Unrehearsed Symphony

New Software

2011-02-19T13:22:00.000-08:00

It's hard to get all the pieces to fall into place.

Still testing new software. Please ignore this post. Sorry for any inconvenience. This is as painful for me as it is for you. But the wheels on the bus go round and round.

From The Outside Looking In

2010-06-19T16:56:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to my first AA meeting.

I don’t mind telling you it was a little intimidating. There were no signs. No instructions about what to do. No arrows directing me to where I should go. Nothing indicating what time the meetings take place or how long they would last. No preparation about what to expect when I walked through the doors.

Every day for the past two years I have driven past the Ambry Club, just two blocks from my house. I noticed that at certain times of the day, the parking lot would be full and folks would be gathered and visiting outside the front door. I was curious. I wanted to go, but was scared. I wasn’t sure I would be welcome there. I didn’t think I fit in. After all, I wasn’t really one of them. I didn’t meet the requirements. We might have some things in common, but I was pretty sure I didn’t fit the profile.

For years I have heard about the good work and life change that happens in places like this. But what would happen to me if I went? Would my friends start to look at me differently? Would they talk about me? Avoid me? Exclude me? How would I explain this to my Dad?

So day after day, I drove by, afraid to stop. I wanted to, but it made my palms sweat just thinking about it. So I would grip the steering wheel, divert my eyes and just keep driving.

What requirements do they have? Do I have to pay to go? Would I be pressured to make some kind of commitment? To join? Was this for “members” only or can just anyone come? Could I walk away if I didn’t like it? Would I be asked to say or do something that would embarrass me?

Then a good friend offered to go with me. She told me what time they met. She described a few of the characters I would likely run into. I asked about the meeting and what to expect. She assured me that everyone was welcome there and prompted me on what to say when it was my turn. “My name is Jay, and I’m just here to listen.”

What a relief to have someone sit beside me who understood things. She knew how nervous I was. How uncomfortable I felt. She understood the room. The people. The rituals. The language. The expectations. She explained a few things to me. I borrowed her courage and followed her lead. What was so foreign and strange to me was comfortable to her.

I learned a lot that night. What it's like to be on the outside looking in... the courage it takes to walk through the door for the first time. Once inside, it wasn’t nearly as frightening as I had imagined. And most interesting of all, I think maybe I really do belong there.

Perfection

2010-05-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, Oakland A's pitcher Dallas Braden pitched a perfect game against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays - a feat that has been achieved only 19 times in the 120 year history of Major League Baseball.

A perfect game is more than a no-hitter. In a nine-inning baseball game, a pitcher must face a minimum of three batters per inning, or 27 batters total. The pitcher cannot allow a batter to reach base safely for any reason - hits, walks, or hit batters. 27 up - 27 down. But great pitching is not enough. It must also be backed by great play out on the field. An error by a right fielder could allow a runner to reach base and spoil an otherwise flawless game.

What a great metaphor for life. A perfect game is something we only dream about. Looking back at the past year, week or even the past hour, we find plenty of room for criticism. Did we give our best? Were there a few costly errors? Do we have room for improvement?

To date, Braden’s career would be described as mediocre, losing more games than he’s won. But this past weekend, he was unstoppable. In my own game of life, I confess the pitching has sometimes been lackluster - some innings were red hot, others have been ice cold. Maybe your story is one of a sluggish start, but now you’re really finishing strong. Whatever the case, the only way to win is to keep pitching.

Thankfully, through the years there have been some terrific folks who “had my back”. Parents, teachers, coworkers, mentors. Funny, but it seems that the further you get in the game, that pitching arm begins to tire, and the more grateful you become for good support out in the field.

Dallas Braden is still a young man, only 26 years old. There will be plenty of long lonely walks back to the dugout in his future. But for one day, this past Mother’s day, Braden made his mom proud.

“I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1)

The Language of God

2010-05-03T18:55:00.000-07:00

“The greatest blunder of my life.” That’s what Albert Einstein called it.

His general theory of relativity told him that the universe must either be expanding or contracting. Astronomers argued that neither one was true. They were convinced that the Milky Way galaxy where we live was stagnant, was only a few thousand light years in size and was the only galaxy in the universe. So Einstein altered his equations to meet the commonly held beliefs.

From a lonely mountaintop in California, Edwin Hubble discovered otherwise. The Milky Way, he calculated, was at least 300,000 lightyears in diameter. Furthermore he concluded that the sky is filled with billions of galaxies similar to ours and the universe was indeed expanding, validating Einstein’s theory.

Last week marked the 20th anniversary of the launching of the space telescope named in Hubble’s honor. Over the past two decades, it has been photographing the edge of the universe, sending back an amazing array of 100 million images and probing the cosmos to depths he could only dream about a century ago.

When Galileo discovered he could use the tools of mathematics and mechanics to understand the motion of celestial bodies, he felt, that he had “learned the language of God.”

The more we explore the wonder of God’s creation, the more we stand in awe of its complexity and beauty. The more we grasp the “bigness” of the universe, the more we are impressed with our own “smallness”. Science's domain is to investigate nature. God's domain is spiritual, a realm that can’t be explored with the tools and language of science. It must be examined with the heart, the mind, and the soul. The language of God is not a language of mathematics, but of the heart.

Science has been astoundingly successful in investigating the natural world. But even at their best, the tools of science are powerless to answer some of our profoundest questions. The Hubble telescope can give us glimpses of the edge of the universe, but cannot answer, "How did all of this come into being?", "Why are we here?" and "What will happen to us after we die?"

Hubble’s telescope will never answer these deeply rooted questions. It’s speaking the wrong language.

Holy Ground

2010-04-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

Did you ever wonder why farmers who pride themselves on planting their crop in straight rows will then force them to grow in a circle? It’s a familiar sight here in Nebraska. Everyone knows you measure land in acres, which are square. But what really adds value to your land is the number of circles on your squares.

In 1823, a government surveyor named Stephen Long was mapping out the Great Plains, an expanse of land acquired along with the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. He was unimpressed by what he saw and submitted this report:

“I do not hesitate in giving the opinion that it is almost wholly
unfit for cultivation, and of course, uninhabitable by a people depending upon agriculture for their subsistence.”

Long would be shocked to see what the region looks like today -- not merely fit for cultivation, but in fact one of the most fertile and productive areas of the world. Since World War II, the technology for pumping groundwater for irrigation has transformed what Long called "The Great American Desert" into the breadbasket of the world. A marvelous achievement, no question. But there is growing concern about how quickly the underground water reservoirs are being depleted. Every few years, farmers in some areas find themselves redigging wells deeper and deeper to reach water.

For centuries, the biblical command to "have dominion" over the earth (Genesis 1:26, 28) was seen as a divine endorsement of environmental exploitation. But in recent years, people of faith have begun supporting efforts to be good stewards of the earth. And perhaps it’s about time.

The 19th century poet, William Cullen Bryant, observed that God’s first temple was a garden. In the beginning, God’s only requirement of Adam was to “ work in the garden and to care for it.” (Gen 2:15)

We can't afford to be lazy stewards. After all, Psalm 24:1 reminds us, "The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.” It’s a pretty amazing place where we live. A place that reflects the goodness of God (Rom 1:20).

The Hug Heard 'round The World

2010-04-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

It's not often that a hug between a woman and her husband is big news, but the one Amy Mickelson gave hubby Phil Mickelson on the 18th green after he won the Masters Tournament last Sunday in Augusta, Georgia, was special both for the golf pro himself and for fans who watched.

Amy had been there for both of Phil's previous wins at the Masters, and regularly traveled to Phil's other tournaments along with their three children. They shared meals together in the evenings and talked about his day, their family and life together. Then eleven months ago, Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer, and the energy-sapping treatment for the disease began to take its toll. Amy has not been strong enough to follow her husband since beginning therapy.

You may remember that the couple let fans know about Amy's condition at the PLAYERS Championship in May, where Phil wore a pink ribbon on his golf cap.

In July, Phil opted out of the British Open, explaining on his Web site, "As a professional golfer, competing in major championships, and winning them, is my main objective. But I've always said family is my number-one priority. For that reason I won't be playing the British Open at Turnberry next week. It's a trying time for us as we await more test results but we're optimistic, as always."

As Phil played his final holes at this year's Masters, he was certain Amy was watching, but he wasn't sure she would be there in person. She was, along with the entire Mickelson clan. And after his win, the couple's long embrace and their shared tears of joy was witnessed around the world and created a high moment for the two of them and for fans who knew their story.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live
a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us
as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God….
…Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
(Ephesians 5:1-2…25-28)

Top Ten Things My Motorcycle Has Taught Me

2010-04-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

1. The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rear view mirror.

2. Four wheels move the body; two wheels move the soul.

3. I'd rather be riding my motorcycle and thinking about God, than sitting in church thinking about my bike.

4. Life may begin at 30, but it doesn't get real interesting until about 75 mph.

5. Midnight bugs taste just as bad as Noon time bugs.

6. Sometimes it takes a whole tank full of gas before you can think straight.

7. A bike on the road is worth two in the shed.

8. Young riders pick a destination and go; old riders pick a direction and go.

9. Catching a wasp in your shirt at 75 mph can double your vocabulary.

10. Bikers understand why a dog sticks his head out of a car window.

A Safe and Quiet Space

2009-09-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid I was fascinated by all things creepy and crawly. My friends and I could spend entire days down at the river just a half mile from my house. We would seine for minnows and catch crawdads. We would scour the river bank for lizards, grass snakes, gophers and baby rabbits. We collected leaves and bugs and rocks. Still today, just taking a walk out in nature brings back wonderful childhood memories.

I remember so many times finding caterpillars and carrying them home. One time in particular, I found a caterpillar that was ready to spin it’s cocoon and undergo that magical, hidden stage of transformation. But its natural habitat had just been mown down by the city maintenance folk. It was sluggish from the unseasonably cool weather and was about to cross four lanes of brisk traffic. So I took the caterpillar home and put it in a suitable container (quart mason jar) to do its thing safely. A couple weeks later, it emerged from it’s cocoon a beautiful monarch butterfly which I released and watched fly away.

Countless caterpillars become butterflies every year without my assistance. Moreover, I did not need to explain to the caterpillar what it was supposed to do or become. Those things come naturally to caterpillars. For this particular pre-butterfly, though, a little assistance at the critical moment in its journey and a safe space to change and emerge probably made the difference between completing its metamorphosis (and living to reproduce the next generation) or becoming a disgusting splat on Hwy 30.

Every day God allows us to cross paths with other pilgrims on their journey. Some are at critical moments in their journey. As we minister to them in their times of crisis - caring for physical and emotional needs - there will also be opportunities to minister to their spiritual needs. We must be loving and supportive and patient in these times. They will grow beside us. They will become whatever is meant for them to be, and that form will become clear to us in time. For now, many will simply need a safe and quiet space to be, to change, to become and to emerge.

God does not ask of us that we be the agents of change in another person’s life. The change will come from within and will happen precisely on cue by the hand of God. Our calling is to provide a safe, nurturing environment where God can work.

The past few weeks, we’ve been reading stories of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The people returned from exile in Babylon discouraged, wounded, and broken. They followed godly men like Ezra, Nehemiah and Zerubbabel, but it was God who stirred their hearts to build. In a powerful message of reassurance, God reminds Zerubbabel that the city will be rebuilt and the people will be restored…

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” (Zech 4:6)

Oh God, let your Spirit move in us.

Now That's Refreshing!

2009-09-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

All you could say was Wow! Watching the new champion of women’s tennis, Kim Clijsters, holding the trophy in one hand and her curly haired 18 month old daughter in the other. What a great story.

After taking nearly 2 years off from her career, becoming a mother, and caring for her father who was dying from lung cancer, she has returned to professional tennis stronger and faster than when she left. She says she now has a mental edge on all her opponents. Having a family has given her a sense of peace and purpose that tennis could never give. Even granting network interviews on Monday morning with only 2 hours of sleep was no problem. “Moms everywhere know what that’s like,” she laughs.

Sunday night, she’s the new champion. Monday morning she’s cutting vegetables, packing luggage, fixing lunch and planning her daughter Jada's nap time. “Playing tennis is what I do. Jada’s mom and Brian’s wife is who I am. And I’m very happy with the new me.”

How happy are you? Let me phrase that question another way: how much do you enjoy living your life? Please understand that I am not talking about changing your life. (At least not in this article). I am also not talking about those moments when we feel the feeling of happiness when we are spending time with good friends, or enjoying an evening out with your husband or wife. Those moments are indeed enjoyable and we can very easily increase the number of those moments in our lives by setting aside time and creating an atmosphere where they can happen.

I’m talking about taking greater enjoyment in the life that you currently have right now - the ability to truly appreciate and be truly aware of all the good things that exist in your life.

In order to train yourself to enjoy your life, you need to get into the habit of gratitude. When was the last time you counted your blessings? I mean literally sat down and made a list of all the things you’re grateful for? Five times in the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon reminds us that even the ability to “eat, drink and find satisfaction in what you do” is a gift from God.

A second great habit to develop is to try to catch other people doing things right. Lifting yourself up by putting others down is never a rewarding endeavor. A spirit of criticism and debate won’t add even an ounce of joy to your life. On the other hand, a spirit of encouragement and praise will somehow magically find a way to fill your cup as well. Look for excuses to applaud the good you see in others.

“he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

(Proverbs 11:25)

Thousand Words Thursday

2009-09-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been this tired?

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

(Isaiah 40:29-31)

Have a blessed week.....and hope in the Lord.

The Woman Nobody Wanted

2009-09-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

There’s been a lot of “patriotism” in the air this past week. Remembering 9/11 dominated all the Friday headlines. It is valuable and necessary for us as a nation to be vigilant in protecting ourselves from an enemy who wants to harm us. It is hurtful and unproductive for us to single out a group of people as targets for our anger.

There are plenty of “enemies” out there with the potential to do equal or greater harm than 9/11. There is an enemy who has your marriage in his crosshairs at this very moment. He is plotting the downfall of your family. He would like nothing better than to see your reputation crumble. He’s laying a trap for your future and scheming to undermine your peace and joy for today.

In 2 Corinthians 2:11, Paul wrote that he was not “unaware of Satan’s schemes”. But I’m afraid we often are. People all around us are sending out distress signals, and so often we miss them. It is easier to label them as weak, immoral, shameful and pitiful. When truly, they have fallen victim to Satan’s schemes. And God calls on us to search and rescue.

