Life on Hold

Life on hold is weird. Seems like we've been living that way on and off the last few years. Once again we are in a holding pattern as we await pathology results of my surgery biopsy last Friday. It's in a real tough location and wrapped in some blood vessels, which is why my surgeon was unable to remove it.

We should hear next week. If this one is inconclusive my doctors at Wake will send the pathology onto the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. I didn't even know such a place existed. Early indications seem to favor some form of cancer drug, or autoimmune suppressant. We continue to leave it in God's hands as I recover from the surgery. Many thanks to God for guiding my medical team and the surgery. Thanks for the many prayers.

We Need a Laugh!

Congress and the White House can't get together on the budget/debt ceiling and I'm having surgery Friday at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital to remove a pelvic mass/tumor. In light of these two unresolved matters I could play worry wart and drive myself crazy, or we can have some fun. I say we all enjoy a laugh with the E-Trade baby! Sometimes you just gotta laugh when things are beyond your control. Matthew 6:25ff!!!!

Gifts from God

About 5 years ago I met a guy who was soliciting landscaping work in my neighborhood. From the moment I read his promo piece I felt God nudging me to contact him. You see, we get a couple of these a week in the mailbox, or on our door. They always end up in the trash, but this one was different. It didn't make sense to contact him because we didn't need any lawn or landscape help at the time. But God had different plans----He usually does!

Fast forward to 2011: That guy was our Associate Pastor, Dan Carroll. My nudge from God led to a meeting over coffee, several conversations and ultimately God calling the Carroll family to serve alongside us at Mosaic. Dan, Kelly and Jake are more than ministry partners and more than good friends. They are family! One of the greatest privileges and benefits of pastoral ministry is the amazing people God puts in our life to serve alongside for a season. Over the years I have been incredibly blessed to serve alongside some of the most creative, gifted, passionate, committed and authentic people in pastoral ministry. My life and faith is better because of them. Dan Carroll is one of those people!

He has made my faith stronger, challenged me to grow as a person and minister, and been a trusted friend who loves me unconditionally. The greatest compliment I can pay to Dan is that he has been the hands and feet of Jesus in my life and countless others while serving at Mosaic. I only hope I have been half as much to him.

In mid-September, Dan, Kelly and Jake will begin a new season of ministry at Renewal Church in Greenville. Dan will be leading their college student ministry. While it's sad to see them leave Mosaic, it's obvious God has been working in this for a long time. We will miss them terribly, but we know this is what God wants and to do anything less than to support them would be to stand in God's way. Dan, Kelly and Jake, you have our love, prayers and support as you pursue God's plan and purpose for your lives. By the way, keep your ears and eyes open for God. Just like that day with Dan, God nudged me to contact him. Pay attention, God's nudge's may not make sense at the moment, but He knows best. I'm glad I listened to Him regarding Dan Carroll! Who, or what is God nudging you to act? On behalf of the Carter's, I offer this traditional Irish blessing for the Carroll's with much love:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Terror or Love?

The Friday afternoon bombing of a downtown government building in Oslo, Norway is a sobering and tragic reminder that terrorism is still a global reality. Terrorism does not respect sovereign countries, religion, people groups, and free governments.

Pictures and video from the city of Oslo bring to mind past acts of cowardice from NYC, Washington D.C., to Madrid and Oklahoma City.

The suspects and convicted in these bombings may represent different groups, or causes (if you can call such depravity a cause), but at the end of the day they are simply cowardly thugs without any honor, respect, reason and decency. No perceived or real persecution justifies such acts of horror and desperation. These perpetrators are savages who have chosen the violent path of the madmen history has regarded as evil. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Oslo and all of Norway!

For Christ-followers we are once again reminded of the Apostle Paul's warning to Timothy about the godlessness of earth's last days:

¹But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. ²For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, ⁴treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. ⁶For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, ⁷always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

In the mid 60's Jackie DeShannon belted out Hal David's lyrics to Burt Bacharach's tune, What the World Needs Now:

What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It's the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
No not just for some but for everyone.

Love builds up, terror destructs. Love empowers, terror tears down.
Love requires patience and the suspension of self-centeredness. Terror is all about self.
Love is universal in appeal. Terror is disgusting in any form.
Love is about trust. Terror is about deceit.
Love is beautiful. Terror is ugly.
Love is lasting. Terror is temporary even in the aftermath of despicable events.
Love respects. Terror has no respect.
To love another requires that we sincerely love ourselves. Terror is the epitome of self-hatred.

