Christmas Devo #1: What Kind of Heart Do You Have?”

At one point in Jesus ministry, Jesus questioned the sincerity of many in the large crowd. In an effort to weed out halfhearted “followers”, Jesus told the following parable: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?  For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn't able to finish.’(Luke 14:28-30).

Jesus’ call to count the cost was not intended as an exhortation to “try harder” and “grit your teeth” a little more in hopes of being successful. Jesus' call here is to wholehearted devotion with an implied warning attached: It is better for one not to embrace Jesus at all then to do so with a divided heart. Most of us at some time or other have witnessed the tragedy of people who have allowed the temptations and hardships of life to crowd in on their loyalty to Jesus. Sadly, the lives of many of these people end up being emotionally wrecked because the cost of being a true disciple proved too high. Having been marked as a follower of Jesus, they find they fit neither in the church nor the world. Their identity has been shattered.

In contrast to the crowd, Mary, the mother of Jesus, demonstrated unconditional love for God and unqualified obedience at the angelic announcement. Without hesitation, Mary wholeheartedly declared: “Yes, I see it all now:   I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.Let it be with me  just as you say.”(Luke 1:37, The Message) There is no indication that Mary even gave a second thought to the price of her obedience. She trusted the heart of God unconditionally. Unlike the crowds in Jesus’ ministry, Mary had surrendered her heart long before her encounter with the angel. Her unconditional love for God made her a prime candidate for use in God’s eternal plan. Many of us like the idea of being “used by God” at least in theory, but we become embittered in the process. We may never acknowledge it as bitterness toward God, but instead as disappointment and disillusionment with other Christians or “the church”.

Choosing to follow Jesus does not guarantee that we won’t be misunderstood or mistreated. Often it all but guarantees that we will be treated worse by those who should understand God’s plan the best. During Jesus’ life Jesus was derogatorily referred to as “Mary and Joseph’s son.” suggesting Jesus  illegitimacy. Despite the challenges that came with her unconditional obedience, we remember Mary because she put God’s interest above her own, without respect to the cost.

Are you a member of the crowd, one who follows Jesus from a distance out of convenience? Have you become disillusioned, blaming others because the price of following Jesus proved higher than expected? Or are you like Mary, convinced that no price can be too high to be a part of God’s eternal plan. Regardless of where you are or where you have been, Christmas gives us a new opportunity to remember the only real way forward. It is summed up in Mary’s words:“Yes, I see it all now:    I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.Let it be with me  just as you say.” 

“Which Type of Person Are You?: My Thoughts About the National Day of Prayer"”

TThe 70s  version of the Dog-centered cartoon series Scooby-Doo features an episode where, on one of their many escapades, two of the characters are captured by an evil "man" who has created some kind of sophisticated contraption capable of forcing those under its power to do whatever he commands.  Sadly, the otherwise good-natured cartoon characters of the Scooby-Doo clan are suddenly turned into brain-washed individuals who exhibit no control over their actions or behavior.  At first, the remaining characters who have thus far successfully evaded the evil man's “spell” start to fall into the man's trap and get angry with the members of their group who suddenly start trying to get the remaining members to do things normally totally out of character for anyone in the group.  At first, the two remaining unaffected members fail to realize that their friends are under some kind of power, and chaos initially ensues.  Finally, one of them has enough insight to realize what has happened.  Their programmed friends are trying to get them to do crazy things because they have fallen under the control of the grand, evil, programmer who has taken control of their  friends’ minds.  The remainder of the show features an adventurous tale of daring risks that Scooby and their otherwise chicken-hearted friends must undertake to stop the bad guy and ensure the freedom of their currently programmed-controlled friends. 

In Ephesians 6:12, the apostle Paul warns against misidentifying our real enemy.  He writes:

^“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Paul wanted his readers to understand two distinct points.  First, Paul wanted his readers to realize that as believers they were in a real battle.  It wasn't necessarily a battle they chose, but a battle we are called to fight nonetheless.  We are in a real war, to choose not to engage or to retreat is to give the Enemy a foothold in our lives he does not deserve.  The second equally- important point is that our enemies are not other people.  Even the people who fight vehemently against the message of the gospel are not to be viewed as enemies.  According to Paul, these people are under the influence of the great evil Programmer.  Our goal is, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to live our lives in such a way that God is able to use us to disable the sophisticated machinery of the evil programmer.  The evil Programmer would like nothing more than for us to become entangled in a battle with other people and see them as our big problem while he continues to use his remote control behind the scenes.  Or, equally as bad, we simply allow people to stay under the influence of the evil programmer by avoiding at any cost any potential issues of conflict and believing we have no personal responsibility in helping others find their way out from under his influence.

Today is the National Day of Prayer.  Its observance reminds me of the three basic options Christians have when it comes to addressing the moral climate of our culture.  The first option is to feel basically indifferent and accept things the way they are.  These people probably see observances like today a waste of time and have no real vision or belief that life can be any different than what it is right now. 

