Social But Not!

Someone recently forwarded an email to me with the title, "Einstein Was Right!," accompanied by a series of pictures with comments and a supposed quote by Albert Einstein.  Snopes.com can't confirm the Einstein quote.  Einstein aside, the pictures form an interesting picture of our technology driven culture.  I've been harping for years about the growing "social disconnect" caused by our obsession with technology.  We are raising a generation of people who are extremely techno-social, but are unable, or incapable of relating to one another in person.  Play this out to jobs, looking a loan officer, or traffic judge in the eye, or making a verbal presentation in the workplace.  Ironically, many times the people in these social settings are texting someone in their group, or in the same room! 

I was at a funeral visitation a few months back and noticed that nearly every person in the room under 30 was on their phone texting, posting, or talking to someone, while those 40 and over were having face to face conversations.   It's going to be interesting to watch this unfold and see how it shapes our social, professional and personal relationships.  

  

Having Coffee.....

Getting together at a Restaurant....

 Enjoying a day at the Art Museum....

Pleasantly chatting at a cafe....

Enjoying a day at the beach.....

Supporting the team at a game....

 Having fun with girlfriend......

Enjoying each other in a convertible.....

When Worry Goes Grateful

Being a parent is a wonderful but fearful thing.  Your level of anxiety increases because you no longer worry about just the two of you.  You worry about your child.  Even healthy, easy-going people of strong faith worry about their kids:

• You worry they will be healthy
• You worry they will be safe
• You worry they will be good students
• You worry they will be accepted
• You worry they won't be bullied
• You worry they don't make your mistakes
• You worry they will choose good friends
• You worry about their faith development
• You worry they will pay attention and study
• You worry they will realize their dreams
• You worry they will know peace
• You worry they will graduate
• You worry they will find meaningful work
• You worry they will find love
• You worry when they struggle in relationships
• You worry when they become parents

And then you have grandchildren and you get to do it all over again!

Imagine what God must have felt when He gave His one and only Son?  He knew he would be born in humble and less than desirable circumstances.  He knew His earthly parents would have to flee the country in fear of their lives.  He knew the perfect child would be a challenge for imperfect earthly parents.  He knew the religious leaders wouldn't like Him.  He knew many would find His Son a threat to their way of life.  He knew Satan couldn't wait to come after Him.  He knew His child would be ridiculed, wrongly accused, arrested, beaten, bruised and murdered in the most humiliating of ways.  You talk about parental worries and anxiety!

Yet, despite all of those realities God did not waiver.  He did not worry.  He sent His Son.  He sent Him because He worried about you and me.  Okay if you don't like the idea that God worried about you and me use the word, "concern".   He worried we would continue to drift even farther away from Him without a heavenly intervention of epic proportions.  He knew we couldn't continue to do the same rituals over and over while expecting an eternal outcome.  He knew we would worship the rituals and make them our God.  His concern for the destiny of human souls trumped His parental worries.  He knew it was the only way to save us.  Now that's irony-----that the only way to secure our future and satisfy His parental concern for  the human race was to relinquish His parental authority and give up His one and only Son!  (John 3:16-17)

If I'm honest I have to admit that I often worry I'm not honoring God's great gift.  I struggle with the fact that my actions and attitudes often betray His grace gift, just like the Israelites of old.  Long after His birth, Jesus would remind us that worry can't add a single moment to life.  He urged us to take note of how God takes care of lesser aspects of creation.  And He reminded us how much more important we are to Him!  Our response should simply be gratitude.  By living with thanksgiving to God we honor His Advent gift of Jesus.  And living with gratitude is not easy because it means we are more focused on others and God than ourselves.  Authentic gratitude is found in the serving of others in Jesus name.   So don't worry be grateful!

Keep the Faith and Live for Freedom

There's a reason why our government does not negotiate with terrorists.  Time and time again it has been proven that by opening negotiations you tell them that their behavior has gotten your attention and you have no leverage.  You validate and legitimize their cause.  You become as the old mountain man used to say,  "Beholden" to them.  You can't reason with an illogical, or unreasonable person.  Evil has existed through the ages and it will continue to rear its ugly head.  It is not going away.  We can't tell ourselves, or our children that it will never happen again!  It will.  It may take a different form, but rest assured it will happen again.  Don't believe me?  Let me illustrate with a personal example.

