Just Another Hurdle on the Journey of Life? Really?

I was troubled this morning to read that another ministry marriage is breaking up. Interestingly, the couple are both televangelists / pastors in a Florida megachurch (22,000 members). It seems that over the past few months, they have been drifting apart...partly due to his beginning a new ministry effort on the west coast and her new ministry in New York. It is incredibly sad. Their announced divorce leaves me with more than the inevitable questions about causes...but drifts to the rest of the story. He is planning to remain as the leader of the megachurch and she is planning to continue her television preaching. Of course, a little statement at the end of the story reminds us that both were previously married and divorced.

It could bother me that they were previously divorced and in ministry. It could bother me that a woman is the pastor. It could bother me that ministry seems to have driven a wedge in their relationship that an all-powerful God is seemingly unable to fix. It could bother me that a church or denomination does not rise up and say 'enough'. It could bother me that a television network would continue to air their sermons. (And all of this does bother me.) But what bothers me the most is that this just seems to be another hurdle in their life journey and their personal minsitries will just continue as usual...instead of a being a traumatic earthquake in the lives of two people who made a loving, permanent covenant with God and each other.

As Christians, we've all been disappointed by 'televangelists' and pastors before. But what does it say to a lost world about what we believe about God and his thoughts about marriage? We need a better picture. I pray Lesa and I can / will paint a much better one for them that will demonstrate the grace, love and power of our incredible God.

Fantasy Football - Part 2

After writing about the influence of a dad and a fantasy football league yesterday, I came home to find my son (Jared) figuring out how to start a league of his own. (It was free...and pretty easy to set-up.) I was initially resistant...but then it hit me. Instead of being resistant, why don't I play. Right now, he's on the phone contacting some friends/relatives with whom we normally are not able to be engaged on a regular basis, about playing with us. Something we could do together...even across the miles. What a great tool the internet could be...playing a weekly game with some folks you love. Thanks again Mr. K for your timely influence as I could have missed the incredible opportunity with my kids...and more. Now, I can't wait for the draft this weekend...GO HORNETS! (My team)

Fantasy Football Lessons

I am a firm believer that God ordained the family...and that parents are responsible for raising their own children. However, though I would not agree with Chelsea's mom about it taking all of society to raise our kids, I was reminded yesterday about the faithfulness of God to place great men in the lives of my kids to influence them for the good of the Kingdom.

This Saturday, our boys will attend their 4th Fantasy Football draft...just in time for the NFL season to kick-off. Yesterday, in the middle of an afternoon when most dads would be on the couch, one dad/son was touring the homes of previous league participants to interview them for a video his son was making. We watched the end of the Little League World Series together with some incredible interaction. I was reminded of God's soveriegn grace in helping us to prepare our kids for adulthood...even though I realize it is our responsibility. Thanks Mr. K.

Carpool Lines, Guidance Counselors, and Politicians

It has been an interesting week as our kids began public school for the first time in South Carolina. We are blessed to live in one of the best districts in the state...so remind Lesa and I of that while we're sitting for 2 hours in carpool lines each day. There must be a better way to pass the time...reading almost got me in a bumper bender already. But we survived and look forward to seeing / hearing our incredible son, Nathan, play in the band at his first home football game tonight. He has displayed so much maturity these last few weeks.

Working through class schedules, open houses, registrations, etc. did not used to be so hard...at least not until college. However, I am grateful for one especially nice guidance counselor who took time for us this morning...even when the front desk was ready to turn us away. Thanks Mr. K for helping a 15 year old adjust. Maybe that helped me decide to spend a little extra time today with a mom and daughter who wanted to tour the 'Ballet' (Church) today to help a little girl adjust. They also got invited to church.

Finally, can I say that I was deeply impressed by two meetings I attended in the past 24 hours. Last night, a town hall meeting with my State Senator, Kevin Bryant. Great guy...great values...great discernment...great patience. I would like to have smacked the old guy who ranted for 20 minutes to the audience about the water problem in his yard on a county road. (...like KB could do anything about it.) I guess it made him feel better and showed the patience of a public servant.

This morning I was blessed to sit with Dr. Jim Austin, our new SCBC Executive Director. He too was all of those good things. I was encouraged by some of the other servants of God in the room who really have a heart for people, the church, and God's Kingdom. However, before things got too positive, we listened to a few tell us how to make our 'church' people feel more love and care, with no mention of leading them out of their comfort zone to reach their JJSE.