The second option is to engage the culture in a hostile manner, choosing to see those who disagree with us, especially politically, as an enemy that needs to be dealt with.  These people will likely support days like today with the attitude of "taking our country back" as if those who disagree with us are the real problem.  These people will spend much of their time praying about political realities and little if anything more. Yes; there are people who hold views that, if implemented, will be harmful to the freedom and future of our nation.  However, no matter how strongly some people support these views, we must resist the strong temptation to view them as our enemy.  Unfortunately, many who participate in the National Day of Prayer will view it as little more than a rally to energize them against their "enemies."  Sadly, these "enemies" are the very people we are called to help free from the evil "man’s” programming.  No, we are not called to be passive about sinful behaviors and choices of others, or compromise our own values in the name of “getting along”, but at the same time we are called to build positive relationships with unbelievers (2 Cor.  4). Satan wants nothing more than for us to live in a virtual 24-hour attack mode making enemies of the very people for whom Christ died.  Our goal is not to destroy the unrighteous but to win them!   More than ever, we need to pray for each other that we will not succumb to the trap of seeing other human beings as our enemy.  It is Satan the master programmer himself who is our true enemy! 

There is one more preferred option when it comes to days like today.  We could have the spirit of like Daniel and choose to repent for our attitudes and actions that have not represented the heart of God.  What is the potential if God really breaks our heart and we begin to weep over our sins and the sin of our nation much the way Daniel did:

Daniel prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:

“Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.  We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land."

 “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame —the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you.  We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you.  The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.  All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you."

“Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you.  You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem.  Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth.  The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him." 

 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made or yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong.  Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us."

 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary.  Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.  Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” (Daniel 9: 3-12).

Notice the constant use of the term "we" in the passage.  Even though Daniel was a righteous man by all accounts, he saw himself as one in need of repentance.  No, Daniel was not oblivious to the sins of others, but he never exhibited the self-righteous attitude by separating himself from his people.  Instead he repented on behalf of the whole.  He allowed his heart to be broken on behalf of the needs of his people.  Moreover, this time of repentance became the backdrop that led to the return of the people of Israel back to their homeland.

Even Jesus exhibited the same attitude as he wept for Jerusalem just days prior to his crucifixion:

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.  Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’(Lu. 13:34).

I must be the first to confess that it is so easy to want to view everything in terms of winning or losing.  God does care about leaders we elect for ourselves.  However, we do ourselves and others a tremendous disservice when we begin to view people through a purely political lens.  I know there will be those who will be tempted to challenge me by turning to passages where Jesus offered strong rebukes to people.  However, I offer one word of caution.  Nearly every harsh rebuke Jesus offered was directed at "righteous” individuals who showed little or no concern for the lost, destitute, and desperate.  I believe many of the very people who most viciously attack Christ followers are the very ones Jesus has the heart to reach.  Ouch, four fingers are pointing at me right now!

In closing, would you consider joining me in a moment of prayer modeling the hearts of Daniel and Jesus above?  "Lord, we ask in your name for your forgiveness as we come before you today."  We ask that you will forgive us.  We admit, God, that in our well-intentioned but sometimes misguided zeal, we have made enemies of people that you called us to reach.  We ask on this special day that you would not only cleanse our hearts, but also give us favor with those who despise us.  Grant the same kind of heart you have toward those who treat you as their enemy.  Lord, will you teach us how to live in such a way that people will genuinely desire the life you have given us.  Help us to realize when our eyes are being diverted from our real enemy.  Even more Lord, we ask that you will protect us from an attitude of haughtiness and pride that leads us to focus on the sins of others more than on your love for them.  We know there are times when you call us to address sin.  Help us, Lord, in those times to never lose sight of the right reasons to do so.  Help us to never lose sight of your love for those who are lost and without you, regardless of how they treat us or what they say about us. Help us to follow your command to Love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us” Even when called to confront, O Lord, help us to do so in a way that is both bold and yet coupled with such love that people will see your heart for them even in troubling times. When retaliated against, teach us not to respond in kind.  Finally, we ask that you will remember our nation and do by your Spirit what we can never do for ourselves.  We ask for a divine outpouring of the Spirit of repentance on this nation.  We ask that you will help us to live out the dreams of our ancestors that we may truly become as a people like a city set on a hill filled with your glory.  We submit this prayer, humbly, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Most Important Post I've Ever Written

I want to address one of the big reasons why I believe a moral revival has eluded this generation and we have failed to see the awakening that has characterized earlier times.  It is not simply enough to say our time is more complex than previous times.  The claim that the Spirit of God has never penetrated a culture more complicated and more reprehensible than this one simply reveals a poor sense of history.  If God is able to overcome the evils of the third and fourth century Roman emperors, he can certainly penetrate the atheistic-based secular humanism that pervades ours at the moment. 

Neither is it enough to turn to the famous Timothy passages about the great falling away of the last days.  If one reads those passages carefully, it will become quite obvious Paul's not referring to some distant time in the future when he writes, he is warning Timothy about the time Timothy lived in currently and describing the situation as he saw it then.  The church of nearly every generation has believed that they live in the last times.  Paul and Timothy's generation was no exception.  Moreover, in those very same passages that predict a great falling away, Paul predicts that God's Spirit will ultimately prevail even in that situation, and that those fight against it will live to regret it because God’s ways will be shown to be right (see 2 Tim 3:9).  Nowhere does God's Word suggest that one generation has a right to lower its expectations for God to move among its people on eschatological grounds!  The truth of the matter is, we have no idea how close or how far the end really is, and if you think you have it figured out, think again!  Do any of us have any idea how many people in the 1940s understandably thought beyond any shadow of a doubt that Hitler was the Antichrist?  They thought they had it figured out.  Obviously, they were wrong! So, away with the, “It’s the Last Days”, excuses as well!  We are still responsible for our generation.  If the Great Awakening preachers like Edwards and Finney had possessed the same mentality, not only would not know who these men were, but the case could easily be made that the United States may not exist at all, (a topic for another day)!