In mid-September of 1989,  I was working at WHAS radio in Louisville, while in seminary.  Our studios and newsroom were housed along with our sister TV station WHAS, next to the Standard Gravure, a massive printing house where the Louisville Courier Journal Magazine was printed.  An employee,  47-year old, Joseph Wesbecker was on disability for mental illness.  At 8:30 a.m., armed with several assault weapons he walked into the plant and killed eight people and wounded 12 others before killing himself.  These were co-workers.

His arsenal included an: AK47 type of rifle; Sig Sauer 9mm pistol; 2 MAC-11's (a machine-gun type pistol); .38 revolver; a bayonet; and several hundred rounds of ammunition.  Wesbacker calmly walked through the plant shooting employees and vendors like he was shooting targets at a gun range.  He shot about 40 rounds, stopping to reload a magazine during the attack.  I will never forget that day as long as I live.  It made a huge impact and impression on the first responders, and local news media on the scene.

Life changed at our radio & television station after Wesbecker's act of terror next door.  Armed security guards, locked doors, video cameras and ID badges became standard.  Our previously relaxed atmosphere was justifiably replaced with one of uneasiness, heightened awareness and elevated caution.  Personal vehicles were no longer allowed to park inside the fenced parking lot near the building, which meant those of us working weekends had to give up that privilege and park on the street.

Most of us were numb to the unfolding story after years of covering crimes and other tragic stories.   Experts say it's a natural coping mechanism that medical professionals, police, fire, soldiers, reporters, and others exposed to constant negativity develop in order to survive.   Something kicks in and you emotionally divorce yourself from the event as much as you can in order to do your job.  It's hard to explain since you don't intentionally try to separate yourself.  You just have to do it so you can do your job.  And our job was to tell the story of an unstable man who calmly and deliberately killed innocent people before taking his own life.

I worked that tragic day.  It was supposed to be a producer gig that ended after morning rush hour.  However, since the crime occurred toward the end of my shift it turned into an all day stretch as we needed every available body on hand to splice and dub tape, write copy, produce, do interviews and report.  I remember driving home that evening and feeling absolutely numb.  There was nothing left inside me.  I pulled into our garage off the back alley and cried like a baby inside the car.  When I walked into the house I couldn't wait to hug our 6-year old son and my wife.  I desperately wanted to be with them and to experience some sense of normalcy.  They were trying to adjust to a new city, church, job, school, house and life as family members of a "second-career" student.  So we had yet to settle into a routine, which made it more difficult.

Fortunately, the last thing I wanted to do was watch or listen to more news coverage that had gone national before noon.  Remember this was before the Internet and social media so news was confined to the network stations, radio and newspapers.  I had lived that horrific story over and over with every newscast so I was drowning in a cesspool of insanity.  Mental health professionals have since discovered that a steady diet of constant media coverage of natural disasters and tragedies is not healthy.  They also know how important it is to return to a "normal" routine.  Familiarity breeds comfort.  And comfort is a good thing in such times.

We instinctively focused on our family and faith without fixating on the story and being glued to the television.  It enabled us to channel our empathy and mercy for the victims in healthy ways while providing emotional stability for our young family.  Our city and world were shaken, but deep within we knew that no matter how bad it was we could not surrender to the tyranny of fear by second-guessing, panicking, or isolating ourselves behind closed doors.  We chose to live.  To profess hope and exercise our faith in God and humanity.  The Standard Gravure shooting took place ten years before Columbine!  And there have been 31 school shootings since then.  I would've never dreamed it would happen again, and again, and again, and again.  

There's an old saying, "If you want to grow grass you've got to plant seeds."  We, who by the grace of God are left unscathed, or behind these incredulous events must choose to live.  It is the best way to honor those who have fallen.  By choosing to live and invest ourselves in the moment while helping those who are struggling we refuse to let evil rule the day and rob us of our hopes and dreams.  I am not saying we don't mourn, grieve and struggle.  And I am not saying this is easy.  In fact it's more difficult and courageous to dig deep, invest, plant and look to the future.  It can't be done without faith.  Joseph, Job and Jeremiah all leaned into faith despite the depraved indifference of humanity and hand of evil.  We must choose faith, forge ahead and hold those tight who can't.  We must not leave them, but remind them that they are not alone.  When we exercise faith, we declare hope and freedom is not destroyed.  Paul said, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom."