If ever there was a woman with a wounded soul, it was the woman at the well in John 4. She didn’t hide it. She couldn’t hide it. It was obvious. Were her shoulders slumped from the weight of the water jars or the weariness of her life? If her eyes looked tired, it may have been from ducking the condemning glances of her neighbors. Surely her heart bore some scars and callouses from her 5 failed marriages.

Jesus deliberately placed himself face to face with this person whom nobody else wanted. He read the signs that told the story of her troubled life. The enemy’s bullet had certainly found its mark. Maybe Jesus had already heard the gossip about her. Maybe he just saw the sadness in her eyes. But rather than shame her and condemn her, Jesus sang a new song of hope into her life.

Jesus was looking for what was in this woman’s heart. He looked at her through love’s eyes. And love always sees the best. Love always looks for the best. Rather than seeing a damaged woman from an inferior race, Jesus saw a woman wounded by the enemy - living in darkness…. but hungry for God. And Jesus gave her the greatest gift.

Everyone else had missed it. But not the Messiah. The gentleness of his touch and the kindness of his words brought instant healing. And he touched her heart with a message of hope that reached into eternity

This week a friend reminded me of the lyrics to an Alan Jackson song. (I know - who would have thought to look there for wisdom!)

I know Jesus and I talk to God
and I remember this from when I was young:
Faith, Hope and Love are some good things He gave us…
and the Greatest is Love.

God Can Use You

2009-09-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought about writing an autobiography? I was thinking about this recently when I heard about a 15 year old celebrity who is writing her autobiography. I couldn't help wondering, how much life have you lived at 15? But then again, if your life doesn't have as much drama as a teenage celebrity, be thankful.

Then I wondered, what section in the Library would my book belong to? Science? Hardly. Philosophy and Psychology? Maybe. Would I belong up in the Adult section, or down with the Children's books? When it comes to my walk with God, I feel like a Dick and Jane book. "See Jay run? See Jay trip? See Jay fall? Jay can fall hard!"

Our church family is taking a journey through the Bible this year. And with almost every turn of the page I am reminded that my life story pales in comparison with the stories of men and women we immortalize in Scripture. Not just their towering faith, but their colossal failures. The Bible is full of stories that are far more dramatic than mine.

Noah got drunk. Jay - nope.
Rahab was a prostitute. Jay - 0.
David had an affair. Jay - zip.
Elijah had bouts of depression. Jay - never.
Moses was a murderer. Jay - nadda.
Peter denied Christ. Jay - ouch.
James and John fell asleep while praying. Jay - now you're getting a little personal.
John the Baptist ate bugs. Jay - oh, now that's just disgusting!

But God used them all. Liars. Killers. Cowards. Thieves. Sickly. Uneducated. Too old. Too young. God delights in doing extraordinary things through ordinary people. How woefully unqualified so many of these people were! So what's your excuse? Why couldn't He use you? Oh, He wants to....He can....and He will if you just make yourself available.

Seven Laws of the Harvest

2009-09-07T20:12:00.000-07:00

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8)

Have you heard about the laws of the harvest? They are seven terrific life lessons, worth a bit of consideration:

1) We reap much that we did not sow.

2) We reap the same in kind as we sow.

3) We reap in a different season than when we sow.

4) We reap more than we sow.

5) We reap in proportion as we sow.

6) We reap the full harvest of the good only if we persevere;
the evil comes to harvest on its own.

7) We can't do anything about last year’s harvest,
but we can do something about this year’s.

In Rhapsody it played among the stars.

2009-09-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

On Zion's glorious summit stood
a numerous host redeemed by blood;
They hymned their King in strains divine,
I heard the song and strove to join.

I love, love, LOVE Hastings Book Store. Not only do they offer new books hot off the press, but they buy and resell used classics at a huge discount. Last week I spent $2.75 on a terrific book written 35 years ago by Calvin Miller. “The Singer” tells the story of Jesus in a beautiful poetic form. If you haven't read it, you really should.

When he awoke, the song was there.
Its melody beckoned and begged him to sing it.
It hung upon the wind and
settled in the meadows where he walked.
He knew its lovely words and
could have sung it all, but
feared to sing a song whose
harmony was far too perfect for

human ear to understand.

Miller's question: What does God ask of us? His answer: That we join with Him in singing his song.

The Bible tells the stories of notable men & women who joined in the song.

. . .Noah - who lived in a wicked world. Every thought in men’s hearts was evil all day long. But Noah heard another song - the song of God, and he joined in.

. . .Abraham - content, happy, wealthy in Ur of the Chaldees. But he heard the song of God and by faith he left his home and traveled to a strange land.

. . .Moses - growing up in the king’s palace in Egypt. All that the world had to offer was at his fingertips. He heard the world’s song, but he also heard the song of God and Heb 11 says He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.

. . .Joshua, Gideon, David, Daniel, Josiah, Amos. The world song was noisy and enticing. But they heard another song.

What does God ask of us? Only that we listen for his heart and hear and experience his love - and that our hearts would vibrate with the same. Not just in worship. In worship we tune our hearts to the heart of God, but out in the streets. . .that's where we sing His song.

Black Hills Bible Camp 09

2009-08-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

What an awesome week at Black Hills Bible Camp. If you weren't there......well....you should have been!

Main Lodge from across the lake

Private cabins for adult couples & small familes

Can't you just see yourself in these pictures? If not - maybe next year!!

Cowboy Church at the Buffalo County Fair

2009-08-03T21:18:00.000-07:00

So, what is Cowboy Church?

Here's the thought behind it: There are lots of families (including some from our own church family, which is where the idea began) who are busy with 4H and livestock shows and rodeos all summer long. When you get involved in the competitive end of livestock, there is some kind of event scheduled for almost every weekend. While traveling out of town, not everyone takes time out for worship. So we decided to take church to them this past weekend at the Buffalo County Fair.

That's the long and short of it.

So how did it go?
Well, after a rocky start (we had to move our location at the last minute due to a poultry competition that had roosted in our space. But rather than begin on a fowl note...we just flew the coop), we reset and started again.

About 35 folks from our church went along to set things up and help out with the "hug and howdy" portion of the day. Some told me they had invited friends, and a few actually brought friends. Somewhere around 60 folks from the fair and from the community showed up. One couple (early 60's - well past the 4-H stage of life) told me thay had seen our sign and just decided to come check it out. Most all the attenders came from the Kearney area. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet and share worship with some beautiful people.

We had a little fellowship time with coffee and donuts for whoever came. Then had a 45 minute devotional and worship time - singing some old favorite "gospel" hymns, sermonizing by Jay, and communion.

Unsolicited comments:

"I loved those old gospel songs. So many churches only have the new praise music. It was nice to sing songs I grew up with."

"The worship today was so relaxed and simple and beautiful. I think this is a lot like it probably happened 2000 years ago."

"How often are you planning to do this?"

"It was a HUGE success!! 
An awesome ministry was started this morning I think. :)"

It was a marvelous day. I'm excited for a couple of reasons:

1) It provided a chance to do ministry and meet some nice folks who probably would never come to us at the building. Most of them were from the Kearney area, so we are praying for lots of open doors.

2) It wasn't my idea. It is thrilling to work with a church that is genuinely excited about the idea of taking our faith out into the streets.

New Mattresses for NYC - Thousand Words Thursday

2009-07-30T20:10:00.000-07:00

Monday 5:00 p.m.

Monday was Mattress Day for Nebraska Youth Camp. Thanks to a hot tip from Helen Hogins, Jay and Nathan loaded and hauled 3 truckloads of new mattresses to NYC.

Nathan praying for more mattresses....

Be careful what you wish for!

Thanks Kirby & Amy Wilson for the use of the
Mattress Moving Van!

I think we can squeeze in one more.

Oh good.....a little help unloading!

Monday 10:00 p.m.
5 hours later, Nebraska Youth Camp has 150 (that's right 150) new mattresses -
enough to replace every bed in camp!!

The new mattresses are in the cabin - waiting to be installed.
Apparently the cleaning lady takes Monday's off.

Black Hills '09

2009-07-27T07:50:00.000-07:00

We're just one week away from our yearly pilgrimage to the Black Hills. Yes, it's time for that little slice of Americana called Rally Week in Sturgis, SD. The first week of August, the Hills are alive with the sound of Harleys! If you ever went to the carnival as a kid, then you know what the Sturgis Bike Rally is for adults. It is a collection of crazy, unique characters from all around the world ("you know, of course, most of them are doctors and lawyers".........yeah right!), vendors on every street corner selling everything you can imagine from accessories for your hog to a sweet tattoo that just says, "Thanks Mom. This is for you." You know, things you can enjoy for a lifetime. And oh, yes, don't forget the deep fried food that can clog your arteries just by walking past it.

Okay, so that's not really why we've travelled to South Dakota the first week of August for the past 30+ years. What draws us back year after year is another collection of crazy, unique characters at a place called Black Hills Bible Camp. From all over Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas... and oh yes, South Dakota, these folks have become family. And every year has become a spiritual family reunion.

It's hard to describe the spiritual impact of bible camp to someone who's never been there. It is a rare opportunity to "get away from it all." It is a relaxed environment where you can just talk about life. It is campfire devotionals. After the kids have gone to bed, the adults gather to play games and talk, sometimes until 2 in the morning. It is two friends sitting by the fire talking about important, deep things after everyone else has called it a night.

I think what makes bible camp so powerful is simply time. Time to think. Time to learn. Time to reflect. Time to bond. Time to share. Time to breathe.

We love the atmosphere of this particular camp because it's designed with families in mind. There are private cabins for husbands and wives to stay in along with their small children, while the older children stay together in larger cabins - grouped by age. Maximum benefit for everyone.

Some of our richest family memories come from this annual gathering. We wondered if we would still look forward to "Camp" once our children were grown.

Yep, we do.

Beyond Short Sightedness

2009-07-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

When I was a boy our family would make annual trips to Tennessee to visit my mother’s family. My grandparents farmed near a small town with a genuine town square, just like the one on the Andy Griffith show. A couple of times a week, they would go into town to do errands and a little shopping. My grandfather would join the other men down at the town square to visit, complain about the weather and just connect as a community.

The game of choice in the town square was checkers. I remember as a boy thinking how easy the game looked, and how I wanted to play with the old-timers. When I was finally invited into a game I was brimming with confidence. I captured a checker or two, and then a third. The older gent who was my opponent just kept talking and laughing with his friends, seemingly oblivious to how well I was doing. He would even give me a checker on purpose now and then.

Then suddenly he picked up a checker and hopped, skipped and jumped right across the board and yelled, “King Me!” And with that king, he proceeded to finish the game in short order.

That was the day, I learned about long-range vision.

Whether your life today is a bowl of cherries, or you’re living in the pits, it’s valuable to remember that today is just one piece in the larger game. Today’s losses are an investment in tomorrow’s victory. In Philippians 3, Paul talks about gains and losses in light of eternity. In Romans 5 he reminds us that “Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope”. And in 2 Corthians 4, after sharing a few stories about the hard times he has personally faced, he offers this amazing summary: “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

Wow! What is he saying? He’s saying that trouble and discomfort and fatigue are a big part of life. In the short term, they are painful and Satan will use those things to try to dis-courage us…to rob us of our courage.

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 15:57)

“Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.” (2 Cor 2:14).

Thank God that Satan doesn’t have the last word. As one thoughtful writer observes; "No one minds losing a few checkers along the way if he knows he’s headed for King Territory.”

Kearney Cruise Nite '09

2009-07-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

One of the largest gatherings of car enthusiasts in the midwest.

A great excuse for a cookout.

Hundreds and Hundreds
of satisfied customers

served!

Who cares about the cars.....
We're here for the food!

A big
THANK YOU
to everyone who helped!

It's The Peak of the Week!

2009-07-15T13:14:00.001-07:00

Replacing Excuses With Action
Yes, Lord, I know I've sinned, but I have several excellent excuses. . .

Excuse #4: I'm Afraid.

History often remembers people because of a single defining moment. Todd Beamer was an unknown account executive in New Jersey before September 11. Now history will remember him for his cell phone call from flight 93 as he told his wife, "I don't know what we're going to do, but we're going to do something." And his final words to his companions on the flight, "Are you guys ready? Let's roll!"

John Wilkes Booth was an aspiring, talented actor in the mid 1800's. But of course, he is remembered for a single defining moment at Ford's Theatre.

How do you want to be remembered? Moses had a defining moment when he parted the Red Sea. David had a defining moment on the battlefield with Goliath. Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus, doubted the resurrection and asked to see the nail prints in Jesus' hands. He has since been tagged "Doubting Thomas" for his lack of faith. I think that's too bad. I have often wondered about the other good things Thomas did.

After all, one day when Jesus was sharing his plans to return to Jerusalem, all the disciples were afraid. Threats had already been made on His life. But it was Thomas who bravely stepped forward and said, "Let's go and die with Him." We could just as well remember him as "Courageous Thomas".

I'm convinced God wants to use you as a catalyst for change. He places opportunities in your path that have sudden and significant potential. We often miss them, though, because opportunites frequently come disguised as hardships. It's easy to see an opportunity after it's passed - and to regret it. Much more difficult, and infinitely more important is seeing an opportunity still before you, running toward it and seizing it with all your might. A single moment, combined with personal courage and action....this is how destinies are shaped. Such moments must not be missed.

So how do you prepare yourself to lay hold of a defining moment?

1. Choose to live passionately for God, and trust your passions.
2. Awaken your senses - be alert and aware of the doors God opens.
3. Be fearless and ready, knowing you have been divinely prepared for this moment.
4. Take the initiative and be willing to risk, your next step can be the first step to living the adventure God calls you to.

Yugo Urway

2009-07-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

I don’t typically drive over the speed limit. But then again, I don’t like to leave a lot of unused MPH's out on the road either. The other day I was pressed for time trying to get to an appointment. I thought I knew the way. I had a picture in my mind of where I was going and the roads I would need to take to get there. I tried taking a shortcut through an unfamiliar part of town hoping to save a few minutes. You guessed it. It turned out to be one of those subdivisions that’s full of streets that don’t connect. Avenues that make a loop through the neighborhood and bring you right back out where you started from. Lanes that dead end into someone’s front yard. To make things worse, several streets in a row bore nearly the same name. 23rd Street was right next to 23rd Avenue, which connected to 23rd Blvd. What a mess!

