GREG MARKSBERRY

TRAGEDY IN JAPAN

2011-03-17T11:01:00.005-04:00

Like so many of you, my heart also breaks for the people of Japan. The catastrophe they've suffered with a 9.0 earthquake and the devastating tsunami that followed is too much to wrap our minds around. Now add to all of the carnage the impending threat of a nuclear meltdown. The suffering of those in Japan and the effects their suffering will have on people around the world (even in our backyard with Toyota's national headquarters located in NKY) is beyond words. Thankfully, God understands the cry of our hearts when words are insufficient.

Let's continue to pray throughout each day for the Japanese people, for the wisdom and courage of their leaders, for those grieving the loss of loved ones, for those displaced, for those who've yet to be rescued, for the relief workers, for those brave men fighting to regain control of nuclear reactors, and for the Presence of Jesus to be made real and powerful throughout the land.

This weekend at First Church you can participate in taking relief and hope to the people of Japan through giving. Special offering envelopes will be available for the next few weeks if you'd like to participate. We've partnered with Samaritan's Purse led by Franklin Graham and will be sending all funds recieved directly to this very effective relief organization. You can also find a link to their website at www.1stchurchofchrist.org.

God's Word gives us these words of hope for such a time as this: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress...be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:1-7, 10a, NIV).

ON THE CUSP OF SPRING

2011-03-04T10:52:00.002-05:00

Once when Jesus was really hungry, he saw a fig tree by the side of the road in "full leaf." Figs were a key source of food for folks in the first century. So, Jesus heads over to the fig tree looking for a tasty snack only to find it had no figs! It was like false advertisement - green leaves everywhere, but no fruit. Jesus makes a powerful statement by literally cursing the fig tree. Mark 11:14 records the curse: "May no one ever eat fruit from you again."

Fig trees bear fruit twice a year in the Holy Land, every Spring and Autumn. Jesus' encounter with the fig tree was in early Spring. Being on the cusp of Spring right now, I can identify with how Jesus must have felt, can't you? We are SO ready for the trees to bud and the flowers to bloom! I'm "hungry" for Spring to produce it's long-awaited "fruit!"

Jesus was disappointed that this particular fig tree promised more than it delivered. It was full of green leaves but had no fruit. Another Biblical metaphor for this is when the land was undergoing a severe drought. A dark cloud appears on the horizon bringing hope for much needed rain. But the cloud passes over and brings no rain!

Here's the point of the curse - Jesus is not cool with "appearances only." Living for God means we produce fruit. Jesus said that he "chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last" (John 15:16). God wants us to make a real difference in life. I'm usually pretty good when it comes to "talking the talk." But God is not pleased unless I'm "walking the walk." We produce "fruit" when we back up what we say we believe with how we live.

As we stand on the cusp of Spring, let's refuse to be "leafy trees" that fail to come through with the fruit. Like the warm sunshine and refreshing rains of Spring will set orchards up for a fruitful harvest, God's power and grace can set us up for fruitful lives!

How Will You Enter 2011?

2011-01-04T09:15:00.002-05:00

As we begin the first work week of the New Year, this scripture from my devotional reading jumped out at me, Jesus said: "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it" (Mark 10:14-15).

How do I enter 2011? Well, after reading that passage, I want to head into what lies before us in this New Year like a child who comes to Jesus with complete trust and total reliance on Him.

It may sound strange - if you heard me sing, it would sound really strange - but I ocassionally break out the old Book of Hymns I grew up with during my devotional time. I love contemporary worship songs, but I also love how some "ancient" hymns of the faith capture the heart and reality of following Christ.

As I reflected upon "coming to Jesus" this New Year with the humility and faith of a child, the hymn "Jesus I Come" popped into my head. Not really remembering the lyrics, I opened the Book of Hymns and was blown away by how fitting the words are for beginning a new day, and a New Year! Here's the first stanza:

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night, Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into Thy freedom, gladness and light, Jesus, I come to Thee;

Out of my sickness into Thy health, Out of my want and into Thy wealth,

Out of my sin and into Thy-self, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Isn't that a great resolution for the New Year? It covers a lot of life...joy, health, finances, and relationship with God! Perhaps the deepest line, and the one that has motivates me most says:

Out of my shameful failure and loss, Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into the glorious gain of Thy cross, Jesus, I come to Thee

Like a child, I "come to Jesus" in 2011 humbled by His love for one like me, and ready to live in a bold faith that presses forward the glory of His cross!

How will you enter this New Year? Will you "come to Jesus"? He's ready and waiting for you!

WHERE WE'VE BEEN, WHERE WE'RE GOING

2010-11-25T09:20:00.004-05:00

When the holidays hit we tend to get a little sentimental. I usually think about the generations who have preceded us, especially my late father and grandfather. In commenting on modern society someone said, "My grandfather had a farm, my dad had a garden, and I've got a can-opener!" That's a perfect description of my roots.

Sometimes I wonder how just much we have lost through the generations in the name of progress. Don't get me wrong, I'm really grateful for the high-speed, two-horsepower can-opener on our kitchen counter. That thing could cut through the safe door at Fort Knox! But the canned green beans and corn from Kroger are a far cry from the fresh veggies my grandparents used to grow.

Most concerning of all is what our culture seems to be losing in character. Every day in America we lose thousands of the relatively few remaing veterans of World War 2. Those men and women are well into their 80's and beyond now. When they have all passed, our nation will have buried one of her greatest generations, if not the greatest. That generation was defined by its self-sacrfice and strength of character. The kind of "self-denial" that Jesus calls His followers to seemed more prevalent in that day, than the rampant "self-promotion" of our day.

I hear young people today speak of their desire for "fame" like it's an entitlement. Perhaps it's the result of web networks like Facebook, Twitter, Blogs like this, and even YouTube that broadcast who we are to the world. Maybe it's the result of American Idol and all of those "reality" TV shows. However we got there, our culture's desire for "fame" is there in a big way.

This contrasts with the heroes of generations past. When my grandfather passed away in 2008, we found out that he had been awarded the Bronze Star for uncommon valor during the second World War. He had never before spoken of it, not even to his wife of over 60 years! That story is fairly common among war heroes, particularly from generations past.

I'm not trying to say that "fame-seeking" is necessarily a bad thing, or that hiding acts of heroism is necessarily a good thing. It's just a general observation that captures a contrast between our culture compared to that of those who've gone before us.

Rather than just being sentimental during the holidays this year and missing my fore-fathers, maybe I can try to incorporate a few of their quickly "fading" character traits into my life. Maybe I'll even start a garden.

ONE MONTH TO LIVE?

2010-10-09T12:15:00.003-04:00

The new teaching series we're diving into during October called "One Month to Live" really settled in with me last week. I was teaching for a spiritual renewal week at a church near Richmond, VA. The pastor there, Bill Wines, took me on a tour of two incredibly historical sites. One was the Hollywood Cemetary in which three Presidents and hundreds of Civil War casualties are buried. The other was the site of the Battle of Cold Harbor in which tens of thousands of young men died as the South defended Richmond against the Union army's advance.

Strolling through such a historical cemetary reminded me that we are all "terminal." But it was seeing the trenches dug by Confederate soldiers on the battle field at Cold Harbor that really brought this reality home to me. The trenches in which young men fought and dead are still there! You could almost hear the bullets, smell the cannon smoke, and see the bodies of dead soldiers. It was a sobering moment to gaze upon those trenches, dug by young soldier's hands. For many, they were digging their own graves.

