Travels and Travails

Turning Darkness into Light

2012-01-25T12:39:00.000-06:00

While in Ireland, Carole and I went to see the Book of Kells. This is an ancient book, containing incredibly beautiful versions of the four Gospels, and it has survived since the 9th century. The theme of the display is entitled, "Turning Darkness into Light". The brochure we were given contains a poem, written by a 9th century monk that was the inspiration for the naming of the display.

Pangur Ban

I and Pangur Ban my cat
"Tis a like task we are at;
Hunting mice is his delight,
Hunting words I sit all night.

Better far than praise of men
'Tis to sit with book and pen;
Pangur bears me no ill will,
He too plies his simple skill.

Oftentimes a mouse will stray
In the hero Pangur's way;
Oftentimes my keen thought set
Takes a meaning in my net.

'Gainst the wall he sets his eye
Full and fierce and sharp and sly;
'Gainst the wall of knowledge I
All my little wisdom try.

Practice every day has made
Pangur perfect in his trade;
I get wisdom day and night
Turning darkness into light.

How to be thankful

2012-01-23T14:55:00.001-06:00

This morning Carole needed to take her car in for service. Nothing unusual there. A couple of hours later they called and said that it was ready. The problem was that she was now watching our grandsons and the car seats are in her car. We couldn't all load up in my pickup legally, and we couldn't leave the boys alone for the short time it would take to pick up her car. We had to get it done, because I needed to get to Guthrie and Carole would be coming up later to help with the stowing of Christmas decorations at church. No one in the neighborhood was available and our kids were at work.
I came up with a plan. The service place is only a couple of miles from the house. I would go in my truck, pick up Carole's car and bring it home, leaving my truck at the shop. Then I would hop on my bike and ride back to the shop, put the bike in the back of the truck and come back home. Mission accomplished and I got in a nice bike ride on a pleasant winter day.
While on the ride I began to thank God for the nice day to ride my bike. Then I thanked him for the guy who gave me the bike last year. Then I thanked him for the health that made it possible to ride the bike. Then I thanked him that we had two cars and the means to keep them serviced. And I thanked him that I had so many options at my disposal to get things done. I thanked him that I had a wife and grandsons that needed my help from time to time. By the time I got to the shop, I was truly thankful for all of the blessings that I have in my life. Being thankful isn't so hard.

Good Food is Good

2012-01-17T13:20:00.000-06:00

I like unexpectedly good meals. Most of the time when I’m surprised, I’m expecting something good and what I get disappoints. Carole and I had just finished visiting Christchurch Cathedral, a 1000+ year old Anglican church in Dublin. We were in a part of town we hadn’t visited yet, so we thought “Why not get something to eat while we’re here in a place we probably won’t see again?” About two blocks away from the church we saw a place. I don’t even remember what the name was, but we looked at the menu taped on the front window and saw things we thought looked good and the price seemed fair. (Dublin fair; not Oklahoma fair. Everything is outrageously expensive in Dublin.) The place was very plain. Clean looking, but plain. They obviously don’t spend a lot of time creating ambience. This is low tourist season, so there is never a crowd in any place, so the fact that there was only one occupied table didn’t really bother us. We ordered. Carole got roasted turkey with mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. I got the chicken curry. When it came out it looked good, and when we tasted it, it was delicious! We both ate every bite. Of course, we have been eating out every meal and after a few days each meal kind of runs into another, so for this one to stick out means that we really enjoyed it. OK, Dublin reasonable for a nice lunch was 16 euros, which equates to about 21 US dollars. I told you that everything is really expensive here.

I am getting close to being ready to make and eat a peanut butter & honey sandwich in my own kitchen.

I got to see the book of Kells this morning, as well. This ancient book has survived a tumultuous millennium and still inspires. If you don’t know what the book of Kells is, google it.

Tomorrow we plan to go to the town of Howth and get a look at the Irish Sea. They are also supposed to have good fish and chips. I’ll find out.

About the Town

2012-01-16T13:13:00.001-06:00

Today Carole and I spent the day exploring Dublin. The City Tour bus took us from place to place. We could hop off at any stop and hop on another when we had seen what we wanted. I love walking the sidewalks of busy cities because you can see all kinds of people. I saw young girls traveling in 2s and 3s who were laughing and conversing while they strolled along. Young men with their earphones and coffee strode purposefully with their shoulder bags traveling alongside. Middle aged couples such as Carole and I looked very responsible. We all had our coats on and our shoes reflected an age where comfort and support overrode style for a day of walking. Young families pushed baby carriages boldly through the crowd; saying "Excuse me" at times and at other times, using the carriage to "accidentally" bump the ankle of the person blocking their way. I say old people. It looked as though they were there for a specific purpose and then they would be going home. Their days of nonchalantly looking in store windows were over some time ago.

My favorite thing to do is to sit in a coffee shop, get a seat by the window when possible and watch the people go by. I try to imagine their story. Are they happy or sad? Are they making a life, or has a life been forced upon them? Most importantly, do they know Christ? Is their salvation secure?

At the end of the day we visited Kilmainham Prison. Although the prison has been closed since the 1920's it stands as a testament to how cruelly we can treat one another when our desire to have our way or to show power over someone else overrides our call to love one another. The stories the docent told were sad. And it broke my heart to think that supposedly civilized people can subject other people to such cruelty just because of a difference of political affiliation or religious belief. Yet this cruelty exists in the full gamut of forms even today. We as Christians have to do what we can every time to prevent such cruelty. Jesus told us that the most important commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Then he added something he said was just as important. He said for us to love our neighbor as ourself. If we could follow that one rule, No other laws would be necessary.

Church at St. Marks

2012-01-15T13:09:00.000-06:00

This morning we went to St. Marks Church for services. The place was packed. They do two services; one at 10 and one at 12. I am told that both are filled. The music was rocking. The service kept moving with no down time. The word given by Pastor Sean Mullarkey was interesting and applicable. There was no shortage of hands to shake. Folks who saw "first timer" on our expression made a bee-line to us to greet us and offer assistance. A nice lady led us to two open seats near the front even though we said we were okay. That was pretty cool. After the service, several asked if we had been to the hospitality room and finally after some friendly but persistent persuasion we consented to go. There we were served some tea and biscuits (cookies to us in Oklahoma). Several people introduced themselves and in a friendly non-nosy way found that we came from Oklahoma to attend the passing of the torch festivities, and that we had a few days to explore Dublin. We were given some good tips concerning the public transportation, places we shouldn't miss, and the names of good places to eat or get coffee nearby. Never did it seem intrusive or none-of -their-business. They just seemed genuinely interested in us having a quality time during our visit to a church they loved nestled in a city they loved. They informed us of services and prayer meetings held mid-week and made sure that we knew that we were welcome to attend them as well. All in all it was a very good visitor experience and I shall take some of the ideas collected here to my home church. What they did during the service they did well, but it wasn't anything that would cause 5-600 people to come every week. What fills the place is the combination of the excellence of the planning and execution combined with the genuine love and acceptance of everyone in the place through the love and saving grace of Jesus. A combination like that will not fail to grow.

After service Carole & I walked for several hours around Dublin. Most places are closed on Sunday so we mostly scouted around to get ready for tomorrow. We did, however, find a great Chinese buffet and we learned that at Starbucks in Ireland you get your coffee in a real cup if you plan to drink it there. A few extra centuries of civilization makes a lot of difference.

Passing the Torch

2012-01-14T15:56:00.000-06:00

Today was the Passing the Torch service here in Ireland. It was wonderful, emotional, and well executed. The ceremony, which took three hours was held in a packed church and person after person spoke of the impact that Christ had made on them through the ministry of Gary & Wilma Davidson. I looked around and I realized that everyone there was in Christ or in fellowship with one another because of them.

What happened today was huge on two fronts. One, the Assembly of God of Ireland is now completely organized and run by Irish leaders. Second, Gary set a pattern that we can all benefit from with his involvement in planned succession. This event happened today, but it has been years in coming. Too often our leaders lead effectively for years and then announce their leaving without warning. The organization then forms a selection committee and goes to work, but the progress stalls. Many times division hinders what had been moving forward. At one time it seemed fashionable or even "spiritual" to leave this way. It seemed that the leader then prided himself on how much the organization suffered after his leaving. But what happened today is true Kingdom building philosophy. Gary's legacy will only be enhanced by the upward climb of the AGI since he has invested all these years in the lives of the leaders, pouring into them and raising them up for such a time as this. If the AGI grows at a greater rate now than it did while he held the reins, it speaks positively to the quality of leadership that Gary developed during his time at the helm. I know that his greatest joy would be to see the AGI become a force for the work of God at higher levels and doing things for God he never dreamed of.

That's the way to leave. Would that we could all have this mindset in leadership. Congratulations, and God bless you, Gary & Wilma!

We Made It!

2012-01-13T14:44:00.001-06:00

Well we made it to Ireland! (The photo is of the Irish Sea. But I took it on my previous visit to Ireland.) We left Oklahoma City on Thursday afternoon and flew to Memphis. From there we flew overnight to Amsterdam. After a couple of hour layover we flew into Dublin. Gary Davidson was there to meet us and took us to our hotel. There is a 6 hour time difference from Oklahoma. (It's 6 hours later here in Ireland) So after not sleeping much last night, we decided to try to stay up until at least 10pm so we can acclimate to the jet lag quicker. We went out and walked to a cafe about a half mile from the hotel and enjoyed a simple meal. It's clear and chilly here tonight. (It's rare for the skies to be clear here. It's usually cloudy.) Back to the room, check facebook and e-mails and at 8:30 it seems unlikely that either of us will be awake at 10.

Tomorrow is the big "Passing of the Torch" ceremony. I'll talk more about that tomorrow.

Bible Reading Plan

2012-01-10T21:37:00.001-06:00

Beginning February 1 we will begin a churchwide Bible reading plan. We will read the entire New Testament by reading two chapters a day. Typically the reading selection can be read in 5 minutes or less. We will start in Matthew and on June 8th we will finish Revelation. I will be blogging daily about the selection for that day. I will put the schedule on the church website, www.livingwaterchurch.tv , will put the weekly schedule in the bulletin, and we will be talking about the group reading a lot to encourage those who participate. I believe that we will all benefit by reading together. Get your Bible dusted off and get ready!

You can't buy forgiveness

2011-11-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

1 Samuel 12:1, 14-15 When I was little there was a claymation show on Sunday mornings called Davey & Goliath. It was a 15 minute show that involved a boy and his dog (who could talk to Davey but no one else) and each episode they would learn a theological truth by way of events in their everyday life. I watched it every week and eventually had every episode memorized. One week Davey and his family were on a ski vacation. Davey took his dad's skis without permission and when one of them came off it slid into a crevasse, never to be seen again.

His dad knew something was up when Davey suddenly became extra helpful and polite around the house. Davey finally admitted that he was trying to earn his dad's forgiveness. I'll never forget Davey's dad's stern but loving voice saying, "Davey, you can't buy forgiveness."

Israel had sinned by insisting on having a king like all of the other nations. They got what they wanted, but feared that God would punish them for pushing for their own way in spite of Samuel's warnings. Having their own way did cause them a great deal of misery over the next few centuries, but God never turned his back totally on Israel. He loved them, not because of what they did for him, but because of who he is. He still sent Jesus to be the perfect sacrifice for their sins. You can't buy forgiveness.

Watchful & Thankful

2011-11-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

Colossians 4:2- When I was a boy, my brother and I pestered Dad for months until he bought us a minibike. We stood in the store as Dad made the deal. 3.5 horses of motorized freedom and adventure sat gleaming on that showroom floor. But Dad didn't have a truck, so he arranged for it to be delivered to the house later in the afternoon. Ryan and I were distraught at the knowledge that we owned a minibike but were not able to possess it. We hurriedly ate our lunches and stood in the front yard watching the street and waited for the delivery truck to appear. After what seemed like years, the truck appeared, the minibike was unloaded, the delivery papers were signed, and suddenly we possessed what we had been wanting for months. It was as great as we had imagined. I learned how to service a small engine, maintain chains and cables, and how to clean carburetors. We got many hours of enjoyment out of that minibike. Dad saw us use, maintain and appreciate the value of that minibike. Yes, we told him thanks, but he saw that we reality of our thankfulness by the attention and care we gave the gift he gave to us.

When we pray, are we praying with a watchful eye that believes that the promise God makes will be come true? And when we receive the promise; that answer to our prayer, what is our response? Will God see us live a life of appreciation for what He has done for us?

Let's make sure that in our prayers we are both watchful and thankful.

Love because...

2011-11-08T08:00:00.000-06:00

Romans 12:12- This simple scripture comes in the middle of a paragraph that details what love looks like when lived out in a person. it is interesting to note that all of the examples here speak only to our responsibilities to others. It never promises that if we do these things that love will be returned to us by those we have shown love to. Verse 12 tells us to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. We would like for verse 13 to tell us that if we do these things all our hopes would become reality, our affliction would go away and we could take a break from prayer for a while and just enjoy blessings. Instead it calls on us to be ready to share what little stuff we have with others.

We love because we are instructed to love. We are able to love because Christ has shown His love to us. Although our love is directed to people, it goes to the very heart of God because when we love His creation, we love Him. So we don't love in order to get love. We love because we are loved. We aren't initiating love. We are returning love.

Always

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000-06:00

1Chronicles 16:11 Those of us who have been in church for a while have heard over and over the necessity of putting God first in every situation. We all know several scriptures that we turn to in situations we want to change. But typically we don't resort to prayer until we have exhausted all of our own ideas and abilities. Many times I have heard someone say with resignation, "All we can do now is pray." How much less drama would we endure in our lives if we sought God's leading every day; even in days when it seems like we can handle it without Him? When we are in constant communication, we don't have to get reacquainted every time we have a crisis. "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." Always means always. Not just in a crisis.

Who's In Charge?

2011-11-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

Luke 6:12-16 Jesus spent all night in prayer in preparation for his choice of the 12 who would be his apostles. All night. Jesus. The Son of God. Yeah, Him. He spent all night in prayer before making a major decision. That convicts me. How many times have I made a major decision after convincing myself that my thinking about it a lot was equivalent to praying about it? We can all quote scriptures about taking our needs to God in prayer, but many times our prayer sounds a lot like, "Change my mind if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure I'm not wrong" while we are on the way to act on our decision.

I hear God get blamed for a lot of stuff. Someone says they "heard from God", and take action, only to reverse course some time later when it didn't work out the way they thought it would and say again that they "heard from God". I always want to ask them, "Which time were you lying?" When you prepare in prayer for a major decision you can go in peace regardless of the outcome, because you know that you are following God. I always feel better when He is responsible for the outcome. I have a habit of messing things up when I make the decision.