So what's holding back the potential of a Great Awakening in our day? In addition to our eschatological misunderstandings addressed above, I think the issue could come down to something as simple as an unintentional misreading of one of my favorite passages, 2 Chronicles 7:14:

 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

 Despite our tendency to misinterpret it, a lot of good memories and even one of my favorite songs is based on this passage!  Typically this passage has been interpreted by Christians to mean that if Christians would humble themselves, pray and intercede, and repent, that God would bring revival.  However if we are to look at the passage little bit closer in its original context, we will discover God is not giving us a formula for revival at all, but he is instead promising to take care of his people and provide for them if they have a revival!  It is essentially the promises of Deuteronomy 27-28 restated in a temple context for a new generation.  Let me explain.  (2 Chr 7) This passage is rooted in the context of a solemn assembly in honor of the dedication of what became known as Solomon’s Temple, since he oversaw its construction.  These nationwide solemn assemblies were rare events that were usually reserved for times of extreme, nationwide crises.  Ancient Israel was an agriculturally-based society.  The livelihood of her people depended on the ability to effectively farm the land.  When the Temple was being dedicated, God appeared to Solomon and promised him that in the future  when things began to fall apart economically through natural disasters like drought, the first thing people needed to do was take their corporate spiritual temperature by calling a solemn nationwide assembly of repentance to be held in the Temple. God promised Solomon that if he would lead the people to do the things indicative of a backslidden people’s return to God (i.e. exhibit humility, heartfelt prayer and repentance) then God would have mercy and cause the crops to come again (i.e. heal the land). 

Thus, God's promise to "heal their land", does not refer to a spiritual healing of the people as modern Christians typically interpret it. Instead, God required revival as a condition of economic prosperity. Remember, in Old Testament times economic prosperity was considered the primary sign of God’s favor. (This supposed correlation between economic blessings and divine favor  does not necessarily carry over to the New Testament, see James 1:9-11).  Unfortunately this passage does NOT explain how to get people to the point where they are ready to repent and get right with God or pray or intercede, and Solomon was certainly no role model in this area. In Old Testament times, it typically took natural and military disasters to wake people up and cause them to repent.  Sadly, we appear to be much like them. 

But wait!  There's more!  Jesus provides his disciples with the model! We don’t have to wait for things to fall apart to make a difference. We don’t even have to have “the right people” in power! The apostles certainly were not afforded that luxury, that’s for sure!  Ironically they likely had the same mentality we typically have today.  They were waiting for God to do something.  Jesus had to change their mentality.  Once he was able to do that, the disciples witnessed the beginnings of a revival whose impact is still being felt and talked about today!  And get this; you don’t even need a great minister, evangelist, or motivational speaker!  God uses all of that at different times, but that's not really what softens people's heart to make them want to repent.  Here's what Jesus said:

“Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Mt 10:41-42).

At a later time, probably not far from his death Jesus sought to encourage his disciple about the seemingly ominous and overwhelming task that lie ahead:

“Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman  who took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough^.” (Lk 13:18-20).

The disciples didn't have a lot of "resources" at their disposal, but they did have the Spirit of God within them.  Jesus taught his disciples that the real revival they sought wasn't going to come through some great event eschatological or otherwise, but through an intentional life that focused on doing the small things from a pure heart with a conscious awareness of God's presence in all we do.  It is to live Incarnationally as physical and visible extensions of Christ’s body in action.  In the words of the apostle Paul:

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Co 10:31). 

Each of the above passages highlights the fact that it's not about waiting for something big to happen, not even the rapture.  It's about living an intentional life with the constant awareness of God's presence living in and through you as you go about your daily tasks as intentional acts of worship.  It’s more about how and why we do what we do that it is about what we do. It is what brother Lawrence called "practicing the presence of God."  

God may in fact bless us with unforgettable events to ignite something beyond our dreams.  If he does, it will more than likely be in response to people who chose to be faithful and intentional in the small things when nothing big was happening and no one else was looking.  Seeds are small things; a cup of cold water is something that doesn't make the headlines.  Satan tries to get us to focus on our failures and seeming insignificance (a lie from Satan himself), so we will do nothing and stay focused on a world "going to hell in a hand basket.”  However, when we pick ourselves up and focus on what we can do in the name of Christ rather than what we or everybody else is not doing, we have the prescription for a revival like this generation has never seen! If you question what I’m saying let me close with this simple challenge: For one week, make an intentional decision to see yourself as Jesus with skin on in whatever you do and just watch and see what happens!

Important Lessons I've Learned Living In A Wheelchair: A Message Dedicated to My Liberal Friends"

There are some notes that I write simply because I want to begin a good conversation. Every once in a while though, there are notes I actually feel compelled to write even when it is not convenient schedule wise. I guess when God keeps waking you up in the middle of the night to remind you that you need to do something, you had better just get busy and do it! So here goes! WARNING: Even though I know this note is long, please, please read unto the very end! There's more here than it first appears!