You probably know the feeling as the frustration and desperation mounts. I’m running late and driving faster - looking for my turn. Finally I had that sinking feeling that I had missed it. And the reason I missed it is because I was just going too fast. In fact, I've missed the right road in my life a lot of times because I was going too fast to see it.

I was arrested the other day. Not by the police, but by a Bible verse. Proverbs 19:2 says, "It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way." My mother said it even plainer - “Haste makes waste.”

Speed isn't all that matters in life. Maybe you’ve seen the motivational poster that reads something like this:

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intentions of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body. But rather to slide in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming....WOW WHAT A RIDE!!

I don’t quite buy into that....and then again....I don’t want to just coast through life either. But I do want to get it right. I don’t want to race past the road that M. Scott Peck writes about which could have “made all the difference.” I want to see and enjoy and appreciate each day.
When I'm in too big a hurry, I don’t take time to gather all the facts. I also don’t take time to pray. That tells something about you, doesn't it? When I'm pressed for time, what things do I dispose of first?

Take it from a guy who’s made a lot of wrong turns. Speed diminishes accuracy.

Thousand Words Thursday

2009-07-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

After a bountiful harvest of apricots last year, we eagerly waited for another this year. It was not to be. Very disappointing. Then yesterday, we spotted a single, nearly ripe apricot hanging from this branch of our tree.........

......Today, it is missing!

There are no confirmed suspects in the case, but this guy was found hanging around the scene of the crime.

Also of interest in the case is this guy, who was witnessed fleeing the scene on foot shortly after the time of the theft.

Ah-h-h, well. I guess we wait and hope for next year.

- - Jay

Beyond Our Wildest Dreams

2009-07-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

A friend of ours loves working with his hands and building. He is very talented and artistic and has built some creative, fun furniture for his children’s bedrooms. Not long ago, he was building furniture for his three-year-old daughter’s room. It was going to be a wonderful castle that surrounded her bed - complete with towers and a drawbridge that enclosed a slide! The perfect castle for his beautiful princess. Well, early on in the project, it was just a frame with no walls. So dad took his princess into the workshop one day to see what he was building. She walked into the framework of what would soon be her own personal castle. She came out with her bottom lip sticking way-y-y out and asked, "Is this going to be a cage for timeouts when I'm bad?"

Poor girl. She thought her father was building a cage to punish her when he was really building a castle!

God is designing and building something wonderful in your life right now. Living within the framework of His will can sometimes seem restrictive. But that is not his intention. The framework and walls are not a cage to punish you or take away your freedom. They are there to protect you and provide a safe place where you can dream big dreams and discover your true, beautiful identity!

In Leviticus 26, God promises,

"I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people.
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt
so that you would no longer be slaves. I broke the bars of your
yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high."

God is committed to releasing you from your Egypt - your place of bondage, whatever that may be. It could be old habits, or destructive thoughts, or a poor self image that keeps you from enjoying the life of abundance He wants for you. God is committed to helping you throw away that old, limiting, ugly junk that’s holding you back. He knows there’s something marvelous that lies BEYOND the old you. He longs for you to see Him in a new way and see yourself in a new way - and begin to experience freedom.

Maybe the reason God had to remind Israel that He was releasing them and not restricting them, was that their journey included a wilderness and plagues. Their circumstances were clouding their view of God. They saw difficulty. God saw deliverence. They saw hunger. God saw provision.

It could be that you've been having your own share of plagues and wilderness. But that's not because God doesn't love you. Lift your eyes above your circumstance and you will see that God is working to set you free and bring you to a better place. He’s not building a cage to contain your life, He’s building something special as a gift for you. After all, you are His child. Is there any question how He feels about you?

Have a blessed week - child of the King!

I'm Off And Running

2009-07-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

So as you know, I've decided to take up running. I have taken some serious first steps. Yesterday, I bought a new pair of shoes. The good news is that Nathan ran all through High School, so I was prepared for the sticker shock. And he went along to help me sort through the plethora of choices. Who knew that individual shoes had names?

Saucony makes a shoe named Triumph. Sounds like a winner! In high school, I wanted a Triumph. A Triumph TR7. It was a sweet 2 seater British sports car that was shaped like a doorstop. I saw one for the first time at an auto auction with my uncle in Nashville, TN. Very sleek. I never got to hear it run. They pulled it into the auction on a rope. But I bet it would have sounded cool.

Mizuno makes a shoe called the Wave. Seemed like a nice, friendly shoe.

The hot seller for Adidas is the SuperNova. Wow! They also have a shoe - very fitting for my line of work - called Salvation.

There was a shoe called Adrenaline. One called Addiction. Another called The Beast. Then there was Racer, Defyance, Glycerine and Infiniti. (I think I watched all those guys a few years back on All-Star Wrestling.)

The little girl at the sports store was no help. One pair of running shoes I was looking at had what seemed to be a little pocket stitched into the side. I asked her what the little pocket was for. She said it was to carry spare change so I could call my wife to come get me if I ran too far. Ha! Look who put on their smarty-pants today! I bought my shoes across the mall at another store.

Well, I decided on the Asics Kayano. Nathan wore them all through High School - put thousands of miles on them - set a couple of meet records with his relay team and won a State Championship in Cross Country. I'll be happy if I just don't get shin splints.

So I'm all set. Day 1. Just looking at myself in the mirror in my running shorts and Asics Kayanos I feel better already.

It's The Peak of the Week!

2009-07-01T09:18:00.000-07:00

Replacing Excuses With Action
Yes, Lord, I know I've sinned, but I have several excellent excuses. . .

Excuse #3: It's too big.

Okay, I'm going to say something out loud, in print, which could be a big mistake. I'm going to start running. A little bit. Not a lot, like marathons or anything, but running, as in jogging. I'm firmly committing to doing it ... once in a while, maybe ... if I feel like it ... when the weather's decent ... if I have time, and my knees and feet and back don't hurt too much.

No, actually, I intend to be a bit more serious about it than that. I'm going out tomorrow to buy a pair of running shoes. Does that count for anything? I want to run at least once a week, maybe twice or three times, for the rest of the summer. We'll see how it goes after that. Twelve weeks of running. Anyone want to join me in committing to exercising 2-3 times a week?

I've been thinking about this for a while, now. Last Memorial Day, my daughter, Erica, ran in the Bolder Boulder with some friends and had a BLAST. I've already talked to a few friends in the church here in Kearney and there are several of us who are willing to give it a shot next year. Along the way, I may try to run a couple of 5Ks down here in the flatland. 3.1 miles. Twenty years ago, that would have been a nice 20-30 minute run. Now, it's a little intimidating. I'm in pretty good shape, I think. (A circle is a pretty good shape, isn't it?) But I'm not in running shape - certainly not competitive running. So I will just have to start with where I am, and work with what I've got.

I would like to think that one day I could run a full marathon. But thinking about a marathon is too big. So that's not my goal. I find that when I focus on the small, I accomplish great things. So my goal for now is just to be able to run 3 or 4 miles without passing out (or losing my lunch). And my plan for today is just to run.

Beyond. . .

2009-06-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

It’s Summertime. Vacation time. Time to hit the road. Time to get away. I hope you get to go somewhere new and fresh and interesting this Summer. Oh, not by car, but in your spiritual journey with God.

Traveling to new places has never been easier than it is in our generation. Nathan just returned Tuesday night from a summer of mission work in Rio, Brazil. (By the way, he is dying to tell you about it!) He flew into Omaha at 8:00 Tuesday night - did his laundry and flew back out of Omaha at 5:00 Wednesday morning with the York College Choir for a week in New York City.

What a world we live in! Just a couple of generations ago, a journey like that was reserved for the very wealthy and would have taken weeks by boat and long, hot, dusty days by horse and buggy.

Melanie and I spent last Monday with Gary & Sheri Whaley at Pioneer Village taking a journey through time. What a fun day. Not just because we were with friends, but it was fun to imagine what life 100 years ago might have been. To see the progress from horse and buggy. . .to steam power. . .to gas & diesel engines. . . to the jet age . . .to the space age. What a journey of progress we have been on!

But the question that waits to be answered is, “What lies beyond?”

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on …
(Philippians 3:13)

Beyond.

Isn’t that a great word! Full of mystery. Full of hope. Full of possibility. It calls to us. It draws us. “There’s more. Come and see!” it says.

I want to invite you on a journey. To go Beyond. . . So take a deep breath, gather all your courage, and let’s take one obedient, faithful step at a time and see what lies beyond.

Excuses, Excuses...

2009-06-26T16:29:00.000-07:00

I think I'm getting old. Want to know how I know? Certain things that never used to bother me are beginning to really annoy me.

like the new casual writing style of the present generation it seems they have thrown out all the rules about capitalization and punctuation and you can just write freestyle w/no regard for the confusion of the reader. for a while i thot it was cute that ppl used abbrevs for everything they rote. now it's just starting to annoy me. :(

Or the endless number of facebook quizzes you can take. "Which superhero are you?" "Which flower are you?" "Which Survivor star are you?" "My top 5 sportscars." And even: "5 beers that always have a place in my fridge!"

Bad drivers also annoy me.

So do long lines.

Sometimes commercials on television annoy me. Like the add campaign for Twix candy bars. The theme is always the same with just a little variation in the set up. Someone is caught in a compromising situation and the narrator's voice says, "Need a moment?". The actor then peels open a package of Twix and pops a Twick into his mouth, allowing him a moment to think of a good excuse for his bad behavior. Sorry - the idea that if given enough time we can talk our way out of just about anything annoys me.

My favorite scene in Tolstoy's novel, War and Peace, finds the main character Pierre, being forced to face himself and make an honest evaluation of his life. He says it well for all of us:

"Yes, Lord, I have sinned, but I have several excellent excuses."

It's true. Give me a little time, and I will come up with several excellent excuses for just about everything I've ever done - or failed to do. Not only my moral failures, but all the dreams and desires that have fallen by the wayside - the opportunities that have slipped through my fingers. I have plenty of excellent excuses for them, too.

So I'm working on replacing excuses with actions. Instead of automatically assuming, "Oh, I can't do that," I ask myself, "Why shouldn't I?!" Do I really want to allow the failures of the past to keep me from embracing the dreams God has for my future?

Don’t let excuses keep you from God’s best. He wants you to live a fulfilled, abundant, and rewarding life. Be open to Him. Be open to the new opportunities He brings across your path. Maybe you missed an opportunity or were discouraged by what appeared to be a closed door. We serve a God of second chances! Be watching for opportunities. He can strengthen you to overcome your obstacles, and empower you to see your dreams become realities!

It's The Peak of the Week!

2009-06-24T21:57:00.000-07:00

Replacing Excuses With Action
Yes, Lord, I know I've sinned, but I have several excellent excuses

Excuse #2: I'm too busy.

For most of our married life, Melanie and I lived just 10 minutes away from one of the nicest lakes in Nebraska. Over the 4th of July weekend, McConaughy will be the vacation destination for upwards to 100,000 people. The big sandy beaches are a great place to relax and play - the water is clean and warm - and the fishing is great. Just thinking about it makes me want to get out my khaki shorts and a pair of sandals. It's just a beautiful, fun place.

When we were dating, our favorite way to spend the evening was on the beach with a little charcoal grill and a blanket, swimming, listening to the waves, and "watching the sunset".

Years later when we would take the kids out for an evening on the beach we talked about how nice it would be to spend more time there - camping - fishing - playing volleyball on the beach - loving life and making memories. We were sure that we would do more of it if we just had a camper to make it more comfortable. So we bought a little pop-up camper - the kind that you turn the crank and the roof raises, and a little tent covered bed would roll out from each end. It came complete with a little icebox and 2 burner cookstove. We couldn't wait to use it the first time. What a fun weekend.

But each time we went out, it was a little harder. All the planning, packing, unpacking, cranking, zipping, uncranking, unzipping, cleaning and towing was exhausting.

So we traded in the little popup for a newer 14' self contained camper. This would be so much nicer. We could just keep it stocked all the time and all we would have to do is hook on to it and go. We could be at the lake every weekend if we wanted! But there was always a taillight that didn't work or wheel bearings to repack. . .and it was so awkward trying to get in and out of campgrounds. You know what would be even better is a motorhome.

So we traded up to a little Dodge motorhome. . .

The long and short of the story is that the memories we made in the motorhome were no better than the ones made with a charcoal grill and a blanket. What mattered was that we made time.

Join My Cause

2009-06-21T18:58:00.000-07:00

Are you old enough (or young enough) to remember the Hare Krishna movement of the 60’s & 70’s? I remember going to the airport so my mother could fly out to Tennessee to visit my aging and ailing grandmother. Walking through the airport was a fearful journey. We weren’t worried about terrorists. Except for the occasional hijacking to Cuba, airports and flying were considered very safe. It was the Hare Krishnas we were afraid of. No, they weren’t exactly dangerous. Mostly they would just sit in the corner chanting and singing to themselves. But I remember staying very close to my Dad and having the eerie feeling that we were being stalked. And I remember being warned that if they tried to talk to us, we should ignore them and walk faster.

A friend of mine joined the Hare Krishna’s in the late 70’s. He had left home to “find himself” and eventually found himself living out of the back of his ’69 Buick on the California coast. That was when he discovered the Hare Krishna temple. They were a communal group who ate together every day and had the most wonderful buffet! So he joined their cause.

If you are familiar with Facebook on the internet, you know it is a really neat way to stay in touch with friends. But you also know that every time you open it, you are being invited to join another “cause”. The creators of Facebook even encourage it:

“Facebook presents an unprecedented opportunity to engage our generation in seizing the future and making a difference in the world around us. Our generation cares deeply, but the current system has alienated us….Any Facebook user with a little passion and initiative can create a cause, recruit their friends into the cause, keep them up to date on related news and, most importantly, raise money to support their cause.”

I just checked the stats and as of this morning there are 14,115 causes to join under the heading “Environment”, 52,518 causes listed as “Human Services”, and 12,052 causes under “Religion”.

Is that really what Christianity is about? Creating a cause, recruiting friends into the cause, sharing news about the cause and most importantly…..? You might think so if you listen to the media.

