I Believe in You...Really?

Can you believe that ECU actually won the game? And convincingly.

I am learning so much more about believing in people. Some from the very complex processes through which people prove themselves. Some from the storms of life that you watch people persevere through on their journey. And sometimes, I just learn from watching a single mom speak confidently into her autistic son's open heart and his incredible response of love and respect.

I think that I might need to believe a bit more. Sometimes I think that I become synical (I know I do), even with respect to ministry. But I am seeing that when I believe in people...openly...they tend to come through more often.

People will always have the ability to disappoint you. And they may even have a tendency to do it. However, everyone wants you to believe in them. And when they think that you really do...they exhibit more confidence and try very hard not to let you down. In that case, they then to have a greater success rate.

Interestingly enough, I wonder how Mrs. Holtz expressed her "I believe in my son and his team at ECU" before their game? Was it done with the parenthesis of no real confidence or with genuine belief? I am betting on the latter. And I need to give a bit more of the latter. No one wants to compete in a game where no one believes they can win. Someone has to believe. I need to openly believe in people more. How about you?

I Believe...by Dr. Lou

I feel as though I get so pessemistic, so quickly these days. I'm not sure why. Part of it, I think, is being frequently dissappointed by people or circumstances.

I read this morning about the complaining ways of the Jewish people just 2 1/2 months after being liberated from Egypt and seeing their enemies defeated so powerfully by the hand of God. It was so dramatic that no other people dared to attack them as they were gripped by fear of these God endorsed people. I wanted to scream into the past, "Can't you believe any longer than that?"

Not that I look to ESPN for my inspiration on a regular basis, but I was inspired by the old coach (Lou Holtz) tonight. Each week I hear him give opinion and counsel, without seemingly being afraid to speak realistically. In making his 'picks' Lou picked his son's ECU team to win, but then explained why they probably would not. Somehow, he always finds a way to be positive about believing in individual people.

God taught me that lesson today. You can speak the truth and live in reality...even in difficult circumstances, while still believing in individual people. May God help me never to get so pessimistic that I stop believing in people.

Self...Stop Worrying and Focus.

I spoke this Sunday from Jesus' teaching at the Sermon on the Mount about stress, worry and anxiety. It is amazing how much I am more aware of how much I worry about stupid stuff.

Then, last night, I heard a guy on the radio ask a couple of questions that helped me focus a bit...

"Do we really believe that good people can go to hell?"

and

"How much do I really value a soul?"

Discovering how much God values a soul is not difficult...except to place a quatitative value on His Son...Jesus Christ.

So I said to myself, "Self...stop worrying and focus."

QUOTES - Sinking In

I heard and read this quote last Friday.

"To reach people no one else is reaching, we must do things no one else is doing."
[Craig Groeschel]

I'm not sure what it means for my life yet, but I sure cannot get it off my mind.

Am I Asking for An Ostrich?

I read a story about a man who found an old lamp in his attic. He rubbed the lamp, a genie popped out, and he was offered 2 wishes. First, he wished that every time he needed money for something, he could reach into his pocket and pull out exactly what he needed. That's a little different from asking for a million dollars...and probably a wiser choice.

When he made his second wish, he wished for a tall chick with a large butt who would always agree with him. The genie answered his request...and an ostrich appeared.

As I watched the Presidential debate last night, I kind of felt the same way about followers of Christ in America. As followers of Christ, we say that we pray for God to provide our daily bread and that we believe [Philippians 4:19] God will supply all of our needs. Yet many who say that they follow Christ focus so intently on those issues that we forget that there are more important things like the values of life and family [Matthew 6:25].

We should be careful and not take our eyes off of Kingdom values. Should we work and care about the physical needs? Sure. But we can focus so much on what WE think we need or WE want that we could, without even knowing it, end up asking for an ostrich.

Do I Really Have Economic Policy Convictions?

