new concepts and names are surely coming.  And when they do, will we have minds to imagine their use for kingdom life?

Evangelism.  Keep your eyes open to the riches and the power and the glory that all might be transformed into a tool for kingdom expansion.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN?

Did Jesus really arise from the dead?  Is such factual and actual?  Or, is it just one more hokey idea man's idle mind has developed over time.

How did the disciples transition from cowardly doubt to bold proclamation that Jesus had come back from the tomb?  They experienced him.  It wasn't that they saw the empty grave and declared their faith.  He appeared to them.....and then their belief molecules began to kick in!

How is the modern neighborhood to know that Jesus has arisen?  They are to see his body in living color...us.  The church's existence declares he is back.  We are his physical presence.  We don't represent him.  We are him.

When one ponders the incredible stupidity the church has displayed over the centuries (our failures, flaws, and misgivings) shouldn't the church have disappeared by now?  It hasn't because it is the body of Christ...which will both endure and survive time.

Jesus not only was back; he is back!  See the church?  See Jesus.  He is here.  How do you explain the church's perpetual existence.  We are Jesus in the flesh.  The persecution of others plus the errors of our own failures cannot bring this body to an end.

AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE

How do you handle those who have self-assigned their task to freely offer constant correction of your work?  Such persons are out there.  When they get our goats, it is time to reverse the tactic.  Rather than beginning to boil, go to school.  Learn from the encounter(s).

This was extremely hard for me in the beginning.  I didn't like it.  Opening a brotherhood paper and reading false accusations were of utmost disturbance.  I fought back.  And...then I began to learn.

One who lives to persecute thrives on our responses.  It makes their day.  I determined to cease to contribute to "their day". 

Some have chipped at me while others hammered.  This really caught me off guard.  I assumed this stuff was over back in Jesus' day.  Now I realize this is also Jesus' day.  He wasn't fooling when he said we would catch it for standing with him.  We get into big trouble. 

There are two kinds of trouble; the kind we get when we do dumb stuff and the kind we receive when standing as Jesus among the flock.  The latter will happen to every church leader.  We will perpetually wrestle with whether to respond or keep quiet. 

And then we see Jesus.  Sometimes he would give strong rebuke.  Other times he kept his mouth shut and was led to the slaughter.  In Jesus we see an open or shut case. 

How do we know which way is the correct response in our situations?  Both are possibilities.  One is best for the moment.  May he lead us to determine the one for today's challenge.

I will give response as long as I think the inquirer is sincere.  When I sense it is otherwise, I don't have any desire to engage in such frivolity.

PATIENCE IS A CHURCH OIL WELL

I continue to learn.  Learning is good.  Patience is required. 

God seems bent on really wanting His children to be equipped with this trait of a patient walk.  Surely we realize the significance of its importance when noting such is a cluster of the Holy Spirit fruit.  Anytime anything is listed in the Spirit fruit category it can be assured we lack such a kingdom vitamin in our fleshly nature.

God has changed my world.  Relax would be the new frame.  Edgy and sensitive, I've been difficult to endure for my ideas were all grand....I assumed.  After all, I thought of them.  In a way I have been such a blessing to my colleagues for I have challenged them to see just how patient they could be.

Yet, I am learning that I really need to pay attention to life for God has messages for me all over His refrigerator doors as well as the cupboard doors.  He has things just for me.

I just came from our Monday morning (6:30 a.m.) meeting with staff and elders.  What a rich place.  Some weeks I make notes on a pad.  Other weeks, I make them in my mind.  Nearly every week I learn.  I go in expecting God to speak to me about His varying areas of kingdom work.

I am discovering an oil well of life in simply paying attention.  I am learning things at age 63 that I didn't realize had gone unlearned.  This isn't discouraging; but the opposite.  God is faithful to His plea that we will be renewed day by day.

I charge you to note the oil wells in your field.  Be free to be aggressive in advancing the kingdom.  Enjoy the plot to expand its borders.  Never grow to the age you miss the value of patience.  It surely is an oil well among us.  If you are like me you tend to let it go untapped.

FLASHBACK

Philip Yancey recently shot me an email saying I might enjoy Ancestors by William Maxwell for it has much to say about the Church of Christ history in America.  I love the story of the Restoration Movement.  So I ordered the book immediately.

The hoops of denominational interaction and strain fascinate me as leaders determine to jump or not to jump.  We live there today, do we not?

When I came over the horizon in the storyline of Thomas Campbell carefully training his son, Alexander, a joy washed over my heart.  The comments took me back to living next door to our church building.  When Dusty and Tim were in grade school I would walk with them (I walked.  They skipped.) over to the auditorium.  I worked with them on public speaking.