I want to explain to my friends why a particular irony exists within me. I know I have driven some of you crazy at times and for that I certainly do apologize. The question I want to answer for everyone is this: why do I as a minister and a person steeped in the discipline of theology rather than politics – who doesn't even believe that our primary answers rest in the political system but in spiritual revival – find it necessary from time to time to even comment on political issues at all? This is a worthwhile question that does deserve some explanation.

The best way to answer this question is to introduce you to my parents specifically in terms of how they related to me and my physical situation. Dad, on the one hand was always very time conscious – he wanted things done yesterday! Therefore, if Dad was helping me with something, he often thought it was easier to do it himself than to give me time to do what I could first. To be honest, I sometimes liked Dad's approach because my life seemed to go a lot faster when he was around! Mom, on the other hand, was exactly the opposite. She was going to make sure that I did everything I could for myself in order to be as independent as possible even if she had to sacrifice a lot of her life to do so. The interesting thing is, even though my parents had almost opposite approaches, I knew they both loved me and cared for me very much.

Dad worked rotating shifts as I was growing up which meant that I was around Mom a lot more than Dad. I sometimes resented Dad's absence for key events in my life; even though I knew he had no control over it. In retrospect, I realize God had a plan in it all. Because I was around Mom a lot more, she demanded a lot more of me. Mom would make me work for things. She would often sit on our hands to resist the temptation to give me something so that I would learn to exercise my muscles by reaching for it myself. Mom's tough-as- nails like attitude sometimes seemed mean, because I didn't see the big picture. As much as I loved the faster and frankly easier pace of life when my dad was around, if the roles had been reversed, I am almost certain that I would not have gotten as far in life as I have even though I still have a LONG way to go!

Somewhere around my late high school years, an interesting change took place, a role reversal of sorts. On the one hand, Dad started becoming more patient about letting me do things for myself. He didn't seem quite as in a hurry as he was earlier. Mom, on the other hand, begin to realize that she had done such a good job teaching me to be independent and self-sufficient that I now had trouble asking for help even when it was justified! (Perhaps it really was better to ask for help with your laundry in college rather than spending three hours trying to fold it yourself when you're taking a full load of classes)! So in the years that followed Mom and Dad tried to help me reach a delicate balance between maintaining my independence, and recognizing that maximizing that independence might at times involve asking help from others when appropriate.

Today, I still struggle to find that perfect balance. Some days I can be lazy and wait for Jackie to do something that I really could have done myself with a little extra effort. Other days I'm exactly the opposite; I try to cram too much into one day and end up paying the price down the road – or I end up trying to do something myself that I should really wait for Jackie to help me! I realize more and more that balance is an art form and not an exact science and the only way I will ever come close to doing it right is with the Holy Spirit's help.

So what does all of this have to do with politics? On one level, almost nothing; on another level EVERYTHING! Our government and our country are torn between the extremes of two completing philosophies. Democrats are all too willing to "help" people with things they can do better themselves or find more appropriate help elsewhere. Republicans, on the other hand, are all too willing to encourage self-reliance but often seem unwilling to get involved in the personal lives of people and mentor them so they can become independent themselves. So what gives? How do we come to some resolution? To explain what needs to happen, let's quickly look at two government programs for the disabled with which I am well acquainted.

One program called Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a very poorly-run federal government program that is so overburdened by regulations that Social Security workers have volumes of material to try to keep track of. Even though the federal program has added provisions to encourage self-support for clients capable of becoming self-sufficient, these programs get so little attention that most people don't even realize they exist. Sadly, this means many people who could perhaps eventually become self-supporting never have the opportunity because they are unaware of their options. Therefore, the majority of people receiving SSI are on it for the long haul once they start receiving it, including many who have the capacity to become productive citizens.

In contrast to SSI, Vocational Rehabilitation is largely state-run with federal grants being block-granted to individual states. Unlike SSI, vocational rehabilitation programs are built around specific plans designed by the individual with the assistance of trained counselors to help individuals become as financially productive as possible. Unlike SSI, people are usually recipients of rehabilitation assistance for a relatively short period of time until they are able to provide for themselves. It is a rare example of the way government programs should work, but unfortunately there are relatively few like it around.

I have used the crude illustration of these two government programs to illustrate a couple key points. I, like many of my conservative friends, are not at all oblivious or uncaring about the very real needs people face. What concerns me though is that I see a lot of people growing up in a culture where they associate compassion with the impatience my father used to have. Just give me what I need so I don't have to struggle at all. These are largely the liberals in our culture. I know my liberal friends really do care, but some fail to realize that not all intervention is healthy. They are like my dad was; they just want to do whatever it takes to get the job done even if it unknowingly inhibits one's ultimate independence. Many of these same people associate the hard-nosed tough love approach of Mom with selflessness and insensitivity to others in need. They need to learn that not all struggle and pain is bad. If the only goal of our life is to avoid suffering at any cost, we will grow to be weak, feeble and unproductive people. The more we promote reliance on the government rather than targeted assistance from it, the less freedom we really have.