I choose love. It's infinitely harder especially among those with whom we disagree. You can't deny that tyranny and terror have made their impact on the world, but at the end of the day love has and always will be a more powerful force.

My 16-year Old Hero

16-year old Adam Hubbs is a new hero of mine. At 13, Adam was diagnosed with a rare, genetic microbacteria infection that caused his body to stop making white blood cells to fight off infections. After chemo and a bone marrow transplant and a stroke, Adam still fights: "You just never give up, no matter how hard it is," he said. "Even on your bad days, you fight through it."

Earlier this month Adam got the surprise of his life, a day with Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow. Take 7 minutes and watch the following ESPN video and be reminded that no matter what you are facing today, someone is facing something much worse with courage and hope like Adam.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:6784756

"Feed My Sheep!"

The U.N has formally declared Somalia to be in a famine largely due to severe drought affecting the Horn of Africa (Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia). Thousands of refugees flee the war torn country every day. Armed conflict has seriously affected food supplies and international relief efforts. By the way these two father's are carrying their dying children to a hospital in hopes of saving their lives.

The UN reports that in southern Somalia, 310,000+ people experiencing severe malnutrition! According to the International Red Cross, 1 in 10 children in parts of Somalia are at risk of starving to death!

In one British article Somalian humanitarian coordinator, Mark Bowden warned: "If we don't act now, famine will spread to all eight regions of southern Somalia within two months, due to poor harvests and infectious disease outbreaks......We still do not have all the resources for food, clean water, shelter and health services to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of Somalis in desperate need."

British reporter Mark Tran reports:

The Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) said the crisis represented the most serious food insecurity situation in the world today, in terms of scale and severity.

"Current humanitarian response is inadequate to meet emergency needs," it said. "Assuming current levels of response, evidence suggests that famine across all regions of the south will occur in the coming one to two months. A massive multisectoral response is critical to prevent additional deaths and total livelihood/social collapse and, most immediately, interventions to improve food access and to address health/nutrition issues are needed."

The UN says nearly half of the population in Somalia is facing a humanitarian crisis and in urgent need of aid. The number of people in crisis has increased by more than 1 million in the last six months. More than 166,000 Somalis have fled the country since the start of the year, with more than 100,000 of those leaving since May.

It just hit me that I complained to my wife last night about the upcoming fasting and surgery prep I will soon face before my robotic surgery. How lame, how sad, how downright selfish! My first prep day of clear liquids will find my belly fuller than most Somalis. "God forgive my inexcusable selfishness in light of the devastation in Africa."

I'll bet most domestic animals in the U.S. have better food and water conditions than Somalia's children. While there are many worthy Christian relief agencies around the world, no one is equipped, resourced and established to save and feed children on a global scale like UNICEF. If you want to help feed/save a starving child and get the resources on site asap just click here UNICEF.

Some sobering words from Jesus to every Christ follower in light of this crisis:

37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:37-40 ESV)

Cracked Pots With Clay Feet

Recent events involving some leading American pastors and ministers (not immoral events by the way!) have reminded me that at the end of the day we ALL have clay feet! And we are simply clay needing to be shaped and molded like Israel by THE Potter:

8 But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. (Isaiah 64:8)

6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. (Jeremiah 18:6)

We do not have all the answers and we are not the ultimate judge of the heart. While Christ followers must be discerning and accountable we must be careful that we don't use discernment and opinion as a license to strategically apply God's grace to some while withholding it from others. At the end of the day in the words of one of my late mentors: "Grace is a liberal thing and all of us want it applied to us liberally."

The older I get and the longer I serve Christ the more I realize how little I know and how incomplete and desperate I am without Christ. I have moved from seeing myself as a "good" soldier of faith with marching orders from God, to realizing how broken and desperate I am on this journey of faith. This really helps me maintain some semblance of humility and prevents me from falling into the all too tempting trap of inflated self-importance. I get sin. I know its allure. I fear pride and arrogance because I know how destructive it can be. It whispers to us and calls us by name hoping we will embrace it and reject God and His word. But I know full well that sin's reward is short-lived, shallow and leaves us wanting. I also know that NO one is immune to sin, no matter how great a saint she may be.

So my cracked friends at the end of the day we may disagree over theology and the non-essentials of faith, or how we believe spiritual leaders must act, but we must agree that God is the ultimate, single voice of truth, authority, judgment, salvation and grace. I don't know about you but that really makes me want to listen more to Him than myself, or any other clay-footed follower. The old hymn proves true:

Have Thine own way, Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will, While I am waiting, yielded and still.
~ Adelaid A. Poll­ard, 1907.