The cause of Christ is a high calling. It is not just about creating, recruiting, informing and raising money. It is an invitation to a relationship with the God of the Universe! It is a call to a life of purpose and holiness. Jesus understood the cause very clearly. It is about seeking and saving the lost. It is about helping others find life - life to the full. It is about serving. And it is about doing the will of God.

Peak of the Week

2009-06-17T14:24:00.000-07:00

Replacing Excuses With Action
Yes, Lord, I know I've sinned, but I have several excellent excuses. . .

Excuse #1: It's going to be to difficult.

When I was a kid. . .about 10-11 years old as I recall, I joined 8 other boys for a birthday party / sleepover at my friend, Jim Hurley's house. Jim was a tough kid. Toughest kid in Progress Elementary School. Whenever a scuffle broke out on the playground, Jim was likely to be involved, and somebody was going to get punched in the nose. Jim and I were friends - not because I was tough - but because we shared a spirit of curiosity and loved adventure.

Jim's bedroom was on the upper floor of the two story house where he lived so, naturally, we strung a zipline from his bedroom window over to the garage about 30 feet away. It seemed the most logical way to get out of the house in an emergency. It was awesome! And we had lots of emergencies. But that night, we were ready to take it a step further. Our plan was to parachute from the roof to the ground by holding the four corners of a bedsheet. Jim was pretty stocky - 25-30 pounds heavier than me, so I was the obvious choice for the test flight. I calculated that with a running start, I could clear the shrubbery and make a soft landing in the grass, finishing off with a barrel roll that would bring the crowd to it's feet, just like in the movies.

About the time I passed the balcony, I realized there were a few flaws in our planning, and I also realized I was not slowing down. I landed a few feet short of the intended drop zone, but thanks to the shrubbery and my superb flying skills, I ended up with just a few scrapes and a bruised ego.

I learned a painful lesson in physics that day, but I have never regretted making the leap.

Have you ever considered that the "good life" is not going to just happen to you? You have to go out and get it. And you have to be prepared to face some setbacks. In fact, struggles are not the tragedy of life, they are the blessing!

Many people I know go out of their way to avoid life's struggles. The most successful people I know go out of their way to face difficulties head on. In his powerful book, The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck writes, "It is in this whole process of meeting and solving problems that life has it's meaning. Problems call forth our courage and our wisdom; indeed, they create our courage and our wisdom."

I still dream of flying. Will we be courageous enough to recognize life's challenges, embrace them, and rise above them? Remember, the impossible just takes a little longer.

Countdown To Wedding Day - Part 2

2009-05-04T17:24:00.000-07:00

Only 5 days until the day. THE day. Wedding day for Camilla and Aaron.

Wow! This post seems amazingly familiar. Seems like only 5 months ago I was sharing with you the ramblings of a proud father, watching from the sidelines as our oldest, Erica, was being swept off her feet and pledged her heart, life, and future to Ben Berry.

What I didn't tell you then is that for the past year and a half, Aaron Spong has been gently and steadily stealing Cami's heart as well. And now for the second time in just 4 1/2 months, the blog is the same.....only the names have changed.

Being a good parent is undoubtedly the toughest job in the world. The ultimate goal of parenting is to do your job so well that one day you put yourself out of business. It is thrilling to watch each child "become" who they will be and to release them with confidence that they will soar!

Some children become adults abruptly - at the hands of a single, life changing event - in response to a monumental challenge. It can be painful to watch as they lurch awkwardly forward until they finally get their bearings and steady their feet.

Other children become adults with such poise and grace that you are nearly at a loss to explain how and when it happened. It came about so gradually and softly and wonderfully that it defies words. That is Camilla. She is the perfect mixture of charm and thoughtfulness, confidence and modesty, intelligence and curiosity, strength and kindness, beauty and simplicity.

Cami has an eye for beauty, love for children and a heart for God. How appropriate that she would fall in love with Aaron - an artist, outdoorsman, schoolteacher and passionate follower of Jesus Christ. He is a good man to climb mountains and chase dreams with.

So, on May 10th, 2009 - Mother's Day - Cami and I will walk down the aisle and welcome into our lives a brand new husband and son.

Will the FotB be performing the ceremony this time? Ha! Not a chance. Once again, he will be cheering from the sidelines with all his heart.

Hey, wait a minute! Adding Aaron to the family breaks the tie and after 25 years of having all our good ideas voted down, the balance of power finally shifts back to the men. Yeah, I know.....a 4 to 3 majority isn't exactly filibuster-proof, but at least now we've got a shot!

Singing For The Milkman

2009-04-29T13:33:00.000-07:00

We've been sleeping with the windows open the past several nights. It's so good to enjoy the cool fresh air in a house that's been closed up and stuffy all winter.

Each morning about 4:00 a.m. a symphony of birds sings outside our window. I don't know if they come over just for our enjoyment or if they visit your neighborhood too, but they are wonderful! They perform for a good solid half hour each morning and I listen and enjoy. And I wonder, who else hears them? In fact, I wonder, "Why do birds sing at four in the morning? Who do they think is listening?"

Frank, the milkman, lived just up the street from our house when I was a kid. Every morning, Frank would deliver fresh milk, butter and cream right to the milkbox on your front porch. When I was a teenager, I worked for Frank. I don't know when his day started, but he would stop by my house at 4:00 a.m. and we would start our route. We were the only ones up at that time of day, Frank and I. But every morning along about that time the birds would begin to tune their voices and practice their harmonies. I am not by nature a morning person, but those are some of my favorite memories from my childhood. Frank and I bouncing down the street in the Meadow Gold truck listening to the birds sing.

Who did they sing for? Does God really call the birds to wake and sing just for one milkman? Maybe. Isn't that a grand thought. . . .that there are some things in this world God does just for your pleasure! Simply because He delights to see you smile.

Oh, what a good God we have! I know it's still a little chilly for some, but i dare you to open your window tonight - just a crack - and listen for the music.

Off Camera

2009-04-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

I was bitten by the show biz bug. It was my first appearance on television and it was a brush with greatness. Fate was smiling on me. I was standing next to the famous superhero, Captain 11. The instant fame and applause that comes from an appearance on primetime tv can really go to your head. I just hoped all of my friends were watching.

Never mind that I was only 7 years old. This was it. I was in a crowd of eager, smiling faces on stage with Captain 11 in Sioux Falls, SD. What? Never heard of Captain Eleven? See if you don’t recognize this introduction:

"One man in each century is given the power to control time. The man chosen to receive this power is carefully selected. He must be kind. He must be fair. He must be brave. You have fulfilled these requirements; and, we of the Outer Galaxies designate to you the wisdom of Solomon and the strength of Atlas. YOU are CAPTAIN 11!"

Still don’t remember? Well, I promise you, in the mid 60’s, he was a rockstar to every kid on the playground at Washington Elementary in Huron, SD. (It never occurred to us that he bore an uncanny resemblance to the weatherman who came on at 6). With his headphones and blue and gold suit, he was as close to a real live super hero as we would ever get. And because I had the coolest parents in the world, they had picked me up from school early and drove nearly 100 miles so I could celebrate my birthday on stage with Captain Eleven. It was an unforgettable day.

That was also my first glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes to make a first class variety show, complete with games, prizes and Popeye cartoons.

Captain Eleven, superhero that he was, required lots of help. I remember there being a dozen stagehands who worked around the set making sure the props were all in place, running cameras and lights, and providing crowd control for 30 energetic kids, all of whom needed to go to the bathroom just before the lights went up!

As I think about that day, I think about the men Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 16:17

I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived…..
For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.

Who were these men? What exactly did they do? No one really knows. In fact, they’re never heard from again. But whatever they did, it was significant and noted and appreciated by Paul.

I have plenty of people like that in my life who seldom get the praise they deserve. I resolve to do better.

Why? Because such men (and women) deserve recognition.

Instant Faith

2009-04-19T19:03:00.000-07:00

Instant Starbucks. Are you kidding me?

That’s the plan. Later this year, Starbucks will market their world famous coffee right next to Folgers. CEO Howard Schultz said the gourmet coffee giant wants to change the way people think about instant coffee. “We have the technology to replicate the taste of Starbucks coffee in an instant form for a society on the go.” That’s the official spin. Reliable talk around the watercooler says that instant coffee is a $17 billion global market and Starbucks could use the, uh-h-h.…bucks right now.

Didn’t Starbucks start out as a place where you could meet your friends after a hard day? A place where you could relax for a few minutes and just catch up on life. In fact, truth be told, atmosphere had as much to do with their success as did what was in the cup.

Then there was drive-thru. Now, instant.

I wish them well, but I think they’re missing the point.

People are hungry for community. They are starving for a place, “Where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.” (I know, different product entirely, but work with me. . .)

“Belonging” comes from an old English word meaning: a close and secure relationship. Relationships of belonging are personal. They are about you, me, and the stuff that ties us together.

The Lord’s church has deep roots in belonging - trust, comfort, genuineness, safety, acceptance, and sharing resources. We are hungry to belong, because we are meant to live in community, and building that depth of community takes time. Not just time together in worship, but in fellowship, in sharing, in growing, in working side by side - trying and failing together and picking each other up.

When Jesus called his disciples, He didn’t say, “Listen to Me! Give me 30 minutes of your time and I’ll tell you everything you need to know about God.” His invitation was, “Follow Me.” Jay’s interpretation: Let’s spend time together. Walk with Me. Share with Me. Laugh with Me. Learn from Me. Trust Me. Watch how God and I move together. It took Him 3 1/2 years doing it His way.

The really good things in life take time.

Through the years, I’ve known some people of faith who turned out to be of the “instant” variety. Instant is impressive. Instant is easy. Instant makes headlines and heads turn. And then I’ve known people whose faith and experience are slow-brewed, rich and deep.

I’ll have a cup of what they’re having. I can wait.

Smile to the Lord a New Smile!

2009-04-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

I bet you've heard the old saying, "Smile and the world smiles with you, frown and you frown alone."

No? Hm.m.m... well, it goes something like that!

For years, we've been told that laughter is the best medicine. It's true that medically speaking, when you smile or laugh, the brain produces chemicals inside your body that relieve physical and emotional stress, and create a sense of well-being. Your body is an amazing factory of the most wonderful drugs. And you have the key!

But on a more personal level, we just love being around people who smile. Try it right now. Smile at someone and watch their eyes. They will automatically move to your mouth, even if just for an instant, and you will see their eyes brighten and their face muscles relax as they mirror your expression.

Have you ever noticed how incredibly easy it is for children to laugh? It just naturally comes from the depths of their being. Kids have hair triggers when it comes to smiling and laughing. We adults were like that once. Yes, we were! We smiled and laughed so easily and felt joy and it came out on our faces. So, what happened? Where did that spontaneous joy and laughter go?

If you've been a little down in the mouth lately, take just half a minute to read Psalm 98. See if it doesn't put a bit of spring back in your step and a little joy in your heart. And then. . . .

"Smile a new smile unto the Lord!"

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.

² The LORD has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.

³ He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

⁴ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;

⁵ make music to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,

⁶ with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn—
shout for joy before the LORD, the King.

⁷ Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.

⁸ Let the rivers clap their hands,
Let the mountains sing together for joy; ⁹ let them sing before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.

I Just Can't Do It!!!

2009-04-13T20:47:00.000-07:00

I love Easter. Not the part about the bunny or the colored eggs. That was kind of fun when the kids were little, but mostly it's just another good excuse to market useless products you would never otherwise buy. (ie. Straw baskets, fake grass, plastic eggs, and Peeps, to name a few).

No, the part I love is the part where we talk about new life. The resurrection of Christ. Stories of hope. Optimism. Celebration. In unstable times like these, the words of the old Anne Murray song are amazingly relevant, "We sure could use a little good news today."

And that is the mind-boggling message of Easter. For God to sacrifice his Son in my place is astonishingly good news. But to raise him from the grave is breathtaking! What kind of love. . .what kind of power does this?

I also like the concept of the Lenten Season. The spiritual value of giving something away - of making a sacrifice for your faith - goes back a very long way. All the way back to the story of Cain & Abel as a matter of fact. And I have tremendous respect for folks today who take this idea seriously. Not the flippant, "Well, I'm giving up (insert lame food item here______) for Lent", but the folks who do some serious soul searching about the areas in their life that may have gotten out of control.

But what is most instructive to me about the Lenten Season are the glimpses of our human nature before and after Lent.

It is no coincidence that Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent is immediately preceded by "Fat Tuesday", a day of indulgence and gluttony. And it's no surprise that many who have given something up for Lent have no intention of making this a permanent sacrifice. It's more like going on a spiritual diet. Once the diet is over, we welcome back the old habits and quickly pack on the spiritual flab.

Am I saying this to shame us for not being more disciplined? Hardly. Again I deeply respect folks who make sacrifices based on their faith. I'm simply saying that this is a compelling illustration of the eternal truth: We. . . . .I need a Savior if I am to have any hope of standing right before God. I am not strong enough to do it on my own. I don't have the willpower to resist, the strength to clean it up, nor the stamina to see it through. I can't do it!!

I need to know there's hope. I need to know there's a Way.

There's a little community church in my hometown. On the wall above the pews in the sanctuary is this potent reminder from the Old Testament book of Zechariah:

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit”, says the Lord.

I will keep trying to clean up my mess, and I will keep trying to do better. God help me, I will keep trying. And I will keep failing. But the good news of Easter is not about what I can or can't do.

It's about what He's already done.

Miracle of Miracles

2009-04-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

I've been reading and re-reading the story of the passion week - the final week in the life of Jesus. It is during this week that Jesus teaches some of his most powerful lessons.

Purpose in life. Purpose in death.
Loving God - Loving others.
Living a fruitful life in the face of adversity.
Preparation for the future.
Faithfulness. Watchfulness. Prayer.

They're all there in the final week of Jesus. But one phase of his ministry is curiously missing. Where are the miracles? The healings? The walking on water? The blind beggars? The loaves & fish? Wherever He went, Jesus was surrounded by these. Every day he performed miracles. And He always welcomed the people with gentleness, compassion, warmth. He would give Himself to the point of exhaustion. But now, in this week, the lens of heaven's divine camera is pointed in a new direction. Away from the crowds. This is no time for everyday miracles. These are close-ups of the Savior. . .intense and passionate.