Feed the Roots

2011-11-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

Luke 5:15-16- Doing the work of the Lord is draining even when it is fulfilling. When you have something that is working well and is fruitful there is a temptation to keep on doing it as long as it works. But if you do that, there will be a time when your spiritual tank will run dry. That is when failures occur. Don't mistake fruit for food. You may be producing a bunker crop of fruit, but unless you are rooted in the fertile soil of private prayer and devotion, the fruit will stop and the tree may die. It seems counter-intuitive to withdraw when things are going gang-busters, but if you don't, you, and those around you will eventually suffer the consequences of not feeding the roots. Disregard those who would encourage you to keep doing what's working when you know you need time to replenish. Those who want you to keep going will bail on you when you give out. Get alone with God. Feed your roots so you can produce fruit for the long haul. It's good for you. It's good for those around you.

It's Free!

2011-11-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

Luke 3:21-22; 4:1-2, 13- Many times in life we focus on minor things and miss out on the larger picture. When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended on him while he prayed. It is tempting to spend our time focusing on the specifics of how that happened; what it looked and sounded like, or what method he employed to receive it and fail to focus on what the Holy Spirit did in Jesus. Jesus went through a severe time of testing and temptation through the strength given by the Holy Spirit. Satan threw every device at his disposal at Jesus but was unsuccessful. Jesus employed no methods, no gimmicks sold by other preachers, or positive thought strategies. Jesus employed what is available to every believer- the power and strength of the Holy Spirit working in him. Don't be confused by the proliferation of messages out there. Don't get caught in the traps of specifics some would push upon you. Pray that God's Holy Spirit would come and give you the strength to overcome everything Satan can throw at you. It is a power that cannot be bought or sold. But it is available to all who will accept it in faith.

Daily or Desperation?

2011-11-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Mark 1:21, 35-39- The Gospel of Mark is the most action packed of the gospel accounts. Jesus goes from place to place performing miracles, confronting accusers, and teaching disciples. But Jesus realized the necessity of spending time alone in prayer, regardless how how busy and fruitful his ministry was. He went to Capernaum and taught in the synagogue. It was a great meeting with popular adoration and a miracle. People were abuzz about the great service. Jesus leaves and goes to the home of a friend and heals a sick lady there. People come to the house all evening and he heals the sick and delivers the possessed. All in all a pretty good day of ministry.

Early the next morning while the disciples were sleeping in, enjoying the memories of the day before, Jesus got up early and got alone so he could pray. He didn't wait until he had given himself out and hit a wall of discouragement or weariness. Neither should we. Our prayers must be consistent to be powerful. If we want to be effective over the long haul, we can't coast after victories, or wait until a new battle rages. If Jesus needed daily prayer, how much more do we? Let's practice Daily prayer instead of Desperation prayer.

Rescue

2011-11-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Acts 12:5-17 We really do have an adversary who would like to destroy us. Each of us as believers have a responsibility to pray for one another when difficult situations arise. Paul's friends faithfully and constantly prayed for him while he was in prison. When someone asks you to pray for their difficult situation, it is easy to say you will but then forget to actually do it. But there is great power in concerted, corporate prayer with many voices in agreement. As time goes on, and as life gets more uncertain, we will find it increasingly necessary to support one another in concerted constant prayer. It's a discipline each of us need to develop. We'll sure want others to surround us with prayer when we are the subject!

Every Day

2011-11-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

We remember the really great days and the really tough days. But most of our days are normal days with normal aggravations, joys, fears, and blessings. It is important that we reserve time in each of these normal days to build our relationship with our Heavenly Father. The writer of Lamentations tells us "morning by morning new mercies I see". The Psalmist tells us to "taste and see that the Lord is good". Spend some part of everyday just getting to know God and ask for His everyday help and deliverance. Then when the great day comes, your first thought will be to praise the Lord for His blessing. And when the difficult day comes, your first thought will be to praise the Lord for His sustaining and protecting power.

When we really know God, in every life circumstance, we will naturally praise the Lord. But to really know Him, you need to talk with Him every day.

Protection

2011-10-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

Ezra 8:21-23, 31-32 It would be nice if we received a package at the time of our salvation that explained all the benefits of membership. Then we could see how our decision to join would cause us to receive automatic protection and blessing. However, that is not how it works. Our salvation is secure, but our lives are still day to day. Crises occur, illnesses afflict, and uncertainties abound. I wonder if these seemingly bad things are around because they keep us talking to God? Our petitions to God for protection keep us close to God in a deeper way than our thanks for blessings will ever do. When we walk through the dark, scary places; holding only to His hand, we really get to know His nature.

Go to Him with everything. He'll be glad to hear from you.

Bless Me!

2011-10-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

1 Chronicles 4:10 The Prayer of Jabez, a little book written several years ago by Bruce Wilkinson caused many in Christian circles to talk about Jabez for the first time. Hidden in a long genealogical record, Jabez stands out because he prays for a blessed life and increased influence. The book was very nicely written. Nothing wrong with the book. But, as with most things church-related, there were errors and extremes involved in the application of this short prayer. Some advocated the continual word for word reciting of this prayer as a way to unlock health, wealth and influence in the life of anyone who would participate. If it really worked like that, wouldn't someone have discovered this magic incantation centuries ago? And where are all the influential millionaires who bought into the plan?

We should pray for God to bless us. But the blessings of God may look much different than a bloated checkbook balance. He may bless us to be able to have influence in our middle class neighborhood. He may bless us to have influence in a child's life. Godliness with contentment is great gain. Being in right relationship with God is the greatest blessing of them all.

What is important?

2011-10-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

1 Kings 8:22-30, 9:1-3 In our day and age, most of us don't worship in huge elaborate houses of worship. Most of us worship in fairly pedestrian settings; whether it is in a modest building built to be a church, or as in my case, a remodel of a structure which once served a very different purpose. The space tells a lot about our idea of who God is and what His presence means to us.

A downtown mission may have very rustic benches and scarce decoration. This scene may be desirable to create the sense that God is not put off by those who are down and out. A church in the historic section of town may have been built decades or even centuries prior and serve as a reminder that God is not put off by riches or solid planning.

What is important is the priority which is placed on the actual presence of God in the space used in His name. Building a place of magnificence solely so people of influence will have a place worthy of their attendance is wrong. Just as wrong is the group which prides themselves on their poverty, and hides their laziness or stinginess behind a mask of holiness.

Solomon's prayer of dedication for the temple showed his understanding that we cannot build something that is too majestic for God. Anything we come up with is an embarrassment if we think that God will be impressed with our labors. Solomon's prayer recognizes God's promises and faithfulness in the past and counts on God's continued faithfulness in the future, recognizing that it is all a gift from God. God owes us nothing. Yes, He made a covenant with Israel, but it is completely one sided in our favor. We do what we can do with what He gave us to begin with, and He protects and provides for us and gives us eternal life. So God's presence in our midst is the bottom line. If He's not here, we have nothing.

What to we have to brag or complain about?

Why So Long?

2011-10-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

1Samuel 1:1-11,19-20,27-28- Many of the most moving stories in the Bible involve the inability to have children. Think of Sarai, Rachel, and now, Hannah. Who can explain how God works? Why does He seem to delay so long in fulfilling these women's desire to bear children? But are these the right questions? He did answer. Each of these children were significant characters in the story of the coming Messiah. It is our human desire to control God; to require Him to do things the way we want him to do it in the time frame we specify. But He doesn't have to. He's God. We're not. Many times one of my grandsons will demand that they be given something NOW when I know what the day has in store for them just a little later. They may be hurt or angry that I don't give into their demand, but I know that something better awaits. When it is revealed to them what they've been forced to wait on, the former request is forgotten in the glory of what has been revealed to them.

I don't know all the "whys" of what we go through, but I trust in God's love and providential care. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 says, Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Hang in there.

Bitter/Sweet

2011-10-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

Exodus 15:22-27- Moses led the people from the Red Sea. The Red Sea that had seen the Children of Israel completely delivered out of their Egyptian bondage. A place of total, convincing, unquestioned miraculous victory. But just a few days after, they were thirsty and needed water. For three days they searched and finally water was spotted! But when they arrived they found that the water was not fit for drinking. That's when the trouble started. As long as they were all in the same boat and looking for water, they shepherded their resources and made the water they carried go as far as they could. But when the promise of fresh water turned into disappointment, they turned against their leader.

Moses went to God in prayer, but God answered in a strange way. The Lord showed Moses a tree. Moses broke off a branch from the tree and tossed it in the water. I think of the insurance commercial where the farmer yells at the woodchucks, "Hey, you dang woodchucks! Stop chuckin' my wood!"

When the wood hit the water, Moses declared it fit to drink, and it was. What a strange way for a prayer to have been answered. What if Moses had had his own idea of how God should have answered and dug his heels in until God revealed reverse osmosis water purification technology to him? There would have been an entire nation of skeletons left as a monument to Moses' thoughts of how things should work.

God reserves the right to meet our needs in the way He wants to do it. He will not be limited by our plans or opinions. He used this circumstance to speak to them a promise that serving Him faithfully (meaning even when our circumstances don't coincide with our expectations) He will be faithful to us.

After leading them to the place of bitter waters, and after He showed them that He could meet their need anywhere He placed them, God led them to a true oasis with palm trees and a dozen good wells. He was the same loving Heavenly Father at Marah as He was at Elim. No mistakes, no crisis in God's view. He was in charge all the way.

When God's People Pray

2011-10-25T17:03:00.003-05:00

Wednesday night I will be leading a new study. "When God's People Pray" by Jim Cymbala is exactly what I feel that the faithful Wednesday night group at Living Water Church will benefit from participating in. This week's topic is "God's Heart For Us". As we go forward, focused and committed prayer coming from many hearts is what will cause us to break free from what has held us back and allow the Holy Spirit to move and work freely in and through us to do great things for God's church. If you don't usually come on Wednesday night I would urge you to start now. You will benefit greatly from this study.

Let Your Light Shine

2011-10-14T16:09:00.000-05:00

On October 30 I will begin a new series called "Let Your Light Shine". In this series we will explore "What is Light?", "What is my light?", and "Where can your light be used?" Many people spend their lives thinking that they have no special gifts or abilities and as a result have become mere benefitters of their church and their relationship with Christ instead of participators in the exciting and challenging work of spreading the gospel. My goal with this series is to unlock and unleash the potential of those who have never really sensed their value to the Kingdom and set them on a new course of service and fulfillment.

TOP PRACTICES OF WELCOMING CHURCHES

2011-10-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

TOP PRACTICES OF WELCOMING CHURCHES

06/19/2008

Anxiety. That’s the one best word that would’ve described what Mike and Melissa were feeling as they were commuting to a church service. Why? Shouldn’t the gathering of the Body of Christ be exciting? Of course. But, Mike and Melissa were not yet part of the “Body of Christ.” They had both grown up in church, but as they went to college, found each other, and started a family of their own, church had gotten lost in the mix. It had now been well over 10 years since they had been to a church service. Today was a big day.

How would your church welcome Mike and Melissa as they reach out for a life change? Too many times our own ideas and prejudices can actually get in the way of reaching those like Mike and Melissa. We’ve been given the great responsibility each week to provide an experience that brings people like Mike and Melissa to Christ, rather than distracts them from Him. Let’s examine some of the top methods that welcoming churches are using.

THEY EVALUATE THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE

Realize the visit does not begin with the first song. The visit begins from the moment the guest pulls into the parking lot. Train yourself to pay attention to the details of every element of the guest’s experience. For example:
• Is the landscaping neat and in order? Are the grounds free from trash and debris?
• Does the building appear inviting or neglected?
• Are the entrances clearly marked and easy to find?
• Is there guest parking? Is it clearly marked?
• Is parking difficult? If so, are there attendants present to help direct cars?
• Is there a logical flow to the traffic? Is it clearly indicated?
• Are there any means to help the elderly or disabled into the building?

Evaluate in detail every moment of the experience to see if there is anything you can do to help facilitate what God wants to accomplish in the guest’s heart that day.

THEY THINK THROUGH THE MIND OF THE GUEST

I used to have a favorite sandwich shop. They always featured a daily special. All the regulars knew that you had to order “The Special” to get the special pricing. If a club sandwich was on sale and you ordered a “Club Sandwich,” you’d get charged the regular menu price. The words “The Special” were the password that got you the discount. Does your church have any practices that newcomers would be oblivious to?

Try to think through everything as if it were your first time at your church. Sometimes, this can be extremely difficult. Consider having some trusted friends from outside your congregation visit your church and give their unbiased opinion. You may want to even prepare some questions for them to keep in their minds prior to their visit.

THEY DON’T SINGLE OUT THE GUEST

Nothing can be more intimidating to a newcomer than to be singled out as an outsider. Sure, you want to make them feel special and you want your congregation to recognize the guests and welcome them, but find a way to do this without having the guest stand, speak, wave, or wear any badge, ribbon, or article that identifies him or her as an “outsider.” Most guests arrive and want to blend in like a chameleon. While many guests do not mind special treatment (e.g., close parking, a special gift, the attention of staff, etc.), they do not want this special treatment to single them out.

THEY TEACH EVERYONE TO BE HOSPITABLE

Hosts and greeters are wonderful! They are never a replacement for a close, hospitable community beyond the church doors, though. This takes the message of your church beyond the “professionals” to the “users.” When the “name tag” people are nice, I assume that they’re probably supposed to be that way while wearing the name tag. It’s when the average church member takes time for me that I feel special. Good leadership is able to model open community and inclusiveness in a way to be contagious to the whole congregation.

THEY FOLLOW-UP

A great follow-up program can help solidify what God has started to do in a newcomer’s heart. It can also be one of many steps in a process of connecting the guest to your congregation. If you have collected data on the guest, use this data to customize your follow-up approach to them. For example, if Mike and Melissa indicated on their communication card that they have two elementary aged children, present them with the most exciting aspects of your children’s ministry. Give them information about how they can connect to your congregation as a couple with young children. The most effective follow-up occurs within 36 hours of the church visit.

THEY HAVE GREAT SIGNAGE

You may have a logical, excellent layout for your church building, but without proper signage, it will be difficult for the guest to navigate. Here are some questions guests may have that proper signage would answer quickly:
• Where should I park?
• Which door is the entrance?
• Where is the auditorium?
• Where are the restrooms?
• Where do I take my children?
• Where do I find more information about this church?