Politics has often intrigued me. To say that I have political aspirations would be a great overstatement. (Although I used to have them.) I have always tried to maintain a grasp of the candidates and major issues. I am trying to understand more about the way things work in our country and around the world. I want to be better equipped to interact with people in semi-intelligent conversation.

This past weekend I had a great visit with my dad. He has served in two different offices over a period of about 12 years. I must say that during those days, I grew tired of small town politics. But I did see in him a passion for doing the right thing for the good of the community...and not afraid to stand up for it.

I have a preferred candidate in this year's election. But when my dad asked me what I thought, I told him that I was troubled by what I have been observing. Like most other people, I have found myself speaking with as much or more conviction about economic and strategic differences as I was about core values.

Yesterday, it smacked me right in the face. I was listening to Dave Ramsey and was confronted with the truth. Myself, like most in America, are speaking with great conviction about economic issues with little or no personal understanding of the subject. Yet, that is the focus of most conversations today. When, in reality, what I know as absolute truths from God's Word have become back burner issues.

Last night on TV, I saw a U.S. Congressman speaking from the floor of the House. He was reading Benjamin Franklin's speech to the Continental Congress. Maybe we have missed it. If we, like then, could focus on the core values of upon which we were founded...upon real convictions that can be confidently held through mutual faith in God and the Truth of His Word...we might be more apt to come to more productive solutions about the other issues over which we spend so much time waxing so passionately.

Sure, I have an opinion about economic policy. I even have them about foreign policy strategy. And I am praying that we elect leaders who know a whole lot more about economics and foreign policy than I do. But there some things about which I confidently hold covictions...issues about which I have read what God says.

I think I'll be more careful about what I speak about so passionately.

If Satan can get us to focus on our opinions rather than the Gospel and our convictions, He wins the battle by distraction. People with different core values, whether in politics or in the church, will never effectively reach consistent solutions on everyday issues, no matter how major.

Football is Back...But How's Beanie?

Gosh, was this weekend the greatest for a football fan. It started on Thurday night with a dead heat until half-time at the South Carolina game and some national spotlight for Charleston Southern (a Baptist School) at the University of Miami. (Obviously they lost.)

One of my favorite local H.S. teams, the Byrnes Rebels won in a tough game in Atlanta Friday night and our own school (Wren) pulled out a comeback win over rival Palmetto.

Saturday, my Buckeyes romped. But my favorite game was the ECU win over Virginia Tech (Sorry Pastor Phil). What an exciting way to win with a special teams punt block against the master of special teams, Coach Beamer. It hurt Saturday night to watch the Clemson Tigers get so dejected on national TV. North Greenville got to play Saturday night at Liberty. (Great exposure in an incredible environment.)

Sunday, there were games...and the NFL doesn't even start until next week. UK took it to Louisville. And then Monday, even the Rutgers game was exciting. And UCLA's new QB started so rough with 4 first half interceptions...only to win in overtime. And if that was not enough, my two sons had a 4 hour live fantasy draft on Monday morning and another one on the internet with some friends last night at 10 p.m. It seemed like ESPN's College Gameday was a perpetual program.

So what is my point? I'm not sure I have one. But after every commercial on the halftime shows and pregame shows and postgame shows promised (and never delivered) an update on Ohio State's Chris 'Beanie' Wells' foot injury...I just want to know if he is expected to play in 12 days at USC (Southern California)?

I wander if that is how people feel about Christians and our church? Is it an endless supply of 'stuff', but they still are left with the question they started with?

Below My Pay Grade

Last night, while Michelle Obama was speaking at the DNC in Denver, Sen. John McCain was on The Tonight Show. When asked why he did not run for public office, Leno said something like, "I can make more money with one show in Vegas." For most Americans, becoming President of the United States would be a pay increase. But it is certainly not the highest paying job in the land.

