My wife comes home tomorrow from ministering to her mother for the past five days. She feels so privileged to get to sit by her mom's bed for a few days. She cooks, cleans, provides care and just sits and talks to her mother. Most of the time she really gets no real response from her. However, today she said "Mom do you remember how to whistle?"
And guess what? She does. She puckered right up and gave out a cute little whistle. Thank God for the simple things that happen in life.
I really do love my wife and I am glad she will be home tomorrow.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Master's Commission
Today we started receiving new students to Master's 07-08.
What a great joy, what a great privilege to have these young people on our campus and in our ministry.
What a great joy to have leaders like Dan and Maria Atchison and all of their staff to invest into these young people.
Man, I am blessed.
As I said earlier, I am stoked!
What a great joy, what a great privilege to have these young people on our campus and in our ministry.
What a great joy to have leaders like Dan and Maria Atchison and all of their staff to invest into these young people.
Man, I am blessed.
As I said earlier, I am stoked!
Sunday's Coming
Sunday's coming and I am stoked. My second sermon in the Chase The Lion series is about overcoming big odds.
I have been thinking today about how Gideon must have felt when he went to battle against 150,000 with an army that had been cut down from 32,000 to 10,000 to 300. How would a man feel to send 300 out to surround 150,000 and really without any of the weapons that we think are necessary.
I know until your God is a really big God you just can't do it.
As I approach this Sunday,
Dear Jesus help me and all of those to whom I minister. We need a clear picture of how big your are. A clear picture of how awesome you are. I pray that we will see that the battle for transformed lives can be won with weapons we have not thought of before.
Jesus, I want to be your servant, and the servant of your people. Help me to see how that role works in a changing world and a changing church.
See all of my guys this Sunday.
I have been thinking today about how Gideon must have felt when he went to battle against 150,000 with an army that had been cut down from 32,000 to 10,000 to 300. How would a man feel to send 300 out to surround 150,000 and really without any of the weapons that we think are necessary.
I know until your God is a really big God you just can't do it.
As I approach this Sunday,
Dear Jesus help me and all of those to whom I minister. We need a clear picture of how big your are. A clear picture of how awesome you are. I pray that we will see that the battle for transformed lives can be won with weapons we have not thought of before.
Jesus, I want to be your servant, and the servant of your people. Help me to see how that role works in a changing world and a changing church.
See all of my guys this Sunday.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Giddy up, let's go
I have had a long day. Appointments this morning, more in the afternoon, planning sessions, meetings tonight, and Ruth is not at home this week. God bless her, she is helping to be a caregiver for her mom.
I've still had a long day.
So how happy am I to come home late tonight and find that the college football season has started.
Giddy up let's go and ROOOOOOLLLLLLL TIDE ROLL!
I've still had a long day.
So how happy am I to come home late tonight and find that the college football season has started.
Giddy up let's go and ROOOOOOLLLLLLL TIDE ROLL!
Why
Good communication usually needs to answer the questions who, what, when, where, why. But as I have thought about that for the last few days, I have come to realize that for me, I usually make my decisions based on the why more than what, when and where.
I have been asking myself about the reason I do what I do. I believe it is about the why. I am in the business of ministry because I really do want to see lives changed. I want to see people transformed.
Styles of ministry will come and go. Methods of ministry have changed and will change again. But the reason for forging ahead for me is WHY to do it. Transformation.
I have been asking myself about the reason I do what I do. I believe it is about the why. I am in the business of ministry because I really do want to see lives changed. I want to see people transformed.
Styles of ministry will come and go. Methods of ministry have changed and will change again. But the reason for forging ahead for me is WHY to do it. Transformation.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Lion Chasing
This past Sunday I started a series on Chasing Lions, or recognizing opportunities and going after them. My question today is how do you recognize those opportunities? I don't think it is as difficult as we sometimes make it.
The scripture is clear that we are called to be good stewards. That means doing the best you can with what you have. If the opportunity that you have is to be kind to your neighbor, then there is your opportunity. If opportunity for you is taking on a responsibility that you are a little uncomfortable with, then do it with all your mind, all your heart and all your strength.
Wait a minute, that doesn't sound like lions. When David was called upon to defeat Goliath for the future of Israel, he recounted faithfulness in his past with smaller responsibilities.
Hey don't forget that Lions come in all sizes.
The scripture is clear that we are called to be good stewards. That means doing the best you can with what you have. If the opportunity that you have is to be kind to your neighbor, then there is your opportunity. If opportunity for you is taking on a responsibility that you are a little uncomfortable with, then do it with all your mind, all your heart and all your strength.
Wait a minute, that doesn't sound like lions. When David was called upon to defeat Goliath for the future of Israel, he recounted faithfulness in his past with smaller responsibilities.
Hey don't forget that Lions come in all sizes.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Transformational
I was talking to a friend of mine about a project he represents across the continent of Africa. He raises funds to dig drinking wells and build churches together. What a transformational idea. I understand that 25,000 people a day die in Africa from complications arising from the lack of clean drinking water.
He tells me that whole groups of people who were completely closed to hearing about Jesus are now open because someone reached out to meet a felt physical need in their communities. In many cases these same people have persecuted those who would bring the gospel message. He related the story of meeting with community leaders (some of them muslim) and hearing them say, we have persecuted you and not allowed you into our community. Why do you want to dig a well for us? The result being that the door for digging the well and building a church was opened. An oh yeah, the community leaders are providing the property for the well and the church.
I am thinking that those who have been closed to Jesus in other cultures including mine, will probably respond to that kind of love. We simply must recognize the felt need, organize, produce the resources and go to work.