What Can Be Done Immediately?

Here we go let's dive into some controversial waters.  My goal isn't to appease or endear myself to any side of the gun debate.  Let me begin by saying that I am a supporter of the 2nd Amendment and responsible gun ownership.  I have no problem with background checks and registering every single gun purchase.  And I do not believe semi-automatic weapons should be easy to purchase or acquire, especially for those who are mentally disturbed.  Every gun owner should welcome responsible gun ownership just as every responsible driver must register their automobile, show proof of insurance and possess a valid driver's license to drive.

As a Christian minister I couldn't disagree more with former pastor, presidential candidate and now Fox TV commentator, Mike Huckabee regarding the cause of the violent acts in Newtown, CT.  Huckabee said the violence has occurred because we have "taken God out" of our schools.  No, Mr. Huckabee this occurred because of the depravity of humanity.  It's as old as the fall of Eden and an elementary, foundational biblical principle!  It precedes America and public school education.  Your comments were at best ill-timed and at the worst political panhandling to your base.  Such political pandering does nothing to help seek a solution to this growing national problem.  I apologize for getting off track.  Back to my point.

There is going to have to be a national conversation with educators, mental health experts, law enforcement, responsible gun owner organizations, first responders, clergy, medical professionals, parents, representatives of surviving family of mass shooting victims, lawmakers and the judiciary.  It's more than a "gun problem".  Each of the last four mass shootings (and every one before) involved someone who was mentally unstable.  Anti-gun folks you need to be willing to consider that out of the thousands of responsible gun owners these tragic events were perpetrated by sick, irresponsible people. Gun owners you need to be willing to admit that we've got to have this discussion and cannot blindly hide behind the Second Amendment!  There are 20 small caskets in Connecticut as to why we need to have this conversation, not counting the previous ones from Aurora, Columbine, Paducah, Virginia Tech and beyond.  I don't have a long-term answer, but I do have a suggestion for an immediate response until this conversation takes place.

Mr. President, issue an executive order with Homeland Security funding that will provide armed police officers at every public elementary school campus.  Since most middle schools and high schools have school resource officers the focus could be on elementary school campuses.  However, those middle and high school campuses that do not have a resource officer should be included.  This is more important than raising taxes, lowering the deficit, or avoiding the fiscal cliff.  This will provide an immediate response with professionals who are already trained for potentially dangerous situations with armed combatants.  It will also allow the space and time needed for a rational conversation to take place with those previously mentioned.  I would have no problem personally paying 1% more in federal taxes per year to support such a provision for our schools.  I have a hunch a strong majority would be willing to do the same for the sake of our children.

Meanwhile, heartache, grief, pain and tears continue in Newtown.  And has anyone thought that with every mass shooting those victims in communities of previous tragedies have to relive it all over?  May God be with all of you, we hold you in our hearts, thoughts and prayers!

We Mourn and Weep With Newtown, CT

Steady Joe

All of us have emotional ups and downs, but some people live totally by the moment.  Their security, peace, safety, self-worth and welfare are always dependent upon how they feel at the moment.  Did you catch that phrase? How they feel at the moment. (Picture of Joseph and Mary from the movie: The Nativity)

It is dangerous to let emotions dictate our response to daily living.  Why? It’s a no-win.  Emotions are always up and down.  Feelings change, but truths don’t.  When we live by emotion we deny the deep truths that have been deposited deep within us by parents, coaches, teachers, family, pastors, friends, authors, and others for years and years.  The emotional moment is an opportunity to mine those deep truths. 

For example----you’ve had a good month at work, but your boss makes a single comment that sting’s a little at the annual Christmas party.  Are you going to let that one comment derail your day, week and month?  Or, are you going to mine the deep truth that you know God loves you know matter someone else says?  Or, what about the truth that you’re incredibly blessed with the wealth of friends and family who love us despite our faults?  Really? You are going to let one comment, one decision (okay even three), a single event, or conversation derail the depth of truth deposited deep within your heart, soul and mind?

