Trunk or Treat is Over

Well, after sitting on the "Burger King" throne for a couple of hours and handing out 1000 pieces of candy...trunk or treat is over. What a great night. I really did enjoy seeing the kids and watching their reactions from behind the mask. It's amazing how many people knew it was me. Sooner or later my voice or my mannerisms gave me away. So it is in our Christian lives. We may think we can wear a mask and pretend to be something we are not - but sooner or later our actions reveal what lies inside. Even though it's painful, I am thankful that God sees our hearts clearly all of the time because He extends His grace to heal all of our wounds.

Trick or Treat?

Of course I have some vivid memories of Halloween from childhood. Perhaps one of my most memorable years was 1971. That was the year I was diagnosed as a diabetic. After spending 10 days in the hospital and learning how to take my daily injections of insulin, I returned home just before Halloween. Great timing. You may recall that Halloween is a holiday event that revolves around receiving tons and tons of candy. Well, needless to say I had fun with my candy rations. Also, let me give a testimonial to the improvements that have been made in diabetic candy through the past 35 years! There are so many reasons to give thanks. My health, Self-control...and Diet Coke. Have a great day and resist that second Reese cup.

How bout a Starbucks?

Given all of the success that Starbucks has experienced, it was only a matter of time before books started rolling out describing the "Starbucks experience". One of the books written by Joseph Michelli points to 5 key principles in the Starbucks experience: (1) Make it your own (2) Everything matters (3) Surprise and delight (4) Embrace resistance (5) Leave your mark. Leonard Sweet has written a book called "The Gospel according to Starbucks: Living with a Grande Passion. According to Sweet, Starbucks unintentionally modeled itself after the ideals espoused by the church. Interesting food (or coffee) for thought. I must confess that I don't always think about the church as I sip my sugar-free vanilla latte. I have noticed that Sweet is correct in assessing the Starbucks experience through His culture savvy eyes. Starbucks has created an experience that beckons to the postmodern appetite. It is an appetite for experience and connection and the church has always existed with those ideals in mind. We long to help others experience the transformational power of God and connect with a community of faith that we know as the "body of Christ".

Trust

Brennan Manning is one of my favorite writers. His book on "ruthless trust" has been out a few years. But, it's a good one. Here is Manning's assessment of trust:
Let's say I interviewed ten people, asking each the same question - "Do you trust God?" - and each answered, "Yes, I trust God," but nine of the ten actually did not trust him. How would I find out which one of the ragamuffins were telling the truth? I would video tape each of the ten lives for a month and then, after watching the video, pass judgment using this criterion: the person with an abiding spirit of gratitude is the one who trusts God. The foremost quality of a trusting disciple is gratefulness. Gratitude arises from the lived perception, evaluation, and acceptance of all of life as grace - an undeserved and unearned gift from the Father's hand.

Have you changed?

As I mentioned in an earlier post this week I have enjoyed the opportunity to teach a course at our seminary this week. It was a special treat to see some folks in the class that attended the seminary back when I was in my masters program. I attended the seminary from 1989-1993. So, it's safe to say I have changed. When it has been a "few" years since you have seen people it's funny which changes you ask about. How's the family? Where do you live? Where did your hair go? Are those bifocals? Few conversations go deeply enough to discover what changes have occurred in our hearts. My heart has changed since I graduated in 1993. My trust in God has weathered many storms since then. My love for God has matured in appreciation for His faithfulness. And my understanding of His grace is dramatically different (by reason of application).

The Great Commission

Jesus told His disciples to "go into all the world". The world is a changing place. I am so grateful for the opportunities that God has given us to obey. We no longer have to "go" to go. Today I am teaching in a doctoral program. As I share some leadership principles I am sharing with students who will return to Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, South America and God only knows where else. I enjoy the teaching - but, I also enjoy hearing stories from so many different cultures. It enlarges my worldview and expands my understanding of God's mission. What a blessing.

