Saturday, July 25, 2009
Drowning Man
Well, not really. This 39th year of my life has proven to be one of much upheaval. My marriage is in shambles, my life is in flux, and I wonder each moment if God is listening or busy changing his hearing aid. Identity is a funny thing. People identify me as:
1- The Chaplain, the preacher, the Reverend, the Holy Man, the dude in the black robe.
2- The Clown, the funny guy, the one always good for a laugh, the one that can find humor anytime.
3- The Golden boy, the king, the winner
4- son, brother, husband, daddy, friend, enemy, lover, sinner and saint.
In the middle of this chaos, I am groping in the dark- trying to find the light. My heart has been ripped apart, and I have also been the ripper of hearts myself. Who am I now? I look in the mirror and I appear different. My hair is longer and curly. I have lost 25 pounds. I am beginning to like what I see. The issue is that my soul seems so dark, my heart is so mangled, my brain is so filled with doubt and I am paralyzed with fear. Who am I? The preacher with a midlife crisis? The man that cannot be satisfied? The man that longs for love so badly that he would give or give away anything to get it?
Some things have not changed. I love coffee. I love my son. Ok, maybe two things have not changed.
I feel like I am drowning. In fact, several days I have even wished that I was. U2 wrote and sang a song several years ago--written just for me.
Drowning Man
Take my hand
You know I'll be there
If you can
I'll cross the sky for your love
For I have promised
Oh, to be with you tonight
And for the time that will come
Take my hand
You know I'll be there
If you can
I'll cross the sky for your love
And I understand
These winds and tides
This change of times
Won't drag you away
Hold on, and hold on tightly
Hold on, and don't let go
Of my love
The storms will pass...the storm will pass...
It won't be long now...it won't be long now...
His love will last
His love will last...forever
Take my hand
You know I'll be there
If you can
I'll cross the sky for your love
Give you what I hold dear
Hold on, hold on tightly
Hold on, hold on tightly
Rise up, rise up
With wings like eagles
You run, you run
You run and not grow weary
...Take my hand, take my hand...
Hold on, and hold on tightly
Hold on, hold on tightly
To this love...last forever
To this love...last forever
Take my hand
The next few months will certainly continue the bashing of Richard against the rocks of life. I have never hurt this badly, never longed for so much, never felt so much passion and so much emptiness and the same time. God is doing something. I have no idea what it is. Actually, one thing I do know. He is killing me. The old man is leaving. The new man is coming. It is a process. Holy God, it is a painful process.
I am sinking, my lungs are filling. I reach up, but my hand is still below the surface. Gravity pulls me to the murky ocean floor. God, please hear me. Save me. Reach down and get me...or let me drown alone.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Summer Staff 2008 News
Back Row--Laura, Erin, Steph, Anna
Middle--Kelli, Alice, Conner, Lauren, Courtney
Front--Brady, Peter (Director) Shawn, Murph and Todd (Waccamaw Baptist Career Resort Missionary)
Stephanie, summer staffer from Wyoming, assisted us with worship. She did not understand my humor, but still had to listen to all my sermons. Oh, and she liked Sarah more than she liked me.
Cherie, a former staffer, hung out on our sofa for a few days and ate all our food. Cherie is one of my favorite people in the entire Easley/Pickens/Clemson area.
Murph, a staffer from Alabama, assisted us with worship. We played Wii each Sunday and had a Mario Kart a thon the Friday before his departure. We were up until 3:30 a.m. and I beat him, by 7 total points after 32 races. I just hope that my Clemson Tigers beat his Crimson Elephants by 7 in the football season opener. Oh, I am taller and more robust than he.
Laura, a summer staffer from the metropolitan city of Pelion was with us all summer in Day Camp. I never have favorites, but according to Douglas, she is #2!
Deadly Putt-Putt player and awesome singer, Kelli beat me by 4 strokes on 36 holes. This is rare and we were trying to get in a rematch. She prayed to God and a booming thunderstorm came out of nowhere.Sometimes, I wish God would ignore some prayers. Great match Kelli, and I am amazed at the skills!
Brady is good looking, talented and was a member of the LSU National Championship football team. As you can tell, women of all ages wag their tongues when he walks by. This did him no good, as I beat him in the Wii bowling tourney. It was close, but the Champ was beaten by the Wii master.
My good friend Peter is ready to be shipped to a place filled with peace and quiet. This was early on in the summer. The 2008 staff has gone now. I think he will be hanging out with us more. Peter, Putt Putt tomorrow?
July Reads
July at Breakneck speeeeeeeeeeed!
July kicked off with the Golf cart parade. We always love being a part of such a patriotic and special day. Campers decorate the carts in Red, white and blue, and drive throughout the park. One of the best ones that I saw this year had a rocket on top with dry ice shooting smoke from underneath. Several church volunteers assisted with face painting and balloon animal sculpting. I learned to do one--a snake. You blow the balloon up and it just lays there. No tying needed. We served cookies and drinks and had an amazing day!