Emotions are healthy until they rule your life.  There’s nothing wrong with crying, laughing, getting upset, or even being sad.  However, when every day and every moment is ruled by emotion something is seriously wrong with our wiring.

The birth narrative of Jesus is typically focused on Mary.  However, Joseph was steady Eddie.  Imagine the emotional roller coaster he traveled when he discovered his virgin fiancé’ was pregnant.  Yes, he had a moment when he thought about secretly getting a divorce to spare Mary public humiliation.  Chalk that up to the initial response of an emotional reaction.  It’s normal. 

Remember, Matthew says he was a “righteous/good” man. I can’t imagine the public humiliation he faced in a strict Jewish society.  However, the next verse (1:20) says that after he had “considered this” an angel appeared to him.  So before the angel even appeared to him, Joseph mined deep truths.  He knew deep within that God would not let him fall.  Had Joseph reacted like some of us he would’ve cut and run.  Forget Mary, forget any promises, forget what he knew deep within, think about yourself and run.  But he didn’t.  Joseph stayed the course and did what God asked him to do.  And years later when his heaven-sent Son would come forward publicly, he would be called the “son of a carpenter”.  Jesus was identified by his relationship with his earthly father.  What if Joe had bolted?  What if he let emotions rule the day?

One more thought.  Letting emotion run our lives is exhausting.  There is no consistency.  Nothing is steady.  You are either way up, or way down.  No medium.  Imagine what it’s like to live with a spouse, parent, or child who lives like this?  It must be hell on earth.  Anger, sulking, stoicism, crying, hysterics and emotional blackmail run the show.  Those who live in a family like this often describe the experience as “walking on glass,” because they never know how the emotive person is going to behave.  At the end of the day it’s really a selfish response to life.  It doesn’t think of others.  It doesn’t give preferential treatment to others.  It is all about me: my needs, my feelings, my wants, and my desires.  I have watched it destroy more marriages, families and careers than I care to remember.

I have learned this tough lesson the hard way.  I see the world through emotions and feelings.  I have extremely high empathy and mercy gifts.  I filter life through art, poetry, song, and narrative instead of numbers, rules and facts.  There’s nothing wrong with how we are wired.  However, when we go to either extreme (emotion/logic) we deny ourselves any chance of living a balanced life.  And people we love get hurt in the process.  I’m really trying to think, reflect and take stock of the big picture when something hits my emotional hot button.  It has improved with age, but what I’d give to get those years back when my emotions hurt others and myself.  Don’t deny your emotions, but if we are still “feeling” the same way the next day we need to do some deep mining, reflect and pray.  If we are still driven by emotion upon reflection it’s time to see a physician and good pastoral/emotional care and counseling. 

The Christmas Spirit

A Greensboro NC family recently took a tough situation and used it to share the Christmas spirit.  The family had reserved a local ballroom and meals for 90 people for their son's wedding.  However, the wedding was called off leaving the family with a giant room and a meal for 90 people.  The father of the would be groom called the Salvation Army Center of Hope and offered to donate the room and meal to the homeless for a Christmas party.  The center provides emergency and transitional housing for families in need.

The Center of Hope normally holds Christmas parties in its cafeteria, but last weekend 84 residents and six staffers sat down to a first class meal in a swanky ballroom thanks to the anonymous donor who took a disappointing situation and used it for good.  However that's not the end of the story.  When the father met the center's director to tour the ballroom he was prompted to do even more.  His family took donation barrels to their church and collected toiletries, supplies and toys for the center's residents!

This family may have lost $5,000 on the reservations, but they were the recipients of something even greater because of their generosity.  Grace filled that ballroom and the joy of Christmas became a reality.  And somewhere in Greensboro a family smiled knowing they were God's instruments of grace!

How can God use us this season to help others?

Religion or Relationship?