Whisper Loud

Yesterday I shared a message based upon Elijah's encounter with God as revealed in 1 Kings 19. It's a long way from the desert to the cave at the "mountain of God". It's not just that it was a 40 day journey. It was a journey that transported Elijah from a place of hopelessness to direction from God. Elijah's encounter with God reminds us that God does not always show up in our situation with the force of an earthquake. Sometimes God chooses to whisper a message in our hearts. His whisper requires us to stop and listen. It also requires us to cultivate a deeper trust in His desire to help and direct us. Listen for His whisper today.

Time Flies

Today, I am in Charlotte. I spoke at a pastor's conference that is sponsored by Lee University. Lee has an extension here in Charlotte. It was a beautiful day to travel - Although I wish the leaves where changing a bit more. I enjoyed teaching today and I received a special gift. The class preceding mine was taught by Dr. Jerald Daffe. He was my supervisor during my internship at Lee in 1992-1993. It was great seeing Dr. Daffe. He was a great encourager to me during the final year of my seminary education. It's hard to believe fifteen years has passed since that time. Today provided a great opportunity to renew our friendship and to show my appreciation for his investment in my life.

Fire the coach

I heard an interesting call on one of the sports talk radio shows this morning. It was a call from a listener who had recently traveled through several southern states. He listened to sports call-in shows in several of the major markets throughout the south. He said that there was a common theme on all of the shows. Each area was dominated by calls for the local sports coach to be fired. Even though I question some of the coaching performances around the region, I don't believe that it is possible that every coach of every team in the south is doing a lousy job (For example LSU is undefeated and ranked #1). But, there is a growing tendency among fans to call for a change in coaching frequently (and loudly). I see the same tendency among followers of Christ. Rather than examine our own behaviors we would rather "fire" the coach. Of course, we can't really fire God. But, we can reject His lordship in a variety of ways. We can refuse to listen to His coaching. We can refuse to acknowledge all of the "good calls" that He has made in the past. After all, His win-loss record is pretty strong.

Rainbow

As I walked into the church today I saw a full rainbow. It was one of the most beautiful rainbows I have ever seen. The beauty of the rainbow always makes me think of God's promises. God's faithfulness is priceless. The context of a rainbow is a good reminder of the beauty of God's promises. There is always a mixture of clouds and sun when I see a rainbow. Those are the times in life when God's promises are cherished most. During the times when His light mixes with the clouds in my life I recognize the power of His love. I remember that His promise of peace is greatest in the middle of stormy time and that healing is meaningless without affliction.

Come home

I remember when I was a kid. Long, long ago when children roamed the neighborhood and rode bicycles rather than playing Playstation and Xbox. Whenever it was time for me to come home my father would whistle. He could whistle so loud that I could hear it for miles. It was a distinct sound with a distinct message for my brother and me: "Come home now!" This Sunday, I am looking forward to sharing a message about hearing God's voice. I believe that our heavenly Father's voice carries for miles. I believe He can deliver distinct messages to our hearts. Sometimes we ignore those messages. Often, we don't recognize them. But, He still speaks to us.

Change is coming

For the next couple of weeks my Sunday morning messages will focus on change. Specifically, I will talk about some of the indicators that change is needed. One of the most critical indicators that we need change is that of isolation. Isolation seems impossible in the midst of our crowded lives. But, as the old saying goes, it is possible to be lonely in a crowded room. One reason the church offers such hope for transformation is in the opportunity for authentic relationships. When a church is healthy relationships flourish and it becomes a catalyst for positive change.

Nineteen Years

Yesterday Lynn and I celebrated our 19th anniversary. On our way to dinner last night we joked about how much we have changed since 1988. The physical changes are obvious: I'm a living fulfillment of Micah 1:16 (look it up - it says "enlarge your baldness like an eagle") Actually, I was referring to other changes. I remember my best friend in college telling me that if it was God's will for us to be together that God would use my relationship with Lynn to strengthen my relationship with God. His words were true. God has used Lynn to encourage growth in my life through the years and I am thankful.