OK, Kelly showed me this article written by Norris Burkes (thechaplain.net) in our local paper...
...you know sometimes I will quote something from someone else and comment on it, or I may paraphrase some story and make it my own... but this piece is, for me, absolutely dead-on-point, I decided to place it here in its full and original state.... it is entitled "When we face pain, we find a detour"... enjoy:
When I was a 22-year-old Seminary student, I was just cocky enough to believe the world would go to hell if I didn't do my part to detour them to heaven. So, when a local church invited me to preach a revival, I accepted. In case you're wondering, a revival is a series of church services held every night for a week -- guilt in its most concentrated form.
On my very last sermon, just as the drama was rising, one of the parishioners loudly announced a woman passed out. I quickly stuttered my intent to conclude the service. "No, no." I was chided by the woman's pew mate, who was a nurse. "Keep preachin.' "
Reluctantly, I continued. Suddenly, the nurse announced the woman was having a seizure and we should call 911. "OK, ladies and gentleman," I said, walking away from the pulpit, "we must dismiss." Protests rose from the deacons urging me to keep preaching. Assurances were made that this woman did "this thing" on a regular basis. Shaking the incredulity from my face, I jump-started my last tear-jerking illustration and introduced the most critical part of my sermon -- the invitation. It is called the invitation because the preacher publicly invites the repenting parishioner to pray at the altar.
As is the practice, I motioned the music director to begin our invitational hymn and announced my willingness to abridge the invitation. The deacons responded to my suggestion with a damn-the-torpedo approach and firmly instructed the music leader to sing all six verses. Finally, somewhere in the midst of those verses, common sense barged through the door in the form of paramedics.
With walkie-talkies blaring, they pushed the gurney up the center aisle and stopped short of the communion table, the one engraved, "This do in remembrance of me."
Now, I'm not making this next part up. I signaled the director to stop, but he was taking directions from the deacon. Four more verses were ordered. On the last verse, patient and paramedics made their escape.
When the service ended, I popped a breath mint and shook the hands of those exiting. In the exit line, a deacon stopped to assure me the woman has fainted multiple times on multiple Sundays. He then pointed toward a spot where the woman had once lain while parishioners had stepped over her to get to Sunday brunch. "Just a normal Sunday," he reported.
Upon hearing that, it was all I could do to hold my breath mint and not spray him with Certs spit. Normal is a funny word. We use it describe what has become customary. But customary isn't always right.
This congregation had settled into a new normal, which involved building detours around their wounded. But church people aren't the only ones capable of doing this. We all do it. These days, our normal life involves people losing their jobs, houses and loved ones in war. And we've become good at building detours around those painful thoughts.
We go to the mall, we fill up our cars with overpriced gas, and we detour the pain. Like these church people, we can make one of two responses. We can use our own pain as an excuse for detouring around the pain of others. Or, we can become involved in the hurts of others and thereby lessen the load of every one of us.
The first option will seem the safest one, but we just end up isolated and alone. The second way will seem fraught with risk, but then again, faith always is risky. I think that's why they call it faith.
Wow. just... wow.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
who is Sharon?
My youngest daughter Cassie loves to sing! as a matter of fact, all my girls love to sing...
When we are in worship assembly and the words to all the songs are displayed on the big screen on the front wall, Cassie follows along, singing every word.
A couple weeks ago she looked up at my wife and whispered, through cupped hands, "Who is Sharon?" As her confused momma looked around, trying to find Sharon, Cassie said 'no, Mom, in the song!' (evidently we had just sung a line from an old hymn referring to Jesus as the 'Rose of Sharon', and Cassie was just curious...)
which got Kelly and me to talking... about relevance and sentiment.
We are made to worship God. It is instinctive. It is natural.
And I am convinced that my personal worship (which I don't do nearly enough) is strictly between me and God. Since that is the case, I believe (when it's just me and Him) as long as I am worshipping Him in spirit and in truth, there are no rules. none. If I want to scream or sing or moan or pray or hum or (dare I say it) strum my guitar of play my piano, it is strictly vertical, and God accepts my expression of worship. period.
However, when we do it in a group, this worship takes on a horizontal aspect as well. This secondary aspect to worshipping is dealt with in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16:
and
When we are in worship assembly and the words to all the songs are displayed on the big screen on the front wall, Cassie follows along, singing every word.
A couple weeks ago she looked up at my wife and whispered, through cupped hands, "Who is Sharon?" As her confused momma looked around, trying to find Sharon, Cassie said 'no, Mom, in the song!' (evidently we had just sung a line from an old hymn referring to Jesus as the 'Rose of Sharon', and Cassie was just curious...)
which got Kelly and me to talking... about relevance and sentiment.
We are made to worship God. It is instinctive. It is natural.
And I am convinced that my personal worship (which I don't do nearly enough) is strictly between me and God. Since that is the case, I believe (when it's just me and Him) as long as I am worshipping Him in spirit and in truth, there are no rules. none. If I want to scream or sing or moan or pray or hum or (dare I say it) strum my guitar of play my piano, it is strictly vertical, and God accepts my expression of worship. period.
However, when we do it in a group, this worship takes on a horizontal aspect as well. This secondary aspect to worshipping is dealt with in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16:
"Speak to one another with psalms,
hymns and spiritual songs.
Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord"
and
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
as you teach and admonish one another
with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms,
hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude
in your hearts to God."
I don't often talk about these verses because they have been jerked and pulled and twisted so far out of context for my entire life... we have historically taken these two passages and created an entire 'worship doctrine', including (but not limited to) using them to proof out our a cappella singing as the only acceptable way to worship. I don't believe these passages are intended to give us a blueprint for our corporate worship... (more on that in a later entry)
But there is an application to be made... one that may simply boil down to 'relevance vs. sentiment' ...think about that for a minute.
Why do we sing the way we do? Why do we sing the songs we sing?
Since the 'horizontal' aspect of worship seems so important to the Inspirer of all scripture, we should take care that our group worship is all it needs to be.
What is the best way to edify one another? How can we best 'teach' or 'admonish' or 'speak to one another' as we sing from our hearts?
for just a moment, let's forget what we've always been told about these verses... let's put away (for half a second) our almost Pavlovian 'that means NO INSTRUMENTS' response to the hearing of Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:19...
and let's just let God's Word (which, by the way is still alive and sharper that any two-edged sword) speak to us....
so, could these scriptures apply to the relevance of our horizontal worship experience?
For instance, if we sing songs which use words like 'sharon' and 'ebon pinion' and 'ebeneezer' and 'beulah land' and 'brooded o'er the vale', are those songs relevant?
When we sing songs which were written using 17th century Elizabethan english, can that possibly carry relevant meaning today? When we use 'baroque' sorts of melodies from half a millennia ago, are those arrangements relevant?
(I love some of these songs, by the way... "O Sacred Head" is one of the most beautiful hymns ever... but, let's be honest, a lot of the words used in these old, cherished hymns have not been culturally 'relevant' since long before the Civil War, and some of the composers - including Johann Sebastian Bach, whose 'Passion according to Matthew' provides the musical bed for 'O Sacred Head' - have been dead for over 400 years!)
so.... if these old songs are not particularly relevant in today's culture, why do we continue to sing them in our 'corporate' worship?
Because I like them! Because our family gatherings are always filled with the sounds of the old Stamps-Baxter 4-part songs... or because it evokes fond memories of family members who have gone Home... or because it 'sounds' so reverant and 'high church'...
But, in light of Colossians 3 and Ephesians 5, are those reasons compelling enough to keep singing songs which nobody understands?
It's at least worth considering... because, for our worship to be in spirit and truth, it has got to have relevance to those we 'speak' to... and it has to be real to those we hope to teach and admonish... if not, we may as well be singing in a foreign language...
So, simply put, may our 'group worship' always favor relevance over sentiment.
God Bless!
But there is an application to be made... one that may simply boil down to 'relevance vs. sentiment' ...think about that for a minute.
Why do we sing the way we do? Why do we sing the songs we sing?
Since the 'horizontal' aspect of worship seems so important to the Inspirer of all scripture, we should take care that our group worship is all it needs to be.
What is the best way to edify one another? How can we best 'teach' or 'admonish' or 'speak to one another' as we sing from our hearts?
for just a moment, let's forget what we've always been told about these verses... let's put away (for half a second) our almost Pavlovian 'that means NO INSTRUMENTS' response to the hearing of Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:19...
and let's just let God's Word (which, by the way is still alive and sharper that any two-edged sword) speak to us....
so, could these scriptures apply to the relevance of our horizontal worship experience?
For instance, if we sing songs which use words like 'sharon' and 'ebon pinion' and 'ebeneezer' and 'beulah land' and 'brooded o'er the vale', are those songs relevant?
When we sing songs which were written using 17th century Elizabethan english, can that possibly carry relevant meaning today? When we use 'baroque' sorts of melodies from half a millennia ago, are those arrangements relevant?
(I love some of these songs, by the way... "O Sacred Head" is one of the most beautiful hymns ever... but, let's be honest, a lot of the words used in these old, cherished hymns have not been culturally 'relevant' since long before the Civil War, and some of the composers - including Johann Sebastian Bach, whose 'Passion according to Matthew' provides the musical bed for 'O Sacred Head' - have been dead for over 400 years!)
so.... if these old songs are not particularly relevant in today's culture, why do we continue to sing them in our 'corporate' worship?
Because I like them! Because our family gatherings are always filled with the sounds of the old Stamps-Baxter 4-part songs... or because it evokes fond memories of family members who have gone Home... or because it 'sounds' so reverant and 'high church'...
But, in light of Colossians 3 and Ephesians 5, are those reasons compelling enough to keep singing songs which nobody understands?
It's at least worth considering... because, for our worship to be in spirit and truth, it has got to have relevance to those we 'speak' to... and it has to be real to those we hope to teach and admonish... if not, we may as well be singing in a foreign language...
So, simply put, may our 'group worship' always favor relevance over sentiment.
God Bless!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
100% Natural Evangelism
Well, our life groups are winding up their 5th season next month.... and, from all I've heard, it's been a very good year!
Each fall, we form small groups at Riverside... we call them 'Life Groups', and try to loosely imitate the small group model which Buddy Bell developed at the Landmark Church in Montgomery, Alabama.