On the other hand, my conservative friends need to learn that some targeted help can actually make a person more independent in the long run. Just like I had to learn that there were times when help really was productive in the long run, my conservative friends need to learn that they need to personally involve themselves in the lives of people who really need help. That doesn't always mean a handout – though sometimes it might! More often, it means a commitment to open your heart, your home, your office to mentor people who need guidance without always doing things for them. Even when Mom sat on her hands to keep from helping me when I struggled, she would still be there to encourage me as I worked with all my might. Even when Mom was being as tough as nails, she still remained involved. Conservatives need to learn to care less about their privacy and be willing to get involved! If conservatives simply tell people simply to pull themselves up by their boot straps without being willing to be involved in their lives on a personal level to help them succeed then they deserve the labels of selfishness they often receive.

To summarize, my disdain for big government does not mean a hate for government as a whole. This disdain for big-government approaches to helping people (like the Affordable Care Act) comes from two primary places. First, long-term dependence the government, no matter how well-intentioned, more often than not minimizes people's ability to provide for themselves over time. Second, the more involved government becomes in one's life, the less freedom an individual ultimately has. It's like an adult returning home to live with his parents expecting to have the same freedom as if he or she lived on their own! Your parents will always love you, but if they are paying the bills they have every right to a greater say about what happens in your life! This does not mean that there is never a place for government involvement, especially on a short-term basis as I suggested with my rehabilitation example above. Similarly there are times when it is appropriate for parents to assist their adult children on a temporary basis is perfectly appropriate. But, I also realize that promoting a smaller government, means that places like churches and ministries have to be willing to get their hands dirty. We have to be comfortable more places than just the pulpit! People don't always need money, but they do need our support.

To my liberal friends, I say this: I know you are not bad or evil; I NEED YOU IN MY LIFE! Sometimes, I just get frustrated when you’re just too much like my Dad was! My disdain for big government is not a disdain for you or your intentions. As a matter of fact, there is a place for you in my life. If it weren't for you, I would never learn to ask for help even when it's appropriate! If it seems like I am tougher toward you, it’s not because I love you less but because right now pendulum seems way too focused in one diection. Thank you for reminding me that there are time when government can be a force for good when done with discipline and restraint. To my conservative friends, thank you for reminding me that there is no substitute for giving your very best even when it hurts and takes longer to do something than to have it done for you. But please remember, that not every manifestation of "independence" may be real independence in the long run. Not all requests for help are demeaning or ill-legitimate.(I'm so glad I got over asking for help with my clothes)!

As a minister first and foremost, and an energized citizen second, I have greatly curtailed my involvement in political issues. However, as a part of making a clean break, I really felt like I had to explain my passion, even if it was misplaced at times. It is really hard for me not to feel passionate about things that strike so close to home. I hope by understanding the roots of my passion that those of you who get frustrated by it at times at least have a better appreciation for why. So as I choose to back away in order to pursue a more single-minded focus toward a spiritual revival---the only real cure for what ails us--- I hope all will continue to pray for me as I continue to do my best to follow God.

Can You Help Me Be Jesus' Voice of Gratitude?

ACan You Help Me Be Jesus' Voice of Gratitude?

All of us have heard complaints about what we Christians do or don't do when we fail to represent Christ well. Unfortunately, when we do stuff right it tends to get much less airplay. Such was the situation last Saturday. In the small town of Argyle Texas at Cross Timbers Community Church, close to 200 church volunteers had arrived at 6 AM to prepare to fix over 150 registered cars of mostly financially- struggling church members as well as total strangers from the nearby communities. The volunteers included not only mechanics but also people to welcome individuals, run errands for mechanics, and feed people breakfast and lunch while they waited on their cars to be fixed. This event has become such an effective means of outreach that it has become a quarterly event. One widow who did not attend our church had her car fixed. Afterwards, she went to the pastor with tear-stained eyes expressing her gratitude “You don’t know how much this means to me; I don’t have anyone to help me with things like this.”

At the same time, in an Applebee's restaurant 10 miles north of the church campus in the city of Denton Texas something was going on that was much smaller, had virtually no budget, but certainly was no less noble and God-honoring than the car clinic. I'm not sure whether the two ladies forgot about the car care event or were initially unaware what was happening just south of them at the same time. In a church of substantial size, it is quite easy to have conflicting events even when you are fully aware of the church calendar! Anyway, less than a week earlier those of us on the prayer team received an e-mail making us aware of a fundraiser breakfast for Tom Starr, a fellow prayer team member who, just over a month ago, had been diagnosed with cancer. Given the localized nature of the cancer, the doctors now seemed increasingly hopeful compared to the original diagnosis just day earlier. On their own initiative, two couples from our church who are closely connected with the Starr family secured a nearby Applebee's restaurant, cooked their own food and catered it to the restaurant for a benefit breakfast to help cover Tom's medical expenses.

Realizing the seriousness of the need, Jackie and I drove 50 miles north to make our contribution to the event. Given the generous nature of our church, normally, to raise a substantial amount of money on a Saturday morning for something of this nature would not have been out of the question. However, with a major event scheduled at exactly the same time, only $600 had been raised on Tom Starr's behalf at the close of the breakfast Saturday. Having been on this journey myself with other family members, I knew that even with Tom’s insurance covering 80% of his expenses, that this would only be a drop in the bucket.

I talked to the families who sponsored the event, and even though I am thankful that they are committed to supporting Tom and his wife Twila through this difficult journey, the small turnout was still obviously a disappointment. With their usual positive attitude, they expressed optimism about promised contributions that still had not come in.