In creating signage, go beyond simply labeling doors and entrances to providing directional signage to help guests navigate your facilities. These signs should be simple and easy to read.

THEY CREATE CONNECTING ENVIRONMENTS

In education, the hallmark of a great school is a low student-to-teacher ratio. When more students are added to a class, the odds of a student slipping through the cracks academically increases. Think in these terms with your assimilation process. Although you may have a large worship gathering, the welcoming church creates multiple environments for people to connect with each other. Many times these consist of medium sized groups and small group environments. Find ways for people that have things in common to connect.

THEY RESPECT THE CONGREGATION’S TIME

A full-time job is 40 hours per week. A salaried professional typically puts in much more than 40 hours each week. After factoring in commute time and America’s obsession with extra-curricular busyness, many families find it difficult to find time for each other. In this time-pressed environment, many can come to view the worship gathering and other church activities as an added bonus, rather than a necessity. Help your guests realize the importance of coming together as a Body to worship. Beyond this, help them realize that you respect the time they are investing by not wasting it. If something is not uplifting God or contributing to the evangelization or spiritual development of those in attendance, consider if it really deserves a part in the service schedule. If you find yourself adding “fluff” to your sermons to fill a specified amount of time, consider cutting the fluff and sticking with the things that matter. Your guests will have a better understanding of what you’re trying to communicate and you will show that you value their time.

THEY MAINTAIN THEIR WITH-IT-NESS

As I was checking out from a store last week, the cashier left the register just after ringing my last item and just before receiving my payment. He’d gotten distracted and left me hanging in the middle of a transaction. Ever have anyone do that to you in a conversation? Maybe they’re physically with you, but you can tell from their glazed eyes that their mind is somewhere else. It’s essential to maintain your “with-it-ness” with your guests! Nothing speaks to someone’s value more than individual attention. No marketing campaign or clever service element can ever take the place of a personal heart to heart connection. Take time to be in the moment with your guests. It could be what it takes to move them closer to a relationship with God.

Source/Author: Mark Forrester
Publication: MinistryDirect
Submitted by: Jimmy Abrams

It's not that far

2011-10-12T10:08:00.002-05:00

OK, friends who live in Oklahoma City. Time for a geography lesson. I'm not pastoring in North Dakota. I'm pastoring in Guthrie. Guthrie is the next town north of Edmond. No one says that Edmond is "so far away", but I commonly hear that excuse when I ask when you are gonna come visit me some Sunday morning. Let me attempt to dispel some myths about visiting Guthrie:

It does not require an overnight stay to visit Guthrie. From north OKC it takes 35-40 minutes to reach Living Water Church.

We speak the same Oklahoma English that you do.

We have electricity and flush toilets.

There are good places to eat after church.

You can actually take your cup of coffee into the sanctuary during service.

Our morning worship experience begins at 10am and ends around 11:15.

The preaching is getting better.

It wouldn't hurt you to visit us some time. Seriously.

Bad Memories

2011-10-11T20:31:00.000-05:00

Tonight I was visiting an art exhibit of paintings created by a friend. My son-in-law did an amazing job of converting an empty cafe into an elegant art gallery. While inside, however, I realized that I had been in this building before. Way back when I was in high school, this place had been a Pizza Planet where our youth group would occasionally go after Sunday night services.

Soon after getting my driver's license, I was allowed to take the car to Pizza Planet one Sunday night on the condition that I take my little brother with me. I was so flush with the excitement of driving myself, I didn't really mind. I entered Pizza Planet as a newly ordained young man. I had cash in one pocket and car keys in the other. I sat down with the confidence only a 16 year old male driver possesses, and ordered my drink and pizza.

The drinks arrived and the banter began. Within seconds, my little brother knocked over his completely full strawberry soda. Immediately it rushed the short distance to the edge of the table where it cascaded in a crimson waterfall directly in my lap, ruining my evening's coolness; not to mention my brand new white double-knit slacks.

Tonight I stood for a moment on the exact spot. Some day I'll have to forgive my brother.

Royal Ranger Adventure

2011-09-30T11:39:00.000-05:00

Our Royal Rangers are going to have their first outing on October 15. Lonnie and the gang will be going to Red Rock Canyon to hike, explore and rappel. All boys are invited. Be a part of the excitement!

Poor Customer Service

2011-09-22T16:53:00.002-05:00

This morning I went to a national chain office supply store to get some copier paper for the church. While I was checking out I saw a lady carrying her desktop computer in her arms. My first thought was, "Oh boy, I hate having to take my computer for repair." I have been her before; carrying my computer, knowing that I am at a severe knowledge disadvantage and wondering if this trip would be the one that would require me to go through the painful process of switching to a new computer.

The lady was directed by the person at my check-out station to take her burden to the customer service desk. There were two employees at the service desk and I was sure that she would come under their care very quickly. However, they seemed not to notice the lady and continued their light-hearted conversation while she stood close by, uncertain as to where to set her computer. Another employee, who appeared to be older and seemingly more responsible came walking quickly toward the two. I assumed that she would immediately connect with the poor lady and get on to the two younger ones for being un-noticing of the lady's dilemma. However, she gave an order to the boy about some messiness on one of the aisles and sent him away. She then gave some directions to the other girl and set her in another direction. All of this happened within 4 feet of the lady who was still holding her computer. No one had talked to her yet. Finally the lady was told someone would be with her shortly; the first acknowledgement of her existence in the store. As I was leaving, I saw her decide to set her computer down on a counter. No one had given her any instruction. She was the customer. She was the reason the store exists. Nothing else could have been more important than making her feel appreciated for picking their store over the many other options Oklahoma City offers.

Poor customer service always frustrates me. I worry that this story might be lived out at Living Water Church. Could someone come into our place, carrying a heavy burden and looking to repair her life and find people who are occupied in conversations with people they have known for years? Could the placement of chairs or the quantity of coffee stirrers take precedent over connecting with someone who is out her element by coming into a church?

Let's all keep an eye out for someone who we don't recognize. Let's be ready to meet them; to hear their story; to see how we can help lead them to what they need. After all, people with burdens are the reason for our existence. Nothing else we do comes close to them in importance.

God Moves In Mysterious Ways

2011-09-19T08:18:00.000-05:00

God moves in mysterious ways,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter tase,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

William Cowper (1731-1800)

A Pentecostal Profession of Faith

2011-09-17T08:05:00.003-05:00

WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT, God is far away,

Christ stays in the past,

the Gospel is a dead letter,

the Church is simply an organization,

authority a matter of domination,

mission a matter of propaganda,

the liturgical services no more than a reminder of the past,

Christian living a slave morality.

BUT WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, God is with us,

the universe is resurrected

and groans with the birth pangs of the kingdom,

the risen Christ is here,

The Gospel is the power of life,

the Church is the organism, the Body of the living Christ,

authority is service,

mission is Pentecost,

the liturgy is both memorial and anticipation,

human action is God at work in this world.

-Patriarch Ignatius IV

How well do you know the Bible?

2011-09-10T11:47:00.000-05:00

A pulpit committee invited a young minister to come to their church for an interview. The committee chairman asked, "Son, do you know the Bible very well?"

The young minister replied, "Fairly well, sir."

The chairman then asked, "Which part do you know the best?"

He said, "I know the New Testament the best."

Continuing, the chairman asked, "Which part of the New Testament do you know best?"

The young minister replied, "Several different parts."

The chairman said, "Why don't you tell us the story of the prodigal son."

The young man said, "Sure...there was a man named Nicodemus, who went down to Jericho by night and he fell upon stony ground and the thorns choked him half to death. The next morning Solomon and his wife, Gomorrah, came by, and carried him down to the Ark for Moses to take care of. As he was going through the Eastern Gate into the Ark, he caught his hair in a limb and he hung there forty days and forty nights and he afterwards did hunger. Then the ravens came and fed him. The very next day, three wise men came down to the boat dock and he caught a ship to Nineveh. When he got there he found Delilah sitting on a wall. He said, 'Chunk her down boys, chunk her down.'
And they said, 'How many times shall we chunk her down?'
And he said, 'Seventy times seven.'
So they chunked her down four hundred and ninety times. Then she burst asunder in their midst. They picked up twelve baskets of the leftovers and asked, 'At the resurrection whose wife shall she be?'"

The committee chairman suddenly interrupted the young minister and said to the remainder of the committee, "Fellows, I think we ought to ask the church to call him as our minister. He is awfully young, but he sure does know his Bible."

Is this how well you know your Bible?

On Target, On Time

2011-09-02T14:47:00.000-05:00

Last fall we made a tough decision to discontinue our Sunday School because the way we were doing it was very tiring on the few who were involved in the children's ministry. The stated goal in January was that we would finish completion of the EdZone classrooms and restart with a complete selection of classes for every age group in September. It was a statement of faith, because at the time the rooms were far from complete and financial resources were very scarce.

I have the advantage of being to see the fulfillment of this vision on a day to day basis. In those early weeks we would see what we were able to do with the available funds. Electrical work was installed and sheetrock was hung, taped and bedded. When we got to the place where the air conditioner had to be replaced before we could proceed further, the good people of Living Water responded and the money was raised. A miracle anonymous gift provided the remaining funds necessary to install the ceiling and floor tiles. Men of the church provided their labor, allowing us to extend the funds even further. Now these rooms are a testament to our faith that God supplies our needs. They are a major step toward the completion of the original vision of moving into the facility we call our church home.

Now this Sunday, right on the promised time, we resume Sunday School at Living Water Church. We have classes for Toddlers (1-3 in diapers) Preschool (3-5 potty trained) Primary (grades 1-3) Junior (grades 4-6) Youth (grades 6-12) and Adults (everyone else). It will begin at 9 and will end at 9:45.

I am grateful for the many who have made this possible; those who gave of their time or finances to get the rooms ready, and those who have given of their time to be teachers in these classes.

But most especially, I am grateful to God who makes all things possible. This is an exciting time to be a part of what God is doing at Living Water Church.

OK, maybe I AM all that

2011-08-30T10:52:00.001-05:00

I am sitting in the All About Cha coffee shop in Edmond. I had about an hour before a lunch meeting across the street, and I have seen this place but have never had the opportunity to try it out. There is always some reading that I need to do, so I thought I would pull in and have a cup while reading. The atmosphere in the place is great. Airy and contemporary with an Asian feel, just being in here makes me feel cooler than I really am. (And after all, isn't that what we're all after?)

I am reading a commentary on Colossians written by N.T. Wright in preparation for a series I plan to share probably in January. N.T. Wright is one of the most readable theologians who is writing today. I came across a line I thought was very good.

When the lavish and generous beauty of the world makes you catch your breath, remember that it is like that because of Jesus.

Out of habit I reached for my phone to tweet that, but I feared that it might exceed the character limit. I could have done it on Facebook, but a thought struck me. I am in here with my new MacBook in my backpack case slung casually over one shoulder. I can be one of those people who sit in coffee shops and work for hours on their laptop doing all sorts of world changing things. Suddenly I was overcome with the overwhelming urge to get some leather flip flops and grow a soul patch.

Assisted Living Musings

2011-08-24T18:13:00.000-05:00

When I visit my dad in his assisted living center I usually find him sitting in a common area in a chair where he can see down a long hallway. This allows him to watch most of the comings and goings of staff and residents. As I sit with him, he keeps a running commentary on the folks who appear in his field of view. As I have spent time there, I have come to an obivious conclusion: the end of life season is tough.

I see a couple. He is sprightly and clear-headed, but his wife's mind is gone. It is tender and heart-breaking to see him, who gives the impression that he could exist quite well in the outside world, staying faithful to his marriage vows and tending to his wife who knows when he is with her, but very little else.

I see younger people who, for whatever reason, have lost their ability to think things through, and I wonder how many years will their world will be limited to the cream colored walls of the facility.

The older ones, including my dad, fall into one of two categories: those whose minds have outlived their bodies and those whose bodies have outlived their minds. I haven't decided which is less desirable.

I look at Dad, and I know that he is spiritually ready to make the next journey. He hangs on tenaciously to this life because it is what he knows. He knows conceptually about his glorified body in Heaven, but for 94 years he has lived the reality of this life, so he stays with what he knows. But I know that when that day comes, and Jesus says "Well done", Dad will wonder why he hung on so long.

Don't fail to make your preparations for your Heavenly destination.

Memories

2011-08-18T20:37:00.000-05:00

I talk to people from time to time who pine for things to be as they once were. They hold an idealized view of a place, a period of time, a group of friends, or an association with others, and it becomes a standard which cannot be attained in any other situation. This ideal changed, maybe slowly, maybe rapidly, but the change is not seen as ordinary transition, and it is for sure not seen as improvement. They find it difficult to enjoy today because they haven't forgiven today for not being yesterday.

The problem is that things always change. Summers end and as fall arrives, leaves die and fall off. Maybe a tornado strips the leaves off early in the Spring and cheats the tree of its Summer leaves. But the tree changes. There is no going back to what once was. If we attempt to recreate the past, we find very quickly that it is a fool's errand. You can reassemble a group of people, but the perspectives, attitudes and worldviews of the people have changed. The chemistry which once held the group together doesn't exist anymore. That's why high school reunions sound so good in theory but are usually awkward in reality.

The best thing we can do with the past is to preserve and honor the good parts, learn from and discard the bad parts, and realize that today we are a much different person than we were back then.

Back in my youth Barbra Striesand sang the song "The Way We Were" (although I liked the Gladys Knight version much better). It went something like:

Memories line the corners of my mind,
Misty water-colored memories, of the way we were.
Scattered pictures, of the smiles we left behind,
Smiles we gave to one another, of the way we were.
Can it be that it was all so simple then, or has time re-written every line,
And if we had the chance to do it all again, tell me would we, could we?
Memories, can be beautiful and yet,
What's too painful to remember, we simply choose to forget.
But it's the laughter we will remember
Whenever we remember, the way we were.

We have the opportunity to enjoy today, today. Tomorrow we can't do anything about it.
And wishing that today was yesterday is wasted effort.

I Was Born To Reject Rejection

2011-08-03T23:30:00.000-05:00

OK. This was a new one on me. Last night Carole and I were looking for a quick bite before we went to the evening service at General Council. We had been told that there was a small food court in a nearby hall in the convention center. Sure enough, it was right where we were told it would be. We saw a little Mexican grill and decided that that would be our place. It seemed to have the shortest line and besides that, it smelled good. We took our place at the end of the line and began to read the menu signboard. Our stomachs began to growl in anticipation. A few seconds later, a young lady, an employee, came over to us and said, "Sorry, we're closing." Then she began to pull the web barrier across the line in front of us. No one was behind us in line. It was just me and Carole. I asked, "Are you serious?" Carole said, "Can't you close the line behind us?" She wouldn't look us in the eye. She just hooked the barrier in place in front of us and walked away. Wow. I've never had that happen before.