We would go over content and delivery.  Content included (1) read the text, (2) explain the text, and (3) give an illustration to provide a window for us to see how the text would look in our walk.  Delivery included speaking up while looking at the audience in the eyes. 

The boys would take their turns.  I would sit on the front pew.  The task was never difficult.  The instruction was simple and they pulled it off.  Over the years God has groomed them to be much more than I could have trained.  I was simply one of God's ingredients of their development.

Today Dusty moves into their new house in Atlanta.  Tomorrow he and his family begin a new life as he is the new preacher at the Campus Church of Christ in Atlanta.  Tim returns today to Kim and the kids in Guadalajara.  He has been on a retreat with other missionaries in the land of Mexico at a retreat a distance away.

When I had my kids at home, I enjoyed them and would comment to myself how much I enjoyed "today".  Wendy, now a church secretary at another church in Atlanta, was just as delightful.  Much of her training came through crises.  Today she shines....they all shine.

Flashback......the post-rejoicing over previous walks which seemed to be a matter of routine; wonderful and privileged routine.

IT IS A PART OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION

Persecution is eminent.  Jesus insisted it is to be a part of a believer's walk.  Look at the prophets before him.  Look at the disciples who followed him.  Look at him.  And yet, somehow we believe we are of different dissent?  Somehow we will be able to follow Jesus with no hair singed?  I don't think it possible.

Rough days are a vital part of the Christian doctrine.  They are not to be present due to our own silliness or un-God-like maneuvers.  If we are committed followers, however, trouble more than lurks.  It will show.  Peter warns against being surprised by it.  It goes with the program.

Young leaders must learn this truth; you cannot please everybody.  Pleasing others is surely in our best interests.......but it won't work.  Stop trying.  To heed this call does not permit any of us to run over others by bullying.  Rather it calls you when bullied to eliminate the urge to run.  Stay put.  People are going to hurt you.  Because of the One you follow, you have it coming.

William Willimon asks why is it that those who seem to be the staunchest persecutors seem to also be the ones who know the most scriptures.  Strange, huh?  Yet such is often the case.  The meanest can be the best Bible quoters. 

Don't be surprised.  And don't quit because of pain.  Don't fret it or sweat it.  It is a part of your job description.  Accept it.  Die...die for others that they may come to life.  You'll find the greatest fulfillment.

LONG RANGE AND SHORT RANGE; TAKE AIM

Everyone we can think of is within our reach...everyone.  We must not short-sheet our capabilities to reach in all directions of the social scale.  Whether pauper or prince, we have the skill to launch a good evangelistic effort.

I encourage you to notice anyone who concerns you.  Note those who do noble work and others who are injured and still others who celebrate accomplishment.  Plant seed in all....the seed of the kingdom.  Write notes to the famous.  Buy coffee for the homeless.  Carry on a conversation with the attendant.  Plant.  Plant.  Plant.

The majority of those we cheer for whatever reason will be blessed.  I can't say all; but I believe the most will be.  And, I believe God uses our labors to bear fruit in His style.  I noted an amazing work of a famous Christian this week...whom I've never met.  I so loved his work I emailed him because I knew he was a person who could use the encouragement.  He emailed back the same day....with gratitude.

Everyone is in our scope.  Every President.  Every King.  Every CEO.  Every business person.  Every convict.  Every fearful, ailing, struggling individual.  We have hope to offer all.

I encourage you to keep opening your eyes to His power and riches and glory that is ours...Eph. 1:18ff.  Don't just be enamoured with some and compassionate for others.  Awaken to the fact that every person inhaling and exhaling are in need of connection to someone who is grateful for them. 

We know the Life.  We've met the Truth.  We've linked with the Way.  Rich or poor, haughty or humble, it matters not what the character of the target is.  All need to know someone cares.  Do not assume you are not capable of reaching them.  You are.  So....do it.  Long range and short range; take aim.

THE HOLY SPIRIT; THE CHURCH'S BIGGEST BLUNDER

The direct operation of the Holy Spirit ceased when the Bible was completed was one warning after another in preaching school.  Today (1972) only 5% of our brotherhood has gone liberal by saying the Holy Spirit works directly in their lives.  Don't go liberal.  I joined in on the adamant vow....gladly.

Yet, I ran into a problem. 

In my very earliest years, after hearing one smug anti-Spirit statement after another from our preaching colleagues, I read from the Bible where the Holy Spirit works directly in our lives.  My first thought was the Bible had made a mistake.  It didn't take long to realize between the Bible and my mind there was not contest as to which would be the final authority.

After 25 years of trying to link to the Truth regarding the Holy Spirit, I am more convinced than ever that one of the church's most ignorant and costly blunders is the denial of the direct operation of the Holy Spirit upon modern believers.  We were wrong.