Leno went on to say that the working conditions of being President are very difficult, especially for the 'relatively' limited pay. He was certainly not saying that the job was not difficult or 'below his pay grade' in importance. However, it did bring back to my memory an answer given to the question asked by Rev. Rick Warren last week to Sen. Obama.

When asked the question, "When does a baby receive the right to protection under the Constitution?" He answered that on many levels this question was 'above' his pay grade. The question that then came to me was this, "Would he think that it is a question in Jay Leno's pay grade?" I know what many pastors make and it would obviously be above their pay grade in financial terms. Or at least that's what most must believe in American culture because they do not accept pastors' answers either.

That was a lot of verbage to really say something that has nothing to do with politics. The point is this: When we receive Christ Jesus as personal Lord and Savior, we are adopted into the family of the Most High God. That makes us joint heirs with Jesus...which puts us in the highest eternal pay bracket. And He has given us His Word with the answers to the most difficult questions in this life and culture. So whether you are a presidential candidate, a national celebrity, a pastor, or someone who has time enough on your hands to read this blog...if you know God personally and have His Word accessible to you...no important question in life is above or below your paygrade.

Build a Bridge or Throw Them in the River?

Last week I was blessed to spend about 30 hours with some church planters from SC and my home state of Ohio. God did some incredible things in my own heart during that time, and I wanted to share them. But everytime I would start to do that, God reminded me of the words of the Gospel writer who spoke of Mary's experience at the manger...[But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.] Luke 2:19.

So, though is much in my heart there is little to say...except one very encouraging thing. This was the first time I have met with a group of pastors that large of any sort where the #1 concern was the Kingdom of God, #2 was the health of the pastor and his family, #3 was strategies for advancing the Kingdom of God while maintaining the priority of our families, and #4 was bashing others [just kidding...because I cannot even remember any person bashing anyone.]

It reminded me of the words of one of our great pastors, Adrian Rogers, who described why we have conflict in the church. It is because we are not locked arm in arm, headed the same direction, and fighting the same enemy. We fight when we think the battles are won and we are in the barracks looking at each other.

I learned that lesson yesterday on a more personal note at home. Yesterday, we had some people over at our neighborhood pool. The kids were throwing each other in the pool, wrestling...sometime rough...especially my kids. But when someone suggested a relay race (Olympic Style), they did not fight for almost an hour.

When my kids are working together on something, they don't fight. My problem is that I do not intentionally engage them in common purposes or tasks. That takes thought and effort. I have got to do a better job at putting intentional thought into my home...so we will spend more time building bridges instead of throwing each other into the river.

A Generation of Builders

This week has been so interesting, moving, confusing, and inspiring. Sometime you get what you plan for...and other times [as learned in my study of 'life interruptions'] you get more or less. In this case, I got more.

Sunday afternoon, I watched my family engage in helping a missionary move into their home. I am learning that I have a few leaders [builders] among the children. It was interesting to watch them.

That day, we met a few young 'builders' who are not satisfied to just rest in the comforts of their father's tents. And they were willing to get out from under the comfort and security of that umbrella to build what God had called them to build. It was so moving to hear them.

Tuesday, I heard two young men speak about building some more in a city where they had not historical roots. [or did they?] How could someone speak so passionately about something with which they were relatively unfamiliar? They had not really started building anything yet. [or had they?] I was a little confused.

But as I met with them again on Wednesday morning privately, I realized that they were talking about starting to build something physically noticeable...but the truth is that they had already started building something. God was building in them and they were already building for God, though others may not have realized it yet. That was so inspiring.

Certainly, we all build on the work of others before us and we should never think we had begun something from scratch. I read this morning how King David [Israel] wanted to build a physical house for God. But God told David something incredible. God said that His presence and His Kingdom were not dependent on David building a physical house for God. Rather, it was about being a useable builder in the hand of God for building His Kingdom on earth in the hearts of people.

We have a generation of builders coming...and some have arrived...who seem to get it. They are not concerned about building a physical house for God. They are concerned about building places where God can dwell in the hearts of people.