The Psalmist writes, "You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath" (Psalm 39:5).

I'm not tyring to to be a downer, but it's important for us to grasp the reality of our own mortality. Why? Because when we realize that fact that we are terminal -- last time I checked the death rate for humans is one out of one, a full 100% -- it makes a difference in the way we live!

Tim McGraw sings a song called, "Live Like You Were Dying." It tells the story of a man in his 40's who is diagnosed with a terminal illness. When a friend asks him how he responded to that news the man says, "I went skydiving, I went rocky mountain climbing, I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu. And I loved deeper. And I spoke sweeter. And I gave forgiveness I'd been denyin'," and he said, "Some day I hope you get the chance, to live like you were dyin'."

What difference would it make in your life today if you knew you had only one month to live? What would you do? Who would you see? What would you make right in your life? This life is brief. But God is clear that there's an eternity to come and where we spend it will be determined by how we spend this life.

I'm ready to live like I was dying...how about you?

FLASHBACKS

2010-08-28T08:49:00.002-04:00

I've been flashing back 14 or 15 years this week.

As our high school senior and 8th grade kids head off to school each morning, it's been fun to hear our 3-year-old whine about wanting to go to church...literally, every day! It may sound wierd to get joy out of hearing your toddler tearfully beg to go church. But it took me took to when our older kids used to do the very same thing as toddlers. Honestly, I'm really glad that ritual is continuing in the lives of our kids!

Why would a little kid cry to go church every morning, anyway? What makes that so awesome is because they see it as a FUN place! They know they will feel LOVE there and maybe even see a FRIEND there. They intuitionally know it's a safe place to get interact with other people. And while our toddler is still too young to really connect with FAITH, I think that she senses the presence of her Creator and God in that place.

It's amazing what our kids can teach us isn't it?

I wish more adults felt the way our toddlers feel about gathering with the church, I really do. But honestly, sometimes going to a worship gathering can feel just the opposite to adults - boring, judgmental, lots of strangers, and a little scary.

The answer is probably not pulling out the "play dough" for adults -- but working hard to keep our gatherings creative, celebratory, genuine, and "real" definitely helps. Rather than crayons, we need to keep serving the coffee...and lots of it!

Psalm 100: 4-5 expresses the joy God wants us to experience when we gather with His people for worship. "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

DEEP WATER

2010-08-10T07:59:00.003-04:00

Jesus climbed into Simon Peter's boat and said, "Put out into deep water." This would end up being the exact day and occasion that Jesus would call Peter to follow Him as a disciple (Luke 5:4-11). You talk about deep water! Peter thought he was simply hitting the deep for another fishing excursion, but he would leave his boat that day as a "fisher of men."

I've been thinking about Jesus' phrase, "Put out into deep water." It became real last week as I kayaked through the breath-taking San Juan Islands in Puget Sound with a few good friends. One of the things that drew us there was the possibility of paddling with the orcas that reside in these waters off the coast of Washington state and Canada. The deep channels of the Sound provide a perfect habit for killer whales.

The closest we came to the orcas, while in our kayaks, was about two miles. They swam by at 10 knots, closely followed by a procession of high speed whale-watching boats. Not quite the death-defying encounter we had imagined. It was an adventure trying to spot them through our binoculars, though!

To kayak with orcas on that day would have required paddling into deep (very deep) water. But niether the conditions of the channel nor our timing would allow it. Deep water is risky. Deep water can be dangerous. But deep water is usually where the "orcas" are.

Even though Simon Peter was skeptical, having fished the entire night before with no luck, he listened to Jesus and set sail for deep water to let down his nets. He raked in so many fish that his nets began to break and his boat nearly sunk under their weight. The Bible says he was "astonished" by Jesus' power. Peter's life and mission in life changed from that very moment on. But it would never have happened if had he not put out into deep water.

Before leaving the San Juans we had our close encounter with killer whales. After a long day of paddling we set up camp on an island with a lighthouse. The problem was that the lighthouse was on the other side, a 5-mile hike away. We weren't sure it was worth it...until we heard the orcas may pass. We hit the trail. Half-way we met a couple on their way back from the lighthouse. They informed us that the orcas had already passed and we'd missed them! But we decided to press on, to put out into deep water, so to speak. The result? Beholding 27 orcas swim past our perfect perch on the bluff just a few yards away! Bulls slapped their tails and fins. Mothers and calves emerged and dove in unison. The spray bursting from their blowholes was so loud you could feel it.

Question. Is Jesus asking you to put out into deep water? Where is God calling you to take a risk in life, in faith, in relationship, in vocation, in obedience? You may feel a little skeptical about it. You'll certainly have to press through disappointment and discouragement to get there. But life's greatest experiences usually take place in deep water!

CARMEN'S PICTURE

2010-07-29T08:56:00.003-04:00

While deep in the Peruvian Andes last week our medical missions team experienced the majestic handiwork of God. We slept at about 11,000 feet in the mountain town of San Marcos, but made daily trips to villages as high as 14,000 feet. The mountainous terrain, complete with snow capped peaks and glaciers, was awesome to behold.

The most beautiful work of God, however, was seen in the faces of the precious Peruvians we were there to serve. Most of these dear people are of direct Inca descent and have inhabited the Andes for millennium. Although many live in significant poverty, it is stunning to witness their ability to raise crops on the sides of steep mountains through the ancient practice of terraced farming. These little lots dot the mountain sides like postage stamps with soft colors of yellow, green, and light brown.

Carmen is a little girl that lives in the local orphanage in San Marcos. She is probably nine or ten years old, but because of the language barrier, I know little of her story. What I do know is Carmen did something that has forever changed my view of short-term mission journeys.

Our team had visited this orphanage one year earlier. We played games, gave gifts, replaced around 50 mattresses, and took lots of pictures of the children. I lost my camera on that trip and all my pictures with it. Which makes what Carmen did last week even more incredible. She walked up to me and pulled what looked like an old frayed piece of paper from her pocket. It was folded in quarters. As she opened it, the picture inside was revealed. Unbelievably it was a picture someone had taken the year before of this sweet child sitting on a bench next to me. She had kept it with her for an entire year!

The tears flowed. I swept her up and gave her a big hug, then walked her to several other team members to show them the picture. They all cried too (which made me feel a little less wimpy).

The little time we spent with Carmen meant enough to her to hang on to a picture for over a year! She said it was her way of "remembering" us. Sometimes it feels like spending a week or two in some foreign land, fighting cultural and linguistic barriers, in an attempt to take Christ's love to people is low impact at best. Honestly, what difference can a few days make to someone who is in desperate need? Carmen proved to me that this investment of time and energy does make a difference! Jesus can indeed work through us to touch hearts and lives like Carmen's!

Every day Carmen wakes up she sees the awsome peaks of the Andes Mountains surrounding San Marcos. I'm not sure how the natural beauty of those mountains impact her. But now I know that the beauty of Christ goes beyond the mountains of that place and even beyond the dear faces of that place. At least one little girl saw the beauty of Christ in the faces of a few Gringos who loved her and her fellow orphans enough to go to that place and share God's love with them.