After returning home, I sensed God speaking to my heart: "do you think I was any less glorified by the small turnout of the Starr event as I was by the large car care event?" I knew what God was getting at. God was just as proud of those supporting a family in their hour of need as he was of the 200 volunteers working on people's cars. Yet, the next day great praise was offered for the car care efforts (which was well deserved), but nothing at all was mentioned about the benefit breakfast for Tom. After all, very few people even knew about it to start with.

Those of you who know me well know that asking for help is not exactly my strength. After all, you would not have even known about my previous wheelchair need had it not been for the self- directive actions of close friends who initially acted without my knowledge! However, after several days of prayer and not feeling the release of the Holy Spirit to let this thing go, I am stepping out to ask if you will consider helping someone you don't even know! I know that all of us have limited resources and all of us have equally valid projects we are called to support. As a matter of fact, Jackie and anticipate the privilege of getting to support some of those projects as God directs. So why is a guy like me who rarely asks for help asking for it now? Great question! The reason why is because I not only want to help a brother who has an immediate medical need, but I want to encourage those who are using their time energy and resources to help others in need. As Christians, it is easy to look society and spend so much energy cursing the darkness. This is a unique opportunity to magnify the light! None of us can meet all the need. The idea here is synergy, starting a chain reaction so that the smallest of gifts can make the hugest of impact. If 12 people gave $50, we would literally double what was given this Saturday. Again, I realize mine is not the only need out there, which is why I rarely do things like this. This particular situation touched my heart because in both cases, (the car clinic and the benefit breakfast), the church was obedient being the church. My hope is to ensure both groups are rewarded and encouraged for their efforts.

One thing I can promise you, doing something like this will be EXTREMELY RARE for me! You need not fear my doing things like this on a regular basis. I am do this strictly as a matter of obedience. Those of you who have received from my ministry in the past know that my approach is always to encourage whenever possible. While I definitely have a desire to see Tom healed, I have an equally strong desire for the people supporting Tom to be able to hear Jesus' "well done" for their faithfulness behind the scenes. So many times in a situation like this, all the attention goes to the person fighting the disease and the caregivers take a backseat. In this case, I know nothing that would encourage the people ministering to Tom more than seeing his medical needs provided. There will be many things that we will have to wait until heaven to hear Jesus’ coveted words: "Well done, good and faithful servant!" As God had dealt with my heart, I don't believe this should be one of those situations. May I ask you to consider being God's loudspeaker of gratitude for the simple faithfulness of someone who has taken the time to care? If you are interested in finding out more about Tom and his situation, you can go to: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tomstarr1 for more information. I have created a link to my PayPal account for those of you who want to help https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=YVT346KPVRMAS .Every donation I receive between now and next Tuesday afternoon on our way to church will go specifically to the special account that has been set up in Tom Starr's name minus the PayPal fees.

In my next update to come shortly, I will have some exciting developments to share with you regarding the establishment and ongoing official development of our ministry. Please remember how much you all mean to me. You're in my thoughts and prayers often. One last thing, if you see me post the link to this note several times on my Facebook page during the week, it is because I know many of you look at Facebook at different times of the day, and this message can get lost in the midst of all the feed. I have no desire to hassle anyone. Thank you again so much for taking the time to hear my heart and consider my request.

Friends and Your Calling: How They Relate

Anyone who has been a Christian for very long at all quickly discovers two sometimes seemingly contradictory ideas to be true. First, Christians need the support of each other in order to thrive in a world that is often hostile to Christian beliefs. Second, if we are going to fulfill our God-given destiny and affect the world around us for Christ through our specific calling, we must allow God to place us in environments that are often hostile toward what we believe and hold dear. How does one resolve this dilemma? The account of the first recorded miracle after Pentecost provides some key insights.

After two disciples of Jesus, Peter and John, had done a good deed by healing a man who had been unable to walk from birth, they found themselves unwillingly before hostile leadership to account for their actions. These "leaders" knew that the excellence and godly character of these men threatened their power base, and they were going to do anything necessary to stop them. In an effort to curtail the rapidly growing influence, the establishment leaders had these men unjustly whipped for healing a disabled man in Jesus' name. Talk about injustice! Following their unjust treatment, I see four options Peter and John had available to them, three negative, (but certainly understandable), and one positive, (but requiring a huge sacrifice on their part).

First, they could have denied Christ concluding that any person not able or willing to shield them from such abuse was not worthy of their worship. This would have merely confirmed the views of the religious leaders who believed Jesus to be a fraud.

Second, they could have simply laid low and essentially concealed their light by giving up on their mission without actually denying Christ outright. This would have been tantamount to quitting – giving up on the mission altogether. It would not have been as severe as denying Christ publicly, but their chances of having any real influence the world around them would have been next to nothing. Ideally, they could at least live life as a "follower" of Christ without endangering their lives or the lives of their family members. Few could have blamed them if they had opted for this strategy. The chances are they could have found people sympathetic to the message of Christ, who nonetheless, would have encouraged this approach for the safety of themselves and their families. It is a very common strategy in many workplace environments today and it greatly hinders the spread of the gospel because people fail to see any real difference between the believers and unbelievers. Thankfully, Peter and John rejected this option and you and I are recipients of the gospel today because they rejected this option.