The purpose of the life group is to create an environment in which closer relationships can be nurtured... with each other and with our living God... we study with each other, eat with each other, pray with each other... and generally grow closer as friends and siblings.
We try very hard to have a focus each 'season' (our small groups begin in August and wrap up in May, taking the summer 'off'), and this year that focus has been primarily outward... we began the year studying - and applying - 'Outflow', which very simply calls for us to live like a fountain... each group developed its own 'outflow' focus, endeavoring to live Jesus out in our community... the intent was for each group to use its collective God-given gifts to reach outside of our comfort zone and train ourselves to have a constant and intentional outward focus. The obvious benefit was that each group member would, as a natural result, learn to act with that outward intent on a personal level....
(of course, as each season 'ends', the focus for that year will fade as the new season - and focus - begins.... but with the beginning of each new season, it is our prayer is that we never forget what we learned.... but instead view each season's lessons as building blocks along our spiritual journey... continually adding to our arsenal of gifts which we use to show Jesus to our friends.)
well, from all accounts, the Outflow season was an unqualified success! I have heard literally dozens of stories of how this group or that person 'outflowed'...
In the middle of the season, we were given an unbelievable opportunity to step up in a very big way. The February 6 Gassville tornado devastated our little town, and the church (collectively AND individually) did what the church is called to do:
It served
It helped
It shone
God worked His will through His people.
Last week we introduced a four-week video series which will serve to 'finish up' our 07-08 life group season; it is produced by my friend Terry Rush from Tulsa, and it is wonderful!
100% Natural Evangelism gives very Biblical, practical advice and simple examples of how we can live Jesus.
Thank you, Terry, for this awesome tool!
Thank you, God, for Riverside and the wonderful people you are using to accomplish Your will.
...and thank you, God, for all the people you put in our lives that make us who we are through You.
Each fall, we form small groups at Riverside... we call them 'Life Groups', and try to loosely imitate the small group model which Buddy Bell developed at the Landmark Church in Montgomery, Alabama.
The purpose of the life group is to create an environment in which closer relationships can be nurtured... with each other and with our living God... we study with each other, eat with each other, pray with each other... and generally grow closer as friends and siblings.
We try very hard to have a focus each 'season' (our small groups begin in August and wrap up in May, taking the summer 'off'), and this year that focus has been primarily outward... we began the year studying - and applying - 'Outflow', which very simply calls for us to live like a fountain... each group developed its own 'outflow' focus, endeavoring to live Jesus out in our community... the intent was for each group to use its collective God-given gifts to reach outside of our comfort zone and train ourselves to have a constant and intentional outward focus. The obvious benefit was that each group member would, as a natural result, learn to act with that outward intent on a personal level....
(of course, as each season 'ends', the focus for that year will fade as the new season - and focus - begins.... but with the beginning of each new season, it is our prayer is that we never forget what we learned.... but instead view each season's lessons as building blocks along our spiritual journey... continually adding to our arsenal of gifts which we use to show Jesus to our friends.)
well, from all accounts, the Outflow season was an unqualified success! I have heard literally dozens of stories of how this group or that person 'outflowed'...
In the middle of the season, we were given an unbelievable opportunity to step up in a very big way. The February 6 Gassville tornado devastated our little town, and the church (collectively AND individually) did what the church is called to do:
It served
It helped
It shone
God worked His will through His people.
Last week we introduced a four-week video series which will serve to 'finish up' our 07-08 life group season; it is produced by my friend Terry Rush from Tulsa, and it is wonderful!
100% Natural Evangelism gives very Biblical, practical advice and simple examples of how we can live Jesus.
Thank you, Terry, for this awesome tool!
Thank you, God, for Riverside and the wonderful people you are using to accomplish Your will.
...and thank you, God, for all the people you put in our lives that make us who we are through You.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
23rd Psalm
I am so grateful I have a God who loves me so much He gives me everything I need... don't believe it? Here's a little different look at David's most famous Psalm...
(this is not original with me, but a friend sent it to me, and I believe it is worth passing along...)
The Lord is my Shepherd - That's Relationship!
I shall not want - That's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures - That's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters - That's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul - That's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness - That's Guidance!
For His name sake - That's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - That's Testing!
I will fear no evil - That's Protection!
For Thou art with me - That's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me - That's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies - That's Hope!
Thou anointest my head with oil - That's Consecration!
My cup runneth over - That's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - That's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord - That's Security!
Forever - That's Eternity!
Face it, the Lord is crazy about us! and He gives us just what we need.
(this is not original with me, but a friend sent it to me, and I believe it is worth passing along...)
The Lord is my Shepherd - That's Relationship!
I shall not want - That's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures - That's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters - That's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul - That's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness - That's Guidance!
For His name sake - That's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - That's Testing!
I will fear no evil - That's Protection!
For Thou art with me - That's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me - That's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies - That's Hope!
Thou anointest my head with oil - That's Consecration!
My cup runneth over - That's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - That's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord - That's Security!
Forever - That's Eternity!
Face it, the Lord is crazy about us! and He gives us just what we need.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
stale bread and stagnant water
I asked a buddy of mine why bread gets stale.