So we went to plan B. At the arena where the service was to be held, we found a concession stand that would consent to sell us something, so we got a hotdog, a popcorn and two cokes. And it only cost us $16.50.

Life is an experiment

2011-07-28T10:37:00.000-05:00

Life is an experiment. Or, if you wish, life is a series of experiments. I have come to that conclusion because if I hadn't arrived at that conclusion I would have had no choice but to lose my mind. As a person who is living my life in an imperfect world, many of the decisions I make will have imperfect outcomes. Some make decisions with no thought to God's will for their lives, and some struggle to make decisions because they are waiting to hear a specific direction from God for every decision. Those who disregard God's will eventually find themselves in a fix of their own making, because God will allow us to go our own way as long as we are satisfied with our own plan. And it is easy to point to them and dismiss their difficulty with a simple "You made your bed, now lie on it."

But many Christians who want to live lives that are pleasing to God really get tied up in knots over the specifics of the decisions they must make. They feel that a decision must be 100% perfect because God doesn't make mistakes. Then when the outcome they get is less than what they expected, they have to figure out what went wrong. They either blame themselves because "they must have missed God", or someone involved in the decision must have blown their opportunity. The example of King Saul is brought up frequently in these discussions. But before we begin to expose the Sauls in our situations, we must look inside ourselves to see if we are truly a Samuel.

In reality there are few decisions which are truly "one chance to get it right the first time" lifelong decisions. Most of the decisions we make are transitional decisions. They are made today and are adjusted later. Cars we buy can be traded. Appointments we make can be changed. The outcome we get can be just what God wanted to bring us to the place we have been asking Him to bring us to. He doesn't guarantee that each decision we make will turn out as we wanted it to just because we have placed it in His hands. He has promised that He will honor our humble and obedient spirit.

So if you've made a decision, a judgment call, or started on a new direction in life and it isn't turning out the way you hoped it would, don't get all tied up in knots. If you didn't seek God's input before making the decision, ask His forgiveness and ask His guidance to get you through the situation. If you feel that you did seek God's counsel, then continue to walk in faith even though the decision might seem disastrous. He does things we can't understand, but we can understand that He loves us and will see us through. Don't beat yourself up and don't point fingers. Just trust Him. He loves you. Really.He does. Look at life as a series of experiments. Some will turn out the way you expected. But experiments have uncertain outcomes or else they wouldn't be experiments. They would be habits.

Withdrawl Symptoms

2011-07-27T15:08:00.000-05:00

This Sunday will be the first Sunday morning service at Living Water Church that I have missed since Carole and I were call here last November and I am already suffering withdrawl symptons. Carole and I are leaving on Friday for Arizona for General Council, which is the national meeting of Assembly of God ministers and is held every other year. We are leaving a couple of days before it begins so we can enjoy a couple of days at the Grand Canyon, which is one of our favorite places on earth. I am looking forward to spending some uninterrupted time with Carole, who is my favorite person on earth, and I'm looking forward to hearing what the leadership of the A/G will have to say concerning the future of our movement. I am expecting to come back refreshed and enthused after hearing new ideas and enjoying wonderful worship services each day.

But I am still having withdrawl symptoms from Living Water. God has been working an amazing transformation in me since I began this journey in Guthrie. I see the seeds of fresh momentum beginning to germinate in our church and I love what God has been doing in our Sunday services. I don't want to miss one minute of this fresh, new and exciting season. I have complete confidence in Scott and believe that he will bring a powerful word. I don't have any fear that any uprisings will occur or that the church will suffer in my absence. I just like being at LWC. I don't like missing. I'm going to enjoy myself while I'm gone, but I will be really happy to get back!

Perception- the sequel

2011-07-21T09:06:00.000-05:00

Many of you have talked to me about the last post about my adventure at the bank. Thanks for offering to help sort and roll coins, and most of all for the many humorous comments you have made. I thought I'd share how the story ends:

I took the infamous coin jug to Highpointe church because I knew they have a machine which will sort and count coins. My friends there even visited with me while the coins were sorting. I carried them away in their separate containers and headed to the bank where our church has its account. I carried in the smaller containers and waited for an available teller. The young lady didn't seem the least bit bothered that I had a large amount of coins to deposit and she was very helpful and cheerful despite a number of machine malfunctions while the process unfolded.

As a parenthetical aside, while I was watching the coins being counted, one of the ladies from Missy's Bakery came into the bank with a pan of baked goods for someone in the bank. I asked her if I could get added to her route for routine delivery of fresh baked items, but I wasn't given any hope that that would ever happen.

When my teller was finished with the counting and the rolling of the coins, she asked another bank employee to verify her count. As the other lady was verifying, she suddenly looked up and me and said, "Oh, you're the jug guy from yesterday!"

Yeah, that's me. The jug guy from yesterday.

Have a great day!!!

Perception

2011-07-19T17:54:00.000-05:00

Our church just completed a coin drive to help our children go to Kids Camp. I am thrilled that we have 25 kids leaving Monday to have a great time at camp. My responsibility today was to take the big jug of coins and cash to the bank to be deposited. Being a bank, I figured they had the stuff to count coins accurately, if not happily. The jug of coins weighs around 50 pounds, so you don't want to carry it further than you have to, and you have to use both hands. I made it through the front door and someone was standing at each teller window, so I asked one of the workers if there was someplace it would be okay to set the jug down while I waited for an available teller. One lady smiled and pointed to a clear area of counter space and I headed that direction. Just prior to being relieved of the load of coins another lady said quite urgently, "Are they separated?" The jug is clear, so I thought it was a rather silly question, but I answered "No". She replied, "We can't take them unless they are separated", to which I replied, still carrying the full weight of the jug, "I was told that you have a coin counter." With a matter of fact expression, she said, "We do but we don't sort coins. They have to be separated." With that matter settled, I thanked her for the information and headed to the door. However, it is more difficult to pull the door toward you than it is to push it away when you are carrying a bulky load of coins. No one made a move to help, and I got the door open and made it to the truck.

I was not angry that the bank doesn't sort coins. I should have called or gone in empty handed to make sure. My feeling was that the bank had missed a golden opportunity to display helpfulness in excess of policy. One person saying, "I hate that you have had to carry that jug of coins for nothing" as she reached to help with the door would have given me a completely different impression of the entire bank. What I got was information. I needed the information but a little grace would have turned a frustrating experience into a pleasant one. I would not expect them to sort the coins for me if their machine doesn't do it, but I did expect them to show a little sympathy for my situation.

Maybe that's how we as church people should be. In stead of giving someone only the truth, which the person may not want to hear, we can add a little grace to the truth and possibly get a much better result.

'Tis all that I can do

2011-07-08T22:06:00.000-05:00

For whatever reason I have had the last verse from the old Isaac Watts hymn, "At the Cross" on my mind today. That verse goes:

But drops of grief can ne'er repay the debt of love I owe,
Dear Lord I give my self away; 'tis all that I can do.

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
and the burden of my heart rolled away;
It was there by faith, I received my sight,
and now I am happy all the day.

As I reflected on the words of this song sung many times in my youth I thought of those who I have encountered over the years who have struggled with their forgiveness. They continued to labor and grieve over past sins and transgressions. I really believe that they felt that they were either disqualified from Christian service, or that they must labor in Christian service in an attempt to make themselves "worthy" of their salvation. This song verse isn't scripture, of course, but it does a good job of summing up the heart of Christian service. We owed a debt beyond our capacity to pay, but Jesus' substitutionary death on the cross paid our debt in full. Our response is (or should be) that we give ourselves completely to Christ in gratitude for what has already been done for us. Anything less is gross ingratitude. Dear Lord, we give ourselves away. It's all that we can do.

The Power of Forgiveness

2011-07-06T15:50:00.002-05:00

This week it has been my privilege to visit with two different people who have endured hurt and betrayal by someone they thought they could trust. That in itself isn't remarkable. Each of us who have lived any time at all bear the scars of hurts inflicted by someone we loved. What made these two conversations remarkable what that each of them made the conscious choice to forgive the one who caused the hurt.

Both situations left the hurting person with a perfect opportunity to use the hurt as an excuse for harboring bitterness and mistrust for the remainder of their lives, but their choice to forgive actually freed them to live in joy. They fully realize the pain they suffered and they don't minimize the severity of the offense, but by forgiving, they have released themselves from the weight of bitterness and unforgiveness which so many carry to their grave.

Each of the people I visited with are joyous people. If you didn't know their story you might be fooled into thinking that nothing bad had ever happened to them, but their joy is not fakery; it authentic God-given joy.

They have found that forgiveness is the best gift they could give themselves. Forgiveness is powerful.

A Lot Has Happened!

2011-07-01T15:52:00.000-05:00

In preparing for the dedication of the EdZone this weekend I got to thinking about those who have helped bring us to this place. I thought of those who originally looked at a metal warehouse and saw a beautiful church. I thought of those who gave of their finances, time and talents to lay out the floorplan and began to do the work. I thought of those who framed walls, ran electrical, built platforms, strung cables, hung lights and projectors, layed tile, painted, hung ceilings and decorated. It was a grand undertaking. I know that I do not know everyone who was involved in the early labor but I owe a debt of gratitude to all who gave of themselves so completely to build the attractive and current house of worship we enjoy.

While difficulties slowed the project, they did not kill the dream. The dream is alive and well and gaining momentum week by week. This week's dedication will be a further step in fulfilling the vision that placed us where we are today.

I have sensed since my arrival a few months ago that my first mandate was to complete the original vision before I led us in any new directions. The EdZone is the most visible of the remaining work. Now only a couple of air conditioners and some roof repair stand between us and the completion of the original plan.

God has been faithful through the exciting early days of the project, through the difficulty of the crisis period, and in the quiet healing period we are experiencing today. He has never left us and He never will. He still has great things in store for us, and as we keep our hearts turned to Him, He will reveal His plans for Living Water Church.

Be blessed and I'll see you Sunday!

Dedication Celebration!

2011-06-29T14:36:00.000-05:00

This Sunday we will be dedicating the EdZone at Living Water Church. The completion of these three rooms brings us a giant step closer to fulfilling the original vision of our facility. Progress had slowed for a little while, but now we are gaining speed toward all that God has prepared in advance for us to do! I am really looking for an exciting and encouraging day on Sunday as we recount God's faithhfulness, remember all of His blessings, and reaffirm His plan for our lives. Come Sunday morning at 10 and bring someone with you!

I'm older than I've ever been.

2011-05-18T16:45:00.000-05:00

I have always made an attempt to be able to make conversation about many topics. My secret is to learn enough about a topic to ask good questions. Then if someone I encounter shows some expertise in a subject I can ask a question or two and reveal that it is not the first time I have thought about the issue or topic. It works well just about all the time; especially if I don't try to pass myself off as an expert. People love to talk with someone who is interested in their vocation or passion.

But there is an area in which I have no ability to do anything but to appear completely lost. That's because I am lost. Back in my early 20's I served briefly as a sound man at my church. It was a simple sound board and it didn't take much technical knowledge to run it. Mostly if I watched what was happening and kept anyone from picking up a dead mike I was okay. I didn't like doing it, however, so when someone came along who did enjoy it, I was glad to hand off the job. It was then that I decided not to try to stay current in my knowledge of sound technology. That was back in the days before personal comupters and video screens. Multimedia at that time meant carousel slide projectors, overhead transparency projectors or 16mm movie projectors. That was in that era that I stopped learning about those things. I wanted to be seen as "not an option" for any future sound booth assignments. My strategy has worked perfectly for years.

Fast forward to today. I am a pastor of a church with an intimidating array of multimedia equipment. I am the one who is at the church during the week, so when visiting musicians or preachers come, they also come to me with their technical questions. My batting average is perfect. I always give moronic answers because I don't even know what to call the various thingamabobs that are back there. I know we can show a video, but don't ask what format. I know we can mike a guitar, but don't ask me about anything more than that because you will get a blank stare and a shrug of the shoulders. I know we have internet, but don't ask me if we have a static IP address. I don't know and I don't want to know. We have some amazingly proficient and faithful technical people who happen to work at jobs which won't allow me to call them and quiz them about technical matters during the day. In this connected day and age, I sound increasingly old and outdated. Maybe that is why the lady at Taco Bell assumes that I qualify for the senior discount and gives it to me without even asking. Seven years from now I'll actually qualify.

Generational Worship- part 4

2011-05-05T09:02:00.002-05:00

As I bring this series to a close I'm afraid that I've identified more questions than answers. I have heard of and witnessed several approaches to "all generations" worship and none of what I have seen has been completely successful. I don't like the idea of separate services; they only serve to further segregate the generations. But let's face it. Most people who lead worship today in our growing suburban churches are leading contemporary songs. Many pastors, trying not to alienate anyone, advocate a "mix". Usually this means that the contemporary worship leader is forced to sing a hymn or two to pacify the old folks (translated: consistent tithers). What tends to happen is one of two things: One, when the hymn is sung the old folks over-respond to demonstrate how this music moves people more than that new stuff and if we would just go back to the old stuff we could really see a move of God like we used to see. Then they stand stone-faced and unmoved during the contemporary songs.Or two, the contemporary worship leader dresses up the old song with newer chords, rythmns and phrasing, and it becomes just as unsingable as the new songs they already don't know. The mix doesn't satisfy when its' intent is to pacify strong personalities and their preferences. The issue is much deeper than the song selection.

On the other hand, the contemporary devotees are quick to say that the older folks should "get on board or get out of the way" and make it appear that only the old are stuck on their music. But let it be known that a traditional group is coming to perform, and it will be very difficult to find a young person in the house. They are just as guilty of being snobby about their music, and have decided that only music written by a select cadre of contemporary worship artists and written in the past 10 years can usher in the presence of God. That is every bit as wrong as the belief that God only speaks through southern gospel music. (I've actually heard that assertion.)

My travels to other countries has taught me much about the banality of style preferences in regard to connecting with God in music. I've been in a tiny church dug back into a hill in Peru where a tambourine was the only instrument. I not only couldn't understand the words, the tunes were not familiar to me either. But as I watched the faces of the out of tune singers as they lifted up the name of Jesus, I couldn't stop the tears from flowing because the presence of God was so heavy in the place. I have witnessed the same thing in Nepal, Russia, Suriname, Cuba and other places. Where there is a hunger to connect with the God of all creation who desires to inhabit the praises of His people, God shows up. When there is a desire for a concert, a concert shows up. When God shows up, no one critiques the music. At a concert, everyone is entitled to their opinion.

