Yesterday my dad called and my sister’s time on earth is coming to an end. I am at a loss for words and my emotional swings have not been healthy. My sister loves to talk, laugh and has the worst eating habits of any human alive. Over the past few months I have replayed our childhood several times over in my mind. We had a great life growing up. She has been an awesome big sister. I watch Kylie and Clayton and see the two of us growing up in them all over again. We played and fought like champions. My mom once told me that my sister was her favorite---(I don’t think she was kidding). My mom went to be with the Lord almost two years ago and while I have learned to bury the emotions of her not being here, it still hurts and I miss her so much. I am positive that my mom could not handle this. My sister has lived in the valley for a long time. Although she has lived in the valley she could always laugh. While my sister was in the valley I have been on the mountain top. This has been one of the best years of my life. I have a joy that is deep in my bones. But from my mountain top view I am experiencing a heart break. I hurt and I can literally feel another part of me is dying.
I read John 11 tonight over and over, the story about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. I am not asking for a miracle; I will take one but truthfully I just needed a reminder that Jesus has power over all things including death. As I read through John 11, what I walked away with was that death is unavoidable even for the most faithful follower of Jesus. Think about it-- After Jesus raised Lazarus at this time in John 11, it’s pretty safe to say that likely a few years later Lazarus died again. So, this miracle - this gift - from Jesus to Lazarus didn't shield Lazarus from further death. We live in a fallen world. Jesus actually tells us that pain and death are coming.
We see in Psalm 23:4 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for You are with me"
Notice that the verse doesn't say “if” I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but “even though.” We have to go through the valley. We don’t go around it. We don’t go over it. We don’t go beside it. We go through it.
So, tonight I start my walk down the mountain side into the valley. I will walk through the valley over the next few weeks. As I walk down the mountain side and through the valley I will soon start the climb back to the top. My entire journey I am committed to celebrating my King. I will mourn but my eyes are fixed on Jesus. He is my reward! I will continue to praise Him ---He is the only One who could rightly say, "I am the resurrection and the life." Pray for my family
Old Testament Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus
Fulfilled Prophecy - Hebrew Scripture - New Testament fulfillment
His pre-existence - Micah 5:2 - John 1:1, 14
Born of the seed of a woman - Genesis 3:15 - Matthew 1:18
Of the seed of Abraham - Genesis 12:3 - Matthew 1:1-16
All nations blessed by Abraham's seed - Genesis 12:3 - Matthew 8:5, 10
God would provide Himself a Lamb as an offering - Genesis 22:8 - John 1:29
From the tribe of Judah - Genesis 49:10 - Matthew 1:1-3
Heir to the throne of David - Isaiah 9:6-7 - Matthew 1:1
Called "The mighty God, The everlasting Father" - Isaiah 9:6 - Matthew 1:23
Born in Bethlehem - Micah 5:2 - Matthew 2:1
Born of a virgin - Isaiah 7:14 - Matthew 1:18
His name called Immanuel, "God with us" - Isaiah 7:14 - Matthew 1:23
Declared to be the Son of God - Psalm 2:7 - Matthew 3:17
His messenger before Him in spirit of Elijah - Malachi 4:5-6 - Luke 1:17
Preceded by a messenger to prepare His way - Malachi 3:1 - Matthew 11:7-11
Messenger crying "Prepare ye the way of the Lord" - Isaiah 40:3 - Matthew 3:3
Would be a Prophet of the children of Israel - Deuteronomy 18:15 - Matthew 2:15
Called out of Egypt - Hosea 11:1 - Matthew 2:15
Slaughter of the children - Jeremiah 31:15 - Matthew2:18
Would be a Nazarene - Judges 13:5 - Matthew 2:23
Brought light to Zabulon & Nephthalm, Galilee of the Gentiles - Isaiah 9:1-2 - Matthew 4:15