Finally, on the negative side of things, they could have chosen to go back to their friends and act like victims of an obviously unjust system. They could have even "spiritualized" their ranting and complaining by praying for divine vengeance against those "evil leaders" or even more nobly, acting like martyrs. Thankfully, Peter and John rejected all of these options in favor of a much more positive response that ultimately impacted generations.

Peter and John wisely went back to their godly friends, not to complain, but for positive support. Rather than emphasizing the negative that happened to them, their friends rallied around them by helping them to stay focused on the importance of the mission in spite of the injustice. True, they openly acknowledged the injustice, but it never became the primary focus. Notice what happened on their release:

“On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘Sovereign Lord,’ they said, ‘you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.”’ ‘Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly Act4:23-32).

These friends did what all true friends do: they acknowledged their pain while keeping them focused on their calling. They did this through their intentional prayer and close- knit fellowship. We all need friends who can encourage us, speak into our life, and keep us focused on our calling regardless of the situations we face trying to do God’s will. Two or three good friends who will keep you focused are worth more than 1 million friends who will let you give up! We should make it our goal in seasons of relative ease and prosperity to build quality friendships that will walk with us during the times of spiritual challenge and famine. At the same time, we shouldlimit the influence of well-meaning people who have no appreciation for our mission. These people are part of our mission field, not our true friends. Our true friends, (including those we have to connect with long-distance), will serve as divinely sent lights to help us walk through the paths of darkness. We need people who do this for us, and we need to set the example by being there for others first.

God has called us to be bright lights in an otherwise dark world. Oral Roberts, founding president of Oral Roberts University, expressed that this way in his understanding of God's call on the University: "raise up your students to hear my voice and go where my light is seen dim and my voice is heard small and my power is not known…" That expression in many ways articulates what God desires to do with all of us. Whether it is being kind to a rude customer for a few minutes, or learning to love and obstinate coworker we rub up against daily, or being a loyal friend to another believer in need, God wants us to realize we are always on mission and every minute matters.

More Than A Wheelchair: The Untold Story--Until Now!

You all know the story of my need for a new wheelchair as a result of being part of the site. However there is a behind-the-scenes story to all of this that in my mind is even more incredible than the provision for the chair. Jackie and I have always felt callings to both ministry and education. These are often complementary fields, so it didn't seem too strange that both of those fields always seemed to be flowing through our hearts concurrently. For example, Jackie has always felt callings to be a minister's wife as well a teacher. We weren't exactly sure what forms those callings would take. When we first married, Jackie transitioned out of nursing, finished her teaching degree and began teaching in Tulsa Public schools. Meanwhile, I was hired for a temporary position at ORU which despite being well received by both students and faculty did not result in a permanent position in part because of the political climate that existed at the time.

In 2003, we moved to Dallas where my wife received a higher-paying teaching job while I continued to look for work. Meanwhile, we connected with a startup church, that, despite being led by some really neat people, never really got off the ground. This really created a lot of emotional conflict in Jackie's heart. On the one hand, she really wanted to pursue ministry while continuing to teach---at least initially---, but watching a startup fail in front of our eyes did not provide a sense of security that things would work out well for us if we sought to branch out. As it became obvious that our little community was dying, Jackie and I started attending another church on the side. It was like an oasis in very long dessert, and we felt we were home---for good! Jackie persuaded me to begin training in another field entirely with the goal of, getting another job and doing ministry on the side. This led to moves in the East Texas area away from Dallas.

On paper, it looked like a great plan. However, it proved disastrous. I ended up taking a couple of jobs that were not good fits for me. Moreover, time that was supposed to be set aside for writing and ministryended upt being consumed in just trying to survive and keep my head above water. To make things worse, Jackie had always had a great job record, but when I took the second job in East Texas, we were forced to move a third time and she found herself a victim of educational politics in a small city.

For the first time in our lives together, neither of us had a job. Jackie quickly got a job offer in a nearby district that would have been even closer to where we were living. However, this time we really tried to pray more intentionally about what God wanted. We both felt God calling us back to the Dallas area. We really missed and frankly needed our old church and felt God leading us back there. The next week we came to Dallas only to discover most principals were on vacation and board offices closed. As an act of faith, we boght our computer and coppier with us and faxed dozens of resumes anyway. Before we knew it, one principal and only one called wanting to interview Jackie for a math position. Before we knew it, we knew we were headed back to Dallas. When we went to the weekly prayer meeing at our old church to have them pray for Jackie and her interview the next day, it was like we never left! Before we knew it, Jackie had a new job and we were back in Dallas.

This move of faith proved to be a wonderful move for Jackie as she has been able to work with inner-city kids, many of whom are very poor, living on a shoestring. Jackie has a huge heart for these people because it is the exact environment she came out of as a child. Just imagine one of those commercials that are meant to pull at your heartstrings so donate to some kind of charitable cause. That was the environment Jackie grew up in as a kid. God has really used her experiences to reach a lot of the kids with whom others have had difficulty. For that reason, she is a school administrator's dream teacher. In the last two years especially, God has given her tremendous favor.