I asked the same friend how water becomes stagnant. (well, he IS a scientist, so I thought I'd get a 2 for 1 deal)...
so, here's the skinny:
Bread goes stale over time due to two main things...Sitting around not being consumed (used), bread has increasing exposure to air. Air dries out the moisture that makes bread supple and also exposes the bread to contaminants such as mold spores and bacteria which of course will begin the early degradation in quality as these feast upon the exposed bread. Second, over time the sugars that are in bread begin to break down and turn to starch, thus the savor of the "Sweet fresh bread" becomes a tasteless mass of starch and fiber, mostly useless to the person seeking to enjoy a tasty meal. Thus, it is important to use bread before inactivity renders it useless.
Water becomes stagnant when it ceases to move. Movement carries away contaminants and microorganisms that cause water to become stagnant. The inflow of fresh water cools the water and flushes clean the impurities. Standing water, warms much quicker becoming a breeding ground for the production of algaes and bacteria, which eventually will rob the water of oxygen and producing wastes that contaminate the water. Flowing water that is healthful and full of life- sustaining oxygen quickly becomes a cesspool of impurities and nastiness when it ceases to flow.
Bread and water are necessary to our physical sustenance... but there is a spiritual application here as well...
I have been feeling a little stagnant and stale lately... and that's the reason I asked my friend to answer my questions about bread and water. And, no surprise, God gives us some really insightful answers directly from His creation!
So for me, when I'm feeling stale, maybe it's because I need to be 'used' and not just sit around and expose myself to all these 'contaminants'...
and when I'm stagnant, perhaps it's because I've become a reservoir and not a river... maybe I need to 'move' (and allow His Spirit to move in and through me) so I can be purified and refreshed by the 'life-sustaining oxygen' which I so badly need....
There are literally hundreds of applications we can take from sweet bread and healthy water.
I challenge you to prayerfully consider at least one today... right now. and, if you have a moment, please share yours with me...
God Bless!
I asked the same friend how water becomes stagnant. (well, he IS a scientist, so I thought I'd get a 2 for 1 deal)...
so, here's the skinny:
Bread goes stale over time due to two main things...Sitting around not being consumed (used), bread has increasing exposure to air. Air dries out the moisture that makes bread supple and also exposes the bread to contaminants such as mold spores and bacteria which of course will begin the early degradation in quality as these feast upon the exposed bread. Second, over time the sugars that are in bread begin to break down and turn to starch, thus the savor of the "Sweet fresh bread" becomes a tasteless mass of starch and fiber, mostly useless to the person seeking to enjoy a tasty meal. Thus, it is important to use bread before inactivity renders it useless.
Water becomes stagnant when it ceases to move. Movement carries away contaminants and microorganisms that cause water to become stagnant. The inflow of fresh water cools the water and flushes clean the impurities. Standing water, warms much quicker becoming a breeding ground for the production of algaes and bacteria, which eventually will rob the water of oxygen and producing wastes that contaminate the water. Flowing water that is healthful and full of life- sustaining oxygen quickly becomes a cesspool of impurities and nastiness when it ceases to flow.
Bread and water are necessary to our physical sustenance... but there is a spiritual application here as well...
I have been feeling a little stagnant and stale lately... and that's the reason I asked my friend to answer my questions about bread and water. And, no surprise, God gives us some really insightful answers directly from His creation!
So for me, when I'm feeling stale, maybe it's because I need to be 'used' and not just sit around and expose myself to all these 'contaminants'...
and when I'm stagnant, perhaps it's because I've become a reservoir and not a river... maybe I need to 'move' (and allow His Spirit to move in and through me) so I can be purified and refreshed by the 'life-sustaining oxygen' which I so badly need....
There are literally hundreds of applications we can take from sweet bread and healthy water.
I challenge you to prayerfully consider at least one today... right now. and, if you have a moment, please share yours with me...
God Bless!
Monday, April 21, 2008
there's no place like home
so it was a whirlwind trip from Fayetteville to Tulsa to Portland to L.A. to Phoenix to Monterey to San Jose back to Little Rock and Mtn Home...
and I just want to say: there's no place like home (picture me closing my eyes and clicking my heels together - not!).
The west coast is the quintessential definition of the old saw: 'it's a great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.'
You cannot see the things I saw and harbor any doubt about the existence of God. From the beautiful vistas from the Pacific Coast Highway between L.A. and San Francisco to the unfathomable beauty of the desert southwest to the grandeur of the Grand Canyon (as seen from 36,000 feet...) to view these, then deny that there is intelligent design is simply not being honest.
But by far the most beautiful sight I saw during the whole trip was my beautiful wife's smile upon my return.
Home.
and I just want to say: there's no place like home (picture me closing my eyes and clicking my heels together - not!).
The west coast is the quintessential definition of the old saw: 'it's a great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.'
You cannot see the things I saw and harbor any doubt about the existence of God. From the beautiful vistas from the Pacific Coast Highway between L.A. and San Francisco to the unfathomable beauty of the desert southwest to the grandeur of the Grand Canyon (as seen from 36,000 feet...) to view these, then deny that there is intelligent design is simply not being honest.
But by far the most beautiful sight I saw during the whole trip was my beautiful wife's smile upon my return.
