Coming Attraction!

Quarterly book reviews!

I will be posting my thoughts regarding various books/authors and making recommendations for your reading lists.

There will be books of various different genres. If you have a favorite book or author, feel free to let me know!

Enough of this... I have to go read a book....

What Christmas Could Not Do - A Tribute to the life of Annaleigh Smith

I love the holiday season. Few occasions present themselves to us in this life that provide such joy, peace, and happiness.

Families eat together...

Remember the birth of our Savior...

Play dominoes and cards...

Watch football...

Tell the same old, tired jokes...

Exchange gifts...

Gossip...

I treasure these special times when we attempt to unplug from the hustle of life, clear our minds, and reflect on the blessings of God.

This past Wednesday, at the bidding of a fifteen month old little angel, we were given a special, unexpected moment in time.

When we were first informed of Annaleigh’s drowning, we immediately felt the panic, hurt, fear, uncertainty, and questions which are natural to situations such as these. Soon, however, we realized that God was truly in control, and began to trust Him.

As I sat in the hospital, waiting on the helicopter to arrive with Annaleigh, I immediately sensed that we were about to have a special moment in life. We were going to witness sweet Annaleigh do what Christmas could not do.

It would be the performance of a lifetime.

For the next 36 hours, she battled. Not for herself, but for those of us gathered near her. We thought we were there for her, but in all reality, she was there for us.

36 hours of prayer...

Friends, family, and colleagues, united around one cause...

No arguing about political candidates...

No debate regarding the upcoming election...

No cards or dominoes, but we did manage to work in the same, old, tired jokes...

36 hours of unity...

People on every continent across the globe... focused...

New friendships created...

Old friendships renewed...

Reconciliations...

New commitments made...

Old commitments rekindled...

Each tremor of seizure in her hands, was Annaleigh stepping to the conductor’s pedestal, orchestrating the performance of her lifetime...

36 hours of healing

36 hours of love revival

36 hours of preferring others

36 hours of devotion and servitude

To the naked eye, her little arms, spread beside her body seemed so weak...

But with each tremor, she was gripping families, friends, acquaintances, and colleagues and pulling them together. With each moment, with each breath, she did what Christmas could not do...

Thank you, Annaleigh, for the giggles...

Thank you, Annaleigh, for the smiles...

Thank you, Annaleigh, the clarity of life...

Thank you, Annaleigh for the performance of your lifetime.

See you soon.

Kim and I will bring bubbles...

Foundations

Dad always said he loved the smell that accompanied dirt being rearranged by the bulldozers that roamed the lots where he built his houses. I can remember him standing there at the edge of a piece of land, where the street ended and the trees began, with a far away look in his eye. This aroma triggered a creative 'saliva' that would send him on a journey to build something. I have never known another individual that had such a drive to build something. He was never happy unless he was creating/building.
While visible progress was desired, it was not the main focus. This seems a little weird to me. While working on these projects with Dad (oh yeah, I was working on them from the time I could manhandle a broom!), I liked the days when the frame was erected, and huge progress was noticeable from the street. I was bored to tears by tractors. I was bored to tears watching Mr. Max, the concrete contractor, dig beams (I think that is what he called them) in the forms for the foundation. I was ready for these guys to get out of the way so that the REAL work could begin, and we could, as they called it, "Make a showing."
Dad 'got it.' He got excited about those initial, boring afternoons. I couldn't care less about tractors, Mr. Max and his shovel, concrete trucks, or exterminators. (I liked nail guns, and similar power operated tools) Why did he enjoy this part so much? I understand now. He spent a lot of money and time during this stage of the project, because he understood the value of a good foundation. He wanted all of the other contractors' work to be the icing on the cake. He wanted it to be level and sturdy.
Dad- "Max, make sure you build those forms 'squarr' (square)."
Max- "Yes sir, Rev. They'll be squarr. Don't they need you at the church right now? Or anywhere other than here, peering over my shoulder?"
Matthew 7
²⁴Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

²⁵And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

²⁶And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

²⁷And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

The only distinction made in Scripture between the wise man and foolish man is the type of foundation that was constructed. Both built houses! No one ever accused the foolish man of failing to build a house! The success of ministries, churches, families, and organizations is not measured by how quickly buildings are constructed, but by how they endure the storm.

The foundation is the stability of the home. How's yours? The foundation is the stability of the heart. How's yours? The foundation is the stability of the emotions. How's yours? Most individuals could trace the turmoil in their lives back to a lack of order and stability.

There is nothing cool about a foundation. No one slams on their brakes while texting and driving, to pull over and stare at an 'awesome' slab of concrete! However, 50 years from now, when great grandchildren gather at this house, huddle around the kitchen table and cheat at checkers, they should thank folks like Dad and Mr. Max for slowing down and construction a proper foundation.

Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

At the beginning of this new year, take some time to verify that God is building with you, and that you are doing life upon the right foundation.

The Lonely Dance Called Leadership

Have you ever felt like you were dancing alone? You knew God had given you a vision for what 'can be', but you are the only one that can see it?

There have been times in my life/ministry when I felt like the guy in the following video.

Some people choose to be ministry managers, while others choose to be ministry leaders. There is a huge difference.

I challenge someone who is feeling like you are the only one who can hear the beat to keep dancing....

Keep dancing until others can't resist joining you....

If God has given you a vision for your future, your church, your ministry, your family, believe it, and dance like nobody's watching...

You are making a difference..

Don't Get Cocky

Recently I became aware of the incredible hand of God at work again in my life. It was the undeniable favor of my Creator as He began to arrange and rearrange various circumstances and details in order to accomplish His plan for me. I love it when that happens!

Let's be honest... There are days when you do not feel this way. Yes, I am talking to you! You know there are days when you are painfully aware of your human frailties and shortcomings, and feel like God is giving you just enough rope to hang yourself. You might not hasten to admit this, but we all feel alone at some time or another.