Presented with gifts - Psalm 72:10 - Matthew 2:1, 11
Rejected by His own - Isaiah 53:3 - Matthew 21:42
Rejected by the builders but became the headstone - Psalm 118:22-23 - I Peter 2:7
A stone of stumbling to Israel - Isaiah 8:14-15 - I Peter 2:8
Entered Jerusalem as a king riding on a donkey - Zechariah 9:9 - Matthew 21:5
Betrayed by a friend - Psalms 41:9 - John 13:21
Sold for 30 pieces of silver - Zechariah 11:12 - Matthew 26:15
30 pieces of silver given for the potter's field - Zechariah 11:12 - Matthew 27:9-10
30 pieces of silver thrown in the temple - Zechariah 11:13 - Matthew 27:5
Forsaken by His disciples - Zechariah 13:7 - Matthew 26:56
Accused by false witnesses - Psalm 35:11 - Matthew 26:60
Silent to accusations - Isaiah 53:7 - Matthew 27:14
Heal blind/deaf/lame/dumb - Isaiah 35:5-6 - Matthew 11:5
Preached to the poor/brokenhearted/captives Isaiah 61:1 Matthew 11:5
Came to bring a sword, not peace - Micah 7:6 - Matthew 10:34-35
He bore our sickness - Isaiah 53:4 - Matthew 8:16-17
Spat upon, smitten and scourged - Isaiah 50:6 - Matthew 27:26, 30
Smitten on the cheek - Micah 5:1 - Matthew 27:30
Hated without a cause - Psalm 35:19 - Matthew 27:23
The sacrificial lamb - Isaiah 53:5 - John 1:29
Given for a covenant - Isaiah 42:6 - Romans 11:27
Would not strive or cry - Isaiah 42:2-3 - Mark 7:36
People would hear not and see not - Isaiah 6:9-10 - Matthew 13:14-15
People trust in traditions of men - Isaiah 29:13 - Matthew 15:9
People give God lip service - Isaiah 29:13 - Matthew 15:8
God delights in Him - Isaiah 42:1 - Matthew 3:17, 17:5
Wounded for our sins - Isaiah 53:5 - John 6:51
He bore the sins of many - Isaiah 53:10-12 - Mark 10:45
Messiah not killed for Himself - Daniel 9:26 - Matthew 20:28
Gentiles flock to Him - Isaiah 55:5 - Matthew 8:10
Crucified with criminals - Isaiah 53:12 - Matthew 27:35
His body was pierced - Zechariah 12:10 - John 20:25, 27
Thirsty during execution - Psalm 22:16 - John 19:28
Given vinegar and gall for thirst - Psalm 69:21 - Matthew 27:34
Soldiers gambled for his garment - Psalm 22:18 - Matthew 27:35
People mocked, "He trusted in God, let Him deliver him!" - Psalm 22:7-8 - Matthew 27:43
People sat there looking at Him - Psalm 22:17 - Matthew 27:36
Cried, "My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?" - Psalm 22:1 - Matthew 27:46
Darkness over the land - Amos 8:9 - Matthew 27:45
No bones broken - Psalm 34:20 - John 19:33-36
Side pierced - Zechariah 12:10 - John 19:34
Buried with the rich - Isaiah 53:9 - Matthew 27:57, 60
Resurrected from the dead - Psalm 16:10-11 - Mark 16:6
Priest after the order of Melchizedek - Psalm 110:4 - Hebrews 5:5-6
Ascended to right hand of God - Psalm 68:18 - Luke 24:51
LORD said unto Him, "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool - Psalm 110:1 - Matt 22:44
His coming glory - Malachi 3:2-3 - Luke 3:17
Christmas is about Jesus "stepping down." Jesus stepped down to create a revolution. God wasn’t happy with the world. Too many proud people needed to be scattered. Too many lowly people needed to be lifted. Too many hungry people needed to be filled. So, God sent His Son.
Jesus "stepped down" to die on a cross and forgive our sins. He came to heal the hurting and to help the poor. Jesus was a revolutionary for justice. He has called His followers to do the same.
We must "step up" to serve the needy among us. We have influence and affluence. Will we step down to lift somebody up? The scriptures are clear on our responsibility.
Give generously to [the poor] and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
Deuteronomy 15:10-11
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.
Proverbs 28:27
Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.
Isaiah 58:10-11
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
I John 3:16-19
I want to stand before God one day and say I spent it all for you! I took the responsibility seriously. I stepped up because you stepped down. I am so blessed to be part of a church that is challenging people to step up.
Our current series is called rethink thankfulness. Here is this weeks journal info that didn't make the cut.