I believe that everyone should have an opportunity during a weekly service to throw their head back and sing a song they already know. The reason is not that the songs we know are better than songs we don't know, but worship is all about release. Releasing our troubles and aggravations for a few moments and feeling the sweet presence of God. This is difficult to do when you are attempting to learn a new melody and words. This should be an easy thing for pastors and worship leaders to agree on. The quality of the concert is secondary to the quickening of the Spirit. And there should be great sensitivity to the specifics of a local congregation. Remember that you are leading, not herding your flock. If you're leading, but no one is following, you are just out for a walk. I've found few who were truly obstinate about their music style. Most are afraid of being marginalized, or they have a desire to connect with God again, and think that returning to the forms which were in use when their relationship was new and fresh is the way to reawaken it. Sadly, multi-generational churches are rare because of the insensitivity or lack of wisdom of church leaders; both pastors and worship leaders. As a pastor, it is my desire and fervent belief that Jesus is Lord of all, and he can connect with all, even when they are in the same room.

As Rodney King said, "Can't we all just get along?"

Generational Worship- part 3

2011-05-04T09:12:00.002-05:00

I don't pretend to know nearly as much about the heart of the contemporary form of worship, so I speak as an observer rather than an insider. But I must say that I have been blessed, impressed and challenged on many occasions while being around those who are immersed in the contemporary worship. I make it a habit to cultivate relationships with young people who are passionate for Christ. I have been around many on mission trips, in youth services, and at large gatherings. Their worship is honest, genuine, heart-felt and demonstrative. For them, worship is less about the community gathering and more about a personal encounter with the Spirit of God during worship. They are passionate about their music and the effect that it causes in them during the worship experience.

Once again, I am more of an observer and I welcome correction of my observations, but it appears to me that the "singability" of the song or even a knowledge of the words is less important than having the song in the air creating the atmosphere that ushers them into the presence of God. Standing, arms uplifted, eyes closed, this worship experience seems to close in around the individual and there is no hurry for those involved to move on to other elements of the service. If the song goes on, no problem. If the words are not entirely known, no worry. It is present, and the worshipper has an exclusive audience with their Lord.

Two other major differences from traditional worship exist: New songs are introduced regularly, and the quality of the musicians and vocalists is usually quite good whether there is an entire worship band or just one person with an acoustic guitar. Today's contemporary worship leaders are quite gifted creatively and musically. The chords are different, the rythymns are different, and the phrasing is different and this is the major source of conflict with those who prefer the traditional songs. Just as a new song begins to become familiar, it goes away in favor of a new song, hence the charge that the new songs have no "staying power". I answer this charge by saying that as this is a fairly new genre of music, it is going through an explosively creative era and there is a constant weeding out of the songs which will not endure. The songs in our hymnals represent only a fraction of the songs written during that era, but only the hymnal songs made the cut. Since they are published in a book and the others have vanished, it gives the illusion that the songwriters of that era wrote only classics. But many of the songs written decades ago had no staying power. Forty years from now, a hundred or so songs from this era will still be known. Prediction- Shout To The Lord will make the cut; I Went Into The Enemy's Camp will not.

The potential shortcomings of contemporary worship is the opposite of those of traditional worship. Rather than becoming dry and formalistic, the contemporary form lends itself to the potential of narcissism, and the constant chasing after the new and fresh. This reveling in the individual experience can result in a prideful, self-righteous spirit that dismisses the perceived lack of spirituality of the older set. We disregard the community of the believers at our own peril.

I do envy the passion and emotion that our young worshippers display during the worship service. There is something simple and profound in the individual experience. An old hymn describes being "shut in with God in a secret place" and I see that in the worship experience of the contemporary worshipper. We old guys can learn a lot about appreciating the "fresh" and being more concerned about connecting with God than with how many times we sing the chorus.

Tomorrow I will attempt to propose how we can all worship in the same room.

Generational Worship- part 2

2011-05-03T10:11:00.000-05:00

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine,
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine.
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of his spirit, washed in his blood.
This is my story, this is my song;
Praising my saviour, all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song;
Praising my saviour, all the day long.

I just typed the words to the first verse of this hymn from memory, even though I have not sung it in a church service for decades. That is an illustration of the influence of the songs we sang in church as I grew up. When I was a boy, we sang many songs that people the age of my grandparents would have also sung. We sang them from songbooks which changed only once in my lifetime. The "Melodies of Praise" hymnal was replaced in my early teenage years by "Hymns of Glorious Praise" only after much consideration and discussion. It really was a really big deal to make any changes to the songs we sang. New songs were to be sung as "specials", and choruses were to be sung during extended altar times or during baptismal services. As I write this, there is no hint of a smirk or dismissive attitude, because I love the influence that those timeless songs still have on me. They are still the songs I sing in the car or when I'm alone. Although many times they were led by people of poor voice and were accompanied by a piano and organ which might be poorly played, they still, through their repetition, got into my spirit and still reside there today.

The "song service" consisted of three or four songs from the hymnal. Everyone was expected to participate, whether that person could sing well, or not. Very seldom did anyone get carried away during the song service, but it was a time of community worship in song, where no one was excluded. There would be a hymnal for everyone. You held a book in your hands and it was the same book year in and year out. It spoke of permanence; of stability; of community. Over the years, these songs were imbedded in our psyche and they remain to this day. Our services resembled very closely the services my grandparents attended; the only difference was air-conditioning and better sound systems.

But there was a problem with the hymnal style of worship. The songs could become so familiar that those who sang them sang them without internalizing the message the song conveyed. Many times the song service would just occupy the first 20 minutes of the service, serving as a spacer between the opening comments and the offering. It became possible to sing powerful messages such as "Years I spent in vanity and pride, caring not my Lord was crucified. Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary. Mercy there was great and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied for me. There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary" without even realizing the message that the song was conveying. The permanence which had seemed so comforting devolved into formalism and in some cases, legalism. Any attempts to change were viewed with suspicion or even hostility.

It is a shame that the younger generation did not get to bond with these songs, but the reality is that they do not connect at all with them in the manner in which they were performed. The rythmns and the phrasing just do not resonate. Popular music began to change drastically in the 60's and the baby boomers began to break with anything that spoke of their parents' music. The change in church music came several years later. If I could ask anything of the young people of today I would ask them to have some appreciation of those who preceeded them. You don't have to embrace the music they prefer, but it should not be dismissed out of hand, either. In this world where technological changes occur continually, there is something attractive about those songs that transport the older generation to the years of their spiritual formation; when they were young and sorting out the complications of marriage, career and children. Those songs, passed down to them by those who had gone on before, were an anchor in the stormy seas of life. They didn't change like the world around them, and they offer safe haven to those who love them. Maybe you could find some of these old treasures, rework the chord progressions, and give them to a new generation, while showing some love and respect for those who most likely sacrificed to pay for the church you attend today.

Generational Worship- Part 1

2011-05-02T14:36:00.000-05:00

This is the first of four posts that have been on my heart concerning music and worship in the local church. I know that being 54 makes me an official member of the old guy club. However, I was still a young man when the current wave of contemporary music and worship styles burst upon the scene. I hope to give some perspective on this highly emotional and often conbtroverisal and divisive issue in church life. It is not my purpose to declare anyone "right" or "wrong". I will attempt to share some insight into the strengths and potential weaknesses of both the older and younger generational preferences for worship. Be aware that I will always approach these styles as preferences because when we take either preference and lay it alongside the timeline of the church since its inception on the day of Pentecost two thousand years ago, both are tied to really short snippets of time. Both "Just As I Am" and "Days of Elijah" would seem strange to the first century believers.

In the next post I will attempt to describe the worship style of the generation that preceded me; many times referred to as "traditional." After that I will again try to describe the "contemporary" form of worship. The final post will discuss the possibility of both generations having respect for each other and making some room for the possible merit of the other generation's worship preference. I am not yet convinced that there is only one way to connect with God through music, but I am convinced that our adversary would like us to feel that if the other generation "wins" my generation "loses". I think we can be better than that.

Things are happening!

2011-04-21T17:28:00.000-05:00

When you come to Living Water this week you won't recognize the Edzone! The transformation this week is dramatic. The hallway is already unrecognizable. It will be so nice to direct people down an attractive, brightly lit hallway to take their children to Miss Toby's room. The whole project will be finished in a couple of weeks and we will have an official dedication of the Edzone. It is really exciting. A special thank you to all of the men who have painted, textured, layed tile, hung ceiling grid and tiles, furnished scaffolding, hung doors, installed trim, and stained woodwork. So much work has been done in a short period of time. What a blessing it is to be part of such a wonderful church family!

Full Speed Ahead on the EdZone!

2011-04-12T10:52:00.001-05:00

Since we received the anonymous gift to complete the EdZone, we have ramped up the intensity in getting it ready for Easter. Men from the church have been and curently are working evenings to paint and install the ceiling. The electrician is standing by to wire up the lights, the trim carpenter is sitting on ready to hang the door and to install the chair rail and baseboard, and I am taking bids on having the tile installed. This is thrilling and exciting. As I walk the hallway I can see it crowded with children going to their classes and enjoying children's church on Sunday morning. I see entire families having dinner on the Patio before going to their vaious classes on Wednesday nights. I see some type of meeting or event happening in these rooms every day because these rooms are far too valuable to use only a couple of hours a week. I am straining with anticipation to see this vision become reality in the next few weeks as God continues His miraculous provision for the vision he has placed on the heart of our great church!

Change by the inch is a cinch

2011-03-29T14:30:00.000-05:00

Several years ago an older minister friend of mine said something that I thought was the kind of thing old guys say to justify not changing. In referring to church leadership he said, "Change by the inch is a cinch, but change by the yard is hard." He was encouraging me not to be in so much of an all-fired hurry to make things happen and look the way I wanted them to be. I dismissed his comment at the time and stayed aggravated at anyone who didn't share my exact vision for how things "should be".

Now, a few years and many experiences later, I see the wisdom in his statement. Now that I lead a congregation, I understand. I am blessed by having people of all age groups represented. I have people who are recent converts and those who have been in church their entire life. I understand that I will never get all of them to agree with 100% of anything I do, but that is not a reason to intentionally leave any of them behind.

I know that it is possible to become paralyzed into inaction by fear of the reaction of the people I lead, but I can also see that thinking of how my decisions may affect different people causes me to think things through and make sure that they are God's idea and not my own path to Pastor Randy awesomness. As most any pastor can attest, I have some in my church who would like things to change faster, and I have some who think I am going too fast already. So, instead of threatening or frustrating me, the variety of opinions drive me to my knees to pray for wisdom in each decision and new direction, and I am grateful for that. It keeps me going in a consistent direction. And when I am sure that I am following God's leading, I can live with the outcomes.

I have a vision of our church as being much different a few years from now than it is currently, but I don't feel rushed to get there by Easter or even by Christmas. I will strive to continually nudge our folks toward the goal, hoping that all will make the trip with us. So far, this change by the inch has been a cinch.

Series for April

2011-03-26T20:21:00.000-05:00

Beginning Sunday, April 3, I am starting a series to lead up to Easter. I will be presenting messages about Jesus. They will be "The Challenging Jesus", "The Loving Jesus", "The Crucified Jesus", and on Easter Sunday, "The Resurrected Jesus". On May 1, I will conclude with "The Ascended Jesus". I am pretty excited to begin this series and I look forward to delivering each of these messages. Of course, if the Lord returns before the series is finished, I'll see you up there, and we can live it instead of listening to it.
Be blessed-

A Pretty Good Week

2011-03-17T09:57:00.000-05:00

I don't get many weeks like this one and that's too bad. This week has allowed me to cross many things off of my "gotta get it done" list. Several of those things have been on the list quite a while. In addition, it seems as though each of these things have been completed at minimal expense!

We got a report that our home A/C unit had gone out and would have to be replaced. The final report was that there was a problem with the electrical service and OG&E fixed it.

At church I was getting the fire extinguishers tested because they had all expired. The first report was that I would have to buy a new extinguisher to replace one which was too old to continue to use. Later I found a newer one hidden in a closet, so I didn't have to buy one. Now all fire extinguishers are current.

Finally the internet is functioning in the church again, and all network functions are restored. This took nearly a month to get done.

The material list for the ceiling and lighting for the E-zone has been submitted. I have compiled the cost to get that done and will begin to purchase materials next week.

None of these are huge, but it is incredibly energizing to cross these projects off the list. Now there is plenty of room to add new projects.

How Good is Good Enough?

2011-03-16T14:18:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading How Good is Good Enough? by Andy Stanley. It addresses the common assumption of our day that good people deserve a good afterlife and bad people deserve something, well, bad. Stanley does an excellent job of breaking down the issue, addressing questions of whose definition of "good" are we to use? and is all of this fair? I would give this book to anyone who is having honest questions about salvation and how to make heaven. It is brief, very readable, and thorough without getting scholarly.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

What does your church think of single moms?

2011-02-28T05:47:00.000-06:00

Last night after church, Carole and I, Sean and Alice, and our guest, Stephen Kuert went out to get something to eat. We had an enjoyable conversation while we ate. At the end of the meal our server came to gather our plates. She hesitated, then said, "I heard you talking about church stuff. First, what church do y'all go to?" We told her. She continued, "What does your church think about girls who have a kid but their husband has left them? Because I tried a church and they told me that I was an abomination."

Of course it was a race for all of us to tell her that she would find love and respect at Living Water. We gave her info about the church and contact information if she needed to talk to someone. I really hope that she will take us at our word and come at her first opportunity. I was struck by two things.

First, I admire this young lady's courage. She is pretty new to Guthrie and she had a horrible experience at a church, yet she had the courage to make herself vulnerable to us by essentially asking if it were possible for her to be accepted at our church. She has a deep-seated desire to find a place where she can fit in.

Secondly, I am grateful that our conversation and demeanor while eating pizza demonstrated something that she felt might be what she was looking for. Had we been rude, or if our conversation had been judgmental, she would not have mustered the courage to approach us.

Stephen led in a brief prayer for her and we let her know in no uncertain terms that we would be looking for her. I really hope she comes. But I really believe that we will find encounters such as this one to be the norm in coming days. It is the heart and the desire of our church.

Room Progress!