Would Jesus Discriminate?

Last night I was watching C-Span. No, it is not my typical bedtime ritual. But last night I was captured by the words of an author who wrote a book entitled, "Would Jesus Discriminate?" A few years ago, I would have my stomach turned by what I heard. But last night, I just felt sad.

To the average church goer, it may have sounded like a good explanation of a Biblical text. To a non-church goer, I'm sure that it sounded like a logical interpretation. However, this leader of an international denomination that caters to the gay and lesbian community took the Word of God totally out of context to make it sound like the sexual preferences of non-heterosexuals was not only allowed, but encouraged. (Galatians 3:28) This text has nothing to do with sexual preference, but with a religious system that tried to restrict people from coming to God through faith in Christ.

I have heard this and other arguments before...but not on national television...and certainly not as a promotional piece for that line of thinking. Unfortunately, this is only one area where we are bombarded with un-biblical truth and thought. I think that it made me more aware of the fact that culture in not just trying to get Bible believers to be more tolerant, but are trying to invade the church with unbiblical thinking. They are intentionally storming the church to destroy it.

No, I am not surprised at any of this. But it makes me more convinced than ever that we must be diligent at teaching the Word of God...and teaching people to read, study, and know the Word of God themselves. Secondly, instead of being mad at the people who were speaking...I have become increasingly angry at the one who has blinded their eyes to actually believe this stuff.

Finally, to answer the question..."Would Jesus Discriminate?" Well, with the understanding that He is God, "Would God Discriminate?" Yes! All the time! From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is full of discrimination. The difference is that God does not discriminate on the basis of petty things like people have...for centuries. God's discrimination takes place based on the our acceptance of Him as Sovereign and our trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior.

Life Interruptions

Last night, we began a journey group study in our home entitled, "Life Interruptions". We had such a good time with our new summer Bible study group and were moved by the message from Louie Giglio about the way our plans get interrupted...sometimes by God and other times by the normal course of life. Our response in those times really does show what we believe about God, even in the minor distractions. Just when we think we have life all under control, BAM! God reminds us that we really control nothing.

It really prepared me for this morning. I came into the office early and planned out my day...and my week. But within an hour...BAM! I ended up spending the majority of my day at the hospital with a dear saint of God and her family as she is facing what appears to be her home going. Here I am near the end of the work day (like there really is one in ministry) and I am looking at my list...my plan. Well, it's about half completed. But it really doesn't matter that much.

So, I think I'll turn the computer off and run back to the hospital and check on my dear sister in Christ. What a privilege to have your day interrupted with something so important...so eternal...to remind us that the stuff I planned to do today was not as important as I thought.

Somethings Take Time

I was reading this morning in the Bible about a period where the nation of Israel had strayed from God. They took the first step of inviting God back into their lives, but it took 20 years of being sorrowful before God spoke to them in a way that helped them to move on. Then they were given instruction on what to do and as they were obedient, they saw God do incredible things...including restoring all of the territory that had been taken from them by their enemies.

Two things stuck out for my life, as well as for our country and our church. First, life did not stop while they were 'lamenting' the error of their ways and their rejection of God. They still had to go to work, feed their kids, etc. Life went on...everyday. Secondly, God did not tell them to 'lament' for 20 years...it was just the time when God knew that they were ready to hear from Him and ready to be obedient. But they had to wait...a long time.

When it comes to our relationship with God, we so often get in a hurry (or hurry others) to 'get on with life'. We have a false sense of life, as if it stops while we work on restoring our relationships. Life does not stop when relationships are strained or broken. Most broken or strained relationships don't just happen in a moment of time. We need to be careful to allow Godly sorrow to run its course in our lives...sometimes it just takes time for it to do its work so that we do not quickly make the same mistakes again.