Riding into Jerusalem like a king (the crowds are fickle, but today is smiles and cheers and laughter.)
Cleansing the temple (do you see the fire in His eyes?)
Weeping over Jerusalem (He had hoped for better things.)
Kneeling to wash the feet of Judas Iscariot (He did not come to be served, but to serve.)
Praying in the garden (Father, the time has come...glorify your Son that your Son may glorify you.)
Humiliated in silence (like a sheep who is dumb before his shearer. . .)
Beaten. Mocked. Spit on. Crucified.

For this week the crowds are blurred into the background and Jesus comes crisply into focus. This week is not about broken people or human suffering or hopeless beggars or giving sight or healing disease. This is not a time for everyday miracles.

It's time for THE miracle. The miracle of miracles.

The cross.

The Happiest Place On Earth

2009-04-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the happiest place on earth! It's official. And it's about time.

Yesterday, Nebraska was proclaimed the happiest state in America by the prestigious mainstreet.com. It was a hard fought battle for runner-up between the up and coming Kansas, birthplace of Walter Chrysler, Amelia Earhart, Dorothy and Toto - and perennial happiness powerhouse Iowa, home of Pufferbilly Days.

Maybe Nebraska's "Good Life" will finally get the recognition it's due. Of course, all of this is based solely on financial measurements using The Happiness Index, which looks at household income, debt, employment and foreclosures.

But don't get too comfortable with your happiness award, Main Street warns. Misery and woe lurk right around the corner. They fear that Nebraska's happiness ranking is overinflated by government subsidies of corn production, which the new administration threatens to cut.

Well, that would surely wipe the smile off our faces.

Unless they take into account a few other, less tangible measurements of happiness.

Air so clean you could breathe it

Water so clean you could drink it

Mountains so flat even an amateur could climb them
Gorgeous beaches that rival anything either coast has to offer
Families where kids learn the value and necessity of hard work and honesty and personal responsibility
Communities who still do their "social networking" at the grocery store or barber shop

Nice try, mainstreet.com, but you're not telling us anything we don't already know. After all, Nebraska is the birthplace of Kool-Aid. Now there's something to smile about.

Out of the Ashes

2009-04-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

When we smelled smoke South of I-80 on the afternoon of March 23rd, we knew we had trouble. 50-60 mph winds had blown in earlier in the day and now the flames "spread like wildfire" across the prairie. In a matter of minutes, flames had jumped across the Platte River and were scorching everything in their path, including 8 cabins, hundreds of trees and acres of grass at Nebraska Youth Camp near Kearney, NE.

NYC is a church owned campsite along the north bank of the Platte River and home to over a dozen camp sessions and spiritual retreats each summer. Over the past several decades, 1000's of kids and adults have sat around the campfire at this place to sing and worship and re-light a spirit of passion for God in their hearts. Now hundreds of people who have been blessed by NYC are returning to help clean up the mess, rebuild and reopen in time for the 2009 season.

There is a ton of work to do. 2 cabins were lost completely and a half dozen more will need repairs. Damaged trees will be cleared. Some will be cut up and salvaged for firewood and wood chips to rebuild pathways. Hundreds of trees will be replanted.

But the power of God to bring something new and wonderful out of the ashes is truly amazing. The grass and wildflowers will regrow and be greener than ever. New cabins will be built and old cabins will have a fresh new look as repairs are made. Hundreds of volunteers will be united in the work. And hundreds more who have taken this amazing ministry for granted will have a renewed interest in making sure NYC is alive and well to bless future generations.

An Ice Day For A Wedding

2009-03-31T15:15:00.001-07:00

Well, here it is.

When this blog went off the air a few months ago, the weeping and wailing of my loyal readers pleading for more was nearly inaudible. And, who could blame them. The colossal pontificating found in this blogspace has no doubt been the topic of discussion around many dinner tables and may have inadvertantly given hope to a few aspiring young wordsmiths.

So at the behest of my devoted followers I happily resume my journaling of nugatory thoughts for the perusal of the cyber-world.

Let's begin where we left off with a few photos from a proud new father-in-law.

Other than the snow storm, it was a great day for a wedding. The bride was radiant and the groom was dashing. The bride and her father strolled arm and arm down the far-too-short aisle with the nostalgic strains of the old Etta James classic in the background, "At last. . . .my love has come along. . ."

Together they joined the preacher and the groom - the bride beaming and the FOtB swallowing lumps - whereupon the FOtB lost his cool and choked on his one and only line, "Her mother and.. ....(insert choke here).....I."

Sigh.

Oh well, we all knew that's why I could never do the ceremony. But it was a beautiful day surrounded by family and friends. Years of prayerful waiting and months of careful planning came down to a single blessed event that was over in less than an hour.

The photos and a brand spanking new Son-in-law are ours to keep.

LOST

2009-02-22T10:31:00.000-08:00

Last night, a friend of mine found that she was locked out of her apartment. The keys she thought were in her purse were nowhere to be found. So, we retraced her steps, and found nothing. With no better alternative, a few friends from church came to her rescue.

We surveyed the problem. We were on the second floor of a two story house with access only to the locked door in question. Each in his turn, we all tried the door handle, (just in case the other 97 guys on the balcony had overlooked the obvious).

We pooled our resources and came up with a swiss army knife, an ATM card, and a shoe lace. (McGyver has escaped from the entire Russian KGB with less.) But the Hollywood tricks that always work: slipping a credit card into the latch. . .picking the lock. . .removing the pins on the hinges. . .well, they don't work.

So, after a thorough analysis of the situation; the condition of the lock, the complexity of the tumblers, the sturdiness of the door, and factoring in the age component (ours, not the door - "Who thinks they can kick it in?"). We consulted the church leader with the most experience at breaking and entering. . .and broke a window. (Aren't you glad you called the professionals?)

And there were the keys, hanging right inside the door.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. When something of value is lost, you don't mind expending effort and resources to find it. When you're on the outside wanting in, you rally your friends and do what it takes. Once inside. . .once the lost is found, there is relief. There is celebration.

"I'm baking each of you a batch of cookies," she promised.

Just for breaking her window!

No, for helping find what was lost. And for helping her get home.

Countdown to Wedding Day

2008-12-15T06:57:00.000-08:00

Less than two weeks until the day. THE day. Wedding day for Erica and Ben.

Over the last 23 years I have performed dozens of weddings in every imaginable setting. (My very first wedding was on the roof of a houseboat at sunset on the 4th of July in the middle of Lake McConaughy. The "maid of honor" was a guy, and the Groom, who was adopted and had no biological family of his own, took the Bride's last name.)

But this one I will watch from the sidelines.

That's the only way it could be.

I can sometimes be emotional in my public speaking. I love a good story that grabs people by the heart, and every now and then it backfires. And this is one story where my heart will definitely be at risk.

For all the right reasons. And in the best way imaginable.

If we could have written the storybook for how Erica would come to this day, it would not have been any better: to fall in love in the Land of the Rising Sun.

York college offers spectacular opportunities for students to participate in mission work. By her Sophomore year, Erica was ready, and chose to spend the summer working with a mission team in Kojima, Japan. It was love at first sight.

Not with Ben. . .with Japan. She loved the culture. She loved the Island. She loved the people. And she delighted in the challenge of winning their friendship so she could plant seeds of faith. Subsequent trips back to Japan eventually led her to the city of Sendai, where she fell in love again. . .this time with Ben.

And who could blame her. Ben is everything she dreamed of and everything we prayed for over the last 24 1/2 years. He is truly God's child.

And now, December 27, 2008 in the immortal words of the great philosopher, Briscoe Darlin, "The Towells and the Berrys. . . once twain shall be as one."

There will be solemn words. The sealing of a covenant. God will be praised. We will laugh and cry and sing and feast and dance and rejoice in love and all its possibilities until we are good and happy. . .and emotionally spent and exhausted.

Then we'll come home, sit by the fire, and wish they'd come visit more often.

12 Days of Christmas

2008-12-09T08:52:00.000-08:00

These guys are terrific. This may be the "most funnest" version of the 12 days of Christmas you'll ever see.

12 Days of Christmas

Enjoy.

Lost, Scared & A Long Way From Home

2008-12-08T15:10:00.000-08:00

Sunday dinner last week was at Hunan's. As our family loaded into the car to go home we were pelted with rain/snow/sleet. Not an uncommon sight in central NE this time of year. It was a chilly afternoon with wind that made it even colder.

As we pulled up to the stoplight, we noticed a pickup truck with no tailgate, spare tire in the bed along with a roll of wire and a couple of plastic 5 gallon buckets. And standing to the back of the truck bed, shivering, was a Beagle puppy.

"Oh, look at the poor freezing doggie," we all said. "Why doesn't he let the puppy ride up front?"

As we sat watching, feeling sorry for the cold little fellow - light still red. . .he steps down from the bed of the truck onto the bumper and down to the middle of the highway. Unknown to the driver in the warm cab up front, his loyal 4 legged friend in the back has had enough and has bailed! Onto a highway full of traffic.

With no regard for his own safety, (ok, the light was still red - nobody moving) Nathan jumps out of the car and runs to the little guy's rescue, scoops him up and loads him back into the bed of the pickup. (What?? Still can't ride up front???)

We pulled up next to the driver and got his attention and asked him if he knew his dog had jumped out of the back of the truck.

"Which dog?" he asks, looking a bit surprised. I'm wondering, well...how many dogs did you have back there when you left home? There's only one now. And he just jumped out again. Nathan again springs to the rescue, only this time the poor, cold little fellow resists. He's not getting thrown back into that cold bed again. He wants up front.

The driver gets out of his truck and walks back to find the puppy, scared and huddled against the tire. "Oh, great," he says. "This isn't my dog. He belongs to a friend of mine out in the country. He must have jumped in as I was leaving."

I've had that happen to me before. Maybe you have, too. You jump in without giving it much thought, imagining you're just going for a quick ride, only to find out it's not as much fun as you thought it would be? Then when you try to get off, somebody scoops you up and throws you back in. The next thing you know, you're scared, lost, and a long way from home.

It happens to the best of us.

“I’ve Never Once Stopped Loving You”

2008-12-06T09:50:00.000-08:00

This touching story comes from Familylife.com.

Sometimes our lives are affected by unexpected and unlikely encounters. For Rich Frischkorn, one of these encounters occurred when he was a young man.

Rich patrolled a neighborhood where a couple in their late 90s lived. He regularly parked his cruiser under a massive ficus tree growing at the corner of the elderly couple’s property. With its huge spread of branches, the tree provided welcome shade as he sat in his patrol car and completed his daily reports. If the elderly couple were out in their yard, they’d walk over to him and talk.

As time passed, he noticed there was something very different about the aging husband and wife—the way they looked at one another and smiled … the way they worked in their yard together … the way their hands interlocked on their evening strolls.

One day the young deputy sheriff observed the elderly man mowing a neighbor’s yard. Almost 100 years of age, he later told Rich that he was helping because the woman was “too old” to mow her own grass.

Rich watched the couple pick up mail for neighbors who were out of town. He saw them drive friends to a store or doctor’s office. He anticipated their offers of cold lemonade or tea on hot afternoons.

He wondered about the source of the couple’s love and care. Over time he learned the answer: All was done in Christ’s name.

Their curiosity about Rich’s spiritual condition touched him. They’d often comment that he was in a dangerous job and ask, “Do you know where you will spend eternity?” He’d answer that he’d probably end up in hell. And they would say that he could avoid that.

One day when Rich was filling out reports, the elderly woman tapped on the window of his cruiser. She held a vase with freshly picked flowers. She told him to look at the flowers—really look. Then she asked if he thought the flowers could have been created by chance. “No,” she told the young officer. “God made these for us to look at, marvel at, and wonder.”

All Rich could do was gaze at the woman with the lined face and say that she was right.

Day after day Rich patrolled the neighborhood. He watched the aging couple pull weeds together in their flowerbeds, never more than an arm’s length apart. One would reach out and touch the other. They’d look at each other … smile and nod … and then go back to pulling weeds. Rich thought, How much in love.

Rich and the couple became more than friends. They treated him as part of their family. He joined 200-300 people at their eighty-first, eighty-second, and eighty-third anniversary celebrations. He laughed to himself when he realized that their children were in their 60s and 70s and some of their grandchildren were in their early 50s.

As the years went by, Rich feared that the couple’s time on earth was short. He dreaded the day when one of them would pass away. At that time in Florida, if someone died at home a deputy had to come and do a report. Sure enough, one evening Rich received a phone call saying there had been a death at the elderly couple’s house. Wanting to be anywhere but their home, he pulled into the driveway.

He knocked on the door of their two-story house with cedar siding. “Who is it?” the wife asked.

“It’s the Sheriff’s Department.”

“Rich, is that you?”

“Yes, it is,” he answered.

“Oh, praise the Lord; I’ve been praying a friend would come.”

Rich stepped into the house and saw the elderly couple sitting side by side on the couch. She wore a faded, swirled-patterned dress and her husband had on work pants and a checkered, short-sleeved shirt. His hands were folded in his lap, his chin was on his chest, and he had a pleasant look on his face—as though he were in the middle of a good dream.

“Can you tell me what happened?” Rich asked.

She said her husband had been sick the last couple of weeks. That evening they were watching the news and he started having a little trouble breathing. She asked if he wanted her to phone the doctor and he replied, “No, everything is going to be fine.”

But it wasn’t fine—his breathing got worse. She rose to call an ambulance, and he grabbed her hand with unusual strength.

“You may not believe me, Rich,” she continued, “but he was a young man again. And his face was just glowing and he was smiling and he said, ‘Don’t go—sit here next to me.’”

So she sat back down and she heard these final words from her husband: “In all these years together, I’ve never once stopped loving you. And I love you more today than all of the days gone by. But my Father is calling now and I have to go home. But we’ll be together again soon, and until then know that I’m waiting for you and know that I love you. Good bye.”

With that, his head dropped onto his chest and he was gone.

“He’s in heaven with our Lord and Savior and I will be, too,” she told Rich. “And one day you can be there.”

The ambulance crew arrived shortly after their conversation. Rich remembers her telling them, “He’s home with the Lord. He’s home with Jesus.”

Although more than 30 years have passed since Rich’s life intersected with the elderly couple, their example was stamped in living color on his heart. Rich eventually gave his life over to the Lord and became a Christian. All because “They planted the seeds [of faith] in my heart.”