But this was not one of those times. I had been seeing the miraculous hand of God orchestrating the events of my ministry like a master director of symphonic melodies. There I was floating along on cloud nine, feeling invincible, to say the least.

My preaching seemed to be flowing without effort. My kids were behaving. My wife seemed to swoon when I entered the room. I was happily enjoying life in the sweet spot.

Then I woke up this morning, and it seemed like I somehow had developed a hate for humanity sometime during the night. What? Where did that come from? No one had offended me, hurt my feelings, stolen from me, etc. I just seemed to be harboring a bitter dislike for humans in general.

As I drove away from the house this morning, I felt God speaking to me, "Don't get cocky, Hotshot."

I was reminded of the story in 2 Chronicles 31 where Hezekiah destroyed all of the idols and other methods of worshipping false gods of that day. He organized the priesthood again, and seemed to be doing all things right. Much spiritual progress was made in chapter 31.

However, chapter 32 begins like this, "After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself."

What is the significance of this?

It is a simple reminder to each of us. Don't get cocky!! Many times, we fight our most difficult battles immediately after our biggest wins. There is never a time to relax your mind, spirit, emotions, or body. Just when you think you have finally made the progress you needed to make, you find yourself besieged by an opponent who desires to destroy you.

1 Peter 5:8-11: (The Message)

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

or...

Don't Get Cocky. You still need Him.

I Can't Win Like This

I have always wondered why early American armies fought the way they did. I have never understood the concept of marching in a tightly formed line directly into the opposing line of the enemy, just hoping that you had them outnumbered. While I do not profess to be an expert on military strategy, I do know that, in most cases, the act of standing in the middle of a prairie, with bullets whistling by one's head, while fumbling with gunpowder, flint, and a musket does not seem to be the wisest way to fight a war. But it worked. There is no questioning that fact.

As the Frontier stretched westward, Union forces began encountering a new type of opposition. They were no longer fighting opposing armies who utilized the same strategies they did. Subsequently, it did not take long for them to realize that they were fighting a new war the old way, and the outcome was not looking promising.

All throughout the fighting careers of these intelligent, experienced commanders, they had learned to accomplish great victories while utilizing these methods. However, I can imagine the first time they were ambushed by their enemy, as warriors sprang from hidden areas, trees in various camouflaging patterns of war paint, they realized, "I can't win like this!" Never before had an enemy fought them in this manner. This Guerilla Warfare was not familiar to them.

Remember this: New frontiers and revised strategies go hand in hand.

When the commander of the brigade began dodging arrows, tomahawks and spears thrown at him from an enemy hidden by the roadside, I am sure the first though on his mind was, "I must get off this horse and change uniforms." It would be foolish of this experienced leader to wake up and put on his dress uniform and storm the battlefield.

In the frontier of propagating the Gospel, the cause is still the same. There has not been, nor can there be a change in the reason we fight. There is a frontier ahead of this generation that remains unclaimed for the cause of Christ. I am not suggesting a change in our cause, but we must realize that it might be time for a change of uniform. The methods that defeated the British armies and won freedom for the Thirteen Early American Colonies were effective in Massachusetts, but would fail miserably in Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada.

While I am aware of the criticism this line of thinking will generate, I also realize that I am not winning this new war by doing the same old things. We have all heard the famous Albert Einstein quote, "The definition of insanity id doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." While this quote has been overused, it has not lost its truth.

Why do you think our troops in the middle east are not wearing basic "army green" uniforms? Because they will be easily spotted and endangered by their old uniform. Notice, a desert camo pattern DID NOT EXIST prior to the 1980's, but a new enemy dictated a change in uniforms. In fact, the desert camo pattern was updated again in 1999 to afford our troop the best advantage available.

I am not suggesting any changes to the flag. Just pointing out that we could use a few modifications to the uniforms and methods.

Good leaders can admit when they are losing a battle because of improper methods.

Are you facing new frontiers? Is there a new war ahead of you as you stand in the sunrise of 2010? Are you afraid to saddle up and go back out there into the fight because you know your strategy is not correct for this fight? Take some time this week and analyze your methods. You just might come to the realization, "I can't win like this."

Finding Your Way

John 9
6When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.



There is something to be said about finding one's way...

He was just a blind man...

He had no vision of the road ahead...

Never had...

Not once had he been able to look down the road and detect danger approaching...

Driving instructors tell us to look as far as we can down the road...

To anticipate change...

For it takes vision to look ahead and anticipate danger...

However, this young man had no way to forecast the upcoming dangers which lay ahead...

Yet Jesus spat upon the ground, made clay, rubbed it into the man's eyes, and told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam...

So the only way he had to get to the miracle was to go HIS WAY...

His way was not the easiest...

His way was most likely not the shortest distance between two points...

It was a wandering way...

A stumbling way...

A way which hesitated at times...

A way of uncertainty...

A way of failure...

A way of mistakes...

A way of desperation...

A way of hunger...

Not the best way...

But it was his way...

The only way he could make it was his way...

There are some who will criticize you for your methods...

Criticize your decisions...

Criticize your choices...

See, your way might not be their way, and that makes them uncomfortable...

But they are not blind and they don't know your way...

Their feet do not fit your shoes...

And they cannot decipher your way...

Do not be discouraged or distracted...

For true vision awaits just beyond your way..

If you are following the instruction of the Master, follow it to the best of your ability...

Follow the only way you know...



Of course there are Biblical absolutes which we must follow...

The command was to "go wash in the pool of Siloam"...

But no further instruction was given...

Make sure your way leads you to and through the unchanging, absolute instructions of the Word of God...

But find your way to the promised vision...

I promise it is worth the trip...