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

Romans 10:14b

THE QUARRY YOU CAME FROM

2010-07-12T11:25:00.002-04:00

"Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry

from which you were hewn..." (Isaiah 51:1)

This week I'm preaching for a "Revival" at a great little country church in Corinth, KY called Antioch Church of Christ. A cemetery surrounds the small brick church building which stretches all the way back to the early 1800's. My dad, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-great grandfather are all buried there. One day I'll be buried there as well.

It's meaningful at a deeply personal level to stand among the dear people at Antioch, encompassed by such hallowed ground, and preach the gospel of Christ. It's even emotional at times. It certainly takes me to that passage in Isaiah in which God says, "Look to the roch from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn."

Have you touched your "roots" lately? There's something about "looking to the rock from which you were cut" that is intensely challenging. It can be humbling and inspiring, sobering and stimulating all at the same time.

God had a reason for telling His people in Israel to do this. He wanted them to look back to their forefather Abraham and remember that though he had a humble beginning, God ultimately blessed him greatly. Isaiah 51:2 says, "look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many."

The Lord wanted the remnant in Israel to be reminded that even though they felt small and alone, that God could bless them if they stayed faithful to Him. When I look back to the "quarry from which I was hewn" it certainly reminds me of God's faithfulness through hard, lean, troublesome times. How about you?

The "rock" I'm cut from is made up of a lot of farmers and soldiers. So when I look back to my "quarry" it reminds me of Paul's challenge to Timothy to serve Christ like a "good soldier" and a "hardworking farmer" (2 Tim. 2:3-7).

So, this week what encouragement and insight can you take away from looking back to the rock from which you were cut and the quarry from which you were hewn?

GOD & GOVERNMENT

2010-07-02T08:21:00.002-04:00

As we celebrate America's 234th birthday this weekend, let's remember to give God thanks for His provision of the land, resources, and freedom we enjoy. Freedom does not come free, it has cost many thousands of brave men and women their lives. Thank a defender of freedom this weekend, whether they serve on the battle field or in government, in city halls or in voting booths, or do battle on their knees in prayer.

Franklin D. Roosevelt offered a prayer on a national radio on June 6, 1944, as our troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, France. He prayed, "Almighty God... with Thy blessing we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogance. Lead us to the saving of our country. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen."

May God once again lead us to the "saving of our country." Our primary enemy is the notion that "separation of church and state" (whatever you may think of this statement found not in the Constitution but in a letter from Thomas Jefferson) means "seperation of God and government." The downfall of mankind (and government) will come whenever we choose not to "think it worthwhile to retain God in our knowledge." (Romans 1:28).

Whatever one may believe about the interpretation of Jefferson's statement about the "separation of church and state" no one can argue with the overwhelming evidence that neither our founding fathers wanted to remove the reverence and awe of God from our government. Even presidents from the last century communicated this unequivocally.

President Gerald Ford once quoted a 1955 speech by Dwight D. Eisenhower which articulates the belief of our founding fathers: "Without God there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first - the most basic - expression of Americanism. Thus the founding fathers of America saw it, and thus with God’s help, it will continue to be." And Ronald Reagan captured this reality by saying, "If we ever forget that we are ’One nation, under God’, then we will be one nation gone under."

May Almighty God always be the Primary Influencer on every government leader's heart! And may the followers of Christ pray fervently for their leaders, their nation, and the work of Christ to permeate this world!

PRAYER WALKERS

2010-06-26T11:55:00.002-04:00

I'm really excited about First Church's PRAYER WALK throughout the Tri-State tomorrow (Sunday)! We will gather at the church campus at 4pm, then hit the streets, gathering beneath the famous "Florence Ya'll" water tower in the Mall parking lot at 5:45pm for a closing prayer.

We'll have prayer teams walking through shopping malls and casinos asking God to show people what matters most in life. Some prayer teams will walk around government centers to pray for our leaders, for those in our jails, and for people bound by addictions. Others will walk around schools to pray for teachers and students. There are teams that will walk through hospitals praying for the sick and local parks praying for families. We even have prayer teams that will walk the city streets praying for people in need.

The cool thing is that no one esle will know what we're up to! Prayer walking is a type of intercession for others in which we pray silently to God on behalf of those around us. Since you are on location, your prayers are intensified as you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch the needs you are there to pray about. It's the heart of what the great prayer warrior E.M. Bounds talked about when he said, "Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still."

We don’t want this to be a one-and-done thing. We hope people will make Prayer-Walking a regular part of their week. Every time I go for a run, I pray for people I know that are sick or who need Jesus in the neighborhoods I pass. You can do that! When you are walking, running, shopping, working, even when you are driving! If we had more “Drive By Prayers" we might have fewer "Drive By Shootings!”

Would you commit to cover your community in prayer as you walk, run, drive and fly throughout the course of your weeks? I believe this is of one of God’s elite special forces – the Prayer-Walkers! These men and women are literally covering the whole earth in prayer.

Ready, Set, Walk! And change your world through prayer!

TURN or BURN

2010-05-01T10:19:00.002-04:00

I've heard of the POWER TEAM for years, but until we hosted the team this week have never seen them in action. These guys are huge and come from various athletic backgrounds. Their feats of strength are fun to watch and they're great at putting on a show.

The thing I've been most pleased with the positive message and influence these guys carry to students through school assemblies. This week around 15,000 students in our community have not only been entertained by the strength of these men in their school assemblies, but have also been challenged to make the best choices...to stay away from drugs, alcohol, junk food and cheating. To choose respect, abstinence, hard work and study. I've been amazed at how the team communicates and connects in different ways with elementary, middle and high school students. They really shine in these settings.

The same day the Power Team was at my daughter's High School a news story broke about one of that school's students who had been found dead outside her mother's apartment several weeks prior. The news confirmed that this high school junior was legally drunk when she died due to hypothermia. Can there be any doubt how desperately our kids need to hear the challenge the Power Team is giving?

Another thing that has blown me away has been Power Team President Todd Keene's message each evening. It's real, even raw at times, but right on when it comes choosing Jesus. It's sort of the "Turn or Burn" style of preaching. And, wow, has it been effective. Over 300 people have made professions of faith in just three nights.

I did a little study of the Gospel of Mark this morning and found that Mark only documents Jesus using the "Turn or Burn" style once - Mark 9:42-48. The Power Team has a unique way of gaining people's interest and opening hearts and minds to hear a message like this. They can say it in a way that wouldn't work for those of us preaching from week to week. And, I'm glad they're doing it. It's an important part of the overall effort of Christ's church to reach a culture that is increasingly turning it's back on God.

The Power Team is bringing more power to our community this week than what it takes to bust blocks, rip phone books, lift telephone poles, and break out of handcuffs...they are bringing the power of Jesus Christ to make an eternal difference in our lives!

POST-EASTER SOUNDS OF LIFE

2010-04-05T12:35:00.002-04:00

The Sounds of the Passion series we wrapped up yesterday made me in think about nuances of Christ's last week that I've never really considered before. In that series we tuned into sounds like:

The Sound of My Failure: The Clanging of Coins on the stone floor of the Temple as Judas returns the 30 pieces of silver he'd been paid to betray Jesus (Judas' failure), and the Rooster's Crow as Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, just as Jesus predicted he would before the cock crowed (Peter's failure).

The Sound of God's Love: The Crack of the Whip that lacerated our Lord's back, the Thud of the Hamer that drove the nails through His hands and feet, the Tearing of the Temple Veil symbolizing God's love bursting out upon humanity. All the sounds of the agony that Jesus went through on the cross remind us that everything He endured there He did because of His love for us.