Checking The Scales

2008-11-30T19:33:00.000-08:00

As I reflect on the festivities of the past holiday, I couldn’t help thinking about an interesting trivia fact I read last week:

The Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy only weighed 126 pounds. The Soviet edition of his works, published over a period of 30 years, came to 90 volumes and weighed in at a beefy 290 pounds. Tolstoy's words out-weighed the man himself!

As a preacher and writer, I struggle with finding the proper balance. When everything is said and done, do my words out-weigh me? I realize there’s no eminent danger that someone might compare me to Tolstoy, but the question remains. And I ask it from this perspective: Regardless of size, is the man equal to the words?

A woman approached Sir Lloyd George, the former prime minister of Britain, after a speech. She remarked, “Before I saw you in person, I thought you were a much taller man.” George carefully replied, “Madam, in Wales, where I come from, we measure a man from the neck up.”

At the end of my life, I hope to leave behind a few good words. I am thankful for the inspiration of previous generations of writers. I hope to inspire future generations of thinkers. But I also hope what I leave behind is more than words. I want to leave behind a legacy of good memories and good deeds. I hope to leave an example to follow, and a spiritual inheritance for future generations.

In Acts 7:22, Stephen had this to say about the great leader and man of God, Moses;

Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians
and was powerful in speech and action.

The man, Moses, was equal to the words. He was a man of both speech and action. That is what I wish for others to say about me. . .about us.

Jacked Up

2008-11-19T11:20:00.000-08:00

Hang out with college students or teens long enough and you will hear this declaration regarding something they have seen or heard that they don’t approve of: “Man, that’s jacked up!”

My definition: The state of an automobile when changing one's own tire, (usually on the side of the road, in the rain, with traffic screaming past at a high rate of speed).

Urban Dictionary definition: It roughly means "in a state of disarray" and is commonly used to describe feelings of frustration over a situation that is not working properly or as intended.

Redneck Interpretation: “That just ain’t right!”

Many of you know that our family just invested a year of our lives and hearts into the amazing mission work at Mountain States Children’s Home. This remarkable ministry provides shelter and healing for kids whose lives are truly “jacked up”. (And I say that with so much love and respect for them because I can relate… I may know how to make it look like I have it all together, but I admire about these kids the fact that they can be brutally honest about their junk.)

Some of these kids have grown up spending their weekends drunk, smoking weed, missing curfew, getting grounded, going to rehab, getting picked up by their parole officers. They cross physical boundaries to the point they arent even sure where the boundary was to begin with. They are cutters and liars … they’re angry and they’re hurting. And they’ve come to MSCH for help and hope.

Our time there was intense and gave us a glimpse of what too many families are dealing with in the real world. You see, a few have found refuge and hope in places like MSCH, but thousands more live right in your town, on your street, and go to your school, and attend your youth group.

Not long ago, I talked to a junior high student who has to start going to alternative school because she punched her principal in the face and busted her lip. So much is going on in their lives that it overwhelms me at times to think that God has given me the responsibility to share truth & love with them.

When I stop to think about all the issues that students face. . .all the crazy “jacked up” things that happen in their lives that they have no control over - the circumstances they get thrown into and the crazy things that they bring on themselves - my heart breaks for them.

But as I sit here in a few moments of quiet today, the lyrics of Hillsong United are playing over in my head, and they remind me that God truly is bigger than any of the junk we face.

“My Savior, He can move the mountains.
My God is mighty to save.”

Thank You, Jesus for moving mountains & saving us from our junk.

You are so so good.

for the journey. . .

2008-11-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
just to take Him at His word
just to rest upon His promise
just to know, thus saith the Lord….

the Lord gives strength to his people;
the Lord blesses his people with peace.
::psalm 29:11::

may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope.
::romans 15:13::

find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from Him.
::psalm 62:5::

Purple Cows

2008-11-16T11:53:00.000-08:00

I picked up an interesting new book the other day. (I didn't buy it. . .just picked it up.) Purple Cows by Seth Godin is based on the premise: If you've seen one brown cow you've seen them all…but a purple cow, now that would catch your attention! One thought in the book has profound implications: "If you aren't remarkable you are invisible."

Maybe it’s a stretch, but be patient with me. I think the church needs to paint itself purple. I'm not talking about gimmicks or razzle-dazzle. I'm not talking about being different for different’s sake. I'm talking about having such a remarkable impact in our community that we cannot be ignored. That was the story of the life of Jesus. Many loved Him. A few hated Him. But one thing you could not do was ignore Him.

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “If the church closed its doors, how many people in our community would notice?”

Here are a couple of seed thoughts:

1) The Good News ought to make the news. Brown churches sit on the sideline and invite the community to come to them. Purple churches are engaging and compelling and investing and going. They are making such a difference that people talk about them. (Acts 17:6)

2) People drive by the brown churches - the churches that are invisible - to go to the purple church. The church that loves and cares and serves. Not necessarily the church that is most successful, but the church that is most significant. We have the greatest message in the world, but if no one is listening, what difference are we making. (1 Cor 13:1-3)

So how do we paint ourselves purple? By daring to be different. (Titus 2:11-15) By unleashing our most creative energy into connecting with the world – serving the world – loving the world in such radical, God honoring ways that they can’t ignore us. And as we are led by God’s Spirit and live within God’s story, by our very lives we will tell the story of Jesus. (Acts 2:43-47)

Following the footsteps of Jesus should inspire us to find new ways of saying old things (see the Parables). We may have to courageously trade in some of our old wineskins for new. We need to sing a new song. We need some Spirit-inspired, visionary ideas that will capture the imagination of the church & the heart of the world.

I Dare You To Watch This Video

2008-11-10T07:14:00.000-08:00

Change We Can Count On

2008-11-08T09:23:00.000-08:00

What an exciting time to be a child of God! We are sailing in uncharted waters here, aren’t we? The stock market takes random, aimless turns almost every day, bringing fortune to some and misery to others. Our personal debt and national debt is at an all time high. Technology and medicine and science are evolving so fast it numbs the mind. Cures for diseases that plagued our society just a generation ago are being discovered every day. Just as a skirmish begins to quiet down in one part of the world, another one pops up elsewhere. And in the midst of it all, we just participated in an unprecedented election, the outcome of which has sent the first African American to the most powerful office in the world. As Yakov Smirnov would say, “What a country!”

How is it we live in the most wealthy nation on earth, but so many consider themselves living in poverty? These are remarkable times! And....the outlook is so good. How do I know? Do I have some prophetic insight to what the future will be? No. Will the days ahead be brighter than the days past? I don’t know. But one thing I am sure of, God is faithful, and He never called us to approach life positively; he called us to approach it faithfully. There is a difference.

In a time when so many are broken down, distraught, and disconnected, many are hoping in vain for a leader who will get us out of this mess. The church is in a perfect position to point to The One who is truly the Hope of the Nations. Our neighbors, our friends, even our enemies don't just need a little change, we need a rebirth - a shot at starting life over again.

One of the things I love about the church is that it's always new. Life in Christ is new. The Bible says that God's mercies are new every morning, and that we are made new day by day. I love that truth. The Story we tell may be 2000 years old, but it has the power to make all things new. The church is alive. Our faith is alive. Hope is alive. No reruns or repeats. It's alive and we are growing to be less dependent on the shakiness of our circumstances and more dependent on the stability of our Lord.

What an exciting time. Will the days ahead be bright? Maybe. I genuinely hope so. But even if they’re not, the darker the night, the brighter God’s children shine! (Philippians 2:15)

Doing a Little Reading

2008-10-28T08:33:00.000-07:00

So, this morning I'm sitting at Pane Bello - my new favorite place to do some reading, study and meet up with friends. Nice open restaurant. Good music. Smiling waitresses who leave you alone unless you need something. Free Wi-Fi. And the best Blueberry Bagels.

I'm waiting for a friend to drop by so we can talk about important dreams for the future. I have a few minutes so I like watching people. Sometimes I evesdrop, but mostly the conversation right now is about politics and by this time in the political season, I'm a little nauseated.

An older retired foursome - 2 couples - are at the table next to me talking about winter vacation plans. If you're in San Antonio the middle of December, look for a black Dodge pickup pulling a fifth wheel trailer. They're nice folks. They're funny. They're obviously old, comfortable friends. Stop by and say hi and tell them you know me, they'll invite you in for a cup of coffee. (By the way, if you see them on the highway - they'll be taking I-35 south thru Dallas and Austin - give them a little extra room, "His reflexes aren't what they used to be," she says, explaining the lump on the side of his noggin.)

Across the aisle is a middle age couple with only a table between them, but from where I sit, it may as well be half a mile. She's reading a book, he's drinking a cup of coffee with an empty look in his eyes. Every few minutes she looks up for a moment to say something. He responds and stares back at his coffee. They're together, but not really. They make me sad. I hope I'm misreading them.

In the next booth are a couple of 30 somethings. They are really connected. I can't see his face, but her smile and the sparkle in her eyes tells me he is pretty amazing. They have reached across the table to touch each other at least a dozen times while they talk. I don't know if they're in love or not, but they are more than friends. Sadly, they're out of earshot, but I bet you they're not talking about politics.

She keeps glancing over at me. Sorry, I didn't mean to be so obvious. And yes, I really am waiting for a friend.

The Vast and Endless Sea

2008-10-26T20:03:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I read an inspiring quote you might enjoy. . . It seems true in my life and in my relationship with God.

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."
- Antoine de Saint Exupery

That does, in fact make pretty good sense. Achieving something great is not only about good organization and planning but about inspiring big dreams. You may be able to accomplish short term goals by the sheer strength of will, but lasting change requires more.

Experience has taught me that I can will myself to knowledge, but not to wisdom. I can will myself to pleasure, but not to happiness. I can will myself to money, but not to a sense of security. I can will myself to veggies and aerobics, but not to good health. I can will myself to bed, but not to sleep. All of which leads me to conclude that lofty goals are not attainable simply through the exercise of my will. So what motivates me to reach higher? Why should I stretch myself? In 2 Corinthians 13:11, Paul writes;

Finally, brothers, aim for perfection. . .be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

It’s not just about hitting the goal. Paul seems to be saying that God will bless us for aiming in the right direction. His greatest desire is to see lifelong, eternal change take place in my soul. But He accepts my failure and blesses my beggarly attempts to do better.

One time, A.W. Tozer attempted to explain God’s love like this: “I can no more do justice to this awesome and wonder-filled topic than a child can grasp a star. Still, by reaching toward the star the child may call attention to it and even indicate the direction one must look to see it. And so, I stretch my heart toward the high, shining love of God so that we may be encouraged to look up and have hope.”

Let’s spend our time together this week stretching our hearts toward the high, shining love of God so that we may be encouraged, have hope, and ultimately be transformed.

Five Good Questions

2008-10-22T12:40:00.000-07:00

I happen to believe that the unexamined life is not worth living.

I also happen to believe that a life examined is often an unpleasant journey we are not fully willing to undertake.

We are fearful of our lives being examined by others. And most often our defense mechanism kicks in and puts up walls of resistence. But when was the last time you did a little healthy self- examination?

Several years ago a wise friend suggested that if I didn't like where my life was going, maybe I was asking myself lousy questions. My first thought was, "I don't ask myself questions. . .do I?" Then I thought to myself, "Does he know something I don't know? Could I really learn to ask myself better questions?"

He went on with this observation. You ask yourself thousands of questions every day ("Is it 6 oclock already? Can I hit the snooze and still get to work on time? What should I wear today? Is chocolate cake a breakfast food?) and your mind is pre-programmed to come up with answers to whatever you ask it. They may not always be right answers, but your mind can't just walk away from a question. It will sift through a file cabinet of possible answers and throw them up on the screen so you can pick the one that makes the most sense.

So, if you ask yourself lousy questions, you're going to get lousy answers that can mess with your whole day. For example: When something unpleasant happens to you, do you ask yourself, "Why do bad things like this always happen to me?" That's a lousy question, because it assumes that bad things always happen to you. But your brain doesn't know any difference. It only knows that you've asked a question and it must be answered.

So it begins to sift through a file drawer of possible answers and throws them out for you to pick one:
Bad things always happen to you because you aren't smart enough to make good decisions.
Bad things always happen to you because of your skin color.
Bad things always happen to you because you're poor.
Bad things always happen to you because you're a turkey and you deserve it.
Bad things always happen to you because. . . .

You see, your brain can't help it. It will try to come up with an answer to whatever you ask, even if they're wrong answers to flawed questions.

So what if you could train yourself to ask better questions? I decided to write down five good questions I would ask myself every morning to help me examine my life in a positive way. I won't give you all five, just a couple to get you thinking.

Every morning I ask myself:
Question #1: "Who do I love most, and who loves me most?"
Question #2: "How can I make this a great day for the people I care about?"

I think those are great questions. They help me get focused and start my day in a positive direction. But I'm sure you could add to the list. So please feel free. How do you start your day?

Everywhere Girl

2008-10-19T13:21:00.000-07:00

Have you seen Jennifer Anderson? You probably have and just didn’t know it. Jennifer describes herself as “a Tree-Huggin' Geek Goddess from Oregon just trying to find my spot in this world in order to make it a better place.” Her story is remarkable.

Several years ago, Jennifer, who is not a professional model, participated in a photo shoot. The photographer Douglas Menuez licensed the photos as “Royalty Free” stock, meaning that once a person pays to use it, they are allowed to use it as much as they want without paying further royalties (a business model I don’t recommend, incidentally). As a result, this girl’s snapshot has been widely used wherever a “hip college girl” was needed.

Hers is the face that launched a thousand ad campaigns. In the past 4 years, she has been the “poster child” for both Dell and Hewlett Packard, as well as 100s of other smaller companies, most recently as part of a cell phone ad in Phoenix, Az. The national phenomenon earned her the tag Everywhere Girl.

Everywhere Girl would be very easy to overlook in a crowd. And that’s her marketing appeal. She lives on your block, goes to your school and shops at your grocery store. She has trouble balancing her schedule and her checkbook. She gets frustrated when her car won’t start on a cold morning. And she’s insecure about her looks.

We often look past her because she seems so confident and happy. She projects an image of joy and optimism. She seems “Ok”. Yet in so many ways, Everywhere Girl is just like you and me. Struggling to get by and to make sense of this journey we call life.

And she needs Jesus.