It is not simplistic, but it is simple.
Tomorrow I start a new series in church about Chasing Lions. I cannot remember when I have been so excited about series of teachings. Can't wait!
He tells me that whole groups of people who were completely closed to hearing about Jesus are now open because someone reached out to meet a felt physical need in their communities. In many cases these same people have persecuted those who would bring the gospel message. He related the story of meeting with community leaders (some of them muslim) and hearing them say, we have persecuted you and not allowed you into our community. Why do you want to dig a well for us? The result being that the door for digging the well and building a church was opened. An oh yeah, the community leaders are providing the property for the well and the church.
I am thinking that those who have been closed to Jesus in other cultures including mine, will probably respond to that kind of love. We simply must recognize the felt need, organize, produce the resources and go to work.
It is not simplistic, but it is simple.
Tomorrow I start a new series in church about Chasing Lions. I cannot remember when I have been so excited about series of teachings. Can't wait!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
What was God thinking
I just got off the phone with my son. His name is Steven and he has just moved to Atlanta. He has a new job with a media company selling advertising. I have another son named Taylor. I got to talk to him this morning too. I have a wife and her name is Ruth. She is the light of my life and I love her so much, can't imagine living without her.
Hey, I got to talk to her this morning too.
Well, I have a daughter and a son-in-law, Crystal and Steve (the Steve thing runs in the family) and three grandchildren, Hannah, Colby and Chase. I haven't talked to them today but I just decided I am going to.
Family, what was God thinking? He was thinking something really, really good.
Thank you God for this gift of family you have given to me, give me the wisdom to know just how to appreciate them, amen.
Hey, I got to talk to her this morning too.
Well, I have a daughter and a son-in-law, Crystal and Steve (the Steve thing runs in the family) and three grandchildren, Hannah, Colby and Chase. I haven't talked to them today but I just decided I am going to.
Family, what was God thinking? He was thinking something really, really good.
Thank you God for this gift of family you have given to me, give me the wisdom to know just how to appreciate them, amen.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
I Quit, Well Maybe Not
I was reading an article in which Tommy Barnett was cataloging people who wanted to quit. Jeremiah, Abraham, Peter after Jesus was crucified, all of these wanted to quit. Then there was Thomas, Noah, Moses, John the Baptist, these guys all wanted to quit. The great Winston Churchill whose famous quote is "never, never, never quit" wanted to quit.
I know another guy who has wanted to quit, me. However, after reading this list of famous "I wanted to" quittters, I don't feel so bad. In fact, I am encouraged. It looks like to me, that people who wanted to quit were people who were doing something. In many cases, they were in the process of the "signature" accomplishment of their lives. Noah was building the ark, Winston was defeating the Germans. Peter was on the verge of becoming the emotional leader of the New Testament church.
When I was in my youth program (right after the war for southern independence) we had a "thing" we sometimes did. It was called popcorn testimonies. One person would stand up and say " I thank the Lord for___________" and as they sat down they would point to another person and say your turn, etc. etc. etc. Let me say this morning, I thank the Lord that, by His grace, through his keeping power, because of his abundant love for me, and through the disciplines of the mentors He has brought into my life, I DIDN'T QUIT, I WILL NOT QUIT, I CANNOT QUIT!
I am pointing to you. It's your turn.
Thank you, thank you very much.
Steve
I know another guy who has wanted to quit, me. However, after reading this list of famous "I wanted to" quittters, I don't feel so bad. In fact, I am encouraged. It looks like to me, that people who wanted to quit were people who were doing something. In many cases, they were in the process of the "signature" accomplishment of their lives. Noah was building the ark, Winston was defeating the Germans. Peter was on the verge of becoming the emotional leader of the New Testament church.
When I was in my youth program (right after the war for southern independence) we had a "thing" we sometimes did. It was called popcorn testimonies. One person would stand up and say " I thank the Lord for___________" and as they sat down they would point to another person and say your turn, etc. etc. etc. Let me say this morning, I thank the Lord that, by His grace, through his keeping power, because of his abundant love for me, and through the disciplines of the mentors He has brought into my life, I DIDN'T QUIT, I WILL NOT QUIT, I CANNOT QUIT!
I am pointing to you. It's your turn.
Thank you, thank you very much.
Steve
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Rose Colored Glasses
I was reading an article about change by the AG superintendent-elect George Woods this morning on futureag. He was talking about working with young and old to create the change that our fellowship needs to experience.
A mentor of mine said to me "when you look at a challenge always use both the dark colored glasses to get a picture of stark reality and rose colored glasses to see what opportunities the challenge brings."
George Wood said that his mentor told him "Let your emphasis be on the creative and constructive above the critical and corrective."
I thought what a great two punch approach to look at all the challenges of life.
Any thoughts?
A mentor of mine said to me "when you look at a challenge always use both the dark colored glasses to get a picture of stark reality and rose colored glasses to see what opportunities the challenge brings."
George Wood said that his mentor told him "Let your emphasis be on the creative and constructive above the critical and corrective."
I thought what a great two punch approach to look at all the challenges of life.
Any thoughts?
Monday, August 20, 2007
Welcome
I'm glad you have decided to have coffee with me. I am going to be talking about life in general and how life's challenges affect us. I have a number of challenges in my life now. I have been reading a book by Mark Batterson titled In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day. His thinking has challenged me to start looking at life's challenges as the greatest opportunities. I think I am going to spend a little time today thinking about how I could engage some of the biggest lions I have seen lately.
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