The Sound of Life: The Rolling of the Stone from Christ's tomb which demonstrated Christ had conquered the grave through His resurrection and the Sound of My Name which is exemplified as the Risen Lord calls Mary Magdalene's name just after rising from the dead.

I've been thinking of all of these sounds, and many more that the Gospels allude to, in a very "micro" kind of way. But today, as we begin the week after Easter, I began to think of those sounds at a higher level, a more "macro" perspective.

The sounds of Christ's last week preceding Easter are sounds that point to sorrow, the sin for which He died, anxiety, the agony Jesus endured at the cross. But the sounds AFTER the resurrection are sounds of joy, restoration, relief, and life!

The week before Easter we call Holy Week, but the week after Easter is holy as well. Because this week we celebrate that all the sounds of Christ's passion before His resurrection lead us to all the sounds of praise afterward!

This week enjoy the SOUNDS OF LIFE! Because Jesus has risen, every sound we hear points to the reality that there is abundant life for His followers here, and eternal life to come!

THE WAY OF THE CROSS

2010-04-02T09:47:00.003-04:00

A couple of years ago, while on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, I walked the "Way of the Cross" via the streets of Jerusalem. It's the likely path Jesus took on that first GOOD FRIDAY as He made His way to be crucified. As I re-read my journal entry from that day the memories flooded back.

Today that sacred path is lined with the hard, wall-to-wall stone roads of Jerusalem. The streets are tight and lined with shops; a few churches and apartments along the way. It's no small feat to maintain your focus with all the distractions around you. Rather than trying to ignore all the activity, I decided to embrace it.

I wondered if what I was seeing and hearing was anything like Jesus would have seen and heard. After all, it was early in the morning on that Friday, people would have been beginning their day in busy preparation for the Passover. On the way to the place of crucifixion, this is what I witnessed:

Children playing soccer in the streets. Their soccer ball was well-worn, their faces were tinged with dust, their black hair dishoveled, but their laughter contagious. Did Jesus walk past children playing, laughing, oblivious to the sacrifice He was making for them?

Shop-keepers calling for us to check out their wares. Some were persistent, one even angry as I walked by trying to remain prayerful in spirit. The shops must have been bustling on that Friday as Jesus carried our cross. Retailers interested in making a buck on the Passover, as He makes His way to pay the price for their sin.

Armed Israeli soldiers standing guard. They added to the tension one feels in Jerusalem due to the discord between Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Did tension fill the air as Jesus walked this way? Roman soldiers bearing swords, militant Hebrews plotting rebellion, His own followers...they all pressed around Jesus as He walked the path. How did the tension of Roman swords, lust for religious control, and women weeping affect Him? Could the never-ceasing tension in Jerusalem have made His cross that much heavier?

Masses crowding the streets, mainly tourists. It must have been crowded in Jerusalem as Jesus made His way to die. People from far and wide had come for the holy days. As Jesus carried the cross through the crowds, were they simply crowds to Him, or were they individual faces and names for whom He was about to die?

The thing that amazed me as I completed the "Way of the Cross" was how Jesus kept His focus. As children played, shop-keepers bartered, soldiers patrolled, and the masses moved through the streets, Jesus maintained focus on His mission. So much so that He could pray as He finally arrived at the place of crucifixion, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." He was not distracted, but determined to finish what He came to do...to save us from sin!

"Lord Jesus, on this Friday I praise You for that Friday on which you suffered step by step along the sacred way to Your crucifixion...all for my sin and the sin of the world!"

2010-03-31T08:36:00.003-04:00

"Palm Sunday" rings a bell for most people, and everyone has heard of "Easter Sunday." These two Sundays are the bookends of what is called "Holy Week" in the Christian calendar. Holy Week celebrates the last week of Jesus' life, which begins with Him entering Jerusalem to the praise of people waving palm branches and concludes with His resurrection from the grave.

Tucked between these two Sundays are a couple other days on the calendar that may sound familiar - "Maundy Thursday" (Jesus' last supper) and "Good Friday" (Jesus' crucifixion).

Right in the middle of Holy Week is "Spy Wednesday." Ever heard of it? Probably not. It's called "Spy Wednesday" because this is the day that Judas agrees to betray Jesus and hand Him over to be killed. This is a sad day.

Judas gets ticked off because a woman annoints Jesus with expensive perfume. He wanted to sell the perfume and put the money in the treasury, which he often helped himself to. But, Jesus scolded him and pointed out that this woman was preparing His body for burial...He knew what was coming. Jesus went on to say that wherever the gospel is preached that this lady's story would be told in her memory. That was more than Judas could handle, so he left and went to the chief priests asking what they would give him if he handed Jesus over to them. They agreed on 30 pieces of silver for the life of the Son of God.

That's why today is called "Spy Wednesday." Judas turns into a double agent and becomes a spy for the enemies of Christ. The thing is, Jesus knew it all along. Judas wasn't really hiding anything...how can you hide from the all-seeing eye of God? The next day, Maundy Thursday, as they shared in Jesus' last supper, the Lord would point out that His betrayer was at the table and tell Judas to go on do what he had in his heart to do...and Judas did, betraying Jesus with a kiss.

Judas was one of Jesus' twelve closest friends, he was an apostle of Christ. Just after Judas left to betray Him, Jesus says something that must have broken His heart, "Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Judas was the exact opposite. He was a traitor, the kind of friend who takes what he can and then splits leaving you for dead.

It was in the middle of all the emotion of what it feels like to be betrayed by a friend, that Jesus points out the nature of real love for your friends...willingness to sacrifice for them, even to die for them. That is the kind of Friend that Jesus is. Even though we betray Him at times, He never turns His back on us. Even though we tend to focus on ourselves, Jesus doesn't have a selfish bone in His body. He sets the mark regarding what real friendship is all about.

Wow! I'm so thankful to know today, on "Spy Wednesday," that I have a Friend who will never sell me out. Quite the opposite He is the one who is sold out on our friendship...so much so, that He died to save me.

A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME...

2010-01-29T11:20:00.004-05:00

Sometimes we think of "worry" as an acceptable sin. After all, if we are worried about something it just means we care deeply about that thing, right? But Jesus sheds a different light on worry. He said, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matthew 6:27).

When you think about it, what good comes from worrying? All it does is work us up emotionally or tear us down spiritually. Worry either paralyzes us with inaction or leads to unhelpful reactions. But faith leads to proactive action. All of this is "self-talk" because I can worry with the best of them!

This week I was driving away from a hospital feeling racked with worry. I was focused on all the potential downsides for the person I'd gone to see. Then...no kidding...as I was talking out loud to God about all this person was facing, a little bird fell out of the sky to the road right in front of me! It was almost comical to see this dead bird, about the size of a sparrow, falling motionless and upside down from the sky above. It was like God dropped a fake bird from Heaven right in front of me with impeccable timing.

The words of Jesus about worry took wing in my heart. "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:26-27).

Ben Franklin's reference to Jesus' words in 1787 when he called for prayer during the Constitional Convention, also jumped to mind and put this experience in context for me. He said, "The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?"

The sparrow-sized bird that fell to the ground in front of my car this week was a great reminder that God still governs in our affairs. He provides all that we need. The person I was worried about is more valuable to God than I could ever imagine! He will take care of her. He will take care of you!