Thankfulness is an internal emotion created by an external force. Jesus taught us to live with a different approach. What if our thankfulness was an external response to an internal force? What would our lives look like?
One of the most challenging things about being a pastor is that I have all too often been up close and personal to witness the unevenness and lopsidedness of God’s miraculous activities.
This person misplaces his keys and prays to find them. Viola! There they are on the kitchen counter where he’s already looked twice!
That person can’t get pregnant and no amount of prayer opens her womb.
This person’s child has a fever. Her small group prays. The child recovers. God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.
That person is diagnosed with a rare blood disorder and dies a slow, miserable, painful, gut-wrenching death. His church wonders if their prayer vigil did any good at all.
This family sells their house two days after listing it…for $10,000 more than they asked. Then, they turn around and find their dream home listed for $20,000 less than they were willing to pay. He gets a promotion, and now they can afford to put the kids in private school.
That family loses their house because he was let go at work six months ago. Now they have to move in with her parents, halfway across the country. He’s starting to wonder if he’ll ever find a job.
One time there was a guy named John. He was a prophet. He was also Jesus’ cousin. And he’d seen some incredible things, heard some far-fetched stories, learned things, discerned things, revealed things. He was a good theologian and a trustworthy servant of God. And his service to God earned him a spot in Herod’s dungeon. It’s no wonder that his faith in his cousin began to waver, is it? Jesus knew what was happening, knew all about John’s situation. He wouldn’t leave John in there, would he? Jesus would show up and save the day, right? But Jesus never shows up. He’s preaching in some Podunk place or other, telling hillbillies about the Kingdom of God. John sends some of his friends to talk to Jesus, to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus’ response is interesting, but it’s cold comfort. He says, “If you want some proof, how about these miracles I’m doing? People are being healed and helped. Amazing things happen everywhere I go.” And then he adds, somewhat enigmatically, “Blessed is the man who doesn’t fall away because of me.”
Taken by itself, the statement doesn’t make sense. Why would anyone fall away on account of someone doing miraculous things?
Well…if you’re the one sitting in prison, you’re the one Jesus said was the greatest prophet of all times, you’re the one who helped pave the way for Jesus’ whole enterprise, and not one miracle is coming your way…. “Blessed is the man who doesn’t fall away because of me,” he says. “You know…me…the one who does all this great stuff for seemingly everyone else but who sometimes leaves you to rot in prison.”
Sometimes, thankfulness is hard.
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry
I am finishing a series called Unmasking Godly Character this Sunday. I have spent four weeks talking about Godly Character and have not touched some of my deepest thoughts. Here are some thoughts from my journal over the past two weeks. It is weird to hold back information but I couldn't teach what was spinning in my head through this series. I wanted to deal with the Character of God in regards to salvation. But, God’s character is multifaceted. So, in a nut shell----here is my silence.
The Bible and Christianity begins with God. In fact, some writers have suggested that the real meat of the Bible is just the first four words; everything after that is merely commentary.
The goal of the Bible is not to get you to live a different life; (or to teach you how to have better relationships) the goal of the Bible is to reveal the character and nature of God — by understanding or at least seeing God’s character and nature, we are inspired and drawn into a different kind of life. When I study, I practice a theocentric hermeneutic. That’s a fancy way of saying that, when I read the Bible, my first thought isn’t how should I apply this verse to my life but rather what does this verse teach me about God. After I have this answer I am in a position to apply the verse to my life by asking one simple question: How can I be more like him? In this series, I could not preach what I practice when dealing with my deepest thoughts.
Here was my problem. You can’t swing a stick in the Bible without hitting a verse that talks about how holy God is. It’s everywhere. In fact, some verses don’t just say, “God is holy,” they say, “God is holy, holy, holy.”
Now, when you begin trying to apply that verse to your life, you’re headed for some serious frustration — because we’re not holy. We are not able to understand what "Holy" even is----and outside of the very presence of God it is not within reach for us. From my little understanding---God’s holiness means he can’t have anything to do with impurity. It’s not that God is religiously fussy or uptight — like he gets uncomfortable and has to leave the room when something sinful happens. It’s that God and sin are mutually exclusive — like light and dark. Where one exists, the other is absent.