Home.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
my aunt Jo
I had a wonderful childhood… simply Norman-Rockwell-happy… I will always be grateful to momma and daddy for making it that way…
A big part of that happiness resulted from the time we spent with family around the Christmas holiday. Specifically the Christmases at Grandma Martin’s house… for a week every year that old three story house at the corner of Worcester and Cherry in West Plains, Missouri absolutely came alive with Marty and Gary and Jo and Ken and Jackie and Dad and H.D. and Grandma and Opal and Della, of course, all their kiddos… about 25 of us in all.
Yeah, that is a particularly fond set of memories; even now as I think about those unforgettable days and nights, I can smell Grandma Lucille’s perfume and feel that old floor creak as I walked across it! And I can see H.D. and his toothless grin as he kicks his head back in a belly laugh because of something Uncle Jack said about the hand of pitch cards he was just dealt…
I hear a lot of laughing… yeah, we laughed… a LOT! And we played a lot of cards, and pitch was the game of choice. Lots of great food, and lots of gifts under the tree….
But a huge reason those memories are so fond for me is my aunt Joanne… ‘aunt Jo’ was always ready to laugh and smile and hug and love. In a very real sense, I learned how to laugh and have fun watching my aunt Jo… an absolutely unashamed and uninhibited soul!
one of my most indelible memories is of Aunt Jo and Aunt Martie singing 'cotton fields' in perfect familial harmony as we all joined in and sang until the song deteriorated into uncontrolled laughter!
I have a smile on my face right now as I remember them singing that song...
Many years have passed since those days…. And it’s been a long time since that house was as happy as it was then. H.D is gone and Grandma Lucille went Home two years ago. Uncle Jack left us WAY too early at age 38 years old, just as his life was getting fully underway... Opal died a few years ago, and so did Della... and my momma has been Home since 1996.
...and Uncle Ken (aunt Jo’s soulmate and husband of 45 years) died last year, leaving my precious aunt broken.
I haven’t seen Jo in a half a decade at least, and it makes me sad.
So as I was rushing back to the Portland airport to catch a flight on Monday night, I plugged her address into my GPS and followed its voice command to the door of her house a few blocks from the airport to pay her a very unexpected visit. I did not plan to make this pitstop… I expected to have a couple hours at the airport before my flight to respond to emails and make calls and do, you know, really important stuff…
But if I live to be 110 years old, I will never forget the look on her face as she opened her door to find her nephew ‘Timmy’ standing on her door step… she looked at me like I was an apparition…
Then she began to sob… and cried “TIMMY! What are you doing here?”
“I’m looking for my aunt Jo!” I howled and laughed, then we embraced and cried for several minutes… I thought she would hurt me, she hugged me so hard! It was one of the best feelings ever….
It was a short visit, but it was good…. No, it was great!
And I hope she is smiling today a little more than she was a few days ago… I know I am…
I pray that she is finding peace and happiness… she deserves it, for all the happiness she has brought to so many others.
Please hug someone you love today.
Blessings!
A big part of that happiness resulted from the time we spent with family around the Christmas holiday. Specifically the Christmases at Grandma Martin’s house… for a week every year that old three story house at the corner of Worcester and Cherry in West Plains, Missouri absolutely came alive with Marty and Gary and Jo and Ken and Jackie and Dad and H.D. and Grandma and Opal and Della, of course, all their kiddos… about 25 of us in all.
Yeah, that is a particularly fond set of memories; even now as I think about those unforgettable days and nights, I can smell Grandma Lucille’s perfume and feel that old floor creak as I walked across it! And I can see H.D. and his toothless grin as he kicks his head back in a belly laugh because of something Uncle Jack said about the hand of pitch cards he was just dealt…
I hear a lot of laughing… yeah, we laughed… a LOT! And we played a lot of cards, and pitch was the game of choice. Lots of great food, and lots of gifts under the tree….
But a huge reason those memories are so fond for me is my aunt Joanne… ‘aunt Jo’ was always ready to laugh and smile and hug and love. In a very real sense, I learned how to laugh and have fun watching my aunt Jo… an absolutely unashamed and uninhibited soul!
one of my most indelible memories is of Aunt Jo and Aunt Martie singing 'cotton fields' in perfect familial harmony as we all joined in and sang until the song deteriorated into uncontrolled laughter!
When I was a little bitty baby
my momma would rock me in that cradle
in those old cotton fields back home...
Way down in Louisiana
just about a mile from Texarkana
in those old cotton fields back home...
Well when those cotton fields get rotten
you can't pick very much cotton
in those old cotton fields back home
I have a smile on my face right now as I remember them singing that song...
Many years have passed since those days…. And it’s been a long time since that house was as happy as it was then. H.D is gone and Grandma Lucille went Home two years ago. Uncle Jack left us WAY too early at age 38 years old, just as his life was getting fully underway... Opal died a few years ago, and so did Della... and my momma has been Home since 1996.
...and Uncle Ken (aunt Jo’s soulmate and husband of 45 years) died last year, leaving my precious aunt broken.
I haven’t seen Jo in a half a decade at least, and it makes me sad.