If I hear the term 'mission minded' one more time... (I might be tempted to go back and smack the old ranting guy at the town hall meeting.) It was a clear reminder of why Steve Sojourn quotes stats (today in Christian Report) that now show 98% of U.S. churches are plateaued or declining. If all we had to do was help 'church' people feel loved and meet their needs, pastoring would be much simpler. But the last I read in the NT, shepherds were not just to keep their sheep fed, loved and happy in the fold. I was glad to see and hear both a State Senator and a Baptist leader who were not stereotypical politicians. Lead on!

Hot and Cold

Lesa and I are both natives of the Buckeye State (Ohio) and know something about weather 'flexibility'. Yesterday, she saw that the temperature in northeast Ohio (her home) was 68 degrees, while my father (southern Ohio) said it was 91 in my home town. I am sure that there were people in each location who would have preferred the temperature of the other...based on their personal perspective or situation.

This morning, I read about two adjacent cities who each had a special water supply, one a 'hot' spring and the other a cold, fresh mountain spring. Surely there were some who would have preferred the temperature of the other's water...based on their personal perspective or situation. To meet the need of an individual would take intentional effort.

As I read, God reminded me that every person is not going to be touched by the same approach...based on their perspective or personal situation. And the same is true in a house (like mine) with four incredible kids and a wonderful 'snow belt' beauty. I must discern their individual perspectives, situations and needs rather than being a husband and father who does everything in the temperature with which I am most comfortable.

As If Cultural Pressure Was Not Enough...

I read this morning of a church being sued in New England for not allowing a same-sex marriage ceremony to take place in their facility. After a short cheer in my heart, I went on to read of what troubles me much more. Seeing conflict within the church, especially in days when around the world His Kingdom is expanding so rapidly, really bothers me. Experience has taught me in very practical ways what the Bible teaches...that although Satan cannot destroy the church, he surely can distract her.

The headlines about churches and denominations split over doctrinal and moral issues is not new. As I read this morning again, the early church dealt with the same stuff. It's not new in our setting. But even as I was reading this morning about the early church and, as well, of those today who are taking a stand for what is right, I was struck in my devotions about the promise of God to protect His church and her purity.

Although He recognizes outside persecution and promises to bring eventual judgement, our Lord goes quickly inside the church to uncover heresy and immorality. His exhortation was this: "Repent or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth." (Rev. 2:16) I pray today that our church and our denomination will stay to the Word of God in doctrine and morality...but not just the SBC. May Satan have no place in God's church who is His planned agent to take the good new to the entire world.

Toxic Peanut Butter

This past Saturday, I had the incredible opportunity to join six members of our congregation in serving at a camp for children whose parents have Multiple Sclerosis. Man, was I impressed. (Not just with the camp, though it was pretty incredible.) What incredibly mature, and mostly postive, kids ages 9-12.

One of the goals of the camp is to help the children experience what people with MS go through when their symptoms 'flair up'. So as all 18 kids were attempting to get across the 'pool of toxic peanut butter' without stepping off the small wooden discs, they also had to help about 1/3 of their team members who were wearing ankle weights, or 'blurry vision' glasses, or oven mits on their hands. It would be hard enough to make it over the 30 ft. pit without barriers, but give me a break. That toxic peanut butter is pretty nasty stuff.

What amazed me most is that the kids were so supportive of the ones with the barriers...as if they somewhat understood them already. Maybe it was because they dealt with parents who had hinderences on a daily basis. Either way, it challenged me to plow through my little knee injury from a Friday night tennis match with my son...and not complain about it too much.

Most of all, it challenged me to think about those who are going through life...all around me...with the weight of life burdens around their legs, and vision that is blurred by culture and sin, and hearts that have become so insulated to the pressures of life that they cannot feel the incredible love of God that is trying to touch them. Maybe I can help a few across the 'toxic peanut butter' this week.?.?.?

I Want More Pictures

Last night, while watching NCSI (obviously my wife was not home), I was reminded again of an important life lesson. One detective's team was rescheduled from weekend duty and the replacement team members were all killed by a bomb. As they were investigating the crime scene, the reality hit as another this detective was reminded that he should never pass up the opportunity to say, "I love you."

Earlier this week, as I was glancing at some pictures of the mission trip I took last year to Jinja, Uganda, (for 3 weeks) I was reminded of the incredible experience in several ways. But as I sat on the sofa next to my wonderful wife, I remembered how much I missed her during that time. I shared that with her and her smile was worth a million.