2011-02-26T21:17:00.000-06:00

We are ready to order the HVAC unit for the Sunday School rooms this week! We have received enough money to get that major part of the project underway. Praise the Lord! As soon as that is installed we will be ready to move forward with the drop ceiling and lighting. I have a friend who may be able to get us some of the exact light fixtures we need at a drastically reduced price. Please pray! God is really teaching us how to trust Him during this project. Let's learn all we can about trusting Him to provide because that is something we can use time and time again. There is a definite limit to our checking account, but there is no limit to what God can provide for those who place their trust in Him. I'll keep you posted as miracles occur. They are happening daily around here.

Two Nations at a Crossroads

2011-02-14T19:21:00.000-06:00

In the past couple of weeks, some amazing things have been happening in Africa. A vote was taken in Sudan which allowed Southern Sudan to separate and form a brand new country. This new country, the newest on earth, faces many challenges as it embarks on new territory, It is one thing to fantasize about separating; it is another thing completely to go about the enormous task of forming a government, a constitution, place leaders at strategic positions, formulate currency and economic strategies, and the list goes on and on. This new country is very fragile at this point, and it needs our prayers that God would raise up leaders who will lead with integrity and accountability. It would be awful if the efforts of the citizens of Southern Sudan were to lose all of their hopes for a better future because of self-serving and dishonest leaders.

Egypt is one of the most ancient of countries, but it is also going through a time of tremendous transition. Since they have ousted their leader because of an intense desire to have democratic rule, we must also pray for leaders who will lead Egypt with integrity and accountability. It is one thing to oust a leader because of dreams of a better life. It is another thing completely to make those dreams into a reality. Although Egypt is centuries old, it is in many ways as fragile right now as Southern Sudan. It would be awful if the efforts of the protestors, bathed in the hope for a better future, were to be dashed due to the ascendancy of leaders who are even more despotic and authoritarian than the one just dismissed.

Both nations need our prayers.

Special Guest Sunday Morning

2011-02-12T11:07:00.000-06:00

This Sunday morning we will have as our guest Dwain Jones. Dwain is a representative of Calcutta Mercy Ministries, but he is also a personal friend and hero of mine. He is an exceptionally good communicator and I know that you will enjoy hearing him. But even more, he is someone who continues to give his all even though he has reached an age when he could easily "hang it up". He and his wife, Jean, have encountered many physical obstacles in recent years but they still travel the highways of Oklahoma ministering in our churches and still travel the airways, going several times a year to India to encourage their co-laborers in Calcutta. Be ready to be blessed and challenged by the ministry of Dwain Jones tomorrow morning only at Living Water Church. Sunday night he will be ministering in Arkoma (just outside of Ft. Smith, Arkansas).

Epic Fail

2011-02-09T13:44:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I checked the messages on call notes at the church. I have not formed a really good discipline for doing that. One of the messages was a nightmare. It was from someone, a guy, who was undoubtedly sitting in front of the church last Sunday night while we were at the citywide prayer and praise service at Community Church. He had come to visit our Sunday evening service but no one was there. He didn't give his name or a callback number but he was clearly frustrated that he had come to an empty place. It was a powerful reminder to me, once again, that we must always be aware of those outside of our regular attenders who may be drawn to give our church a try. It is not enough just to let "our people" know about changes in the norm. We have to be aware of those who are out of the loop, as well. I saw that message as an epic fail on my part. We can do better. And we will, God willing.

Surrendered and Untamed

2011-02-07T21:11:00.000-06:00

Tonight I have been reviewing a DVD teaching series called "Surrendered and Untamed". This four part teaching is based on an Antarctic expedition by extreme explorer Alex Harris. I got it thinking I would use it for a Wednesday night discussion series, but I might want to save it for a men's event. I'll make up my mind when I get the book and participant guide in a few days. I'll definitely use it; it's just a matter of where and when.

We are open for business!

2011-02-04T10:11:00.000-06:00

The lastest snowstorm, called "Snowmageddon", or the "Snowpocalypse", has passed and left drifts of snow in its wake. If you have driven by the church, you have undoubtedly seen drifts blocking your path to the entrance. But don't be dismayed. Some of the faithful men of the church have arranged for equipment and manpower to clear the path for you. They will be working Saturday morning to move snow, clear sidewalks and spread snowmelt so you don't have to worry about getting inside. If you wish, you can pull up in front and come straight in. We will park your car for you and go get it after service. Once you are inside, you will experience the same warmth of your Living Water family and the warm embrace of the Holy Spirit. So come on! You know you want to get out of the house, anyway!

Soulprint- discovering your divine destiny

2011-02-01T13:21:00.000-06:00

I just finished reading Soulprint by Mark Batterson and I found it to be my favorite of all of his books. Beginning with the premise that we are all unique, Batterson explores the life of David and draws fresh parallels to our own experiences and uncertainties. We are encouraged to explore our uniqueness to find how God can use us to acheive His greatest purpose for our lives. This uniqueness is described as our "soulprint".

I received a copy of Soulprint free from Waterbrook Multnomah publishers for this review.

Snowstorm Reading

2011-02-01T11:38:00.000-06:00

I am taking advantage of the downtime caused by Snowmaggeddon 2011 by doing a lot of reading. I am really enjoying it. I am currently reading Mark Batterson's latest book, "Soulprint". I may be enjoying it more than any of the previous books he has written. Here is a quote from it:

Most of our prayers revolve around God's changing our circumstances, but God doesn't always want to change our circumstances. He wants to use those circumstances to change us! And it starts with breaking the strongholds in our lives. The good news is that God always heals what He breaks. And much as with the human body's natural healing properties, the broken spirit will be stronger after the break than it was before.

Enjoy your snow day. I don't like snow, but I really like days where I get to do a lot of uninterrupted reading.

Snowmaggeddon 2011

2011-02-01T11:30:00.000-06:00

It really is pretty funny that we have taken to naming our storms. With a name like Snowmaggeddon, we have set the bar pretty high for future storm names. How do you top a storm whose name is a play on the name of a future battle which will mark the end of our age? It's like the triple dog dare of storm names. But I have faith in our national powers of hyperbolic storm naming. Anybody selling t-shirts yet?

Return His Call

2011-01-27T16:02:00.001-06:00

I've been talking to a number of missionaries this week. I am constantly impressed by the quality of people God calls into a life of service and sacrifice. People who could certainly work at something worthwhile which would be much easier and less taxing are going "all in" in the service of the Lord. Age is no factor. Tuesday I talked to one missionary in his 20's and another one in his 60's. It's not a young person's calling, and it's not a mature person's calling. It is the call of God and He knows what He's doing in each individual call. He just needs us to answer when He calls. Have you let His call go through to voice mail with no thought of returning it?

Get Excited!

2011-01-26T13:34:00.000-06:00

OK, I'm getting excited because I know a miracle is headed our way. I don't have any details, yet, but I know that we are in the perfect situation for a miracle to occur. We are doing some things around the church here which are being done with the proper motivation (honoring God) and we cannot complete them with our existing resources. It is the classic setup for God to do what only He can do in a way only He could make happen. It is really fun to think of ways that God will supply our need, but in reality, it will most likely happen in a way I will never think of. When it happens, I'll make sure you know about it.

The Work Continues

2011-01-25T20:06:00.000-06:00

The work continues on the classroom area. The rough-in electrical work has been completed, the sheetrock has been hung, the painting has begun. We are moving ahead, slower than we would like, but moving ahead nonetheless. Remaining projects include the drop ceiling, door installation, HVAC work, floor coverings, and the projector/screen/sound system work. I look for the work to gain momentum, soon. We've got to have that classroom area completely finished so they can be available for the many things we have planned to do in them. I am looking forward to the day when the curtains come down permantly and that area becomes an integral part of the ministries of Living Water Church.

Sometimes...

2011-01-24T17:39:00.000-06:00

Well I made a liar of myself on Sunday. On Saturday I sent a facebook status promising something new on Sunday and then I totally forgot to do it. I had a video illustration which was supposed to show just prior to my message. I had it down on the service order, Craig had it all cued up and at the proper time I just completely let it slip my mind. It was funny and would have been awesome. It slipped my mind so completely, I just remembered a few hours ago that it was supposed to happen and didn't. Well, I'll use it another time. If I remember to use it.

This wasn't one of my best weeks. On the way to the fellowship dinner Sunday evening I suddenly realized that I have scheduled the annual church business meeting on Super Bowl Sunday. Well, with nothing controversial to present, we should be adjourned in time to see most of the game. I'll make sure that it never happens again.

Sometimes I can be such a goober.

He Sure Makes It Easy To Trust

2011-01-21T16:05:00.000-06:00

I am a very forward looking person. I always look forward to what the future may bring. I am always thinking about how different (translated: better) things will be or run or look a year from now. But this week I have been doing a lot of looking back. It is easier to predict what will happen by what has happened in the past. I'm not talking about always doing what you've always done, because if you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always gotten. No, I'm talking about giving a deep, appreciative look at what has been done before, so I can have a better understanding of how it is possible for me to do what I can do today. Dorothy Watson gave me a picture she showed me several months ago. It is of a Vacation Bible School held in 1954, two years before I was born. The church was the precursor of Living Water Church. It was pastored by Rev. Shumway, who is the gentleman on the back row wearing the white hat. What is noteworthy to me about the photo is that my mom is the lady on the right side with her arms crossed, looking toward the left. My older brother, Greg, is a little 4 year old boy, seated on the front row, near the left end.

This was going on two years before I made my appearance, but the gospel that Rev. Shumway planted in my parents has come back to Guthrie, through me, to continue to sow the gospel to the community my parents were a part of so many years ago. When you think that God knew how all of that back was going to work out then, it sure makes it easy to trust Him now, doesn't it?

The Lost Funeral Procession

2011-01-12T16:13:00.000-06:00

Last week I did a funeral for a really nice lady I used to go to church with. She lived to be a ripe, old age and I had no doubt about her spiritual condition. She had three grown children who all serve the Lord, and I had done the funeral for her husband nearly a year ago. So, as funerals go, this one promised no drama. Sure enough, the service went smoothly enough and we went to the cars to proceed to the cemetary. I was told to fall in immediately behind the hearse and I did so. We headed out on a direct route to the cemetary, which was about 4 miles from the funeral home. We had the obligatory police escort, and since I was near the front, I watched the interaction and strategy employed as one would stop traffic while the other would lead the procession. When the procession passed, the policeman in the intersection would then zoom past the procession in time to do it all again at the next intersection. It was all quite ordinary until we turned north on County Line Road. There was a flashing sign telling us that the road was closed ahead and to take a different route. I thought to myself, "We have a police escort. They must already have this all figured out." I began to suspect that something was up when one of the policemen pulled alongside the guy driving the hearse and the guy on the hearse suddenly got on his phone. We reached the end of the block and sure enough the road ended. We made a right turn into Rambling Acres neighborhood. All eleven cars in the procession. We slowed nearly to a stop as high school students were walking home from school and didn't know the protocol involving funeral processions wandering through neighborhoods. We made a turn into what I was sure was a cul de sac but it did turn us back south (away from the cemetary.) We circled the block then finally found a neigbhorhood street which would eventually take us to Britton Rd. Of course, Britton Road is under a massive amount of construction as it was the reason the road was closed back at the beginning. We made our way through the narrow labyrinth of orange barrels, made a left turn onto Council and then another left onto Northwest Highway. Finally we made it to the cemetary. The police escort bid their adieu to the guy from the funeral home and made their exit, leaving him to explain to everyone what had just happened. He handled it very well and the family was very gracious and got a good chuckle at getting lost on the way to the graveyard. You never know when a day begins just how it will end.

How will it turn out?

2010-12-29T12:16:00.000-06:00

I am working on the church calender for 2011. As I look through the months ahead, it seems to compress the year. Even though the year hasn't even started, I am mentally already at Easter. I have taken note that Cinco de Mayo will be on May 5th this year and that Independence Day will be on July 4th. I think Thanksgiving will be on a Thursday. (I have a firm grasp of the obvious.) I am already counting the weeks until we reintroduce the completely revamped Sunday School department (only 36). It is energizing to look at the year ahead and plan. It is exciting to think of how many different ways that the living and active God we serve can completely obliterate those plans when He chooses to do so. Which week will be the one when I get to announce the sale of the south campus building? What other exciting announcements will there be? That's for God to know and for us to find out!

On Any Given Day

2010-12-28T14:33:00.000-06:00

We are coming quickly to the end of another year. Each year has its own story, but the big story for me for 2010 is the new chapter that began for Carole and I by becoming pastors in October. This exciting and daunting calling has easily eclipsed my Inca Trail adventure as my top story of the year.

Pastoring is never dull. I noticed Sunday that the sink in the men's bathroom was draining much too slowly and I made a mental note to check on that later. This morning I was reminded of the slow sink again, so I immediately began to disassemble the p-trap to see where the clog was. When I removed the tailpipe extention I saw something dark and slimey looking. I grabbed it and gave a yank. Imagine my surprise when I pulled a dead frog out. Apparently it had come through the drain system and was looking for a place of escape. When it made it to the end of the line, I guess it gave up or didn't like the soapy water. It couldn't have been there for more than a couple of days, but it had already begun to stink pretty badly. I gave it a proper burial in the dumpster, reassembled the drain and now the sink drains fine. The bathroom smells better, too.

You never know what opportunities await on any given day. It was better to be the plumber than the frog.

Will Blog for Books

2010-12-17T10:31:00.000-06:00

I have once again scored a free book. Mark Batterson, who wrote Wild Goose Chase, (and who benefitted greatly from my cashews and jerky on the Inca Trail) has finished a new book, "Soulprint". And once again I have signed up for a free copy of his newest by agreeing to read it upon receiving it and then posting a review of it on my blog. That is like the best deal ever. I get to read new books. I don't have to pay for them. I get to talk about them on my blog. What's not to love about a deal like that?

Challenges

2010-12-15T12:09:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I went to the gym for the first time in several months. A year ago I went several times a week as I prepared for both a 5k run and my Inca Trail hike. I developed a pretty good level of endurance and completed both goals. After my return from Peru, however, I didn't have any goals ahead of me. And as a result, the whole motivation to continue the workouts kinda slipped away. The fact that I felt really good and had a lot of energy didn't seem to be enough to cause me to continue the physical discipline of regular workouts. Now, I am again soft, my energy level is much lower, and it is more difficult to concentrate than it was when I was fit. It would appear that I need another challenge ahead to motivate me toward improvement.

Spiritual fitness is just like physical fitness. If we are just going along in life with no goals or challenges, we will not maintain the disciplines of prayer and Bible study that we do when we are facing something that appears to be daunting or beyond our capability. As a new pastor, I have plenty of spiritual challenge to keep me on my knees and in the Word. But as a soft middle aged guy I need to find a new physical challenge. I'll keep you posted.