God can’t have anything to do with impurity on account of his holiness. But we’re shot through with impurities — impure actions, thoughts, motives, you name it. So, you can see how this might be a problem, right?
Now, here’s where I think we often get off track in explaining what Christianity is and what Christians believe.
We understand that God is holy, but he’s not only holy. He’s other things, too. The characteristics of God we choose to focus on after his holiness lead us to present this need for salvation in a particular way.
For example, if we move from God’s holiness to God’s wrath (because God is holy, he gets angry at impurities), well, we’re likely to say that salvation is being spared from God’s wrath which will be poured upon people in hell.
If, however, we move from God’s holiness to God’s love (because God is holy, he longs to love us but cannot because we’ve separated ourselves from him), well, we’re likely to say that salvation is being saved from that separation, bringing us into a relationship where God can lavish his love upon us.
If we move from God’s holiness to God’s power, we’re likely to say that salvation is being saved from our own helplessness and empowered to live with a whole new operating system.
You can see how this has implications. God’s character is multifaceted. The characteristics we choose to focus on most will determine the way we present the need for salvation and its implications.
Question: Why do so many focus on his wrath but not his mercy? On the other hand, why do some folks tend to soft-sell his wrath? Which characteristic do you think should follow holiness?
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry
As a christian "or in my case a church leader" this is important information to have. The spot you are in today is leading you somewhere. It might feel like a disaster but perhaps God is refining you. Once you see the bigger picture you will understand how hanging on the edge of disaster has defined who you are. It could remind you of the end goal or it might show you who you really are. As the church we have an end goal. It is to make disciples of all nations. It is crazy to me how churches forget the end goal. When churches hit hard times--stand on the edge of disaster--- the first thing they do is stop giving with a global heart. They cut off the funds that are reaching outside their walls. They think they can avoid disaster by saving money. Not only is this faithless but it is also mission"less". The end goal is not to pay your bills----it is to expand the kingdom of God. If you have reached the point of cutting off a missional focus....you have lost focus and missed the target and I would bet the blessings of God are far from you. You can't spend your way out of debt and you can't stop being missional and be a church. If you want to be a country club drop your non- profit status and open a golf course. You always have a choice to make.....keep the end goal in mind; If you don't, you will loose.
---- Napoleon once said, "it is a maxim in the military art that the army which remains in its entrenchment is beaten." The non-missionary Church sins against its own best interest and is inviting defeat. A stay-at-home Christianity is not real Christianity at all. The guaranty of Christ's abiding presence is consecration to the world's evangelization. The "Lo, I am with you always," is conditioned upon, "Go ye, and disciple all nations." The Church which disobeys this command insults Christ and cannot survive. - J. Ross Stevenson, 1902
I had two choices for a missionless church picture. One was hard to see because the brown clumps had settled into the dark green grass. The other is posted!
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry
OK, March was amazing. In the middle of our move we went to Colorado and had a blast. It was bad timing---it was a long trip--- but it, like the entire month was amazing. We have some great video of the kids on the mountain but this is the only clip I can get to upload. I will post some pics of the new church, new friends, new house and catch up on the past month as we roll into the next week or so. Life is good and my God is great!
Both of my parents rubbed off on me---in one way or another. I see them in my life every so often. My mom was a creature of habit (borderline OCD). My dad is an organizer and wants things done in an orderly manner. Wait, it is not that he wants it done in an orderly manner it is that....it is always done in an orderly manner. Between the two of them I never had a chance to make a real mess. Once I got married Kristina took over and is now the keeper of my sanity. She is amazing and like my parents she brings stability and structure to my life. So, my life is and has always been very structured. When things are not orderly..I feel very out of control.
We are in the heat of our move and my office is torn apart. My house— ugh--is not my house. There are boxes, piles and piles of boxes everywhere. It looks like a box bomb went off. There is nothing structured about my world right now. So, to give you a visual of what I feel like check out the full video…….
I have been excited all week about our date for tonight. Kylie and I had a great time...She is growing up fast!
I am doing a personal study out of the book of Zechariah. I hit a passage that opened a great reminder for me. In fact the passage made me go back and study what Jesus taught on prayer. Here is a summary and the passage that got my wheels turning.
