Ron Hall and Denver Moore are known for their first book "Same Kind of Different as Me." Their story centers around how Denver Moore, homeless, is befriend by Ron and Deborah Hall and Deborah's subsequent battle and death from cancer. Their second book "What Difference Do It Make?" is a continuation of their ongoing true story.
In this second volume, Denver Moore asks a probing question of Ron Hall: "Mr. Ron, all these white folks be invitin us to their Bible studies. How come none of 'em's invitin us to their Bible doins?" (p. 152)
Several years ago, a friend of mine told me of inviting a new Christian to his church one Sunday morning. When the worship service concluded, the new Christian asked my friend, "But when do we do the stuff?" He was referring to the things he had read about Jesus and disciples doing in the Bible.
Could it be that we are too busy hosting studies that we have scheduled ourselves out of doing? Just saying . . . as I sit in my office, in front of a computer writing a blog . . .
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
A Fire Brings Out Memories
An event early this morning in Temple, Texas, has definitely had an impact on my thoughts today. The First Baptist Church in Temple sustained major damage through a fire in the sanctuary, offices, and music areas. Some water and smoke damage is also present in other portions of their facilities. Many people are joining pastor Martin Knox and the FBC family in prayer.
For me, there are many personal memories tied to that church family and the facilities. Shortly after my birth, I was rocked in the nursery. It was my church home until after I married. My spiritual life was greatly shaped through the ministry of that church. I was baptized there when I was 10 years old. I experienced a call to ministry there. My wife and I were married there. My father's funeral was conducted there. My mother still worships there.
With many years of association with the church, there are many events, groups, and individuals that are part of my memories there. For my sake and theirs, I will not recount all of those here. But I will say that laughter and tears have both been part of those memories and relationships.
Obviously, the destruction of buildings by fire will not destroy the memories that I hold. But the fact that the fire burned the place where many of those memories were formed makes this fire seem more significant than might otherwise be the case. I sense the loss that many in that congregation are feeling today as they drive by or stand across the street and see the burned remains of their regular place of worship.
This I know - they will all survive this fire and the church will thrive. Afterall they have a history of such survival. After the fire that destroy their church in 1938, they rebuilt and moved forward. The new building of 1939 was the one that burned today. The same God who lead them through that fire will lead them through this one also. Today there is shock and tears and a great sense of loss. Tomorrow there is hope and promise and a great sense of victory. May the Lord bless FBC, Temple, as they move forward. May the Lord keep the memories of the past in tact as new and greater memories are formed.
For me, there are many personal memories tied to that church family and the facilities. Shortly after my birth, I was rocked in the nursery. It was my church home until after I married. My spiritual life was greatly shaped through the ministry of that church. I was baptized there when I was 10 years old. I experienced a call to ministry there. My wife and I were married there. My father's funeral was conducted there. My mother still worships there.
With many years of association with the church, there are many events, groups, and individuals that are part of my memories there. For my sake and theirs, I will not recount all of those here. But I will say that laughter and tears have both been part of those memories and relationships.
Obviously, the destruction of buildings by fire will not destroy the memories that I hold. But the fact that the fire burned the place where many of those memories were formed makes this fire seem more significant than might otherwise be the case. I sense the loss that many in that congregation are feeling today as they drive by or stand across the street and see the burned remains of their regular place of worship.
This I know - they will all survive this fire and the church will thrive. Afterall they have a history of such survival. After the fire that destroy their church in 1938, they rebuilt and moved forward. The new building of 1939 was the one that burned today. The same God who lead them through that fire will lead them through this one also. Today there is shock and tears and a great sense of loss. Tomorrow there is hope and promise and a great sense of victory. May the Lord bless FBC, Temple, as they move forward. May the Lord keep the memories of the past in tact as new and greater memories are formed.
Monday, January 11, 2010
What Is My Job Description?
Do you ever struggle with what you are suppose to be doing today, or even tomorrow? I know that I sure do. There are days that I have a hard time remembering what my job description really is. Oh, I know what is expected of me at the job I have that provides me a salary. I am expected to relate to numerous churches and church leaders in helping them to fulfil the mission that God has entrusted to them. While that may mean the need for a variety of strategies and approaches, the specific expection is rather clear - focus all of my energy, skills, and gifts in helping them either directly or indirectly. That may mean connecting a church or a leader with another church or leader to accomplish the task.