Today I'm going to do with worry what the Apostle Peter encourages us to do with it - "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). I feel bad for that little bird, but I'm really glad it had a dying message for my life.

REFUGE!

2010-01-15T10:40:00.003-05:00

When the poor, who are already tremendously vulnerable, experience a natural disaster on the scale of the earthquake in Haiti, it's hard to imagine how these precious people survive.

God's grace and the immediate response of His church, caring benevolent organizations, and compassionate nations like the U.S. certainly offer hope. And these take nothing away from the will to survive and strength of spirit that the Haitian people possess. They've survived so much devastation through the years, much of it man-made by his lust for power and his greed.

May God dispatch all the power of Heaven to Haiti to bring hope and healing, provision and peace, renewed strength and faith to all those who are suffering. I wonder in His dispatching the power of Heaven how God will dispatch His church to these people in need.

Already, many believers from the U.S. are on the ground. Wow, as hard as this must be for them, can you image what a high honor this is - God chose them to be there to represent His love to Haitians during such a crisis as this!

I wonder how it will affect others who've been preparing to serve in Haiti. Our high school students at First Church have been planning a mission trip to serve Haiti this April. Will they be able to go? All we know for now is that God wants us to pray, give, and serve those in need now...however we can.

The Psalm that hit me this week regarding the earthquake in Haiti, also captures God's power and promise to rescue those who love Him. It's a reminder this HE is our refuge and the Haitian refuge in ever-present trouble.

Psalm 42:1-3: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

The Mother of All Terrorists

2010-01-01T10:35:00.003-05:00

One unexpected result of the foiled Christmas Day bombing attack for me was genuinely missing Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff! I mean, does our current Homeland Security Director, Janet Napolitano, instill more or less confidence in you regarding the defense of American lives against acts of terror? She seems well "in over her head!" Niether her statements nor her image tend to project the kind of "security" one might expect from this post.

My point is not to blast our Homeland Security Director. My disappointment with her did catch me by surprise, but it led me to much deeper reflection on our "security." For those who follow Jesus Christ, today's Muslim extremist is just one in a long line of "terrorists" we've faced through the years. Some of our Christian brothers and sisters live in daily terror of their own state governments, which censor their persecution of the saints. Such "terrorists" have always been around, unknowingly taking their cues from the Master Terrorist.

The Bible describes the Mother of all Terrorists like this, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). That is the reality of our lives, fellow believers! We have an enemy who seeks to destroy us...on a daily basis. But rather than living in fear of this Terrorist, with all of his minions and ploys, how should we live?

God says we should live "self-controlled and alert" lives. There is no need to panic as we head into yet another year of war on terror. We keep our lives under control. The call to be alert would remain whether or not radical Muslim terrorists were out there. As believers we know that the most cunning Terrorist of all still exists, so we stay alert to his weapons and wiles. The hero on the Northwest flight to Detroit from Amsterdam was a man named Jasper Schuringa. When Jasper saw the terrorist setting fire to his explosive, he alertly responded and subdued him. That kind of keen awareness should characterize our lives as Christians.

Peter goes on to write in the following verse, "Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:9-11)

In 2010 we will undoubtedly face more acts of terror. But in Christ we are fit with courage to "resist" the enemy; with the joy that comes from real "faith;" with the love that compels us to support our "brothers throughout the world undergoing the same kind of suffering;" and with the hope of "eternal glory in Christ" that sustains us.

So, really, who needs Janet when you've got Jesus?

WATCH OUT FOR THE PLANK!

2009-12-19T11:53:00.003-05:00

It is no secret that I bleed blue and love the University of Kentucky Wildcats. What many don't know is that while serving in Indiana in the early 1990's I came to respect coach Bob Knight as well. For one thing, he was the only Big Ten basketball coach who was still teaching in the classroom during that era. His outbursts of rage, crude language, and physical abuse of players were indefensible. But I could not help but appreciate his high standard of discipline on the basketball court.

Certainly a couple of Coach John Calipari's teams have had their issues with the NCAA. But since his arrival at UK he's been the epitomy of "class." He has embraced the Big Blue nation with humility and he unashamedly talks of worshiping Christ daily. I'm not saying the guy is a saint, just that from what we've seen so far he seems sincere about his faith and family, and is a class act.

Well, Calipari totally outclassed Knight this week! In response to Knight's cheap shot against him, citing him as the poster child for college's basketball's lack of integrity, Calipari once again show true class. Ukatletics.com quoted Calipari as saying that while on his way to morning mass he saw like 100 text messages and wondered what had happened. When he realized it was about Knight's remarks, Calipari said that he's a big Knight fan, that he respected him, and even went as far as crediting Bobby with helping him perfect the dribble drive offense. While Coach Cal said he disagreed with what Knight said about him and there being a lack of character in college basketball, he said it wouldn't change how he feels about Knight.

Keep up the humble, sincere, classy spirit Coach Cal! Your actions reveal your true character.

And Bobby, maybe you could take a cue from the One who is most qualified to speak about character - Jesus Christ. He said, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ...You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3,5).

2009-12-06T22:12:00.001-05:00

"When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves - praise the Lord!" (Judges 5:2)

So begins the song of Deborah and Barak, two bold Israelis who liberated their country from 20 cruel years of oppression. The book of Judges reminds us over and over again that God raises up leaders for His people when we call upon Him.

Today is a great day for a body of sincere followers of Jesus who comprise Heritage Christian Church in Fayetteville, GA. Because today is the day that God has raised up a new Pastor to lead this beloved congregation. And the exclamation point on God's providential care for Heritage is that they welcomed their new Pastor with a unanimous affirmation! God is praised indeed when His people willingly offer themselves to follow His will!

I believe this is "a match made in Heaven" and that Heritage along with their new Pastor and his family will be a great blessing to God and the community (and the continents) they serve. To find out more about this "match" check out Heritage's website: www.heritagechristian.org.

Having just visited that website and watched the introductory video for the new Pastor, that verse from Judges 5:2 really stood out to me. There have been some incredibly intense challenges that the Heritage Elder Team has had to navigate over the past 11-months during this transition in the lead Pastor role. And wow, did these guys ever rise to the ocassion! "When the princes in Isreal take the lead...God is praised!"

Men who serve as Elders in the Lord's church often serve with a great deal of devotion and very little appreciation. Having served with these men I can say with confidence that they are indeed "princes" of our Lord Jesus! They have shepherded God's people through unprecedented terrain with courage, commitment, and conviction. So here is a shout out to Biff, Bob, Ed, Mark, Mike, Michael, and Scott! You've led with genuine humility and faith in God!

That great song of Deborah and Barak in Judges 5 ends with this refrain: "may they who love you (Lord) be like the sun when it rises in its strength." May it be so of all our brothers and sisters at Heritage as well! And then the chapter ends, "Then the land had peace forty years." May God grant such peace, and even more, upon His shepherds and His church in Fayetteville, GA and around the world!

FORGETTING GOD?

2009-11-26T09:53:00.003-05:00

My wife often reminds me of how forgetful I am. She usually points this out when I ask her if she knows where I put my wallet, or keys, or shoes! My assistant also knows my tendency to "space it," especially when it comes to meetings. Not only has she set my computer calendar to sound an alarm prior to each meeting, but she even texts me a reminder...sad, I know.