Last spring, God began doing some amazing things on the ministry front. We took in the older sister of a couple of young men we had been mentoring. Las March, their family had some personal problems that made it impossible for her to continue living at home. Even though she is older, her circumstances were such that she had never finished high school. I spent the better part of last summer trying to help her catch up on academics to get her ready for college. She is now working and will start college next semester.

Despite all these great things, both of us kept feeling God calling us to a more intentional ministry outreach. We realized God was at work, but we weren't quite sure what to do next. We just kept praying, and I kept writing by faith. Meanwhile Jackie found out the school district had decided to remove Math and Science teacher stipends as part of budget-cutting measures. Suddenly all of the old insecurities started rearing their ugly head. With an additional person to take care of, it just made them even more intense. I know it probably sounded nonchalant to her, but I did my best to remind her of how God had provided for us in the past and would take care of us again. I couldn't prove it, but I really felt in my heart God was of the something, I just didn't know what. Meanwhile, Jackie and I kept feeling this pull toward ministry. As an act of faith, I begin writing more and we both stepped up our involvement in our local church. Again, we still felt like there was more going on, but we weren't sure what.

Fast forward to Tuesday afternoon. I received a quick education on how the sale of medical equipment really works from the wheelchair provider. In short, Medicare determines the value of an item and that becomes its price for everybody regardless of whether they are a Medicare client or not. As a result, my new manual wheelchair was going to cost over $3000 with $750 out-of-pocket. When I got off the phone with the wheelchair guy, I made a post on Facebook that was meant as a discussion point. However, my long-lost friend and fellow former wing chaplain, Mike Detweiler, (who I haven't talked to since his time at ORU in the late 80s), saw my post and reached out questioning my need. I explained to him that I was frustrated with the system but because of our health savings account was starting over with the new school year effective September 15th, we would be fine because we would just spend three months of it at one time, which the government thankfully allows. Mike wasn't very happy with my "solution". He decided he wanted to help out. I reluctantly gave him my address, but at first honestly felt a little bad because I didn't want people to think I was using my friendship with people on Facebook as a means to raise funds. Then another high school friend solve the same post and also asked for my address. I really thought I would provoke a discussion on healthcare!

After coming home from prayer meeting Tuesday night, Jackie received a Facebook note from Clint Bargman asking if some kind of avenuewas set up through which people could give to help out. Of course, there was not one, because we weren't expecting money from anyone except possibly one person at churchwho had expressed some potential interest once we knew how much the chair was going to cost. (Interestingly, we never actually made it to church Tuesday night because of a tanker truck that overturned and keeping us from making it in! Instead, Jackie drug me inside Kolh's to help her buy some clothes she needed for school). So we couldn't even mention anything to the only other person who had expressed possible interest in helping us because we never made it to church! God obviously had other plans!

After shopping, it was already late when Jackie saw the note from Clint. By the time we got home, ate a bite to eat and Jackie finished preparing for the next day, she nearly fell asleep at her computer! Obviously, she failed to respond to Clint that night. The next morning, I went on Facebook and discovered that a page had been set up by Clint and Shea. This not only touched me, but it was the best "sermon" on God's provision and faithfulness my wife could have ever heard! Wednesday morning, one of the first things Jackie said referring to the site was was "I can't believe this"! To get Jackie to say much of anything when she first wakes up is a miracle in and of itself! When she came home later that day (Wednesday night), it really touched her and built her faith in a way I hadn't witnessed. Then when people kept giving even after the stated need was met, I could really see Jackie's sense of vision being renewed! I was really glad that Shea chose not to remove the site after the initial need was met, because I could see some really precious things happening on this end that were the direct result of your generosity. For example, the combined total of the amount given so far nearly covers Jackie's pay cut that officially begins15th. Understandably, I didn't exactly feel like I could ask people to continue to give after the stated need had been met. Yet, many of you chose to give anyway! A special thank you is in order for your obedience. It continues to produce great fruit!

We were really trying not to discuss this issue with the young lady who lives with us. We just did not think it appropriate. We didn't realize she had discovered what was going on despite our efforts to the contrary. Yesterday, on our way to take care of some errands she explained how much all of this meant to her and we didn't even realize how much she knew! This actually led to her apologizing to us for not trusting us when it came to certain issues, especially dealing with the opposite gender! She also explained how she felt God working in her life and even explained to us in her own words some things she was learning. Many of these were some of the same principles we had been trying guide her in,often without success. However, your generosity was key in helping to soften her heart. Our ride to the chiropractor yesterday seemed almost like an old-fashioned revival meeting!

One last thing, I had already been praying about setting up a 501(c)(3) and then last night Dave Townsend asked me to consider doing just that so people who want cold continue to give. As a result I have begun exploring our options. What's more, Jackie was actually excitedly looking at options with me! This served as an additional confirmation for me. (By the way, if any of my Texas friends know the most efficient way to pursue this, please let me know).We are not totally sure what's coming next, but our hearts are opened like never before largely as a result of your obedience on our behalf! I must close with an extra special thank you to Mike Detweiler, Clint, and Shea for their visionary efforts. Hopefully you already know I've got your back! An extra special thank you is also in order for those of you who insisted on continuing to give even after the initial need was met. The events of this week actually makes me long for heaven even more so that I have a chance to personally thank and hug every one of you! I hope you realize that you have a part in every life God gives us the privilege to touch. Your obedience makes my obedience possible!