So as I was rushing back to the Portland airport to catch a flight on Monday night, I plugged her address into my GPS and followed its voice command to the door of her house a few blocks from the airport to pay her a very unexpected visit. I did not plan to make this pitstop… I expected to have a couple hours at the airport before my flight to respond to emails and make calls and do, you know, really important stuff…
But if I live to be 110 years old, I will never forget the look on her face as she opened her door to find her nephew ‘Timmy’ standing on her door step… she looked at me like I was an apparition…
Then she began to sob… and cried “TIMMY! What are you doing here?”
“I’m looking for my aunt Jo!” I howled and laughed, then we embraced and cried for several minutes… I thought she would hurt me, she hugged me so hard! It was one of the best feelings ever….
It was a short visit, but it was good…. No, it was great!
And I hope she is smiling today a little more than she was a few days ago… I know I am…
I pray that she is finding peace and happiness… she deserves it, for all the happiness she has brought to so many others.
Please hug someone you love today.
Blessings!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
If it’s Wednesday, it must be Phoenix
Wow, what a week! I left home Friday after lunch, sang Friday night in Fayetteville, Arkansas and Saturday night in Bristow, Oklahoma, then worshipped with New Beginnings Church on Sunday… then I flew out of Tulsa Sunday afternoon to Portland, Oregon for an appointment the next morning followed by a meeting with a client that afternoon…
I flew out of Portland Monday night (after stopping to see my Aunt Joanne first) for Ontario, California, where I met up with my friend and brother and colleague Dan… and we found the hotel and fell into bed to rest up for our Tuesday meetings…
Tuesday we drove to Hacienda LaPuente, California to visit with our good friend and client there at the district; they helped us solve a couple issues in our online solution… then we flew out of Ontario last night and landed in Phoenix, Arizona for our users conference today…
Whew!
My watch reads two hours earlier than my wife’s, and I am ready for those timepieces to agree again!
As I write this, I am cruising at about 550 knots, 36,000 feet above some very arid-looking terrain on the way to San Jose (isn’t that a Dionne Warwick song?), where Dan and I will get a hotel and rest in preparation for our meeting tomorrow in Monterey, California…
God willing, after tomorrow’s presentation I will sleep in San Jose, then rise early Friday morning and catch a flight back to God’s country (aka Mountain Home, Arkansas)…
I miss my family and my home, and I cannot wait to get back there… ‘cause that’s where I belong – home.
Which reminds me… I have enjoyed my trip… I have been made richer by the places I have been (and especially by the people I have met) this week…. But I would never confuse these places with my ‘home’…
So why do I (we) have such a problem confusing this temporary place (earth) and our temporary shell (our body) with HOME?
We are travelers in a foreign land, just like I have been a traveler in a foreign land this week… and I (we) should always try to remember that…
And look forward to the day when we go…
I flew out of Portland Monday night (after stopping to see my Aunt Joanne first) for Ontario, California, where I met up with my friend and brother and colleague Dan… and we found the hotel and fell into bed to rest up for our Tuesday meetings…
Tuesday we drove to Hacienda LaPuente, California to visit with our good friend and client there at the district; they helped us solve a couple issues in our online solution… then we flew out of Ontario last night and landed in Phoenix, Arizona for our users conference today…
Whew!
My watch reads two hours earlier than my wife’s, and I am ready for those timepieces to agree again!
As I write this, I am cruising at about 550 knots, 36,000 feet above some very arid-looking terrain on the way to San Jose (isn’t that a Dionne Warwick song?), where Dan and I will get a hotel and rest in preparation for our meeting tomorrow in Monterey, California…
God willing, after tomorrow’s presentation I will sleep in San Jose, then rise early Friday morning and catch a flight back to God’s country (aka Mountain Home, Arkansas)…
I miss my family and my home, and I cannot wait to get back there… ‘cause that’s where I belong – home.
Which reminds me… I have enjoyed my trip… I have been made richer by the places I have been (and especially by the people I have met) this week…. But I would never confuse these places with my ‘home’…
So why do I (we) have such a problem confusing this temporary place (earth) and our temporary shell (our body) with HOME?
We are travelers in a foreign land, just like I have been a traveler in a foreign land this week… and I (we) should always try to remember that…
And look forward to the day when we go…
HOME.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
First Day at New Beginnings
Wow! what a weekend! First Day was blessed with the opportunity to sing at St John Lutheran Church on Friday night at a fund raiser for the pre school... many of our friends from the Mt Comfort Church joined us for the evening, and we made many new friends who shared a night of music and fellowship...
Then on Saturday night we sang at the New Beginnings Church in Bristow, Oklahoma... what a wonderful group of believers! Roger Thompson preaches and works with with this beautiful fellowship, and we felt very very blessed to share our ministry with this body...
Roger and Pam were gracious hosts and showed us around Okemah (Pam's florist and gift shop is spectacular!)... They have recently renovated the upstairs into a spacious loft and have been living there for the past month... and it is really cool!!!
Sunday morning we were so blessed to worship with New Beginnings... again - Awesome!
Bruce and I flew out of Tulsa on business - in two different directions! Bruce to Virginia Beach and me to Portland...
still flying high from the weekend!
God Bless!