In his book, The Divine Mentor, author Wayne Cordeiro offers some interesting facts involving the use of our time:

By the time you graduate from high school, statistics say you will have watched more than sixteen thousand hours of television.  You will have spent fourteen thousand hours in an educational institution.  And if you go to church for just two hours a week you will have spent under two thousand hours getting spiritual help. 

Cordeiro's point is about the foundation of decision making.  He basically says we can't expect a mere 2,000 hours of corporate worship to take precedent over 16,000 hours of television.  There has to be more to supplement our faith than a mere 2,000 hours of worship in 18 years.  The answer according to Pastor Cordeiro is that we need daily time alone with God.  He is spot on, but I would like to go a little different direction using the same information.

After 23+ years of pastoral ministry and a life spent in the church I would say it is safe to bet that 80% of those that attend Sunday worship services are content to let that one hour a week (2 hours if you count attendance in a small group/Sunday School) account for their total faith development, or relationship with Christ.  Okay so let's say I'm way off (if anything I'm low!), what if it's 50%?  So 50% of the people come with totally different expectations/motivations.  Let's call the Sunday-only folks Group A.   And those who spend intentional time with God in addition to church services, small groups and ministry Group B.

Group A needs to be filled, picked up, entertained, and informed.  Worship always "has" to be relevant and interesting for them.  But Group B comes with a totally different set of expectations/motivation.  For them, worship is the culmination of a week already spent with God.  There hasn't been a 6-day lag in their time with God.  Imagine not speaking to your spouse for 6 days?  Okay, so maybe that's not a good metaphor for some, ha.  You get the point.

When Group B comes to church they have already spent the rest of the week with God so  they are worshipping before they even arrive for corporate worship.  The corporate experience comes at the peak of their daily relationship with Christ.  Worship is always relevant and interesting for them because even if the worship leaders are off, or have a bad day, they are able to worship because their spiritual development and worship expectations aren't dependent upon anyone else.  For example, let's say a musician or vocalist is off on a particular song.  Their worship won't be derailed, less than desirable, or flat because of one person.  They don't "need" the praise band, or worship slides to be perfect in order to have meaningful worship because the foundation of their worship isn't rooted in an event, experience or feeling.  It is built on a relationship forged through quiet time of devotions, prayer and praise that takes place the other six days of the week.   God's word is going to speak to them regardless of human leadership because they are already listening to Him.  The Holy Spirit doesn't have to provide a highly emotional experience for them because He has already been at work in their life during the week.  I didn't say their worship is without emotion!

Now you are a pastor, worship leader, elder or deacon.  Which group would you rather lead in worship, teach and serve?  It's a no-brainer.  What coach wants to lead players that never practice? Group A unknowingly puts enormous pressure on worship leaders to perform, or provide a manufactured weekly high.  It takes the emphasis off God and puts the responsibility upon flawed and fallible humans.  This group nourishes/feeds the all too dangerous and ever tempting monster of pride that can make human leaders think they are bigger than they are.  You are never "good" enough for this group.  You can't be.  And it's because they are looking to humans to provide for them what can only be provided by God through Christ in an intimate relationship that involves Mondays as well as Sundays.

The Group A make up in every church changes a lot because they tend to hop from one church to another.  When your spiritual maturity/nourishment relies solely on a weekly worship service, or experience at some point you are going to be disappointed and you will have to find another, better and bigger show, ur uh worship service to meet "your" needs.  However, worship isn't about meeting our needs.  It's about God's glory.  The focus is on God not my needs.  Think Psalm 37:4! Focus on God and He will change your perspective.  This hard for the members of Group A who grew up in Baptist, Catholic, or denominational churches that intentionally/unintentionally place a lot of emphasis on spiritual activity, programs and attendance at church functions, or events instead of their relationship with Christ.  Even though it's not the agenda what happens is that people often make the assumption that being a "good" Baptist, Methodist, or Catholic, etc., (in their attendance and activity)  is what makes you a devoted Christ-follower.  A devoted Christ-follower is what makes a good Baptist, Methodist, etc., not the other way around.

Group B challenges those of us in ministry and helps us grow more than we help them.  Their spiritual depth challenges you, to study more and prepare deeper.  You dig deeper because they do.  They inspire, encourage and nurture leaders without even knowing it.  They come with sleeves rolled up. You know they aren't going to be impressed with "smoke and mirrors,"  or anything but the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Their worship experience and fulfillment isn't dependent upon the leaders, it's dependent upon their offering of worship to God.  There's another important role Group B plays in the life and witness of the local church.