As forgetful as I can be at times, honestly, I've never figured how the Israelites could actually forget God! The Bible says, "The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs" (Judges 3:7). How do you forget God? Does He just slip your mind? Does He simply drop from your consciousness? I can sympathize with those who forget things, but they FORGOT GOD!

I think another passage clears it up for us. Romans 1:28 talks of those who do evil in God's sight and says, "they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God." Now it makes sense, right? You cannot just forget God like you forget an appointment or where you placed your keys. We forget God by conscious choice. We decide to put Him out of our mind. We actually have to work at forgetting God! It takes intentional effort. It's true. The times I fall into sin are the times I deliberately don't think about God.

Today is Thanksgiving Day in America. Every American knows why we celebrate the holiday. The Pilgrims gave thanks to God for getting them through the first winter in the New World. But I wonder how many will choose to forget God today. Besides a quick prayer at the dinner table, I wonder if most of us will forget to humbly and genuinely give thanks to God for all of His provision in our lives.

I'm glad we still have Thanksgiving Day. It's a good day to REMEMBER God and give Him thanks...real, heartfelt thanks. Now, if I could just remember where I put my shoes!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

BATTLING THE BEAN!

2009-11-16T23:01:00.003-05:00

For the past five days I've cut out my coffee intake. That's a big deal since I normally do 6-8 cups a day. After battling mood swings that go from being easily aggravated one minute to being totally depressed the next, I'm not sure I can keep away from the Starbucks much longer. Pray for me!

I've been reading from the book of Judges (for the umpteenth time) and again find myself amazed by the repitition of Israel's bad behavior and God's faithful deliverance. It's like a broken record! Here's the cycle:

Israel does evil in the eyes of the Lord -- God punishes Israel with foriegn oppressors -- Israel repents and cries out to God -- God raises up a Judge to deliver Israel.

That cycle repeats itself over and over. It gets frustrating to see how cold Israel continually grows in her commitment to Almighty God, especially when He keeps rescuing her again and again. What's that definition of insanity again?

But the truth is, I relate far to well with Israel to stay frustrated for very long. Ultimately, I just end up humbled and extremely grateful to God for His faithfulness and mercy.

In all honesty, this is like the 10th time I've tried to kick the coffee habit over the last 15 years. I've rationalized it over and over. Trust me, I know that a recent medical report described the benefits of drinking coffee. That report has caused me to go back and forth a couple of times arleady...and it (along with that great aroma, smooth taste, and warm sensation) will probably keep me fighting the battle over the bean for the rest of my life!

And if I'm really honest, I'll be fighting battles over besetting sin for the rest of my life too. That's why I thank God for His faithfulness, just like we find in Judges! Here's a verse I get jazzed about even without a caffiene kick: "If we are faithless, He will remain faithful" (2 Timothy 2:13). That makes me want to keep on keeping on...how about you?

TEST-TAKING

2009-11-11T07:34:00.002-05:00

How do you feel about "tests"? I have a dear friend enduring some extremely important medical tests this week. My older kids are immersed in study for a couple hours each day preparing for their tests in school (well, a guy can wish...right?). A brother in Christ from Pakistan, staying in our home, tells of being tested by radical muslims who frequently threaten his life and the lives of those he loves.

I've never looked forward to tests with eager anticipation. Yeah, I know they are necessary indicators of progress, but do you have to savor them? Today my devotional reading was from Judges 3:1-4. I'm still not sure how I feel about it. The Bible says:

"These are the nations the Lord left to test all of those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience)...They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord's commands..."

To be honest, I kind of hoped that my last exam in Seminary would be my final exam in life. Of course, over the last couple of decades there have been many, many more tests, on a variety of topics and with varying levels of difficulty. I don't think God has written all of these exams, by the way. I'm quite sure Satan put together a few of the pop quizzes. But God has allowed them to be administered.

Unfortunately, I've not always aced those tests either. In some cases an "F" would have been way too generous. If we're honest, we'll admit how well we relate to the refrain appearing throughout the book of Judges: "Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord."

But have the tests made me more battle-worthy, like they did those young Israeli soldiers in the days of the Judges? I sure hope so. Here's the goal I'm holding on to..."the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete" (James 1:3,4). However we might feel about or perform in the tests of life, God promises to use them to mature and complete us in Christ.

Not only do they indicate our progress, the tests of life induce it. Although I've never looked forward to the test, I've always loved the sense of relief that comes when it's over. Here's what God says we have to look forward if we'll hold on to Him during the test - "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer...the devil will...test you... Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).

PARADOX

2009-11-04T22:26:00.003-05:00

While stuck on the tarmac at CVG recently, I was trying to wait patiently as the plane underwent repairs before take off. About 30 minutes in, my fellow travelers and I got a much needed distraction. The flight attendant pointed to a large plane across from us with some unusual passengers. The fleet of trailors that drove in like the Spanish Armada quickly revealed that the plane was loaded with high-dollar horses! It seemed paradoxical to watch dozens of these animals which once provided a major means of transportation, trot out of a jet airplane. And, yes, as we sat motionless at the gate it was tempting to joke about whether they could get us to our destination more quickly!

One of the things that makes life so interesting, and often fun, is that it's full of irony. The great A.W. Tozer captured the paradox of the Christian life in his book, The Root of Righteousness. I hope this quote from Tozer will encourage you as much as it has me!

“A REAL CHRISTIAN is an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see, expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another, empties himself in order to be full, admits he is wrong so he can be declared right, goes down in order to get up, is strongest when he is weakest, richest when he is poorest, and happiest when he feels worst. He dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, gives away so he can keep, sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which passes knowledge.”

WANT TO DO SOMETHING REALLY SCARY?

2009-10-31T09:37:00.003-04:00

Every Halloween I'm amazed at the people who actually enjoy being scared...my teenagers included. From horror movies to haunted houses, lots of people will seek the thrill of the "fright" this weekend.

It actually seems appropriate to me that our church is beginning a message series about handling finances on Halloween. This topic can be really scary to some folks! A lot of pastors are afraid to even touch it. I can understand why, few things make people's hair stand up like talking about money.

The reaction some have to this topic is almost "Freddy Krueger" like! They angrily contend, "All the church talks about is money!" Here's the truth: there would be far fewer financial "Nightmares on Elm Street" - or any other street - IF the church talked more about God's wisdom for handling finances. The Bible offers principles that lead to financial freedom. Why wouldn't we talk about that? People are enduring more economic "Misery" today than actor Kathy Bates inflicted on James Caan in Stephen King's thiller. God's Word on money is more important now than ever! Honestly, nothing could be more Alfred Hitchcock "Psycho" than people closing their ears to God's truth on money. Okay...I've got to stop with the cheap movie references.

One of Satan's greatest tricks is causing you to get offended when the church talks about money! He wants to rob you of God's blessing and power. Jesus talked a great deal about finances. Why? Jesus wants you to know the truth because the truth will set you free! (John 8:32)

So, this Halloween do something really scary...tune in to God's truth on handling your finances.

MORE THAN "PARANORMAL ACTIVITY"!

2009-10-26T13:19:00.003-04:00

The marquis above the theatre entrance doors read: Paranormal Acitivity. But what took place beyond those doors yesterday morning was way bigger than paranormal activity, it was Supernatural Activity! It was one of the coolest days of worship I've ever experienced.

As a couple hundred people showed up for the first public worship gathering of Restore Community Church, it was obvious that God had shown up too. The launch team came early and worked hard to transform the local theatre (just outside of Washington D.C.) into a place of worship. The lobby buzzed with more excitement than you'd find at the new release of a blockbuster film!