Based on this story from the Bible, the nation of Israel (in time) was ready to corporately move on in obedience to God. Yes, everyone was 20 years older and it may seem to have been wasted years in their lives...and it was to the extent that had they been obedient in the beginning it would have never happened. But to an infinite God who is not on a calendar, it was just a speck in the course of eternity. But their first step was to invite and allow God to dwell with them again.

When we have broken relationships, the first step is to sincerely invite that person back into our lives. However, we cannot expect that everything just moves on immediately. We need to give it time. Maybe you have been away from God for what seems like a long time of wasted years...there is hope. God can restore your life. The first step is to invite Him into your life...to dwell in you, your home, your heart. He desires it. Do we?

(1 Samuel 5-7)

Communication

This has been one of the busiest seasons in the life of our family and ministry. And as we do more in the lives of our children, our church, and community, it seems so easy to fail to communicate effectively or in a timely manner. The interesting thing that I am learning is that as I put off focusing on communicating better, the more stressed I become and the more appologies I have to make.

Why? I am reminded that our lives are about glorifying God (for certain), but they are not lived or lived out on an island. But rather, they are lived out with and through other people. I have to do a better job.

All week, last week, I knew that I needed to confirm the use of our neighborhood building for a small group fellowship...and then communicate that to the people who were going to be a part of our small groups. However, I kept putting off locating the number to call, and did not do it until Saturday night. Sunday morning, I made a quick announcement, put out a sign-up sheet, and was a bit dissappointed when only 2 families signed-up. That was not the big 'ahah' moment. It was when one family called at 6:00 p.m. and wondered where we were meeting. (We weren't until next Friday.) Another family called as well. I really blew it.

The really sad part is that this was not the only blunder for the week. So I am confessing that I will do better...because people matter. It even forced me to clarify a few things within our family last night about our week. Heaven help us to communicate and not to procrastinate. If you think we think we are too busy to communicate effectively, the reality is that we are too busy to communicate with anything less than full effort.

Flood From the Past

It seems like such a long time ago that Hurricane Katrina survivors came to Greenville and our church had such an opportunity to hear their stories and minister to them in our city. Today, I spent day 3 hanging sheet rock / drywall in a home still devastated by the storm...and a family still living (almost 3 years later) in a small FEMA trailor in their front yard.

Yes, I'm in New Orleans with 3 guys from our church and 7 guys from 7 other churches working through the NOAH rebuild project. Today, we met Leavy...a 70 year old woman who has been living 3 hours away until her home is repaired. When given a small gift card to Home Depot by our group, she asked if she could make a donation to our church...not your common response.

We also met Kimberly...a single mom who just moved back into her home 2 weeks ago with her daughter. Some guys from the team drywalled her home a year ago. She invited us over to see the results. What a long journey home.

In our group devotions tonight, we were reminded that our sacrifice to come here (including that of our families) is only for a week...then we will go back to our regular routines. But these people are still dealing with the physical, spiritual, and emotional storms from this tragic flood.

I was reminded of how our family live through the great flood of Hurricane Floyd some years back in North Carolina and the damage that is still visible there. The memories of feeding trailors and Baptist disaster relief workers has come back so vividly.

Events often leave scars in our lives, not just the physical storms, but also the relationship storms. And if we are to look, we can see the devistation all around us. Some people need help to move out of the FEMA trailor to which they have been confined for so long and back home again. Not back to the same old home...but to one that has been touched by the hand of God. And often that happens through the lifting and attaching of a piece of fresh drywall by a willing servant of the Master...maybe like you and me.

Coming Home

It seems as if the older I get (now passing the 40 mark), the more often my trips home to Ohio are marked by funerals. On Thursday my older brother and I had the privilege to conduct the funeral of our last remaining grandmother. And all of the things that we tell people in our ministries literally have to be proven in our response to death in our own family.