Not every conversion story is a Prodigal Son story. In fact, most aren’t. Most are Everywhere Girl stories.
Just like me, she has hopes & dreams.
Just like me, she feels inadequate sometimes.
Just like me, she remembers more of her failures than successes.
Just like me, she wants assurance her life means something.
Just like me, she just wants someone to see her & care about her & reach out to her.

Jesus would.

Have a blessed week!

Warning! The Following Post May Be Distressing To Some Viewers!

2008-10-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

I'm a little distressed. Ok, maybe distressed is too strong. Let's just say I'm well worn. At least that's what my doctor said at my annual checkup. I have known for a while that my cholesterol is a little high. I've been trying to treat it myself with a daily regimen of frozen custard and butter burgers at Culver's, but it's not working. (I'm thinking the dosage was probably too low). So now it requires serious attention and a new membership at the Y.

I feel like I've gotten to where I am honestly. I've earned my scars, so to speak. Although in my defense, yesterday I took the Real Age test and learned that I'm 4 1/2 years younger than my chronological age. That feels better.

Honestly, there's a lot I've done to cause premature wear and tear. But I still find it to be true - the things I regret most in life are not the things I've done, but the things I could have done, but didn't.

Most of the age marks. . .the holes. . .the unravelings have not been intentional. And fortunately there are people in my life who still keep me around in my threadbare, tattered condition when others would be tempted to "take me to the curb".

It's funny to think that there are people who's job it is to cause distress and wear things out. (Seems like there are plenty of people in the world who are willing to do it for free.)

I don't understand the idea of paying more for distressed, faded, worn out looking clothing. (And frankly, I don't know how well I'll sleep tonight after seeing all these hanging legs.) Makes you wonder what will be next: New books that look like they've been read a thousand times? Food that looks like it's already been eaten?

I like new. I like quality. I like things that last. Since I can't rewind time, and can't control the future, I'm committed to the third: In my life. In my health. In my work. In my relationships.

Changing Seasons & New Life

2008-10-12T21:29:00.000-07:00

Next to Spring and Summer, Fall is my favorite time of year.

I really do love the Fall – ever since my grade school years. I love the smell of burning leaves. I love college football. I love the changing colors. . .the cooler nights. All those things call up wonderful memories from my past.

I think most people like it when the seasons change because we get sort of bored with the way things are after a while. For me the change of seasons is a reminder that the world and all around it is constantly moving forward. The season of growth and harvest has past, and Fall is a time of clearing and cleansing. It is time for looking back with thanksgiving. It introduces a brief time to rest and recharge. . .a time to take stock of our lives and begin laying foundations of hope for the future.

How well do we take advantage of these times in the church? The promise of the Christian life is one of constant change and renewal. Are we becoming more fruitful with each season and bringing more glory to God today than yesterday? Do we faithfully look back with thanksgiving and forward with hope?

I know that without Christ my life has no value or meaning to it. I also know that without constant submission to Christ my life can get off track so very quickly.

Believe it or not, there was a time in my life when I did not like change very much. (I lived for 38 years in the same little farming town in Western Nebraska. Need I say more?) But I’ve learned to welcome change in a way that I never thought was possible. Change is exciting and brings a certain freshness to our world. As a Christian I want to be so connected to God that I allow His Spirit to constantly change me from the inside out.

Transformation is what He is all about. When I learn to submit myself to God and truly let Him transform me, I have to be prepared for times of clearing and cleansing.

Seasons of growth and harvest are much more pleasant, but all are equally valuable in their purpose. There is a marvelous spiritual life that lies ahead if only I will allow God to move within me, and submit to that movement. Like the Fall, I welcome the change and wait in quiet expectation that very soon, I will glorify God with a new life of excellence.

What Do You Think?

2008-10-08T17:25:00.000-07:00

Today I was watching CNN as Secretary of Treasury, Henry Paulson, was trying to explain how the "rescue package" would effect the economy. I have to admit that most of what he said was a total snoozer. But it was very entertaining that CNN kept splitting the screen and posting a live Twitter feed over his shoulder.

Of course, Paulson was completely unaware of what was being said on Twitter. He was focused and serious through the whole press conference, while at the same time, folks on Twitter were commenting and critiquing his every word: -

"Why can't he use real words that other people can understand?"
"Do you think he even understands what he's saying?"
"That power tie he's wearing really helps make the sale."
"Hank Paulson should get a golden parachute award for this
great piece of fiction."

I felt a little sorry for him. Were viewers paying attention to his speech, or the anonymous, critical potshots on the side?

Then I wondered, what might that look like during a Sunday morning worship? If someone could read your mind and put it on a screen over the Worship Leader/Preacher's shoulder, how would it read?

Would you catch yourself critiquing the leader's style? Skills? Clothing? Level of enthusiasm? Choice of songs? Choice of words? Length of sermon?

Or would your thoughts be prayers of thanksgiving
for God's amazing grace?
Would your thoughts be full of wonder, love and praise
for our glorious God?
Would you find yourself saying, "Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening?"
Would you find yourself praying for God to use this leader powerfully
to inspire and encourage His family?

Sing Them Over Again To Me - 2

2008-10-03T20:04:00.000-07:00

I am passionate about worship. A popular praise song reminds us of the importance of “The Heart of Worship”. The song was written about a discovery made by a church going through a time of spiritual apathy.

Author of the song, Matt Redman, confesses,

“There was a dynamic missing, so we bravely decided to get rid of the sound system and praise band for a while. And we gathered together with just our voices. We had lost our way in worship, and the way to get back to the heart would be to strip everything away.”

The lyrics to his song express what they discovered:

When the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come;
Longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless your heart;
I’m coming back to the heart of worship,
And it’s all about You, Jesus.

So many churches have built their worship around praise bands. And it's tempting to accuse them of shallow entertainment used simply to draw crowds. But let’s be careful about pointing fingers. In every assembly, there are some who just go through the motions of worship and miss God.

Our worship can easily become very selfish. What did I get out of worship today? That was so-o-o boring. Did I get a good feeling from the service this week? Was it too loud? Too fast? Too slow? Did I get warm and tingly?

What will bring us back to the heart of worship?

“It’s all about you Jesus”

We come to worship Him because He is worthy of our praise - because He deserves our honor. We are not worthy, yet He gave us life and we come before Him with thanksgiving.

There are times when we will come to worship feeling empty. Times when we don’t even feel like worshiping. In the Bible, Paul most likely went through this. . .while being stoned, beaten, mocked, and jailed. Ya think?! But isn’t it interesting: even through all of this he still made it a priority to worship. He was not looking for a feeling. He was just communicating with his Master.

Maybe you’ve had a boss who told you to leave your problems at the door so your attitude doesn’t affect your job. I suggest that we leave our problems at the altar. Lay them at the cross so when we worship we can meditate on the goodness of God.

I love this great quote:

Don’t let what’s wrong with you
keep you from worshiping what’s right with Him.

Have a blessed day!

The Sky Is Falling!!

2008-09-30T11:51:00.001-07:00

"Frustration Mounts as Gas Shortage Drags On"

"Dow Plummets 778 Points in Single Day"

"Crisis Deepens as Banks Fail"

It seems to me that some people enjoy a good crisis. It gives them a sense of purpose and excitement for a little while.

Politicians love a crisis. It justifies their existence. It's why we have global warming, avian flu, and killer bees swarming up from Mexico.

Anyone remember Y2K? It was a gloomy time in our history. The crisis was inevitable. Buy up all the bottled water, nonperishable food, and generators you can get your hands on. There will be mass starvation and riots in the streets.

Whatever will we do? How about a little advice from that great American theologian, Erma Bombeck

If I had my life to live over again. . .

. . .I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

. . .I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

. . .I would have talked less and listened more.

. . .I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

. . .I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

. . .I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

. . .I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

. . .I would have cried and laughed less while watching television-and more while watching life.

. . .I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's" ...But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back.

Life is too short to let it pass you by.

Have a blessed day. . .and try not to worry.

Living the Dream

2008-09-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

Whats your dream job?

Most people I know choose a career based on a variety of material things like salary, hours, health insurance coverage and geographical location.

In our society, we tend to use money as the ultimate scorekeeper. Who has the highest salary, biggest house, nicest neighborhood, fanciest car? Who shops at the trendiest stores and travels to the flashiest vacation spots?

But if you could go anywhere and do anything you wanted, what would you do? Or, as my friend Steve asked me a few years ago, "What would you do if you knew you could not fail?"

Failure - or rather the fear of failure - is a thief of joy and spoiler of dreams. So let's think about it like this: If you had all the money you would ever need, what would you do with your time? (And no, golf is not the answer.) If you didn't need to work, how would you spend your day?

What if we kept score in new ways? What if we focused on becoming enriched rather than just being rich? What if we kept score according to how we lifted others higher, rather than how high we lifted ourselves?

I don't mind telling you, I have the greatest job in the world. I get paid to love God and love people.

Of course, it's more than that. There are deadlines, and difficulties, and plenty of worries, and expectations, and frustrations. But really, it's just that simple. Two things. And I love it. I love telling everyone I meet about the amazing family at the Kearney Church of Christ. And even more, I love telling about the amazing love of our kind and gracious Father. It is what Max Lucado would call, "living in your sweet spot". It is a great reason to get out of bed in the morning.

Today, Robert Redford did an ABC interview about his friend, Paul Newman. He described his friend as "A man who lived a life that really meant something." Maybe an overstatement. But you have to respect a man who found what he was really good at, and pursued it with passion. And in our disposable society, you have to respect a man whose Hollywood marriage could last 50 years.

Several years ago, in the movie, "Out of Africa," Robert Redford has a great line where he tells Meryl Streep:

"I don't want to come to the end of my life and realize I have lived someone else's version of it."

Me either.

I'll Go first

2008-09-24T08:21:00.000-07:00

I don't make jokes. I just observe the world around me and report the facts.
Will Rogers

I bet you if I had met him and had a chat with him, I would have found him a very interesting and human fellow, for I never yet met a man I didn't like.
also Will Rogers

I love people.

I love interacting with people. Not just in a casual way. I'm not much good at small talk. But I do love getting to know the real person.

I confess that many times God has sent angels to intersect my journey, and I have missed them. Priceless opportunities to love and be loved. And I blew it. But I am learning.

I am learning to take time. I am learning to look my friends (and even strangers) in the eye, and enjoy a moment of connection. I am learning to listen without an agenda. Just listen.

And what I've found is that there is something stunningly beautiful about everyone I meet.

Last week, a couple of new teenagers showed up at my Sunday school class for the first time. What an absolute joy! Their honesty was refreshing. Their questions and comments were candid and spontaneous. They are struggling with life. Real life. So am I, but I've gotten really good at hiding it.

They are struggling with right and wrong, and dreams and hopes and love and relationships and friends and school and schedules and rules. And so am I. And I am anxious to share with them what I've learned. I'm anxious to help them learn more about God's place in their story, and to learn more about their place in mine.

Take a look at the people around you today. Listen to the tone of their voices. Most people are just drifting through each day doing what they need to do, wishing things were different. Others complain or are upset at how the day is going and how people are treating them. You walk past and say, “Hi, how ya doin?” and they smile a half smile and respond, “Good, thanks”, and go on their way.

What if we did things differently? What if small talk was more than just words to fill an awkward moment? What if small talk could open the door to large talk?

What if you took an extra moment to sit on the porch with your neighbor and really listen? What if you shared a kind word with the stranger in the grocery line and told her how much you really like her sweater. What if you started smiling and adding some feeling to the “hello” as you passed a co-worker. When was the last time you complimented the lady behind the counter, or thanked the guy you see everyday sweeping the floors.

What if you looked your boss in the eye, shook her hand and told her that you are truly thankful for your job?

People want attention. They want someone to notice. They want to matter. They are aching to be loved, and they are aching for a chance to love. But most are just as insecure as I am, and reaching out seems awkward to them, too.

I think they're waiting for me to go first.

Sing It Again

2008-09-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

I love music. Always have. And I am passionate about the power of music in our worship to God.

The “training” I’ve received as a musician/ worship leader started as a young boy covered in goosebumps, soaking up God’s presence in the rise and fall of melodies.

Today, as a worship leader, I am primarily a worshiper and secondarily a leader. . .an encourager, a cheerleader, a truth-teller, a challenger.

As I grew in my knowledge of the bible, I also began to notice the importance of music throughout the scriptures.

Miriam celebrating,
Moses teaching the Israelites,
David ministering to Saul’s spirit,
Angels announcing the Messiah’s birth,
Jesus and His disciples singing,
Paul and Silas bolstering their faith in a Philippian prison cell,
John observing the passionate celebration of worship in Heaven,
. . .and the list goes on.

I realized that there’s something to all this… There’s something to Moses’ teaching, David’s comfort, the angels’ declaration, Paul’s instructions, and John’s revelation. Yes, music makes the human soul feel good, but it also teaches us, it encourages us, it imparts truth to us, it challenges us, and it glorifies God.

These nuggets of truth - these glimpses of Biblical music - became the foundation for my worship in song. My efforts as a worship leader point in the direction of helping others become more aware of God’s presence through music, just as I did as a boy and still do today. I long to “re-create” my childhood experiences for them. I long to help open their eyes to the veracity of Scripture, the magnitude of God’s glory, and the heart of true worship, by bringing passion, truth, and revelation to the service.

God bless the worship leaders throughout the world who are called week after week to lead us into the presence of God. Your ministry touches my soul.

Lead on.

Sing Them Over Again To Me

2008-09-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

I love music. Always have.

I fell in love with Melanie 29 years ago as a socially awkward teenage boy singing John Denver songs and struggling through each strum of a guitar in the wings of the Ogallala High School Lecture Hall.

Growing up in a traditional church, I’ve always loved the hymns. Those majestic lines of harmony and verse that communicate deep expressions of the soul. Music was and still is my favorite part of every worship service – the hymns. . .and the contemporary praise music. But the hymns have a special place with me. They are friends from my childhood.

As I was thinking about this recently, it occurred to me that it was through those ancient hymns I first memorized fundamental truths about God:

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!

He hideth my life in the depths of His love;
And covers me there with His hand.

On Christ the solid rock I stand.
All other ground is sinking sand.

Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe.

Jesus sought me when a stranger, wand’ring from the fold of God;
He to rescue me from danger interposed His precious blood.