Likewise, I am on board with my job description within my family. First and foremost, it has to do with loving my (and the Bible says "even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her."). Second it focuses on parenting children (while they are grown and married, they still have a need for a listening ear from time to time.) Third, and the most fun, it has to do with grandparenting (permissive, to some extent, but most of all available with time to play even when you have to get down in the floor - easy - getting up again is the hard part!). And the role still involves honoring parents (and age and sickness certainly have an impact here.).
But what I forget sometimes is my job description regarding life - the job description that God gives because He created me as a person. There would be many ways to phrase the description and it probably varies in wording from person to person. There are many specifics in the Bible about how I am to live. Some relate to loving God while others relate to treatment of my fellow man. Some have to do with the character and personality traits that I should develop and others have to do with the utilizing of gifts and skills. Some are specific commands composed of do's and don'ts. If not careful, the list could become so lengthy that the job description gets lost in the confusion.
Ultimately, there is one specific part of the job description God intends me to fulfill - I am to obey Him. My obedience is not based on how that affects me or anyone else. It is a freewill choice in response to God who created me, who loves me, who demonstrated His love for me by sending His Son Jesus into this world to die for my sins, and who extends to me the promise of eternal life when I place my faith in Jesus. Not so hard to obey One who cares for you like that.
"Lord, help me stay focused on my job description for life today!"
Likewise, I am on board with my job description within my family. First and foremost, it has to do with loving my (and the Bible says "even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her."). Second it focuses on parenting children (while they are grown and married, they still have a need for a listening ear from time to time.) Third, and the most fun, it has to do with grandparenting (permissive, to some extent, but most of all available with time to play even when you have to get down in the floor - easy - getting up again is the hard part!). And the role still involves honoring parents (and age and sickness certainly have an impact here.).
But what I forget sometimes is my job description regarding life - the job description that God gives because He created me as a person. There would be many ways to phrase the description and it probably varies in wording from person to person. There are many specifics in the Bible about how I am to live. Some relate to loving God while others relate to treatment of my fellow man. Some have to do with the character and personality traits that I should develop and others have to do with the utilizing of gifts and skills. Some are specific commands composed of do's and don'ts. If not careful, the list could become so lengthy that the job description gets lost in the confusion.
Ultimately, there is one specific part of the job description God intends me to fulfill - I am to obey Him. My obedience is not based on how that affects me or anyone else. It is a freewill choice in response to God who created me, who loves me, who demonstrated His love for me by sending His Son Jesus into this world to die for my sins, and who extends to me the promise of eternal life when I place my faith in Jesus. Not so hard to obey One who cares for you like that.
"Lord, help me stay focused on my job description for life today!"
Monday, January 4, 2010
A Fresh, New Year
There are some things that are just at their best when they are brand new - a new jar of peanut butter; fresh clean sheets; the first spoon of Blue Bell French Vanilla or Dutch Chocolate ice cream; the smell of a new car; and the first cry of newborn baby. Of course all of us would put different things on such a list. I already wish I had listed "opening a new book from a favorite author" and "the first corn, green beans, and new potatoes from the garden."
While all of those things are great, perhaps nothing seems better and fresher than the start of a new year. Resolutions designed to improve oneself; better organized stuff; an uncluttered calendar; and a rested body and mind all cause me to believe that 2010 will be a great year. Of course, I had some similar thoughts about this time a year ago related to 2009. But the economy, bad decisions, careless eating, wasted time, and an illness or two messed that year up badly.
The truth is that this year could be great or it could be a lot like last year. The key to which way it goes is in my possession. It all has to do with self-discipline, attitude, and faith. I really wish there were a way to blame failure and disappointment on something or someone other than me. But since reality is imbedded in my personal 2010 resolutions, I guess that I need to acknowledge that my actions or lack of actions, my reactions and thoughts, and my personal faith or lack of faith have much more to do with the evaluation of a given year than the actions of anyone else.
God has created a fresh, new year for me to live. My responsibility is how I will choose to live it. My prayer becomes - "may I live this year in a way that will honor the One who created it."
While all of those things are great, perhaps nothing seems better and fresher than the start of a new year. Resolutions designed to improve oneself; better organized stuff; an uncluttered calendar; and a rested body and mind all cause me to believe that 2010 will be a great year. Of course, I had some similar thoughts about this time a year ago related to 2009. But the economy, bad decisions, careless eating, wasted time, and an illness or two messed that year up badly.