Rejoice, Rejoice!

2010-11-30T11:21:00.001-06:00

Sunday night our worship team did a breathtakingly beautiful rendition of the Christmas hymn, "Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel". I have heard that song many times; even sang choir arrangements several times in Christmas programs, but I had never really paid attention to the words of this verse-

Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

In this day of confusion, uncertainty and disappointment, it comes as a great comfort to rest in these lines. When we realize that the events of the world are not random and not haphazard but are ordered by Him who is ultimate wisdom, and ultimate love, then our natural response should be to ask God to lead us to the path of knowledge of Him and to teach us to follow that path. Then we can truly and honestly rejoice that God is with us, and that in Him we find protection, provision, and power.
I love the deep and powerful theology of those ancient hymns.

Things You Find In Church

2010-11-17T17:17:00.000-06:00

Today I was spending some time in the church auditorium. I was up on the platform, thinking, praying, and straightening. I noticed a small book underneath one of the chairs. I picked it up and looked at it. It was an old book about revival. I like old books, so I opened the cover to see when it was published and to see if the original owner had put his name in it. I found the name of the owner and immediately recognized it as one of Oklahoma's pioneer preachers and pastors. Brother "Doc" Woodell spent his last years at Lakeside, the church where I grew up. I was fortunate to grow up in a church that was populated my many heroes of the faith from his generation. I was overwhelmed as I held the book that had once been in the library of someone I respected so much and realized that it now lay in the church I have been called to pastor. A flood of emotion came over me as I realized that I have now assumed the mantle from those pioneers who paved the way for the great things we are able to do today. A sense of great responsibility washed over me as I realized that I now serve a significant church with a great future that is here today because men like him were faithful when times were hard and progress was slow, but they sowed seed that is still being harvested today.

I took the book up to my office and looked at it further. As I turned a few pages to look at the table of contents there was a stamped message that this book had also been owned by the pastor of my teenage years. Pastor Lacy is a very important part of my spiritual formation and I am forever grateful for his imput into my life. Once again, my pulse quickened to realize the significance of my find. The legacy of these ministers now resides in me, and I have purposed to be faithful with the calling that has been laid upon me.

I don't know who the book used to belong to, but it belongs to me, now.

Naomi- Steadfast in the Bad Times

2010-11-16T10:33:00.000-06:00

In our study of the book of Ruth last Sunday we saw that Naomi went through an extended bad spell. She moved to a different country and her husband died. Her two sons married and died as well leaving her no grandchildren or money. When all of this had happened, she learned that the famine that had caused her family to move in the first place was over and things were much better back home. If anyone ever had a reason to be bitter, it was Naomi. But even though her situation was very bitter, she stayed true to her faith, and a result, one of her daughters in law saw something attractive in her. Ruth decided that a God who could sustain Naomi in the toughest of times was a God who was worth giving up everything for. Our response to adversity says much more to the seeking world than our proclamations ever will, because it shows that our faith is real and not based only on good outcomes. Come this Sunday and hear more about this wonderful story. I can't wait to tell you about it.

Our Everyday God

2010-11-11T11:13:00.000-06:00

This Sunday I begin a series from the book of Ruth I am calling "Our Everyday God". The book of Ruth, just four chapters long, is a wonderful story of loyalty, trust, innocence, purity, and love. There are no larger than life characters in the story. There are no national crisis moments. It just tells the story of a normal lady, Naomi, who goes through a tough time in her family life. There are no amazing miracles, but you can see God's faithfulness throughout. I am looking forward to unpacking this really interesting story over the next few weeks on Sunday mornings.

Also, be sure to come to the Fall Feast this Sunday night. We will enjoy a time of good food and fellowship, and, as promised, I will display a hidden talent as I sing what is in my estimation, the greatest country song ever written. You'll have to come to see which one it is. Be here at 6pm Sunday night. We'll have a great time!

Sparks A'flyin!

2010-11-06T20:50:00.000-05:00

Today Carole and I went to visit the new camp facility that the Oklahoma District is constructing near Sparks, Oklahoma. I have been hearing about the Sparks property for several years, now, and until today it has all been conceptual talk. Progress seemed slow, reports were sparse, and, I suppose, obstacles were in abundance. (An outsider's perspective). Today it was easy to catch the vision of an enlarged, up-to-date, well-designed environment designed especially to lead our children and youth closer to God in a safe and attractive setting. It is clear that today's young person attaches no romance to the idea of attending a worship service in an open air tabernacle, no matter how many fond memories their parents might have of such a setting. Cramped musty smelling cabins aren't selling points for the camp experience. Truth is, a great Spirit-led camp experience was necessary to get young people to go to camp. It had to be good to overcome the condition of the facilities. It was clear to me that the plans that have been developed are well thought out and meet the requirements of our 21st century American realities. The safety of each student is paramount in the plan. Keeping them well fed and as well rested as they are willing to be are priorities. As you can imagine, a facility which can accomodate 1000 people is an expensive proposition, and it is incumbent on our many churches in the district to each do their part. A lot of work remains to be done if the facility can be used next summer. Our children and youth are the most precious responsibility we have. I believe that this camp will be a tool used for years to come to bring young people to Christ. There is no way to know how many lifelong relationships will be built; how many ministry callings will be identified, and how many will look back to a camp experience as the event which solidified their relationship with God.

Will He or Won't He?

2010-10-30T09:06:00.000-05:00

Brett Favre has the NFL just where he wants it- focusing on him. Favre, of the Minnesota Vikings and holder of the longest streak of continuous starts has a bad ankle, a sore throwing elbow, and has been playing badly. But there is no talk of what the Vikes need to do to have their best chance of winning this game because it is all about Brett and his streak. His coach, Brad Childers isn't really a great coach. He's probably not even a very good NFL coach but he is still the coach. However, he must wait, along with the rest of Favre's teammates, and the breathless sportswriters and fans to see an hour before the game if Brett and Brett alone feels like playing. Childers doesn't dare scratch Favre from the lineup because he (Childers) would be the story of the game instead of his team. So, skilled teammates, coaches, trainers, and even owners are pushed into the role of supporting cast members for Brett the Invincible. I'm sick of it. I've been sick of it since the second fake retirement years ago. I never like it when one person elevates the pursuit of his personal satisfaction above his entire team's success. Put Brett Favre out on the field without the other players and see how he does. Then no one would have to ask his friend, "Which one is Brett Favre?" He could have the spotlight all to himself. And in one play he would be finished.

Reaping the Benefits

2010-10-27T16:02:00.000-05:00

It's now official. I have been extended the great honor of serving Living Water Church in Guthrie, Oklahoma as their pastor. I am really excited to begin this new opportunity. I have been here at the church today preparing for Sunday. As I have walked the hallways and corridors of the church building I am continually awestruck that God and the good people at Living Water would entrust me with the responsibility of serving them here.

At lunch a while ago, I was reading my YouVersion bible on my iPhone because I forgot to bring the book I am reading. I was reading in John 4 about Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman. After that interchange, the disciples came back and were wondering what was was going on. A verse jumped off the screen of my phone. Verse 38 says, "I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."

I realize that this verse is for me today. Many years ago people plowed the hard ground and sowed what seed they had available to start this church from scratch. Faithful people for many years have worked and given faithfully of their talents and resources. People are currently working joyfully in many different areas of ministry even though they have gone through a tumultous season. So much has already been done.There is so much already happening. And there is so much yet to happen because God has been faithful through the decades. I will willingly give of everything God has given to me to use, and count myself privileged to be a contributor to the Living Water story.

Decision Time

2010-10-21T13:41:00.002-05:00

I haven't posted much in the past couple of weeks. It's not because I haven't had the time and it's not because my mind isn't working. It's because I have been consumed with something that will come to a climax this weekend. I have been asked to be the pastoral candidate for a church this weekend. This invitation could turn out to be the assignment that God has been preparing me for over the past several years.

This Saturday evening I will have the opportunity to meet with the church congregation at large in an informal setting so we can get a sense of one another. They will have the opportunity to ask whatever is on their minds as we begin the important process of determining if this is the direction God is leading all of us. I will preach in the the Sunday morning service and in the Sunday evening service I will share from my heart my vision for pastoral ministry. A vote will follow. If the congregation votes to ask me to become their pastor, and Carole and I accept the invitation, We all begin to write a new chapter in the church's history. Pretty much the usual way things are done in this type of situation.

I have been involved in this sort of thing before, but never as the candidate. I have been the member who is required to discern in a very few hours something with long-lasting consequences. I have been the leader of a pastor search committee who spent countless hours praying, talking, and researching while waiting to hear from God. I have experienced the uneasiness of knowing in my heart that I have heard from God but knowing that the final decision wasn't mine, but was entrusted to the votes of people who would just have a brief opportunity to discern what I had found over the many visits. And I have been a staff pastor who was hired by the person who is no longer in place. I have known the uncertainty of wondering what the new leadership structure would look like and if I would be invited to be a part of it.

Pastoral transition is difficult on everyone even in the best of cases. The stress that results from the realization of the importance of the decision can cause us to question the motives of others. All of us need to pray for more grace as we approach the coming climax on Sunday night. For me, the situation is simple. Is this where God is calling me, or is there another place He wishes to use me? For the local church, the situation is a little more complex. Pray with me that this local church can come together in unity and trust in God and in one another. I am confident that they will. Then, whatever the outcome Sunday night, the Kingdom of God can go forward.

Banquet Season

2010-10-18T12:06:00.000-05:00

Well, banquet season is in full swing. Tonight Carole and I are attending the Light For The Lost Banquet and next Tuesday evening is the Reach the World banquet and auction. I have invitations to four more banquets which I haven't responded to yet. They are all for worthy organizations that I support. I will try to attend as many as possible, because I know that they involve a tremendous amount of work to put together and it is disheartening to have empty tables. They do seem to be effective awareness and fund raisers, but I can't help but wonder why we as supporters require these big events.

The Evil Empire

2010-10-11T21:11:00.000-05:00

Twice in the past 48 hours I have been dinged by new friends who have learned that I am a Yankees fan. People aren't neutral about the Yankees. You can tell someone that you are a Braves fan and they will say, "I'm a Cardinals fan." But when you tell someone that you are a Yankees fan, they will either high-five you and say Go Yanks! or they will look at you in disgust and say, "I don't know how you can pull for the Yankees." That's pretty funny because I am not an obnoxious fan like say, Red Sox fans are. I am a generational Yankees fan. When I was a boy back in the 60's, boys from Oklahoma routinely were Yankees fans because of Mickey Mantle. Later, Bobby Murcer continued the tradition of Oklahomans who starred for the Bronx Bombers. In the 70's the Yankees were still my American League team, but the Big Red Machine of Cincinnati was my National League team because of Johnny Bench. (It didn't hurt that they had one of the most impressive lineups in major league history.) Baseball was big important stuff. Back then, World Series games were played during the day, and it wasn't uncommon for a teacher to allow a radio in the classroom so we could keep up with the progress of games. But starting with the 80's baseball just faded away. LIfe got complicated with marriage, children and career taking up my emotional energy. I stopped looking at the box scores and I went for weeks not knowing who led the various divisions. If I watched any baseball at all, it would be World Series games, but only if I was at home.

It took an empty nest, a son-in-law and a couple of friends all of whom were avid Yankees friends to reengage my interest in baseball. The past couple of seasons I have followed baseball from opening day through the Series and it has been fun. (Did I mention that the Yankees won their 27th World Series last year?) And I really like being a fan of the Evil Empire.

Go Yankees!

2010-10-08T12:05:00.000-05:00

The Yankees have been a pleasant surprise so far in these playoffs. The last couple of weeks of the regular season they played mediocre baseball. The pitchers couldn't seem to get critical outs and the batters couldn't seem to deliver the crunch-time hits they had been hitting. The last weekend of the regular season they went from division leaders with home field advantage to the wild-card team with the most difficult path to the World Series. Honestly, I didn't think that they would make it out of the divisional playoffs, regardless of who they played. But surprise, the Yanks have awakened so far in the post season, taking the first two games at Minnesota. This series isn't over yet, but it looks a lot more promising. The bats have reappeared, and it was really good to see CC Sabbathia get run support when he didn't have his best stuff. It was even better to see Andy Pettite pitch the kind of post season effort he has become known for after some lackluster appearances following his injury time off. It would be really nice if the Yanks could sweep and get the starting rotation at full rest for the next round. We'll see what happens. It will be frustrating and fun. I'm not ready to declare them the AL champs, but they sure do look a lot better than they did. Let's Go Yankees! (clap clap clapclapclap)

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

2010-10-04T20:55:00.000-05:00

Today I went for a walk. No need to alert the media. I walk often. But walking in the fall is the best walking of the year. I am beginning the process of regaining my endurance after a hot summer and surgery put me out of commission for a while. Today's walk at the Lake Hefner trails was so pleasant. I am not ready to circumnavigate the entire lake, yet, but I'm gaining on it.This has been a bi-polar week; a mix of good and not so good. In the past week, I have learned of illness being suffered by several friends. Some of the illnesses are nagging and painful and some of the illnesses are life-threatening. Some close to me have lost precious loved ones and are dealing with a new void in their family circle. I have also had conversations that have me giddy with excitement and anticipation about what God is doing and the crazy ways He goes about His business. I do some of my best praying while on these long walks, and today it was really good. I don't do anything demonstrative on these walks. No arm waving or any gestures that would make passers-by avoid eye contact with the crazy guy. But for most of my walk today I had a steady stream of tears. My sleeves were drenched as I tried to stay ahead of the flow so I could smile and greet others who were on the trail. As I carried heavy needs to the Lord, I was reminded that many others were also presenting these needs, so it didn't all rest on me. I'm not carrying these needs by myself. As I brought my praises to Him, I felt especially singled out for an outpouring of His love. I hated for it to end. A beautiful early fall mid-day walk. The sun was bright, and the wind was slight. I was talking with the great Creator in the midst of His creation. It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Thanks, Mom

2010-10-03T20:11:00.000-05:00

I've been one who for years have felt that the church spends much more time and prayer trying to keep Christians out of Heaven than we do trying to get unsaved people into Heaven. After all, if we really believe that at the end of this life the believer inherits eternal life with no sickness or tears, then death is not a defeat; rather the departure of the believer is a graduation and a reward. Now I understand that we miss those who go on before because in this earthly body the relationships we have with one another as we live in community with one another are the best approximation we have at our disposal down here. So, when my mom passed away several years ago, sure I was sad, but after seeing her live her last few years with sickness and disability, I was also happy for her since I knew that she was now in the sweet presence of God, something she spent her entire life preparing for. Most of the time when I think of Mom I think of the times when she was healthy and full of fun. I don't really spend much time missing her; mostly I just think fondly of the many good memories.