Whatever my lot, thou hath taught me to say;
It is well. It is well with my soul.

All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Family Man

2008-09-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

Just a quick word of encouragement to everyone who has made some subtle adjustments to your plans, dreams, schedules and priorities so you could be a "family man". Just take a look around you; Do you see that relaxed, gentle smile of confidence on your children's faces? Do you hear the pride in your sweetheart's voice as she brags to her friends about the things you do that make her feel special?

Oh, no. Being a family man is no sacrifice. Just look around you - great is your reward!

This is one of my favorite songs, connected to an amazing video. Hope you enjoy.

"Family Man" from Trevor Little on Vimeo.

Did You Hear The One About. . .

2008-09-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

. . .the man who fell into an upholstery machine? He is fully recovered.

. . .the fire at the circus? The heat was in tents.

. . .the toothless termite who walked into a tavern and asked, "Is the bar tender here?"

. . .the love affair between Walter Cronkite and Virginia Potato (yes, a real potato). Her father objected: "I'm not going let any daughter of mine marry a commentator."

. . .the piano that fell down a mineshaft? It ended in A-flat minor.

. . .the dog who gave birth to puppies on the side of the road?
She was ticketed for littering.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Ah, there's nothing like a good heterophone. Unless, maybe it's a well timed malapropism. The disambiguation and homophony makes for a humorous, metaphorical effect.

At least, that's what Webster's Dictionary says. I just think they're punny.

You know, there are some things that are just hard to describe. Like what makes a joke funny. Either it is or it isn't. Or why a particular piece of music moves us emotionally. It just does.

Chances are, you can hear a song from your youth and without even trying, the face of a friend will pop into your mind. . .or a girlfriend (this was our song). . .or a family vacation.

But to describe the physical process of how a song on the radio can make you cry really misses the mark. You just have to hear it, and you'll see what I mean.

Some days I hit the same "wall" when trying to put God into words. How do you tell someone that the Maker of heaven and earth cares whether you have a good day or not? That the one who commands the sun and the stars hurts when your heart aches and celebrates over your victories?

Last week, I cried with a young woman over a stillborn child. The same week, I celebrated with a friend who just received a long awaited promotion and a much needed raise. And I encouraged both of them to seek God.

He wants to be invited into your story. Into the comedies and tragedies of your daily life. He will punctuate each line. His timing is impeccable. He will bring music to the words. He will vividly illustrate each page with his breathtaking flair for beauty. And the melody of His passionate love for you will fill in the voids and empty places where there are no words.

But most importantly, he knows how the story ends. While you and I flip through life page by page, He has seen the last chapter. He knows the punchline - and when He delivers, it never falls flat.

I can't define for you just how the loving acceptance of God brings a feeling of contentment to my life. But it does. I can't outline on a chart or graph how the gracious forgiveness of God lowers my blood pressure and raises my hopes. But it does.

All I can offer you is this: Invite Him into your story and see for yourself.

And don't wait. . .remember - time flies like a straight arrow. Fruit flies like a ripe banana.

Defriended

2008-09-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday I got defriended.

The day before yesterday, I didn’t even know what that meant. But today I know. And it hurts.

Some time ago, my kids convinced me I needed a Facebook account. “It’s how people communicate these days,” they assured me. “You’ll feel 10 years younger.” So, I did. And to this day, I’m not sure why.

They tried to help me get started by sending notices to some of our mutual friends, announcing that their hip, cool dad was now on facebook. And before long, I was getting friend requests. It felt great!

David added you as a friend on Facebook. We need to confirm
that you know David in order for you to be friends on Facebook.
To confirm this friend request, follow the link below:

So I did. Each time I got a new friend, I surfed over to their profile page and left a quick note on their wall. I would look through their pictures and personal profile, and laugh at the funny little tidbits of information they posted about themselves, and then go back to work.

What fun! What a great tool, I thought to myself. This will be a great way to stay in touch.

But I didn’t. Oh, I sent a quick note a couple of times, and then life got in the way. . .I got busy. . .and, well, you know how the story goes. One of my friends didn’t get the time, attention, care, and maintenance they deserved. I stopped responding, so they stopped writing. And yesterday, I got defriended. Ouch!

I’ve probably been defriended before, it’s just that nobody sent me a memo.

Life is to be shared. God intends for us to experience this life together. We are not meant to make this journey alone. We all need friends by our side to help us by loving us unselfishly, sharing with us honestly, giving to us sacrificially, comforting us sympathetically, and so much, much more. Friendship is hard work, requiring big investments of our time and energy and commitment. But it is worth it. And that’s why it’s not to be taken lightly.

God’s family, the church, was planned to be a place of real fellowship and loving community where we could laugh, cry, be honest, confess, encourage, enliven, and inspire each other. And it can be that place, if we’ll let it. But it will require an investment on my part. Real community is not built on convenience (“let’s get together sometime”) but on the conviction that I need it for my spiritual health. I can’t imagine life without it! So I commit to you that I will be a faithful partner in our relationship. I’m here for you. In fact, I can’t imagine life without you.

I’m so glad that you and I are friended. Let’s make sure we stay that way.

An Invitation to H2O

2008-09-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

I hope you'll join us each week on the UNK Campus for H2O - A Journey of Faith.

H2O is a powerful, DVD-driven, group-oriented, 10-session experience designed to create a safe atmosphere where you can consider the person of Jesus Christ. Through high definition video, H2O uses carefully crafted storytelling to open the door to the claims and person of Jesus Christ while taking an honest look at questions about prayer, the Bible, creation, God, Jesus, Satan and the afterlife.

Click play below for a look at the video sampler.

God Did It With A Nail

2008-09-03T14:10:00.000-07:00

A friend handed me this the other day.

A man dies and goes to Heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates.

St. Peter says, "Here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I will give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how valuable it was. When you reach 100, I'll let you in.

"Okay," the man says. "This shouldn't be too hard. For starters, I was married to the same woman for 50 years and was a completely faithful, devoted husband in every way."

"That's wonderful, says St. Peter. That's worth one point."

"Well, I attended church all my life, and supported every ministry with my time and my money. I tithed faithfully every week and even gave extra whenever there was a need."

"Terrific!" says Peter. "That's certainly worth another point."

"Wow, this is tougher than I thought," the man said. "So what do I get for starting a soup kitchen in my city and working in the shelter for homeless veterans?"

"Well," says Peter, "That should be worth at least another point, I think."

Exasperated, the man cries, "Three whole points? My three greatest accomplishments, and I get a whopping total of 3 whole points? At this rate the only way I'll get into Heaven is by the grace of God!"

"Now you get it," Peter said. "100 points. Come on in!"

We often try to fix our problems with WD-40 and Duct Tape. . .
God did it with a nail.

Thanks, Dee.

Have a blessed day.

The Ghetto In My Past

2008-09-02T07:25:00.000-07:00

May 21, 1952 a baby boy was born to Minister and his wife in Chicago, Ill. Laurence Tureau was the youngest in a family of 12 children who grew up in a poor family in the housing projects. In school, he played football, wrestled & studied martial arts. Later, he served 4 years in the Army as an MP. Upon his discharge, he took jobs as a bouncer for nightclubs and became a private bodyguard for celebrities such as Muhammad Ali, Steve McQueen, Bruce Lee and Diana Ross. . . before breaking into show business himself.

His mohawk hairstyle, and the $300,000 of gold chains he wore around his neck were part of the tough guy personna that landed Mr T a starring role in Rocky III and on television as BA Baracus on the A Team.

But what I'll never forget was an interview done several years ago. Mr. T was asked how a kid from the slums of Chicago could rise to such fame & wealth. His answer was simple but profound:

“There may be a ghetto in my past, but there is no ghetto in my present.”

Maybe it’s not so much the things that were done to you in the past that you can’t let go of, as it is the things you did. The mistakes you made.

DUI. Failed marriage. Bankruptcy. Maybe you cheated and got caught.

Maybe you flunked out of school.

Or got kicked out of the house.

Or maybe you got fired from a job.

Maybe there is an abortion that still haunts you.

Maybe you went from being abused to being the abuser.

Maybe your identity for a while was inmate #776217.

Maybe for years you’ve introduced self saying “Hi. I’m Jay, and I'm an alcoholic."

Or maybe it’s gambling or drugs or pornography.

And you still wear the label for what you did back then. In fact, maybe you’ve let it define you. It has become who you are.

The past can hack into your soul and steal your identity. But guilt over your failures doesn't have to be life-threatening. God intended guilt to be like a warning light on the dashboard of your life that tells you something under the hood is not quite right.

I've seen that light flashing on the dashboard of my life plenty of times. And at times, I've tried to ignore it. Other times, I've put a piece of duct tape over it so I didn't have to look at it. Still other times, I've been so annoyed by that glaring red light that I just couldn't take it anymore, so I cut the wire.

But eventually, the breakdown came. And I was on the side of the road. . .in a bad part of town. . .with steam coming from under the hood. . .angry at my car for "letting me down".

I am convicted by God's word. By passages like Proverbs 28:13.

He who conceals his sins does not prosper,
but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

It’s the truth. At least, that’s what I’ve discovered.

When I ignore my conscience and just pretend everything's alright, I wind up in a spiritual ghetto where I never intended to be. And I look at the mess of my life. The guilt. The shame. And I hang my head and feel worthless.

But by the grace of God, I don't have to stay there. He pulls along beside and gently asks, "What's the problem?" And it spills out onto the ground in one big, ugly mess.

But just when I'm sure He will walk away in disgust, He says, "Let me help you with that." Like a master mechanic, He knows just where to look. He tinkers with this, adjusts that, and replaces a few old rusty, broken parts. And before you know it, He looks up with a smile and Says, "Here you go. You're all set. My mercies are new every morning." And I'm back on the road again.

I am learning that I have amazing worth in God's eyes. And so do you.

You may have grown up in a bad environment and made ton of mistakes. You may be carrying a load of regret for it all. Maybe you have spent some time spiritually in the ghetto. But God never wastes a hurt.

There may be a ghetto in your past, but there does not need to be a ghetto in your present.

Hello September

2008-09-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

Good morning class. My name is Mr. Towell.

I wonder how many times some version of that line has been repeated over the past 2 weeks? Last week, I was back in my hometown of Ogallala, NE and drove past the elementary school I attended almost 40 years ago. It brought back a lot of fun memories. Memories of elementary school. Junior High. High School. A lot of great memories. And a lot of memories I’d just as soon forget. Things I’ve done. Things that were done to me. Things I did because I was young and insecure and wanted desperately just to fit in and be liked.

Memories of spelling bees, and math races. I remember the day our second grade class learned about “time capsules”, then put together our own time capsule and buried it on the back of the playground.

I remember falling in love for the first time, with a little girl in the 4th grade named Wendy. She was stunning. She had long wavy sandy blonde hair, big brown eyes and most of her teeth. I was sure she was the one. That is, until my best friend stole her away and she broke my heart. (He had a nicer set of wheels: a genuine full size adult 10 speed. I was driving a sweet little 16” Huffy with a banana seat, a sissy bar and really cool baseball cards that rattled in the spokes as I rode. I don’t know what she saw in him. . .but I digress)

I remember Junior High football. I was a running back. And pretty good for the seventh grade. I wore #32 and the coach nicknamed me OJ. If you watched the Buffalo Bills during the 70’s, you know why I was proud of that tag. If you watched Court TV in the 90’s, you know why I don’t tell that story too much anymore.

I remember 8th grade speech class when Gary Young and I did a demonstration speech on how to make a “tater gun” using PVC pipe, a cigarette lighter and a tennis ball. I remember that we weren’t supposed to actually light it in the classroom. And I remember sitting in detention that night asking Gary, “How do you get me into these things?”

I remember one particular day during High School. A favorite teacher for most was Mr Johnson - the Choral Director. We used to tease him about the little Honda Accord hatchback he drove to school. I remember that day in January when we got out of PE class early and a bunch of us decided to see if we could pick up his car.

We could.

And we carried it from the curb by the Auditorium about 20 feet into the alley where we parked it sideways between the building and the neighbor’s privacy fence. Then we waited around the corner to see the look on Mr Johnson’s face when he found his car trapped in the alley.

I do regret that he had to walk 6 blocks back to the High School in sub-zero weather that day. And I regret that we were all late getting back to class, and were totally busted! And that night in detention, I looked at Gary and asked, “How do you get me into these things?”

But I remember doing a lot of other - not so funny - things that hurt other people, just to make myself look bigger. Name calling. Sarcasm. People I avoided. Practical “jokes” on others I considered weaker. And I wish I could take those things back. Because through the years, those failures and mistakes have shaped me and defined how I see myself. And often, not in a positive way.

How about you? Any stories you’d just as soon forget? The putdowns someone else suffered at your expense? Things you did to hurt yourself and others around you? The painful darts of criticism and sarcasm that were thrown your way and wounded your heart and your self image?

I’ve been thinking a lot about the grace of God lately. Reading stories of people that Jesus touched with grace in the Bible. And I’ve been seeing myself in their faces.

The blind. The lepers. The paralyzed. The broken. The outcast. The jaded. The wounded. The hard hearted. The marginalized. The weak. The ones society stepped on and pushed down.

Then came Jesus. And each story is a story of grace. Heartwarming grace. Lavish grace. Wasteful grace. Scandalous grace.

And I’ve been hearing God’s voice. If you put your ear to the text, I think you’ll hear it, too. If you listen closely, you’ll hear him say loudly & clearly: You are not defined by what they used to call you. Those names that were shouted at you at the bus stop years ago. Those hurtful things your parents said about you. . .or the harmful things somebody did to you. You don’t have to be paralyzed by the past any longer. They were wrong. Those things are in the past. And you can and should forgive them (and yourself) and move on to a new day. A New life. A New identity.

I’m not there yet. At least not every day, and in every way. But I’m moving closer. And that, in itself, is a demonstration of Grace.

2008-08-30T22:15:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog. This requires little explanation as by now everyone but me knows how this works. I welcome your comments and feedback as I share some random thoughts about the story God is writing in my life. As time goes by, we will get to know each other better (both the good and the bad).

But that's what life is after all.

So stop by anytime.

Come on in.

Sit a spell.

Take your shoes off.

Let's just talk.

2008-08-30T16:23:00.001-07:00

We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then,
is not an action
but a behavior