I will talk about Day Camps next week. The sermon will be my annual recap of all things Summer Camp related.
Worship went well in July. Attendance was up, people were happy to be praising God while overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Many hurting and broken people came seeking a word of hope, peace, healing and redemption. Our prayer is that by the Spirit, they found what they came seeking.
Brief Synopsis of the four July sermons are:
June 29- Inside/Outside
This sermon focused on the passage 2 Corinthians 4:5-9
You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
Thesis-It is amazing that fragile vessels, such as us, are commissioned to be the jars if clay that house the great treasure of Jesus.
July 6-Classic Freedom
On July 4th weekend, I wanted to focus on the freedoms given to us by God. The focal text was the story of the Lost Son in Luke 15:11-32.
To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”
I am rarely a 3 point preacher, but this week I was rare.
Thesis- God Gives us freedoms:
2- Freedom to fail.
3- Freedom to return to him.
He waits and runs to meet us, as we return.
July 13-Now/Later
Scriptural Focus was Joel 2:12
The Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Thesis- In this world of high speed Internet, fast food, fast cars, and instant gratification--why do we always postpone the one thing that really matters--repentance.
July 20--The Photograph
Focus Text-Matthew 16:13-16
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Thesis--Who do we say that Jesus is? Do we have a bad photographic image in our mind? He is far more than our limited minds can grasp.
July 27--Kingdom of Priests
Focal Passage-1 Peter 2:4-10
You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced. Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”
Thesis: We are all priests to each other; called and equipped to minister and offer his grace to others.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
June Reads
Golden Oldie
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Sermon Recap-"Sand Scribbles"
A Woman Caught in Adultery
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Sermon Recap--"Head Scratcher"
Parable of the Lost Sheep
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Sermon Recap--"Getting Older?"
Then I am reading and stumble upon the text for the morning. It did little to cheer me.
Ecclesiastes 12
Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”
Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky.
Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop.
Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.
Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.
Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire.
Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.
Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
The scipture even tells us that we are aging. So, I am getting old. I did what anyone in a mid-life crisis would do. Buy a new car? Nope. Find a new wife? Nope. Get a new hip haircut? Nope.
I went parasailing. (Gasps)
You think you are shocked--you see why I did not tell my mom until we were driving home. (laughter)
Sarah did it, too. (raised eyebrows)
Douglas did it, as well. (big gasps)
It was great. Sarah and I were far more scared than Douglas. He was a superhero flying 500 feet in the air above Myrtle Beach, looking down at the waves, hotels, stingrays and jellyfish.
He has no fear to speak of. He has no self-esteem issues. He believes he can do and be anything he wants.
His parents are not so lucky.
We have baggage--we have doubts--we have fears.
Solomon reminds us to remember our creator when we are young. Life chokes away the desire to remember and appreciate. We become cynical and full of bitterness. Oh, if we could just be children of FAITH forever and trust God and enjoy the ride that he puts before us.
Before we went airborne--the captain of the boat told us to hold on and not stand up. Basically, he said to sit on our rears and fly. We did as we were told, and were launched higher than high and had a great experience.
Solomon says, "Remember," Christ says, "Follow." I say, "Dare to trust God, he may take you to places that you, in your old age, thought were impossible. Perhaps you will be changed and a great example of childlike faith will emerge.
Let me know what he does--where he takes you--how he reverts the aging process--in your life this week.
click to enlarge (notice the happy kid, mom and somewhat unsure dad)
Saturday, June 07, 2008
May Reads
I am a grace guy. Those who know me--know this. If you don't know this--then you don't know me. I want you to know me--so I guess you should know this. Well, now let's proceed.
This is a great, honest book about realness and real grace. Top 5 books that you should read to be stretched a bit are:
1- The Ragamuffin Gospel-Brennan Manning
2-Messy Spirituality-Yaconnelli
3-Dangerous Wonder-Mike Yaconnelli
4- Provocative Faith and Beatitude-Matthew Paul Turner
5- Divine Nobodies--Jim Palmer (See Below)
My good friend, Peter gave me this book. I loved it and give it * * * * stars.
Good book about what God is doing in Las Vegas. Interested yet? I give it *** and a half stars.
Sermon Recap--The Tides
As a reward for a few weeks of exemplary behavior, we bought Douglas a new game for the Wii. It is called "Thrillville." The premise behind it is that you become the CEO and designer of an amusement park. You can decide how many bathrooms you need, how many people to employ and how much insurance to take out. But the best part is that you get to design the Roller Coaster. You decide how high the highs are and how low the lows are! You decide the number of flips and twists and turns. It is pretty cool!!