I would like to say that I do that all the time...or even enough of the time...but I don't. "God, would you please send more pictures in my life to remind me to tell those that I love how much I care for them...while I have the time? I need...want...more pictures."

Building Community

This morning I read an article by Mark Tabb (www.onmission.com) entitled, "Just Add People". He tells the story about 'Dan' who attended a Baptist church, but had been disconnected for some time from religious affiliation and had never connected in a relationship with Christ. Although he sensed no great personal desire to re-connect in church, he and his wife had some sense of need for a religious experience for their children.

I guess the thought that kept hitting me was the constant need to work at building community in our church(es). Sometimes, like building a house, the process moves quickly while at other times it moves slowly. Sometimes there is fast building and other times there are inspections. We must continue to make progress, but allow for time when people are making inspection. As well, some of the most favorable inspections take place while the inspector sees positive progress in other areas of the project...many times with the inspector's involvement.

Tabb states what most of us know, but can forget in the fray of the week-to-week of 'church': "...often they are converted to our community before they are converted to Christ." In our context, 'Dan' is more often the norm than the exception. Community is not something we can 'CREATE' and expect to be effective for the long term. It must be continuously cultivated and 'BUILT' as we serve the Kingdom.

I Want to Learn It...NOW

I had an incredible opportunity to see one of my kids take a major leap in maturity last week. It is an awesome thing to see your kids begin to make difficult, yet positive decisions. What was really difficult for me what that I was not totally sure of the correct answer or response. I hope that it was as positive for building his faith as it has been for mine. I hope all of my 'teen' issues can go like this...because not knowing the right answers will start making my gray disappear.

Part of my greatest frustration is desiring to learn the answers, explanations, reasons...NOW! God has been teaching me that many times the only way to really learn something that will impact my life or ministry is to experience the learning in steps or processes over time. This goes against every fiber of my being. It also seems true...what I already knew...that the learning process often occurs during the difficult times in life.

In my personal devotional journey, I have begun an adventure into a book of the Bible where I have yet to tread for an extended period. Lest any (including me) think that I become an instant scholar, I will refrain from telling what the location is...until the process has time to prove my ability to stick with it. I have started this one many times before. I'll let you know how it is going.

Gotta Lose Weight

There is nothing like the feeling you get when you say, "I really need to lose 10 pounds." Only to have your wife verbally agree. As I was recovering from the shock of this scene, she reminded me of the facts.

A year ago, I thought there was something seriously wrong as I was experiencing blurred vision, chest pains, and severe headaches. One primary care physician, a cardiologist, an opthamologist, a neurologist, an MRI, and a bunch of blood tests later...the diagnosis was STRESS.

After being cleared to travel, I then went on a 3 week mission trip to Uganda. Life is a little slower paced and simpler there...and it has an incredible impact on your perspective. The every-other-night power outages also give you more time to pray and to hear from God. As I reflect, it may be time for another trip...somewhere. After further review...and my next mission trip not until September 22nd...there is only one thing left to say:

"But Thou, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory and the lifter of my head!" (Psalm 3:3)

It's Not That Important...or Is It?

I saw the election headline this morning...a war of words between Hilary and O'B...mainly about the War. Bill is even getting in his 2 cents...and is still revered as a great President. One South Carolinian even said it this morning on the news...with the stipulation that he might not have been the greatest moral leader.

When I got to the office, I read the CrossWalk.com headlines that are e-mailed to me each day. O'B states that he thinks we are putting too much emphasis on faith and religion in the '08 race. As I was thinking about the impact of his statement, it was very frightening. Without faith in God and the foundation of the Bible, would we (America) turn our back on Israel? Would we care about injustice in the world (or here)? Would we be even less concerned with the value of life? Would we nationally accept homosexuality as normal? I read this morning that it is at the top of the NEA agenda to teach it as the norm in every school. (It's happening right now in a school near my rural, small hometown.) Would the next leader who has an affair commit murder to cover it up? (i.e. David)

I may not be the smartest brick in the wall, but it sure does seem important to me. I sure wish I could hear someone stand up (like another great leader did 3000 years ago) and say, "I have installed my King." (Psalm 2:6) Or like another great leader, someone would say, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15) But as I dream, maybe unrealistically, for this person to arise; God seems to speak to me, "You be that man, wherever you are, who will care about what I care about." Faith does matter. It does not just inform us, but it drives us. But it is not going to matter in Washington...or Columbia...or in Greenville until it becomes of paramount importance in my life, my home, my church...

It's not that important...or is it?