When you have a strong Group B you are able to reach people in Group C.  Group C are the people who are not Christ-followers.  They can be attenders, seekers, or people who do not attend church.  They are the people we are called to reach.  How will you effectively reach them if your church is filled with more people of Group A than Group B?  If Group A reaches them they will grow up thinking that attendance, ritual and spiritual activity constitutes a biblical relationship with God through Christ.  But it won't.  It may grow churches, but they will have no depth.  We are called to grow souls and we have to pay attention to our personal soul growth before we can ever help someone else with theirs.

Group A is easier to be sure.  Group B is harder and requires a lot more work.  But the rewards are far apart.  We get what we aim for.  Which one are you aiming for?

Caroling Through Advent

When Love Was Born by Mark Schultz

I Was Wrong!

Today I acted with anger and frustration toward someone who was just doing their job and had very little control over the situation.   It was wrong, petty and immature.  I'm a better person than how I behaved today.  No, I didn't cuss, but I was too strong and impatient with a service writer over a simple car repair.  The picture is a self-portrait of how I must have looked today!

My wife picked up a piece of steel in her rear tire during lunch.  Since she has limited time for lunch she took it to the major retailer where we bought the tires and asked for it to be repaired. I was in a study/writing mode when she called and nowhere near the retailer.   I drove across town (about 30 minutes) to give her my car so she could return to work and I would wait on her car.  Before leaving with my car at 1pm she said they told her the repair would be done by 2 o'clock and 2:30 pm at the latest.

I waited and waited and waited. Other customers waited and waited and waited.  I even heard one of the tech's tell a customer who was upset over his wait time that they were down to one guy to do all "these cars".  I reasoned to myself:  This is not a customer problem,  we should've been told this when we checked our cars in for service so we could make other arrangements, leave and return later, or be prepared for a longer wait.

By 2:55 p.m., our car was not finished.  It was already a half hour beyond the time they promised it and no one had even started the work!  Now keep in mind that Sunday's worship was on the spiritual fruit of "gentleness".  Paul's words in Philippians 4, "let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is at hand," was part of the main focal texts for the teaching message.  I totally blew the application of this passage.  I was very frustrated and in my self-importance raised my voice (without yelling) but with the kind of tone and inflection you know will get someone's attention, but stop just short of getting you arrested.  They called the manager and I expressed my concern to him a simple tire patch would take over two hours.  Voila, the car was done by 3:25 p.m., almost 1 1/2 hours beyond the promised time of completion.

I met the service writer in the parking lot as he drove the car from the garage.  "Let your gentleness be evident to all," kept running through my mind.  Surely that doesn't apply to circumstances like this? I reasoned.  BUSTED!  Within seconds the same Spirit that imparted the gift of gentleness to me and every Christ follower convicted me of my attitude and behavior.  Mind you, I was mild compared to some folks I've seen, but I am not responsible for them, only me.  I thought to myself.  Was I gentle?  Nope!  Was it evident?  Nope!

As he climbed out of my car, I extended my hand to his.  As we shook hands, I said, "I apologize for my behavior today and my words.  You have a tough job, you don't do the actual repairs and I am a better person than how I behaved.  I am sorry."  He was shocked and quickly said, "No sir.  You were frustrated and it was a frustrating situation.  You waited a long time, but thank you."  Then we wished each other a good evening.

I'm not proud of my behavior, but self-awareness is an important step to correcting wrongs.  Okay, so I blew Sunday's lesson, but maybe not.  My self-awareness occurred before I left the premises and that is a start.  The next time I will remember and hopefully catch myself before I open my mouth.

We wrap up this Sunday with the spiritual fruit of self-control.  Oh man am I ever glad this didn't happen next week!  Be patient with me Lord, this fellow struggler is still a work in progress!