John's Gospel includes 3 key passages on prayer—all three from the words of Jesus in chapters 14 through 16.
First, in 14:13-14, Jesus teaches that prayer is for the glory of His Father. God gives whatever we ask—provided it accords with the pursuit of his glory.
Second, in 15:7-16, Jesus teaches that prayer is for our fruit-bearing. Prayer is a wartime walkie-talkie for advancing God's global mission, not a domestic intercom for calling in personal comforts.
Third, in 16:23-24, Jesus teaches that prayer is for our joy being full. God wants us to be happy, and he means to do it through our prayers.
Yes, prayer can seem like a duty at times—the way eating and drinking and breathing are duties. But prayer also is a means of grace and a great gift from God.
Zechariah 13:8-9 was the passage that got my wheels turning: God can put His people through the fires of suffering to awaken their appetite for prayer. With or without suffering, Let us be a people of prayer and let's turn to God in prayer.
I am in a deep season of prayer right now. I hope that you will stop what you are doing right now and pray with me. Pray for Kristina and the kids as we transition. Pray for my Forest Hill family. Pray for my new church. Pray that you will touch someones life today.
My world is spinning faster than it should be. I have so much going on right now both internally and externally that Kristina and I have hit the point of just laughing. We are both creatures of habit. Every night we settle in and talk through what we have to do the next day. She always has a list handy and I just make stuff up on the fly. It works for us! In the midst of complete chaos I am glad that we can both laugh.
What makes you laugh? I mean what brings you joy. I could get real deep here but here is a short list of things that made me smile today….Kylie waking me up, Clayton greeting me at my car when I got home! Kissing Kristina…Talking to my dad---he always make me smile, Rayden---because he is Rayden. Hearing that a friend is having a baby girl. Clayton asking to listen to Chris Rigney on his Mp3 before bed. My study in 2 Kings 9…funny to think about Jehu having something poured on his head and then the guy just running away….seeing Bob, Danny and Joe all in the same room made me laugh inside…for reasons that I will keep to myself. Thinking about my new church family and what is to come. But ultimately I smiled today because I can. So, what makes you smile?
I had a great night. I took my kids to see a friend of mine in concert tonight. In the midst of everything that I have going on, it was nice to just jump in the car and go enjoy life.
About eighteen years ago I met a couple of guys that were in a Christian band. I had never heard of them but they seemed pretty cool. They were in Tulsa, OK shooting a music video. They invited me to come to a show they were doing--they said they were opening for Michael W. Smith. I had only been a Christian for a couple of years and I didn’t know who Michael W. Smith was. But, I went and thought the guys we pretty good. Over the next few years we kept in close contact and when they would come through town I would hook up with them. I watched these guys that I thought were “pretty good” become Christian music icons. About ten years ago I was in Dallas and I went to dinner with my friends and they told me that they were all going to start solo careers. They shared some of their personal struggles they were having and even though they were at the top of the food chain in the Christian music industry they felt it was time. So DC Talk parted ways. Over the past few years I have had limited contact with the guys but when they come through town we get together. Tonight we went to see Toby (AKA Toby mac). Clayton loves Toby and he thought it was very cool to get to hang out with him and just a few minutes later slide into our seats and watch him. He kept saying----we know him! As I sat back and watched the show tonight I could not help but to be proud of Toby. I am proud of who he is, not what he does. He is a Godly man that wants to see people come to know Jesus. He is incredibly successful but knows that without God, his life would be empty. I like being around people that know this truth. It was a great night with the family and good to catch up with an old friend.