I was once again reminded of the impact of what many would consider a very insignificant life. My grandmother lived 'up the hollow' in a farm house a few miles from where she grew up. She never had a driver's license, but seemed to know about everyone in town. And when the memorial service was about to begin, the funeral director had to get more chairs as it was a standing room only crowd. Nearly everyone there had been affected by this life and family in a significant way.

Leave it to a funeral to bring out the best and worst in a family...but all we got to see was the best. So many friends told us how proud my grandma (Nonnie) was of us grandchildren and how she was always speaking a kind word about us to her friends. But I think the most moving thing that happened was seeing our usually 'less than affectionate' grandfather (now 86), walk up to the casket time and again to pat her hand and say some of the most beautiful words.

Life seems to keep us so busy that I saw family members that I had not seen in at least 10-15 years. We get so engaged in our lives and families that our trips 'coming home' are now few and far between. However, when we come for these sacred occasions, there seems to be less small talk. The conversations seem to quickly turn to what really matters. I'm not sure why that does not happen more often...but funerals seem to bring out the urgency and brevity in life.

This morning, the phone rang early telling us that my grandmother's sister experienced the death of her husband during the night...so there will be another memorial service before I return to South Carolina next week. I guess it is now just the reality of coming home.

Praise You In The Storm

There is a popular contemporary song playing regularly on the radio by this title. For me, this has been the season of watching people do exactly that. In 3 years as a church planter, I do not think that I have witnessed so much struggle with physical, emotional, financial, and relational circumstances. Yet in the midst of many questions and tears, I am watching most people in my circle praise through them.

Sometimes it is difficult to speak a word of encouragement, while at other times it seems as if just being there is what is needed. Sometimes, a physical act of a hug or being used to help provide for a need or convenience. But one thing is for sure, it is difficult to watch people you love go through difficulties...while it is a real blessing to watch the praise in the midst of that storm.

A lady at the bank asked me the other day if difficulties in her life were spiritual battles or just a part of the human experience. After some thought on an appropriate answer in this public lobby, I answered, "Yes". I am learning that some of our struggles are just the normal course of living in a decaying body and in a sinful world, while others are a direct battle to see whom we will worship.

I know that the battle for our worship is not passive. And whether or not all of the struggles I am facing or watching others face are the result of 'life' or 'war', the reality is that God's grace is so proving enough to keep us glorifying the Creator right in the middle of the storm.

Lessons from a Simple Life

Lesa and I received a call late Tuesday evening that Lesa's grandmother's long fought physical battle had ended as God decided that Marie Harding had finished her course here on earth. Her life on earth ended without much fanfare, nor (thankfully) with much physical pain.

We also learned that Mrs. Harding had requested that I do her funeral service, so we have been making plans for Lesa and I to travel to NE Ohio for the service. The burden that Lesa senses for her family and for her father's health (who is still recovering from a stroke and open heart surgery) is apparent. And I am sure that the flow of memories, including canning peaches in Grandma's kitchen and running to the outhouse at the last second, will increase in the coming days. We are glad that our last visit to Ohio included a rare instance of what seemed to be coherant conversation with Grandma at the nursing home where she lived the past year or so.

As I have prayed this morning and read God's Word, the thoughts that come to my mind seem to focus on the fact of how a simple, yet faithful person who lived in a home without an indoor toilet until the late 1980's could have a profound impact on the world. As I have tried to come to a personal summary of my perception of this wonderful lady's legacy, it is wrapped up in the first 30 seconds of any conversation that anyone ever had with her. If you were to greet her with a hug and ask her how she was doing, within 5 seconds the conversation would ALWAYS be turned to the you...and she was genuinely interested.

She was always asking when we might be able to come and visit. But it was not in a way as other family members might ask. It was never laden with guilt for not being there more often, but you sensed a genuine desire to be with you. But it also included an understanding that life is often busy and she appreciated the effort of your travel.

Maybe it was the consequence of a simple life. But maybe it was more the result of a selfless life that was truly interested in others more than herself.