Serving God by Helping Others

Christ-followers don't get a pass on serving.  We have a calling and mandate from Christ to follow His steps with "skin-on" and minister to others.  He not only taught, but modeled service for us in the Gospels.  In His inaugural sermon in Luke (Luke 4:16ff), Jesus reads from Isaiah and sets the tone for his ministry, mission and purpose.  His would be an earthly life of sacrifice for others that climaxed when He gave His life on the Cross for the likes of you and me.

So how are we doing?  How are we following?  Gut check your life.  Let's look in the mirror.  What will I find when I walk back through the calendar on my Smart Phone?  Do my days reflect time spent serving others?  If we grab our most recent bank statement would we find funds spent trying to honor Christ and help others?  I believe what we do with our time and money is a direct reflection of our priorities in life.  Would those closest to us (co-workers, family, and friends) say we are givers or takers?  Do we demand more attention from people than we are willing to give to others?

I have a hunch that most Western Christ-followers are satisfied to let their church affiliation, or weekly attendance satisfy the call to serve.  Church membership is commendable, but are we really willing to say that attendance and contributing to the offering is the same as actually serving, helping and caring for others?  Isn't their more to it than mere obedience to ritual and practice?  If we aren't careful we can become modern-day Pharisees emphasizing adherence to tradition and ritual while ignoring our responsibility to practically live out the very gospel we profess.  Weekly worship and small group participation are necessary and wonderful.  However, if they are not prompting us to serve, grow closer to God and live out our faith in tangible ways they can become mere Christian social gatherings.

In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul said our daily living (24/7) is supposed to be our spiritual act of worship.  We're to offer our lives in service to Christ every day, not just the days we feel like it.  Henry Blackaby comments on this passage:

Every day, you are to offer your life to Him in your spare time or with your leftover resources.  The way you live your life for God is your offering to Him. 

If your life offering is characterized by church attendance or membership, but you want more from it don't get discouraged.  Let me encourage you to start small.  Don't beat yourself up with guilt!  Start serving by offering a small, but consistent chunk of your time in service to others.  Start by delivering for meals on wheels; give one hour to an adult literacy program; take a shift ringing the Salvation Army bell at Christmas; volunteer one night at a local soup kitchen, or a clothing closet; bake something and deliver it to your neighbors and just ask them how you can pray for them; offer to serve at a local shelter.  The opportunities are endless.  See what your church is doing to help others and ask how you can do more.  I guarantee there are ministry leaders and pastoral staff who are just waiting for someone like yourself to get involved in an area of ministry.  Start small, stay consistent and look out because great things always come from small beginnings.  Like a baby born in a small town called Bethlehem!  

 

Longing for Advent

Orange, reds, and yellows gleam in the trees

Rainy, cold and wet

The blessings of autumn fall to the ground

Barren trees stand to face another winter

Darkness comes quicker

Depression and death seem near

But something is lurking

Lurking in the shadows

The hope and promise of a birth

One like no other

Foretold by men of old

A single star on a dark cold night

Lights the way for you and me.

Fall is fading and winter is nearer

But so is the Messiah and the songs of angels

All heaven will move at the groans and pains

the labor of love, God’s gift to us.

So smile as the trees empty their leaves

amid a chill in the air,

because you know that Advent is not far away.

Come Advent of God and show us the way

Light our world as we wait, watch and pray.

Vote!

A vote is a powerful thing!  Think about it.  Regardless of our socioeconomic standing, gender, race, or religious affiliation we are all equal when it comes to voting.  Your vote and my vote count equally.  It is an incredible amount of power entrusted to the masses.

Tuesday, November 6,  exercise your right to vote.  It does make a difference.  So many sacrifices have been made throughout the years to preserve and protect this profound but simple expression of freedom.  When we vote, we not only express our belief, opinion, or view, but we honor those who sacrificed to insure we can.  Vote!

The UNITED States, May It Be So!