Time moves fast. I have heard people say for a long time "the older you get the faster time seems to move." But you know, time is time. It moves at the same pace today that it has always moved. Days are not getting shorter, hours are not getting shorter, a second is still a second. I think the reason time feels like it is moving faster as we get older is because the longer we live, the more we want to hold on to. The older I get, every day that passes I find a deeper desire to rewind time. If I could just rewind the clock one year to this day....I would be in Tulsa holding my mom. I simply want one more hug. I want to hear her laugh one more time. I want to stand by her in the kitchen and eat off the stove. I want to see her face when Kylie and Clayton run up to the door. I want to look back in the rear view mirror and see her chasing the car. I want to hold her hand. I want to hear her voice. I want to say I love you one more time. As it is, I will have to wait. As it is, I will have to endure the fact that there is a time for everything. The time that I live in now is set, understanding that there is a time for everything I revere a Holy and Righteous God.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-14
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
Great Super Bowl this year. I enjoy the hype of all the big games, I enjoy the media coverage. I am still up watching highlights of a game that I just watched. Like I said, I like the media coverage. Three things I noticed this year about the big games. The BCS championship and the Super Bowl. 1.) My teams lost in both! 2.) I can't let my kids watch the commercials. Kind of crazy but... here was my favorite from the Super Bowl... Please watch it twice...I laugh harder every time I watch it.
3.) The faith of some key players captured headlines. Some sportswriters struggle with the faith-based language that many players deploy during these kinds of events. However, Rick Maese of the Baltimore Sun offered an interesting column the other day in which he working his way through his feelings about this issue, and Kurt Warner in particular.... concluded that he has seen worse things happen in sports. Read it all, but here’s a crucial passage:
----- You’ll have to forgive sportswriters a tad. Most have seen too many athletes espouse their spiritual side yet indulge their criminal. When an athlete mentions God, eyes roll and tape recorders shut off. When thanking Jesus is considered cliche, you know we have problems.
I was engrossed, though. I’m not sure whether it was the message or the messenger, but as I age and as the world around me becomes increasingly unreliable and unpredictable, it’s refreshing to see someone who has every reason to get caught up in a peripheral storm of money, ego, celebrity and excess remain so grounded.
“My faith helps me with everything,” Warner says. “The biggest thing about my faith is it helps keep everything in perspective. You understand the highs and lows. You understand what’s going on sometimes with the highs and lows when other people don’t see them.”
I’m no trend spotter, and there’s no way to quantify this, but from David Tyree to Tony Dungy to Tim Tebow, it seems as if faith has been enjoying an increasingly prominent role in football in America. If it really helps control temperament, I dare say God might be the best performance enhancer you can use legally.-------
The article was great and I hope these guys hold on to the testimonies they are building!
Rayden,
Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for walking with me. Thank you for loving me the way that you do! I am going to miss praying with you “in person”. I will miss our brain storming sessions. I will miss our sushi runs. I will miss your wit and never ending line of jokes. I will long to hear your encouragement. I will miss the sound of your laugh. I will miss that look you give…(that mix between wanting to laugh at me while holding back your commentary)… when I miss a three foot putt. I will miss hearing you teach. I am going to miss you.
You are a gifted man of God. You understand what it means to honor the people around you. You know what it means to serve the people around you. You are a pastor! I have heard you say that you would follow me to the ends of the earth. I would do the same for you. I would walk as far and as hard as you needed me to. One of the things that I have always admired about you is your willingness to “put others first”. Keep that spirit. It our job as pastors to lead the charge but it is never about us. We carry all the responsibility but need to stand in the back of the line. You do this well! Never take a front row parking spot. Never desire to have your name on the sign out front. Never close your door to the people of the church and always listen before you speak. Never neglect His word. If I had one wish for you it would be that you would live out our staff devotion we had today. ---- Seek His wisdom in all things. I feel so blessed to know you. I am going to miss you and I will continue to pray for you daily. You have a big challenge coming your way. You are going to do a great job. I believe in you!
I will forever cherish our friendship.
My day was empty….There are two parts to my feeling empty. The first part is that today I stood in front of a group of people that I love. It’s not just that I love them but they love me and my family. The past four years I have loved my church and served the people with their needs in mind. I have emptied myself in so many ways that today….as I stood before my church to tell them that I was going to serve God in another location, I literally felt empty. I know God has been preparing me for the next season of life for a long time. He has been preparing my heart and I guess in some ways purging my heart as well. Anyway, I got up this morning and in my prayer time I was overwhelmed with the thought that my time at Forest Hill is over. I had not really dealt with this part of the transition yet. I had not really let the reality of my time here coming to an end set in. I started my day with this question. “What does it mean to have something come to an end?” Well, for me-- I only have one clear reference point to this question right now. My current and perhaps very unhealthy reference point to something “coming to an end” is losing my mom. After a full life with her, all I have right now are memories. They are good memories but when I sit still and let them run through my mind they still hurt. So, when I think of something coming to an end ---it means that all I have left are memories. No matter how good the memories might be I feel empty when I think about the last four years of my life being summed up as a memory. The second part to my day being empty is the guilt I feel for my excitement for what God has in store. I feel somewhat guilty at how ready I am to be in Austin. I look out and see tears from people I am leaving and at one point I asked myself “what is wrong with you?” I should not feel the deep joy I feel…should I??? I mean it bothers me to know that my new church family met today and I was not among them. My day was empty because I was not at my church, I was not home. I am looking forward to my new coffee pot/popsicle meetings. I am ready to pray with, worship with, lead with, reach people with, grow with and dream with my new church. Although my day was empty----The Long Horn’s logo I got as an email today made me smile!