Then on Saturday night we sang at the New Beginnings Church in Bristow, Oklahoma... what a wonderful group of believers! Roger Thompson preaches and works with with this beautiful fellowship, and we felt very very blessed to share our ministry with this body...
Roger and Pam were gracious hosts and showed us around Okemah (Pam's florist and gift shop is spectacular!)... They have recently renovated the upstairs into a spacious loft and have been living there for the past month... and it is really cool!!!
Sunday morning we were so blessed to worship with New Beginnings... again - Awesome!
Bruce and I flew out of Tulsa on business - in two different directions! Bruce to Virginia Beach and me to Portland...
still flying high from the weekend!
God Bless!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
God on American Idol
Wow! That was my first response as I watched American Idol's opening number Thursday night... OK, 'Wow" and then chill bumps on my arms and then tears rolling down my face.
As the 8 remaining contestants took the stage Thursday night (with 39 million viewers watching worldwide), they stood and exhorted the vast audience to 'shout to the Lord'. Wikipedia recorded the event this way:
The top 8 American Idol Season 7 contestants closed the "Idol Gives Back" show performing Shout to the Lord. They changed the word "Jesus" to "Shepherd". The following evening, on April 10, 2008, the American Idol Top 8 again performed Shout to the Lord. This time, the word "Jesus" was placed back into the song. A recorded version of Shout to the Lord, sang by the Top 8, was also posted for sale on iTunes. It, too, had the word "Jesus" in it.
I wonder if Darlene Zschech could have ever imagined so many people being touched by one of her songs back in the days when she was singing jingles for McDonald's and KFC... or if this lovely Christian woman (a worship leader at her church in Sydney, Australia) could ever have dreamed that, in one night, dozens of millions of unbelievers (and believers) would have been encouraged to 'shout to the Lord'...
If it does nothing else, let this serve as a reminder that God is in control... and that he will use whatever means or methods he chooses to lift up His Son and draw people to Him!
Wow! I am so small, and such an unimaginative dreamer...
I need to pray and dream and believe.... BIGGER!
how 'bout you?
As the 8 remaining contestants took the stage Thursday night (with 39 million viewers watching worldwide), they stood and exhorted the vast audience to 'shout to the Lord'. Wikipedia recorded the event this way:
The top 8 American Idol Season 7 contestants closed the "Idol Gives Back" show performing Shout to the Lord. They changed the word "Jesus" to "Shepherd". The following evening, on April 10, 2008, the American Idol Top 8 again performed Shout to the Lord. This time, the word "Jesus" was placed back into the song. A recorded version of Shout to the Lord, sang by the Top 8, was also posted for sale on iTunes. It, too, had the word "Jesus" in it.
I wonder if Darlene Zschech could have ever imagined so many people being touched by one of her songs back in the days when she was singing jingles for McDonald's and KFC... or if this lovely Christian woman (a worship leader at her church in Sydney, Australia) could ever have dreamed that, in one night, dozens of millions of unbelievers (and believers) would have been encouraged to 'shout to the Lord'...
"My Jesus, My Savior Lord there is none like You
All of my days, I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love
My Comfort, My Shelter Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am Never cease to worship You
Shout to the Lord, all the earth Let us sing.
Power and majesty, praise to the King.
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands
Forever I'll love you, forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in YOU!"
If it does nothing else, let this serve as a reminder that God is in control... and that he will use whatever means or methods he chooses to lift up His Son and draw people to Him!
Wow! I am so small, and such an unimaginative dreamer...
I need to pray and dream and believe.... BIGGER!
how 'bout you?
First Day in Fayetteville
Just a short note to say we had a terrific time singing at the Lutheran Pre School benefit last night!
Our hosts were wonderful and the crowd was warm and the response was enthusiastic and they exceeded their money-making goal and, most importantly, God was glorified!
We are heading to Bristow, Oklahoma today for a concert tonight at New Beginnings Church of Christ. This is the church where Roger Thompson preaches, and we have been looking forward to our time with these folks for months!
Please pray that many hearts are touched by this ministry God has given us... and pray for our families as we are away from them during this 'mini-tour'!
God Bless!
Our hosts were wonderful and the crowd was warm and the response was enthusiastic and they exceeded their money-making goal and, most importantly, God was glorified!
We are heading to Bristow, Oklahoma today for a concert tonight at New Beginnings Church of Christ. This is the church where Roger Thompson preaches, and we have been looking forward to our time with these folks for months!
Please pray that many hearts are touched by this ministry God has given us... and pray for our families as we are away from them during this 'mini-tour'!
God Bless!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
worship service
If you have been 'reared' in a church-going family, there are a lot of terms you have probably incorporated into your language along the way.... (or at least heard a lot)
'til the next appointed time'
'guide, guard and direct us'
'separate and apart....' (that one may be indigenous to the church of Christ)
and, my all-time favorite:
'worship service'
I recently heard about a group which may have, for the first time in modern churchianity, actually met the meaning of that ill-conceived and misapplied phrase...
I noted with great interest a story in the local paper about a church youth group who worshipped together on Sunday morning... but it was quite different than what you are probably thinking about; and, frankly, quite different from what they were used to... Instead of the attending the conventional worship assembly last Sunday, they went out and committed random acts of kindness.