At this point in the history of the United States there are no Democrats, Republicans, Muslims, Jews, Christians, gay/straight couples, rich, or poor, alcoholics, unemployed, widows, hourly/salary, blue collar, or white collar.  We are Americans.  As of this writing 33 of our brothers and sisters are dead in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy's destruction.  Millions are without power, flood waters have swamped mass transit, homes and tunnels, fires have destroyed homes, and businesses and first responders and utility/emergency management workers are swamped.  Wall Street is on hold and making a trade should be the last thing on any one's mind.  The Presidential election is not the most important matter facing us at this very moment.     (Photo: Todd Maisel/New York Daily News)

People are hurting, broken, beaten and simply trying to survive.  Those trained in Disaster Relief are preparing to go to the northeast, en route, or already on the scene.  Mud out, chainsaw, portable laundry-shower facilities and feeding crews will soon be on the scene.  They will render physical aid, but they will also offer emotional support for those devastated by one of the largest storms to ever strike U.S. soil.

For those of us in regions spared by the storm, there but for the grace of God go you and I.  Though most of us cannot go to help, we can offer empathy, mutual concern, and care through our thoughts, prayers, financial support and blood donations as able.  People in New York, New Jersey, and those in the New England states are resilient people.  Yankees (I'm using that word in a positive way) are tough people.  Spend one winter in snow/ice country and you will gain a great appreciation for their tenacity.  They will get through this, but not without our help.

One of the most decent and honest things we can do (especially for Christ-followers) is to reject gossip and untruths attacking people, local, state and federal government leaders, or comments that seek to do political damage, or impede relief efforts.  This is not about ANYONE looking good, or criticizing emergency responses, decisions, disaster plans and utilities.  There will be an appropriate time for disaster evaluation, but not now.  Rumor, gossip and half-truth's do not help anyone.  It's not the time to argue about whether the crane over the luxury skyscraper in NYC was properly secured or not.  Just get the thing secured, or down as soon as possible.  One example of refuting untruths is the quick work done by bloggers and reporters to dispel the "doctored" photograph of the Statue of Liberty in the hurricane that started circulating on the Internet yesterday.   Right now it's about Americans coming to the aid of their fellow Americans and doing what's right! And we will.  Let's shine for the world and show them the best our country has to offer-----a helping hand, concern, care, resilience, compassion, and empathy for our fellow Americans who just happen to live in another part of our great country.

Here are Disaster Relief Links you can check out to donate, or help:

• Salvation Army Disaster Relief
• Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief
• The American Red Cross
• Southern Baptists Disaster Relief

Helping with Disaster

How can we help our brothers and sisters in states and cities hit by Hurricane Sandy?  Here are two reliable and trusted Disaster Relief Organizations.  Give blood as able and give financially.  See their links for donations:

http://www.redcross.org/charitable-donations

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf/vw-text-dynamic-arrays/3C5471700B61E262802573DF0063B7C8

Rest In Sweet Jesus Wendell!

Heaven got a little more crowded this morning.  Wendell Knight went home to be with the Lord after a long battle with cancer.

Wendell and Darlene are like surrogate parents to me.  We grew up in their home, took vacations together and worshipped together during my childhood years.  Wendell and Dar are among my parent's oldest friends.  Both Wendell and Dar hail from my Dad's hometown in West Kentucky.

You wouldn't know Wendell, he wasn't famous, but he was big in God's eyes!  He was a man of great faith who lived what he preached.  He was one of my faith heroes.  I could get up very early, work like a dog and never have the depth of faith and character of Wendell!  His life was authentic and honest.  No one enjoyed a joke or a laugh more than Wendell.  He knew how to hold confidences and you could trust his word.  He had a generous, encouraging, servant's heart and of all the biblical characters he brings to mind, none sticks out more than Barnabas, the encourager.

Wendell coached me in baseball, softball, and basketball.  He taught me how to do a belly-flop in a pool and how to body surf at Myrtle Beach.  When he was near you knew the kids were gonna get ice cream!   Dar and Wendell's home was my home growing up.  And they accepted me with all my PK struggles of growing up in the fish bowl of ministry.  They provided  a "safe place" for my sister and me to be regular kids in a day and age when know one knew how important that was to minister's kids and their overall mental and emotional health.  I will be forever indebted to Wendell and Dar for those "safe" years.

Scripture says, "Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints."  I know God smiled this morning as Wendell passed from this imperfect, blemished world into the arms of sweet Jesus.  Sleep well Wendell.  Well done, good and faithful servant! Now enjoy the place God has prepared for those who are in Christ!