I got a weird email today from a stranger. They said they "love to hear me preach". But they thought my sermon Sunday at Church was out of line. I was confused by the email because although I preached last Sunday, it was not here. So, as confused as I was I still felt the need to respond. Their question was based on something I said Sunday but---I was not here to say it. Anyway, their overall statement to me was "why are you so narrow minded to think Jesus is the only way". Even though I was not here to say that. I am narrow minded I guess, because I wish I had been here to say it. Here was the heart of my response.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
One of the criticisms leveled against Christians is that this belief is so exclusive. People say, “You telling me that you believe that Muslims and Jews and Hindus and Buddhists can’t be saved? That’s just too narrow and too exclusive for me to believe.” You are not the first person to say to me, “That’s just narrow-minded. It’s arrogant. Only religious bigots believe that Jesus is the only way.”
I say, "You know, you’re argument isn’t really with me. You’re argument is really with Jesus. He’s the One who said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.'” Is that narrow? Yes. But don't we want the pilot of a plane we're on to be narrow-minded? We want him to land it right side up. We want him to land it on the runway, not the freeway. It’s true that the claims of Christ are exclusive. But exclusivity is just part of it. Jesus came for everybody. Jew. Gentile. Muslim. Hindu. All the nations.
Jesus is the inclusive/exclusive truth. Think about these “I am” statements. They’re inclusive as well as exclusive.
I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger.
John 6:35
“Whoever” means Jews, too. Jews can come to Him.
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness.
John 8:12
“Whoever” includes Arabs. Muslims can follow Him.
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.
John 10:9
“Anyone” means Buddhists, too. Buddhists can enter by Him.
I am the good shepherd... And I have other sheep that are not of this fold.
John 10:14, 16
“Other sheep” includes all non-Jews. Hindus can become part of His flock.
I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.
John 11:25
Whoever means atheists and agnostics. They are invited to believe in Him.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.
John 15:5
Yes, this is exclusive truth. But “whoever will” may come. It’s inclusive, too. This is why we set our focus on reaching all people for Christ.
Most of you know that I journal everything...Over the past several months I have had to keep a lot of my thoughts to myself. I am surrounded by people, phone calls, emails and meetings but feel very alone. I am not depressed nor do I feel unloved....It is just that with everything I am processing, my mind is busy but my words are few. My heart is full and this is my prayer.
Father, I praise You as the living Vine in heaven. And I thank You that You have made me a living branch on earth. I confess how little I have understood how great my need is for You. And I confess how little I understand that You desire to bear fruit through me to bless the world with Your love. I offer myself as an empty branch to You. Apart from You, I am lifeless, hopeless, and helpless. I ask that You fill me with Your fullness, Your life, Your love. Guide me into an ever-increasing communion with You. Lord, I cry out with my whole being, Yes, Jesus is the True Vine to me, bearing me, nourishing me, supplying me, using me, and filling me to the full to make me bring forth fruit abundantly. And, yes, I am a branch to Jesus, abiding in Him, resting on Him, waiting for Him, and living in Him. I ask for Your strength for my weakness; Your riches for my poverty; Your supply for My need. I yield myself wholly to You. I am nothing without You. I can do nothing without You. But through Your life in me, I can accomplish all Your holy will and bear much fruit. Here am I, send me! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
(Chris) I just finished the study I have been doing in John 15. All I can say is wow...Good passage to study before you go to Turkey.