'til the next appointed time'
'guide, guard and direct us'
'separate and apart....' (that one may be indigenous to the church of Christ)
and, my all-time favorite:
'worship service'
I recently heard about a group which may have, for the first time in modern churchianity, actually met the meaning of that ill-conceived and misapplied phrase...
I noted with great interest a story in the local paper about a church youth group who worshipped together on Sunday morning... but it was quite different than what you are probably thinking about; and, frankly, quite different from what they were used to... Instead of the attending the conventional worship assembly last Sunday, they went out and committed random acts of kindness.
They found people who needed help (lawn raking, gutter cleaning, painting, etc) and helped them! I wanted to find fault with them... but when I looked to scripture to define what 'worship' is, I came to the conclusion that there was no higher form of it than helping others!
As my friend Jimmy Blagg likes to say, “I can’t say enough about that”
God Bless!
As my friend Jimmy Blagg likes to say, “I can’t say enough about that”
God Bless!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
a church's operating hours...
Just wondering about the value of advertising....
After noticing a church's advertisement in our local paper, I got to thinking... what would I put in a newspaper ad if I had a chance to place an 1/8th page spot?
There were actually a couple which grabbed my attention; one was placed by a local church which has had the same size (and design) advertisement for the past 20 years... it has a picture of their building and the 'service times' and names of staff members, as well as the topics for the upcoming sermons... It seemed to be patterned after other business ads (like a tanning salon) detailing its 'hours of operation'...
Another church ad (which purports to 'earnestly contend for the faith') was essentially a 300 word essay (the 4th in a series) dealing with the evils of churches supporting orphanages...
Still another ad told of an upcoming gospel meeting with a somewhat famous guest speaker...
And so I got to wondering: what is the purpose of these church ads?
to inform?
to instruct?
to correct?
to incite?
Furthermore, what do you think our modern-day church advertisements say about the churches placing them?
Extrapolating an answer from His life and His ministry could be helpful in this exercise...
Maybe He would have wanted people to be drawn to him (John 12:32), so He might have tried to convey the depth of His love for those reading His ad...
or, perhaps His 'ad' would have been a simple announcement about the upcoming 'healing' service (although those seemed to happen without preamble or planning)...
His 1/8 page ad could have been a simple call for all believers to help those in need, or to 'love the everlasting God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, then love your neighbor as yourself'...
Whatever He might have said in His weekly newspaper ad, I tend to doubt He would have wasted the space and investment on 'service times' or pictures of buildings or theological arguments (He typically saved those for the misguided, self-appointed religious leaders of the day)...
Let me encourage us to 'advertise' the church in such a way (whether we actually buy an newspaper ad or just live it out loud) that people don't get the wrong impression:
that 'church' is 'open for business' from 9 am to noon and 6 to 7 on Sunday, and 7 to 8 on Wednesday nights... If I understand church (ecclesia - 'the called out') correctly, it (WE) are 'open' 24/7/365!
So what's your 'ad' look like?
Just wondering.....
After noticing a church's advertisement in our local paper, I got to thinking... what would I put in a newspaper ad if I had a chance to place an 1/8th page spot?
There were actually a couple which grabbed my attention; one was placed by a local church which has had the same size (and design) advertisement for the past 20 years... it has a picture of their building and the 'service times' and names of staff members, as well as the topics for the upcoming sermons... It seemed to be patterned after other business ads (like a tanning salon) detailing its 'hours of operation'...
Another church ad (which purports to 'earnestly contend for the faith') was essentially a 300 word essay (the 4th in a series) dealing with the evils of churches supporting orphanages...
Still another ad told of an upcoming gospel meeting with a somewhat famous guest speaker...
And so I got to wondering: what is the purpose of these church ads?
to inform?
to instruct?
to correct?
to incite?
Furthermore, what do you think our modern-day church advertisements say about the churches placing them?
...which led me back to my original question: what would I 'say' if I had the chance to place an ad? Better yet, what would Jesus have placed in an 'ad' for His church back in His day?
First of all, I am convinced that Jesus would be using the latest technology to spread the Good News... if email had been available during His era, for instance, I truly think he would have used it to the full!Extrapolating an answer from His life and His ministry could be helpful in this exercise...
Maybe He would have wanted people to be drawn to him (John 12:32), so He might have tried to convey the depth of His love for those reading His ad...
or, perhaps His 'ad' would have been a simple announcement about the upcoming 'healing' service (although those seemed to happen without preamble or planning)...
His 1/8 page ad could have been a simple call for all believers to help those in need, or to 'love the everlasting God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, then love your neighbor as yourself'...
Whatever He might have said in His weekly newspaper ad, I tend to doubt He would have wasted the space and investment on 'service times' or pictures of buildings or theological arguments (He typically saved those for the misguided, self-appointed religious leaders of the day)...
Let me encourage us to 'advertise' the church in such a way (whether we actually buy an newspaper ad or just live it out loud) that people don't get the wrong impression:
that 'church' is 'open for business' from 9 am to noon and 6 to 7 on Sunday, and 7 to 8 on Wednesday nights... If I understand church (ecclesia - 'the called out') correctly, it (WE) are 'open' 24/7/365!
So what's your 'ad' look like?
Just wondering.....
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