The truth is that this year could be great or it could be a lot like last year. The key to which way it goes is in my possession. It all has to do with self-discipline, attitude, and faith. I really wish there were a way to blame failure and disappointment on something or someone other than me. But since reality is imbedded in my personal 2010 resolutions, I guess that I need to acknowledge that my actions or lack of actions, my reactions and thoughts, and my personal faith or lack of faith have much more to do with the evaluation of a given year than the actions of anyone else.
God has created a fresh, new year for me to live. My responsibility is how I will choose to live it. My prayer becomes - "may I live this year in a way that will honor the One who created it."
Monday, December 21, 2009
Impatience with Christmas
Many people are stranded today at various airports as they wait, hoping for better weather in the Northeastern United States, so they can finally get a flight to their Christmas destinations. Some are waiting patiently with understanding regarding the unusual snowfalls this year. Others are demonstrating a great deal of impatience believing that somehow the airlines are at fault for the weather conditions.
Shoppers are finding crowds and long lines at many stores as they try to complete last meeting gift buying. Some are handling it with a relaxed Christmas spirit almost breaking into song from time to time. Others, however, are still complaining about why the store doesn't have more clerks working even though every cash register is in use. Some are also wondering why so many people waited so late to shop (of course they have a very good reason for themselves)!
I know a young couple who are expecting their first child sometime today. The word impatient would not apply but they are definitely ready as are the grandparents. As I was thinking about this family this morning, a song from church yesterday came to mind - "A Baby Changes Everything." Wow, that is such a true statement. This young couple will be great parents with extended family surrounding them with love and encouragement. But the birth of their baby will definitely change their schedule and routine, their leisure time, and their personal sleep.
Never has the birth of a baby changed everything as it did that first Christmas in Bethlehem when Mary gave birth to Jesus. The world was in a state of impatience. It has been since Adam and Eve had sinned in the Garden of Eden and broke that perfect relationship with God that had existed in creation. Generations had come and gone waiting for God to fulfill His promise of His intervention into human history. The birth of Jesus was the beginning of the fulfillment of that promise. God had taken on flesh and come to dwell among men. Jesus would grow into a man; live a sinless life; die on a cross for the sin of everyone else; and be raised from the dead by God the Father completing the fulfillment of His promise of a Savior for all who believe.
Jesus' birth changed everything then and continues to change the lives of people today. When the pressure of the calendar and the clock instill impatience in our lives, we should stop and remember that the greatest need we have (greater than a gift to buy or a plane to catch) already has an available solution, patiently waiting upon our response of faith - Jesus the Christ born as a baby in Bethlehem is ready to change our lives today.
May all of our Christmas celebrations be filled with patience and with the reality of Jesus Christ.
Shoppers are finding crowds and long lines at many stores as they try to complete last meeting gift buying. Some are handling it with a relaxed Christmas spirit almost breaking into song from time to time. Others, however, are still complaining about why the store doesn't have more clerks working even though every cash register is in use. Some are also wondering why so many people waited so late to shop (of course they have a very good reason for themselves)!
I know a young couple who are expecting their first child sometime today. The word impatient would not apply but they are definitely ready as are the grandparents. As I was thinking about this family this morning, a song from church yesterday came to mind - "A Baby Changes Everything." Wow, that is such a true statement. This young couple will be great parents with extended family surrounding them with love and encouragement. But the birth of their baby will definitely change their schedule and routine, their leisure time, and their personal sleep.
Never has the birth of a baby changed everything as it did that first Christmas in Bethlehem when Mary gave birth to Jesus. The world was in a state of impatience. It has been since Adam and Eve had sinned in the Garden of Eden and broke that perfect relationship with God that had existed in creation. Generations had come and gone waiting for God to fulfill His promise of His intervention into human history. The birth of Jesus was the beginning of the fulfillment of that promise. God had taken on flesh and come to dwell among men. Jesus would grow into a man; live a sinless life; die on a cross for the sin of everyone else; and be raised from the dead by God the Father completing the fulfillment of His promise of a Savior for all who believe.
Jesus' birth changed everything then and continues to change the lives of people today. When the pressure of the calendar and the clock instill impatience in our lives, we should stop and remember that the greatest need we have (greater than a gift to buy or a plane to catch) already has an available solution, patiently waiting upon our response of faith - Jesus the Christ born as a baby in Bethlehem is ready to change our lives today.
May all of our Christmas celebrations be filled with patience and with the reality of Jesus Christ.
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