People came from all walks of life, but I'm pretty sure that few, if any, in the crowd had experienced what was about to happen. After a compelling message on God's heart and call to "unleash generosity" in our communities, Pastor Ron and Restore gave an offering to those in attendance.

Yes, you read that right! Rather than "receive" an offering from those attending, the church literally "gave" an offering to each attendee. That goes far beyond paranormal, folks! That kind of generosity and vision is supernatual! We received more than money, we received a challenge to use that money generously to help someone else...no strings attached. What a great way to communicate God's heart and His vision for loving others as He has loved us!

I'm excited about what God is doing and will do through a new church with that kind of commitment to God's extravagant love and generosity. If you want learn more about what is happening at Restore Community Church check out their website: www.restorenova.com.

I'M GLAD IT STUNG ME!

2009-10-23T12:29:00.001-04:00

I had forgotten the pain of a yellow-jacket sting. We lived in the backyard of the “Yellow Jackets" (Georgia Tech) for nearly 12 years and I'd never been stung. There were close calls. At age three my son was hit hard by a swarm after jumping on an inground nest. But I made it through our years in Georgia unstung!

That's why it felt so ironic a few days ago when a yellow-jacket attacked. It got me on a tender part of my right-hand thumb...and just 7-months in to our move back to Kentucky! One thing I can promise you is that the wrath of God fell on that nest. And few things have I ever enjoyed more.

The sting on my thumb was still obvious as I read Joshua 24:12 this week. God said to the Israelites, "I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you -- also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow."

An elder at First Church is a Bible scholar who wrote a commentary on Joshua. So, I asked for Mark's view on "the hornet" in this passage. He said archeological evidence shows that during this period the Egyptian army made a few forays into Palestine and attacked the Israeli enemies. Amazingly one of the Egyptian symbols at that time was a bee! Quite literally God could have sent these "Egyptian hornets" into the land to soften up the enemies of Israel. Or, Mark said, it could have been a metaphor for the decay of a culture over time which caused them to be vulnerable and ripe for defeat by the Hebrews.

I love this new metaphor for how God works "upstream" in our lives! He sends the hornet ahead of you! It's how God works. He sent John the Baptist ahead of Jesus to prepare the way of the Lord." To the Jews He gave the concept of animal sacrifice for the cleansing of sin thousands of years in advance, why? To get us ready to for the shedding of Christ's blood, as the Lamb of God, once and for all. He "goes ahead" of us in battle and prepares the way. Isn't that a comforting thought? It's a confidence-building truth for those who follow Jesus.

As we face a huge transition in 2010 at the church I'm privileged to serve, my prayer is that God will send the hornet ahead of us! That He will drive out the enemies of fear, doubt, mistrust, cynical attitudes, selfishness, and disunity. The good news is that the battle belongs to the Lord! It is His church, not ours. So He will get it done in a glorious way, and we will give Him all the glory for it!

I have to say, I'm really glad that bee stung me! What a great reminder that God is the God who "sends the hornet ahead of you!"

YOU GOTTA LOVE THE GAME!

2009-10-15T23:22:00.002-04:00

Today I was thinking of my dear friend, the late Olin Hay. Olin pastored South Louisville Christian Church (Louisville, KY) for over 20 years. Occasionally he liked to watch football practice at the University of Louisville. On one occasion a skinny freshman quarterback was sacked by a huge lineman right in front of him. Olin said the kid went down so hard it took him a minute to get up. When he finally extracted himself from the turf he looked at Olin with mud in his facemask, smiled and said, “You gotta love the game!”

Olin loved to reveal the identity of that scrawny quarterback. It was Johnny Unitas! Records show that the 6'1" Unitas weighed only 145 pounds on his first day at UofL. But his love for football was weighty enough to win him the NFL's MVP award in 1959, 1964, and 1967. His record for touchdown passes thrown in consecutive games still stands at 47! (Could Brett Farve be hanging on to break that record too?) Johnny Unitas is considered one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time. It was his love for the game that enabled him to take the punishment as a skinny QB and excel.

Sometimes it’s easy to feel like a 145-pound weakling in faith. You may be facing a huge obstacle or bearing a crushing load in life. Do you ever end up with a lot of mud in your facemask? You can get up. You can keep going. You can succeed and even thrive. How? “You gotta love the game!”

If you’re feeling a little beaten down, remember this word from Hebrews 12, “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross…Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

WAY TO GO WAYNE!

2009-10-11T20:03:00.002-04:00

An incredible thing happened today.

In a message on the importance of doing life together we did a physical demonstration. I asked four volunteers from the audience to come on stage and surround an empty chair. The plan was for me to sit in the chair, ask one volunteer to try and lift me on his own (a huge task!), and then have all four easily lift the chair with me in it. The illustration is simple but clear - we can do together what we could never do alone!

Things did not quite go as planned. An older gentleman quickly volunteered and as he stepped on stage I immediately recognized him. It was Wayne, a man in our congregation with obvious special needs. Before we knew it Wayne had taken a seat and made himself really comfortable in the chair!

On the fly I thought, "No problem, Wayne's a big enough guy. If he will just stay in the chair when we lift it, this can work." As expected, one could not lift the chair alone. But I was not prepared for what followed. No, Wayne did not get scared and jump out of the chair. Quite the opposite actually. As we four men gathered around Wayne and lifted him into the air, he gleely swung his feet and smiled like a kid in a candy store.

That was when it hit me. This is it! This is exactly it! Here was a guy with real (and significant) special needs. And the guys around him were lifting him up, giving him the experience of a lifetime, showing him that he was special indeed...to us and to God! What a beautiful picture to see Wayne in that chair held up by his brothers in Christ. It was an incredible thing that I will not soon forget.

Following worship a lady introduced herself as a first time guest to our church. She said with deep sincerity, "I was supposed to be here today. It touched me to see the man with special needs lifted up," she added, "because our daughter has special needs." Isn't God incredible?

MAXIMS FROM THE MAN

2009-09-27T20:18:00.000-04:00

Did you hear about the 28-year-old guy with over 300,000 followers on Twitter? I heard a report on CNN about this guy who moved back in with his parents and started tweeting the funny things his elderly father says. One of the quips from his dad was something like, "Don't touch the bacon, I'll take care of the bacon and you take care of whatever it is you do...I guess nothing!"

That is good stuff! And it made me think about sharing a few classic quotes from L.D., who has served First Church as pastor-teacher for the last 37+ years. The guy oozes wisdom (often in a witty sort of way)! And when it comes to pastoral effectiveness most people would agree that L.D. is the man! Since I'll be following him as First Church's next pastor, I'm doing my best to pick up as much from L.D. as possible.

This weekend L.D. shared what he called his "agenda" (yeah, he quite unapolegitcally said he had one!). For the last four decades L.D.'s driving agenda has been: "to see as many as possible, as soon as possible, by all means possible, come into the house of God." That statement met with rousing applause from the congregation.

I can definitely get into following that kind of passion for reaching those who need Jesus! After all, wasn't that also God's "agenda"? Oh yeah...John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

GETTING AHEAD OF GOD

2009-09-17T07:25:00.000-04:00

Joshua chapter 9 got me this week! It deals with how people called the Gibeonites deceived Israel. God instructed Joshua to avoid making treaties with any inhabitant of the Promised Land. But the Gibeonites pretended to be a wayfaring people from a land far, far away. They pulled off the ruse to the last detail.

