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.