Old Friends

This is my friend Riley. This picture was taken a couple of years ago as she was about to "pie" one of our VBS leaders.

I'm not related to Riley, although she is my spiritual daughter and sister in Christ. I had the privilege of dedicating her when she was a baby and baptizing her last summer. When I baptized her I was a blobbering mess of joyful tears. I've watched this child grow up and been fortunate to play a small role in her faith development and growth. Riley was the only steady preschooler in our children's ministry during Mosaic's early years.

I can't explain it, but I have an incredible bond with this child. I don't have grandchildren and our children are all grown up. Last Sunday was the first time I had seen Riley since they found the new tumor at Wake Forest University Medical Center. It's really hard to explain just how much her hug meant to me. She ran up to me before worship and as we hugged the tears began to flow and I couldn't stop them. I tried but I couldn't stop.

We talked like two old friends who are trying to catch up in a half hour phone call but don't have enough time! As she talked about her summer, the new puppy and swimming pool, I couldn't help but think to myself, "Lord, thank you for this blessing today. You knew I needed a hug from Riley and it was the perfect medicine to follow a tough day of medical prodding, poking and testing. Her smile and hug were like water in the desert to a parched soul. Thank you God for this incredibly precious gift that probably would have gone unnoticed without the reminder that every day from you is ALL gift!"

Outside of your family is there a child, teenager, or senior adult with whom you share inexplicable sheer joy? If not, find one. Ask God to provide and He will. I'm under no illusion, I get far more out of my relationship with these kids (so many now and over the years of pastoral ministry) than they ever receive from me. I'm indebted to their families and God for allowing me to be a small part of their lives and for letting me be this close to heaven's treasures.

Thank you Lord for big gifts in small packages over the years that have brought me great joy. As they grow (and many are beyond teenage years now) remind them that no one loves them like you, not even their parents and family. Keep them from harm. Show them your purpose for their lives and heal their hurts and wounds with grace. May their lives make much of You. Drench their families in grace and the strength of your Word for the sake of your glory and great Name!

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. -Prov. 22:6

I can't imagine the joy grandchildren bring although I'm gaining some idea the older I get!

An Unlikely Pair!

Grateful for the Pressure

Not to be gross, but I never thought I would be grateful for bladder and trans-rectal biopsy procedures! You can add in renal and kidney ultrasounds along with CT scans, CT guided needle biopsies and even cystoscopes! No I'm not a glutton for punishment, or uncomfortable medical procedures, but I am grateful for these diagnostic resources and tools. This Friday I will experience two of the least desirable of these procedures. Having experienced these procedures before I now know what to expect. And that is not necessarily a good thing, lol!

"Pressure" is a word that doctors love to use when they are describing what is otherwise "painful" to the rest of us. If it's not happening to you personally it's called "pressure". Kind of like when they describe the "pressure" of childbirth. Who are they kidding? Even the Bible refers to the "pain" of childbirth, not pressure! The other frequent phrase used by medical professionals to camoflouge pain is "slight discomfort". Discomfort is stubbing your toe, cutting a toenail too short, or water in your ears after swimming. Pain is usually involved when something sharp invades the body for the purpose of cutting out a small sample to put under a microscope.

Seriously, when compared to bone marrow harvesting, joint replacement surgery, neuro/spinal procedures, and repeated courses of chemo, my tests on Friday are uncomfortable as opposed to painful. This isn't my first medical dance so I know what to expect and I know I have a choice. I can choose to worry about the upcoming procedure, or I can choose to be grateful for the technology and advancements in medical science that eliminate words like, "guessing," and "exploratory". A short stroll through any cancer center where senior adults, or children are being treated should wake us up from the self-pity associated with diagnostic tests and procedures. Or visit Walter Reed/Bethesda military hospitals to see some real heroes who are battling serious pain. In comparison my tests really aren't a big deal.

Today, I am grateful for the ingenuity, wisdom, and technology invested in these tests, instruments, and devices as well as the men and women of science who discovered them. They are tools, tests and resources intended for good, not harm. I am grateful for the skill, knowledge and expertise God has given my doctor and those who will assist him. Thank you God for each of these upcoming procedures! May they ultimately be used to bring glory to Your great name!

The T-Mobile Flash Mob Dance