The Gibeonites donned old clothes, saddled their donkeys with moldy bread, cracked cheese, and old wineskins, and wore worn-out flip flops. When Israeli investigators searched their supplies they were convinced that these people had travelled a great distance. The truth was that they lived just down the road and had cities that were the class of Canaan!

The key to the deception is in verse 14, "The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord." Israel saw their stuff, but did not see through their sham! And the result of rushing into a decision without seeking God first? Deception! From that day forward the Gibeonites were like a thorn in Israel's side.

When I'm honest with myself, I have to admit that most of my decisions are made without "inquiring of the Lord" first. No, not the big "life" decisions like career choices. Not even ministry related choices like what sermon to preach. It's more often the conclusions I draw about things like which car to buy, when to take vacation, and daily things like the TV shows I watch. As a result of leaving God out of those decisions more often than not, I know I've been deceived. If I'd only inquired of God first, I'm sure I would not have wasted 2-hours of my life last week watching Obama's address to Congress -- and certainly not the talking heads arguing over what he said afterwards!

I think I'll take to heart a little more God's great advice in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

NO REGRETS!

2009-08-29T09:58:00.001-04:00

Have you ever been halfway into a new endeavor and thought, ""What in the world am I doing! This is crazy! If only I'd been content with how things were before I got into this mess!" That's exactly what Joshua was thinking soon after He led the Israelites into the Promised Land. In Joshua 7:7 he cries out to God, "If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!"

The honeymoon period had been pretty sweet for Joshua. As soon as he assumed leadership of the Hebrew people, God parted the Jordan River (during flood stage, I might add) and Joshua led the people across into the land of Canaan. The buzz in the Israeli camp was, "God is with Joshua just like He was with Moses!" Everyone, including Joshua, was feeling really pumped about it. Even their first battle in the Promised Land was a miraculous victory. God delivered Jericho into Israel's hands and they didn't have to fire an arrow! With a simple shout the walls came tumbling down. At this point, not a single Israeli was regretting the decision to charge into Canaan and take possession of the land of promise. It was all good.

But then came the city of Ai. Joshua's advisor's thought it would be an easy win. But it turned into an absolute disaster for Israel. They were soundly defeated. That's when the remorse hit Joshua. The pain of his regret literally put him face down on the ground. How he wished they had stayed on the other side of the Jordan. Can you hear his thoughts? "It was so easy on that side! Back then there were no battles to fight. Back there we didn't have had to shed tears or blood. If only we had been satisfied to stay in our comfort zone!"

What's interesting is God's response to Joshua. The Lord said, "Get up off your face! You've got business to take care of." Long story, short, God revealed to Joshua that there was sin in the camp and that was the reason they'd been defeated. With this news and renewed hope from the Lord, Joshua pushed through his regret and got back to the task at hand. The result was that Israel got rid of the sin holding them back. They reached a new level of dedication to God and determination to follow His plan.

I've been praying for the 113 people who were baptized into Christ at First Church last weekend. My own experience on the journey tells me that at some point each of them will hit a wall of discouragement, even disillusionment, in their faith. It just happens. And when it does, that's when we need to find renewed hope in Christ. We need to hear God say, "Get up and keep on keeping on!" If we persevere our regrets will fade and God's promises will grow brighter. That's why God tells us in Galatians 6:9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Sometimes people regret starting a family. It's hard at times, but in the end, to say it's worth it is a huge understatement. Sometimes people regret beginning to tithe their income to the Lord. It's not easy, but in the end there are no regrets!

Many years ago the young heir to the Borden dairy fortune, Bill Borden, left his life of ease to become a missionary in China. While there he contracted a disease that caused an early death. On his deathbed he penned these words, "No reserve, no retreat, and no regrets."

I want to lean into the life God has called me to! When tempted to retreat, I want to heed God's call to keep charging. At times Joshua may have wished he had been content on the other side where life was comfortable. But in the end he lived a "strong and courageous" life for God's glory. On my deathbed that last thing I want to do is regret failing to "cross the Jordan" when God said go.

2009-08-23T21:34:00.000-04:00

TODAY IS THE DAY!

The last 6 months has been a whirlwind! Basically due to an incredible transition in life. In March I wrapped about 12 years of ministry with Heritage Christian Church in Fayetteville, GA and began a new ministry at First Church in Burlington, KY. My wife and children moved from our home in Peachtree City to our new home in Union, KY in May. As wild as it has been, we've seen God's hand in it each step of the way. Still it was crazy enough to keep me away from the blog spot!

But what happened this weekend at First Church was more than enough to get me off the "blogging bench" and back into the game! Over the course of three weekend services 113 people were baptized into Christ. The 14-foot diameter pool on stage was rocking as students, grandparents, men, women, and even entire families plunged into the waters of baptism with Jesus. It's was the closest thing to Acts 2 I've ever experienced! God showed up in a powerful way to lead people to say, TODAY IS THE DAY!

Some of the stories were amazing. One couple told me that their son baptized a buddy who is heading off to college next week...this couple had been praying for their son's friend to accept Christ since he was in 4th grade! I was blown away as entire families stepped into that pool together. It must have been a lot like that in the Bible as Lydia's entire houseld and the Philippian Jailer's whole family were baptized into Christ. The tears, shouts of joy, whoops of praise, high fives and huge hugs among those baptized said it all. God was there and He was changing lives!

For the past month our mantra has been "Don't put off until SOMEDAY what God is calling you to do TODAY." And wow, what a day TODAY has been!

The Difference A Year Can Make

2009-02-07T11:44:00.000-05:00

One year ago today I was frantically finalizing a number of last minute details in preparation for my first pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The anticipation of experiencing God in the very places Jesus walked, taught, touched, lived, died, and lived again rivaled the anticipation of holding each of our children when they were first born.

God did not disappoint! I'm sure I can speak for each of the pastors on our pilgrimage journey in saying that God met us there, He walked with us there, He transformed us there. In fact, God "deconstructed" me on a number of levels during that pilgrimage. As He builds us into His image the Lord's "reconstruction" process sometimes includes a wrecking ball. And I was wrecked in Jerusalem.

Leaning against the trunk of an olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus sweat ran as drops of blood. Kneeling before a mosaic of Judas betraying Jesus with a cold kiss. Ascending the stairs the Lord himself ascended to be mocked and falsely accused before Caiphas the High Priest. Standing in the dark pit where the Christ was held only hours before his crucifixion. Walking the "Way of Suffering" - Jesus' path to the cross.

Each place made Christ's sacrifice more real. Each experience brought a deeper understanding of the price Jesus paid to forgive my sin. Each moment wrecked me with the realization that God loves me in spite of me. So the desconstruction began.

It's now been a year since that wrecking ball began crashing into my soul. And God has been faithful to rebuild what He had to tear down. His reconstruction process has forced me to deal with old wounds, think with greater complexity, listen more deeply to His calling, and to live with greater abandon for His cause.

In a way that is similar to building with legos, God sometimes needs to deconstruct us in order to construct us. It's all part of the process to get the peices in the right places. He is reconstructing my heart of flesh into His heart of holiness. And though I'd love to be furiously packing once again today for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, perhaps I should just enjoy this season of God's re-creating rather than His wrecking!