Think a few moments about our lives. How often we are in a high or a low. Our lives are so much like the roller coaster, one minute--at the apex and the next moment plunging at breakneck speed to the bottom.
Life is filled with highs and lows, mountaintops and valleys. If we could only know when we would be where. Or do we really want or need to know?
The past few weeks have been filled with highs and lows for me. I get to baptize two friends this morning. They asked me to do this! It could have been anyone, but they wanted me to be the one to have a part in this outward declaration of their commitment and love of Christ. I have been ecstatic about this all week. In fact, I may have even been a bit prideful about it. They asked me--I guess I must be doing something right. Oh--but the high was about to come crashing down!!
A few weeks ago, my doorbell rang and the person whose finger did the pushing was a dear little older lady that came up somewhere between my belly button and chest. She had a furrowed brow (never a good sign) and looked me dead in the eye. The conversation began this way, "Richard, I am so disappointed in you." Wow--she had found my air nozzle and let my air out slowly. Or maybe it was more like a butcher knife stabbed into the heart and soul of my air-filled ego.
The issue was this. There was a person that was sicker than I had realized. I had not visited her. I had called and sent a card, but no visit. I had a bunch of reasons, one being a surgery of my own, but I had not followed up as I should. She let me have it!!
LOW in the valley was I.
I apologized, she left, I was at the sick lady's home in 15 minutes.
LOW---but then I started thinking. Can I take Pastoral care up another notch.
Because of this visit--last week I took communion to the sick that could not make it.
Funny story--I even went to Bojangles and gave it to one of our folks through the drive thru window.
Now some people may have a theological problem with that--but I do not care. I felt called by the Spirit to do it and I did it. The LOW ushered me to a NEW HIGH.
Psalm 22 is a powerful Psalm about the roller coaster ride of life. Notice the text and the mood of the author that follows.
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.
LOW
Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them.They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced.
Climbing higher
But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, “Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord rescue him!”
Falling back
Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast. I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born.
Climbing Back up
Do not stay so far from me,for trouble is near, and no one else can help me. My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in! Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey. My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead. My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.
LOW
O Lord, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid! Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs. Snatch me from the lion’s jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen.
Climbing back up
I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. Praise the Lord, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.
I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you. The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations. Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust. Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.
High
I am reminded of a song that I loved when I was in college. The words carried me from a valley, back up to the mountaintop.
Way up high where the peaceful waters flow
To quench my thirsty soul
Up on the mountain
CHORUS:
My faith is strengthened by all that I see
You make it easy for me to believe up on the mountain
Oh, up on the mountain
I would love to live up on this mountain
And keep the pain of living life so far away
But I know I can't stay
Up on the mountain
CHORUS
I said I'd go, Lord, wherever You lead
For where You are is where I most want to be
And I can tell we're headed for the valley
My faith is strengthened by all that I've seen
So Lord help me remember what You've shown me
Up on the mountain
CHORUS 2
You bring me up here on this mountain
For me to rest and learn and grow
I see the truth up on the mountain
And I carry it to the world far below
So as I go down to the valley
Knowing that You will go with me
This is my prayer, Lord
Help me to remember what You've shown me
Up on the mountain
I cherish these times up on the mountain
But I can leave this place because I know
Someday You'll take me home to live forever
Up on the mountain
This beautiful song was written by Steven Curtis Chapman, who this week was plunged into perhaps the deepest valley he will ever see. His 5 year old daughter was ran over and killed by his teenage son in the driveway of their home. Valleys are hard and deep and cold--but still God is there.
Now, Brian and Wendy Gibson will be baptized. They will step out into this low tide and be ushered into a new high. They will have the ocean rush over their heads as the "old person" dies and they will be raised up to life anew.
A life filled with beauty and simplicity and ugliness and chaos.
But the good news of the gospel is this--HE who controls the tides, forgives us. In his low (Cross) we are forgiven. In His High (Resurrection) we are ushered into life anew.
As you walk the beach remember that as you see the rising and lowering tides.
Sermon Recap--Vintage
Just this past week, I received a text message from Peter Copeland, another friend. He had found these water bottles with our ministry logo on them. They are at least 15 years old. I am not sure what that says about the housekeeping habits at the ICO house, but I was psyched to get these vintage bottles.
We ate this week at a place in town called Burky's Grill. It has a vintage diner fell and they have great burgers and hot dogs and ice cream. Vintage music plays from Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Smokey Robinson. They even have a Classic car night--or "cruise in" a neat nostalgic experience that is a reminder of days gone by.
Jesus too was into vintage. This is evidenced by the text of the day, Luke 22:14-20.
When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.” He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
The vintage Passover meal-the meal of remembrance of the delivery of the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians. The day that God saw the blood on the door posts and passed over the residences and spared the first born, this is the meaning of the Passover feast.