The Trinity is composed of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  They are so tight in their essence and existence that they cannot be separated.  Even the Word speaks of the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of God.  They are One and we are called to have intimate relationship with all three.

Those who oppose the Spirit's involvement do so more out of safety than study.  I have paid a price for believing Him to be true.  How can I do otherwise?  Good friends mock and egoists rant against me.  Yet, the Word clearly reveals.  The Holy Spirit is our adequacy (II Cor. 3:4-5), and inward strength (Eph. 3:14ff) and hope (Romans 5:1-5). 

While I have been branded as a false teacher, the Word won't let me leave this conviction.  Gratefully, such a faith increases as I read the Word and read materials about Jesus.  To work in the church without the Spirit is to be left to our corporate steam and ingenuity.  Both will offer flashes of success; but endurance will not reside. 

Without the Holy Spirit of God working among us we only have self-effort fruit to offer.  Eventually such rots.  Denying the Holy Spirit is a popular stance among many of our people.  It even gets invitations to be a guest speaker at places.  But it is more than a blunder to deny Him.  It is a dishonest and costly sham.

SPECTACULARICITY MUST BE NOTED

I am obsessed with a mission to encourage the world.  It isn't a plan; but rather an inner drive.  It must be done.

Why?

I encounter two things in life that I don't like.  I dont' like them at all. 

1. Far too many pass from day to day clueless as to their honest value.  Some are fiercely humble while others are valiantly selfish.  Few realize how truly amazing they really are.  Thus they live a life dumbed down.  Oblivion of their goodness is their state of mind. 
2. Only at one's death do massive praises freely flow.  I resent that for us.  Why can't we lavish one another while ears can still hear?  A part of the existing oblivion of part 1 above is that lips are fundamentally mute of approval while co-existing while both are alive. 

Society is brazen when it comes to complaint and cowardly when it comes to initiating applause.  We are not too busy.  We are too afraid.  Yet, the world around us is sinking because so few voices arise to proclaim the spectacularicity of common man. 

I am on a mission every day to inform each of our staff of something I like about them.  Why?  Because I really believe each has adequate input from others and self that condemns.  So far no one has told me to stop it.

So you out there.  Saddle the horse.  Mount up.  Send cards, make calls, speak life into people.  We all need it.  Whether strangers or close friends, people are wondering if you notice anything good about them. 

Spectacularicity abounds from waiter(ress), cashier, neighbor, and brother.  Figure some way to say so.

LET'S BEGIN A MOVEMENT: GRUMP REVERSAL DAY

Our world needs help.  It needs to know where and when and how it is doing well.  People need to know people love them.

It is our dark nature to be bold about expressing our dislikes.  There would be some who have never once had the courage to speak to a neighbor or relative about the Lamb of God who can be quick to pull an elder aside.  You know the type.

So let's establish Grump Reversal Day.  This would be a day where we would catch others doing well and pull them aside to give them a piece of our grateful mind.  Wouldn't life go better if someone told us more about the good we are doing than snapping irresponsibly at the failures we are?  Of course.

I'm not proposing a life of denial where we never face our failures.  I'm saying that Grump Reversal Day just might impose such confidence in one another that we might not experience nearly as many failures. 

Now there's a thought.  Order some t-shirts now!  Put up the banners!  Grump Reversal Day....did I remember to say that it is to be a daily holiday?

What thinketh ye?

THE ACTIVITY OF WAITING

I have learned a unique lesson the hard way.  Waiting is for God's servants.  To the ambitious and the go-getters such a term seems wimpy; even faithless.  It takes active faith to wait.

God's promise to Adam and Eve took centuries to fulfill.  Upon his resurrection the church was begun on the command to go to Jerusalem and wait.  Wait is a God-word for forward movement.  If not understood one will likely conclude waiting rather means no action.

There is spiritual activity in waiting.  Henri Nouwen advises with these comments; Waiting is never a movement from nothing to something.  It is always a movement from something to something more.....Those who are waiting are waiting very actively.  They know that what they are waiting for is growing from the ground on which they are standing.  Right here is a secret for us about waiting.  If we wait in the conviction that a seed has been planted and that something has already begun, it changes the way we wait.

Such stillness is an activity which allows one to be present in the moment.  Waiting does not find us on hold.  It does let the circumstances and elements God is arranging to come into maturity for the Ah-ha! and the Wow! of the moment. 

To wait does not mean to withdraw.  Rather it means to engage in the directives of God.  And just as the disciples obeyed the Wait command of Jesus only to see the church explode upon the scene, we can be assured God knows how to put the pop into our labors of love.