But today something happened that caught me unexpectedly. Today I was visiting with some new friends and one of them had a picture of a church gathering. The picture was taken in 1954, which was two years before I was born. My mom was in the picture, but what got me was when I turned the picture over and the names of the folks in the picture were written on the back. In my mom's unmistakable handwriting she had written her name. I was surprised at the effect this had on me, but when I thought that I was holding a picture that my mom had held in her hands and written on some 56 years ago was a little overwhelming. Later, as I sat alone and reflected, I thought of the heritage that was delivered to me. The picture was of a Vacation Bible School held in Guthrie, and my older brother Greg was also in the picture. Before I was born, Mom was giving herself to ministry in the ways she could, and she always modeled that for us boys. I am over the emotion of it now, but I am still overwhelmed with the great gift I was given by parents who made their relationship to God as something that was a priority in their lives and who stressed to their children that it should be a priority in theirs.

A Pretty Good Year

2010-09-30T20:56:00.000-05:00

All in all this has been a pretty good year, so far. And it's only the end of the third quarter. Early in the year I was telling the guys at Highpointe that there were two guys I would like to hang with. Having read their books, subscribed to their blogs and listened to their podcasts, I wanted to hang with Mark Batterson (pastor of National Community Church in Washington DC) and Earl Creps (academic turned church planter in Berkeley, California). Back in June, my Inca Trail adventure was scheduled because Mark Batterson was to be the trail mentor. Got to hang with him on the trail and I wasn't disappointed. Earlier this week I was in Branson for the District Ministry Retreat where the guest speaker was Earl Creps. I hadn't ever attended the DMR and probably wouldn't have this time if Earl hadn't been the speaker. I didn't technically get to "hang" with him and his wife, Janet, but I did get to have a couple of conversations with them along with three really enjoyable sessions that they presented. They are really good people and I enjoyed being around them.

In addition, I got to hear both of my favorite preachers and good friends preach at Highpointe. Gary Davidson and Jim King both came and both did reallly good jobs, as they always do. I turned my position as administrator and facilities director over to Matt Stomprud, who is proving daily what I said all along; that he would do much better in that role than I ever did.

Now, I'm having conversations that may ultimately lead me to what God has been preparing me for over the past several years. Like I said. It's been a pretty good year, so far. And there are still three months left in it.

Opportunity

2010-09-24T20:29:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago my friend Grady Smalling introduced me to Mark Elam, who is director of the OATH Coalition. The OATH Coalition is a non-profit that is in shining light on the evil of human trafficking. One of the many things that Mark does is to hold awareness seminars on this topic, because even though human trafficking is a huge worldwide business, most Oklahomans are unaware of the level of trafficking activity that goes on everyday in our communities right here. OATH (Oklahomans Against Trafficking of Humans) has received a grant to do CLEET continuing education meetings in every county in Oklahoma. I have been learning much about this topic with the intent of helping Mark to do these awareness seminars. What I learned today while at a CLEET training in Chickasha is that these meetings can be hosted by any organization; even churches. The local church just needs to provide a room and be willing for anyone in law enforcement to attend. Actually, anyone who is interested can attend these events. They last approximately from 8:30 - 5:00. It seems to me that this would be an awesome way for a local church to be involved in their community and to show to community leaders the church's commitment to affect the future of the helpless and victimized who are in our midst. If you are interested in hosting one of these training events or just in having a shorter awareness seminar, let me know and I will put you in contact with Mark. This issue is bigger than any of us know and it isn't going away. This is the time for the church to be the church.

The Best Report I Ever Got

2010-09-21T12:53:00.000-05:00

This morning I went to my three week post surgery doctor appointment. The surgeon examined the incision area and asked a few questions. She told me what to expect in the next couple of weeks as the healing of the incision continues. Then I asked, what about physical activity? What can I do now? She said that I could do anything I want to do. I take that to mean that I now have the orders from a medical professional that I can play golf, but not move furniture. I can work out at the gym but not pull weeds. I can pick up my grandkids but not lift heavy bags of groceries out of the car. In short, this morning I got the best report I ever got. Life is good.

A Partial Answer

2010-09-17T12:35:00.000-05:00

A little over two weeks ago I underwent surgery to repair an umbilical hernia. The only misgivings I had about having the surgery was that I would have to give up golf for a while. I had originally scheduled it during the really hot weather we had back in July, but due to some insurance issues I had to delay it until the beginning of the best time of the year to play golf. But, life goes on. I had the surgery, and the recovery has been pretty easy. Two weeks out I am nearly back to one hundred percent. About a week ago, Carole and I resumed walking in the evenings. One of our favorite places to walk is at the Lake Hefner Trails, and the section we walk most frequently takes us through part of Lake Hefner South golf course. All of the trail is out of the bounds of the course, but it is not unusual to find a stray golf ball here and there.
My favorite golf ball to play is the Titleist Pro-V1, but I won't buy them. They're $48 dollars a dozen. That's roughly $4 per ball, so I've never bought any. But when I find one in the woods while looking for my errant shot, I play it. I generally will have a couple of them in my bag, because apparently guys who can plunk down $48 for a dozen golf balls, don't have time to look for them if they land in an inconvenient place.

Carole and I have walked out at the lake 3 times in the last 5 days, and on those walks I have found 4 golf balls; all of them Pro-V1's. That's $16 worth of golf balls. I have been praying a lot in the last few months about what God has in store for my future. I feel that I have received two clear parts of the puzzle- It looks like I am supposed to continue walking with Carole, and that I am supposed to continue playing golf. I can go with that. Until I get the big picture cleared up, I will go with what I know.

Project Square Mile Harvest Time

2010-09-13T17:20:00.003-05:00

What is happening over the next several weeks with Highpointe opening its doors to James Dennis Elementary while they are repairing their storm damaged classrooms is awesome. The response of the congregation last Sunday morning was exceptional. The amount of work that it will take to see this done successfully is unimaginable. But the opportunities are limitless.

As I sat in the congregation Sunday morning during the introduction of the principal at James Dennis, I reflected as I am fond of doing. Although the storm which caused this collaboration came up suddenly, this is not a new story in the history of Highpointe. It is a point in the story of Highpointe which was begun several years ago.

Remember a few years ago when Project Square Mile was announced with the intent of offering the church as a resource to our community? We discussed at that time the question each church should ask itself; If our church burned to the ground today, would anyone but the members miss it? The project started slowly with some confusion , as is common when a new direction is charted. But without planting the seeds of reaching out to and resourcing the community that were sown into the membership of Highpointe, this opportunity would not have come our way. The teacher's lunches, football breakfasts, opening the FLiC for testing of students all were signals to the school that Highpointe cares and is available to help. If we hadn't been doing that, Dennis Elementary wouldn't have even thought to call to see if we might be able to help with this emergency. They would have assumed that we wanted to keep our clubhouse to ourselves. So those small gestures which seemed as though they weren't accomplishing much were working underground so they could bear fruit at the appointed time.

We overestimate what we can do in a year, and we underestimate what we can do in five. Planting and reaping don't happen on the same day. Many are present for the harvest who weren't present for the planting and that's okay. That's the way of the harvest. This harvest work of allowing 2nd and 3rd graders to use our classrooms will be much harder than anything Highpointe has done in quite a while. It will be aggravating and messy. Our rooms might not look quite as nice as we are accustomed to. But it is incredibly important. Because to plant seeds and then not harvest the fruit would be inexcusable. And there is no way to estimate where this harvest time will end.

Never despise small beginnings. Project Square Mile didn't seem like all that much while it was going on, but the harvest from the seeds planted then are just now beginning to bear fruit, both in us at Highpointe, and in the community.

I feel sorry for Terry Jones

2010-09-13T10:46:00.002-05:00

Hopefully the brouhaha caused by the ill-advised Quran burning event has subsided and that we will not hear from Terry Jones at the national level again. A guy who probably for most of his life has labored faithfully for his small congregation with no notoriety and almost no pay was suddenly known around the world and was put into a situation which was well out of his depth. When I saw him on the national news, I didn't see a fame-seeker glorying in his newfound celebrity status. I saw a guy with a "deer in the headlights" look who couldn't really believe what was going on. I believe him when he says he just wants to do what God tells him to do. I just don't believe that God really told him to burn Qurans and then changed His mind when He saw the world outcry.

God, I'm sure, has gotten used to be being blamed for all kinds of crazy behavior. The "God told me to do it" argument has been used as a trump-proof argument for marital affairs, splitting churches, bombing clinics and many other things which directly contradict God's Word, revealed in the Bible. What I suspect happened, happens in churches and ministries everywhere; not just in small independent churches in rural America.

I am a total outsider in my suppositions, and I could be totally off-track with what I think happened, but knowing what I know about people and church culture, I will guess that this is what happened:

Pastor Jones and several of his friends were talking over a several week period. Being of similar backgrounds and interests, they seldom disagree on important matters, so the conversation built over time. One expressed frustration about the national media's failure to point out the shortcomings of Islam, while consistently railing about the perceived shortcomings of Christianity. Another recounted how images of Christ can be subjected to gross desecration under the guise of free speech, but images of Mohammed are sacrosanct. Eventually, one expressed the desire to stand up to the Muslims and try to square up accounts with them. One guy said he knew where he could get a Quran and they ought to burn it. The idea resonated. They remembered that 9/11 was coming and, being on a Saturday, would be a great time to do it. Over the days, the idea grew until they found that many like-minded friends could accumulate quite a pile of Qurans and they could make an event out of giving a black eye to Islam. It came together so easily, and they were so much in agreement, it had to have the hand of God orchestrating it, didn't it? And shortly, what began as a conversation among friends had morphed into a direct order from God. And a few days later, God changed his mind because of a phone call from the attorney general and a plea from the president to do so.

And now the imams look like smooth intelligent voices of reason and tolerance, and the Pentecostal preacher looks like a hateful, fame-seeking doofus. I feel sorry for Terry Jones. I know he is bewildered and humiliated. He thought he had a good idea but it wasn't.

Be careful what you blame on God.

It's a bad deal

2010-09-08T11:54:00.003-05:00

Each week, in thousands of churches across America, (not to mention around the world) in cities large in small, in rented schoolrooms and in magnificent palaces, pastors shepherd their people with the intent of bringing them closer to God so more people can be led to Christ. But those ministries receive no media airtime, because there is no story there. People giving their time and talents to lead people to Christ is not a story, so it goes on unnoticed to the those who are not part of a community of believers. But let a little group do something outrageous and the cameras will appear as if by magic and broadcast it around the world. The group planning to burn Qurans this Saturday is a prime example of this. I could go many different ways with this post at this point, but I will just say this. To many in the world, this is the only glimpse of Christianity that they will see this week. Have people been brought closer to Christ with what they see from this church, or does it confirm their susupicions that Christianity is only for bigoted, hateful, unkind, politically conservative people? We have a much higher responsibility to the unsaved than what this group is trying to accomplish. I grieve for those who are driven farther from Christ because of the antics of a group no one had heard of before this stunt.

The waiting is the hardest part

2010-08-31T10:53:00.004-05:00

The great theologian (jk) Tom Petty of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers once wrote a song with the following chorus:

The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you see one more card
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part.

I am not one who enjoys waiting. Combined with my genetic predisposition to arrive early for appointments, I find myself regularly in situations that I must endure if I can't find a way to enjoy. I am in a waiting season at the present time. I enjoy the extended devotion and prayer times that this season has afforded, but I am someone who needs to know what I am supposed to be doing. I am also a man, and as such, form much of my feelings of self-worth by what I do. I don't like not having a ready answer when I meet someone new and they ask me what I do. I can get a chuckle from some by saying, "out of work preacher", but that doesn't really cut it in most instances. I know that my complaint is shallow and that my identity is formed in my relationship with Christ, not by the organization name on my business card. But realities being what they are, I am ready to find out what is in store for me, whatever or wherever it is. But until I get clarity, I choose to pursue trust. I trust that none of the experiences of my life which have combined to bring me to this time and place are wasted experiences. I trust that God has prepared good works in advance that I am just now ready to do. I trust that He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ's return. And I trust that when I know my next assignment, He will lead me and give me wisdom to do all that he calls me to do. That's plenty for now. But I still don't like waiting.

Confluences

2010-08-30T14:29:00.003-05:00

Several years ago I went on several amazing fishing trips to Alaska with some friends. We fished on many different rivers, but the place that produced more consistently than any other was a place known to us only as "the confluence". Confluence is a really good word. It refers to the place where two rivers come together and one larger river continues. It can be messy at a confluence because the momentum of two distinct currents of water come crashing into each other, causing turbulence. With the turbulence, a lot of mud and debris gets kicked up and the water isn't usually very pretty for some distance until the newer, wider and more powerful river current settles down and goes about its unending task of delivering the contents of the rivers to the ocean.
The turbulence caused by the confluence of two rivers does more than stir up mud and debris. It stirs up underwater bugs, sculpins and minnows and exposes them as food for the fish of the river. The fish will accumulate just below the turbulence, instinctively knowing that food is coming their way. The fish understand that the messy and turbulent places are places of great opportunity. So out in the seeming middle of nowhere is a busy intersection where life and death activities are carried out. There is no reason for the fish to stay in the clear quiet pools for more than a brief rest because the food is at the confluence.
We encounter confluences in the spiritual realm as well; places where the streams of the world and its pursuits comes crashing together with streams of Christ-centered lives. It is in those messy interchanges of life where we find people who are most hungry and who are actively looking for answers. The quiet pools of life don't offer the opportunities to share the gospel in the way that the turbulent confluences do. We can't wait in the beautiful, quiet places if we wish to encounter people who are looking for answers. We must position ourselves in the turbulent, murky places if we want to find those who are truly hungry.
These confluences occur at work, in neighborhoods, and in the marketplace. They happen at tables and in cars. They happen in living rooms and driveways. They happen in the aftermath of disaster. They happen in bad parts of town. That's where we need to be if we want to live Christianly and share our faith. Confluences are opportunities. They are rarely appointments.

Sermons We See

2010-08-21T17:10:00.003-05:00

Sermons We See

Edgar Guest

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;

I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.

The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,

Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;

And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,

For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done;

I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.

And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,

But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do;

For I might misunderstand you and the high advise you give,

But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind.

When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind

Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me

To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be.

And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today

Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.

One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold;

One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told.

Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,

For right living speaks a language which to every one is clear.

Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence,

I say,I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day.