Jesus makes the vintage new--as he becomes the blood that spares and the life that is taken. He is the reason for this feast--and he reminds the disciples of the sacrifice that is to come. He gives himself for them, and he gives himself for us.
This morning as we come to the table, we are reminded of the wrath of God that has Passed Over us and on to Christ. We are spared by his blood and body and this meal ushers us into the vintage mystery that is the mind and heart of God.
May we prepare our hearts to receive this gift.
Prior to benediction I told this story.
I made a nursing home visit this week and it was a bit odd. My life itself is a bit odd, but there are certain things you expect in a nursing home, and that is not what I found.
The next door neighbor on the hall beside Buddy was a vintage country music lover. He was listening to Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Conway Twitty, George Jones, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.
Buddy and I had talked for a while and the music had been stopped for a few minutes. We bowed for a prayer. Just as we began, I heard from the other room:
Whiskey River, take my mind
Don't let her memory talk to me
Whiskey River, don't run dry
You're all I got, take care of me
Laughter from the congregation
I love Willie, just not in the middle of a prayer.
Perhaps we are better served with this new twist to a vintage county song:
Lord and Saviour, take my mind.
Don't let my past keep haunting me.
Redeeming Jesus, Lord on High,
You've all I've Got, take care of me.
Sermon Recap--Obvious
Yes--the are Golfers. Easily spotted by the funny wardrobe of striped pants and plaid shirts.
This week is Harley week at the beach and there are thousands of bikers here in town, hanging out and spending money. They are easy to spot (and hear)too.
I do not ride a bike, but I wish I could get away with wearing a denim sleeveless muscle shirt or a nice pair of leather chaps. Why? I am not sure--but one thing I know is that I would feel silly.
If I really belonged to the group of bikers or golfers then I would fit in. I would not feel awkward with the odd pants or funny black bump cap.
We all want to belong. We all want to be a part. Not just a part--but an important, valuable, vital, irreplaceable part.
Sometimes I take Douglas with me on pastoral visits. I am sensitive to the environment and the patient. If they have a relationship with Douglas and would appreciate his being there, and the setting calls for it, then he may pop by with me. This past week we went to visit Buddy in the nursing home. He is in a transition stage and should be able to return home soon. Douglas and I got out of the car and I gave him instruction of what he could and could not do. He knows not to jump on the patient or the bed or run down the hall or any other fun stuff.
We walked to the entrance of the building and passed a lady with no teeth. I held my breath in fear that he would mention the obvious, "Hey where are your teeth?" But he did not--whew.
As we passed the lady with no teeth. I was taken by the wisdom of her words. She said, "Lord--that boy is beautiful, just like his daddy." I know what you all are thinking--"She must have been blind too! But that was not the case.
Douglas and I looked at her and told her "Thank-you" and went inside.
Wow--beautiful just like his father. I am sure she was talking about the outer--because my inner is not too lovely. But yet, I still try to teach him to make the message of Hope obvious.
Romans speaks to our belonging and beauty. Let's look at it a bit this morning.
And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Sounds like belonging to me. Unlike Golf and Bike riding, No funny clothing needed.
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Now that belong, we are called to be beautiful bearers of the truth.
After hanging out and visiting a bit, Douglas, Buddy, and myself prayed together. It was a prayer for healing, hope, peace. Obviously--we are all called to share that message. Obviously, we are equipped to do so. Obviously, it makes a difference in the world when we do.
In Christ we are forgiven---live (grace) obviously!!
Monday, May 12, 2008
April Reads
So, I tried to read this a few months back and was disappointed. I was too busy comparing it to his other books instead of taking it as a work unto itself. Upon revisitation, I appreciated Don Miller and his ability to share a good story or two. Shhh, I still like Blue Like Jazz and Searching for God Knows What a lot better. I still give it 3 stars.
Pretty disappointed in this book. There were a few stories but all in all it seems to be slick marketing with not a lot of substance. I give this one 2 stars.
Interesting work, although I do not buy into everything he espouses. I do see the value in looking at yourself and asking "Why am I the way I am?" Often it reverts back to parental and familial structure. Valuable in premarital counselling and other issues. I give it 3 stars.
I am a big Calvin Miller fan. This book speaks to the value of pastoral care vs. the Mega church--CEO--approach to ministry. Get off the golf course and get into the hospital. Amen, my friend and 4 stars to you.
Sometimes I read something other than Christian material. This one was an attempt to explain why men are the way we are. Interesting, but it reduces men to a bunch of sex starved dogs. I picked up a cheap copy at Barnes and Noble, it was much different from my usual reading. I give it a 2.5 on the Jenkins star scale. Are all men dogs? Really? If you care to be critical of my reading this book, I ask that you read the first book on this list. Groeschel may not care for you, too much!
Loved It!! Loved It!! Loved It!! 4.5 stars! In the top 5 books I have read over the past 3 years.