I remember when I was in grade school sitting in the classroom of teachers such as Mrs. Thomasine Talbert, and going through a little catalog and ordering books. You would send off your order, and then you would wait. You never knew when the books would arrive. And one day, the books would come to your classroom.

You would receive a box on your desk, you would open it up, and inside you would find the books that you ordered. For me, the feelings I had were like those on Christmas day. I can remember thinking that I could not wait to read all the books. I still have some of those books by the way.

Bookcloseouts.com is having their summer sale. You can find the finest books in any category, including hardcovered books and books on CD, for ridiculously low prices. Once or twice a year, I will cull through the thousands of titles and pick out a few.

Last week I e-mailed my order. Tuesday they arrived. I stayed up until one in the morning Tuesday night opening up my box and going through it. I received a couple of books on baseball, a biography focusing on Lincoln the writer, a book on spirituality and what we can find in a life of Sabbath, a couple of books on science, a couple of books on the Bible, and Alan Shepard's biography called LIGHT THIS CANDLE.

I would pick up one book and read a little bit, then I would thumb through another. My excitement surged as I thought about reading all of them. Ah, the simple pleasures of life. It was one o'clock in the morning. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. For me, it was like Christmas.

When Fooling Around is Good for Marriage

Did you know playing pranks on your spouse can be good for your marriage? I was reading this week from THE RESTLESS HEART: FINDING OUR SPIRITUAL HOME IN TIMES OF LONELINESS by Ronald Rolheiser, and he was talking about the role of playfulness in relationships.

To refresh your memory, Rolheiser, in his book is addressing the concept of how loneliness points toward our need for relationship with God and with each other. He addresses the alleviation of loneliness in a very holistic way. Parts of his practical suggestions include maintaining a spirit of playfulness in our closest relationships -- especially in our marriages.

Reflecting upon that, I thought about how often I have seen couples divorce and, upon further review, I noticed there was no sense of playfulness or humor in their relationship in the weeks, months, or years leading up to their divorce.

One of the things I appreciate most about my marriage is the spirit of fun and playfulness that we maintain. Judy has a wonderful sense of humor. She plays occasional practical jokes on me that are rather funny. I, on the other hand, treat her with the utmost care and respect.

I never thought I would do this...

Gushing over Florida’s Tim Tebow is sort of like enthusiastically plugging the work of a politician who is on the opposite side of the political spectrum. It is like enthusiastically endorsing the work of an atheist. While the guy stands against everything you believe, you cannot help but like the guy.

Tim Tebow, as quarterback of the University of Florida Gators, has helped lead his team to the national championship two out of the last three years. Tim Tebow is on the cover of this week’s SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, and he is the subject of an article by Austin Murphy. This article offers the most favorable depiction of Christianity I have ever read in the secular press. Murphy follows Tebow into a prison where Tebow addresses the inmates. He also interviews various people whose lives have been positively impacted by Tebow, including his head coach, Urban Meyer.

(While vacationing with his family on various cruises, Meyer reflected on Tebow spending vacation time in the Philippines ministering to children. Meyer was so convicted, he took his family to the Dominican Republic for a mission trip this summer. He reported that he and his family absolutely loved the experience.)

The article is an ode to life. Murphy takes his readers back to the time Tim Tebow's mother was pregnant with him. Doctors advised the Tebows to abort the child because of complications threatening the life of the mother. The parents refused, and Tim Tebow's dad prayed to God that God would bless him with a son who would preach. Tim's father jokes now, "Instead, he gave me a quarterback." Actually, Murphy writes, the Lord gave Mr. Tebow both.

I don't agree with all of the religious opinions of the Tebows, but I don't agree with all of the religious opinions of my wife, either. My differing religious opinions, and my differing rooting interests in football will not prevent me from rejoicing in a story that celebrates Christianity. I love the words of Murphy, "Having covered Tim for three years, I would say he's the most effective ambassador -- warrior for his faith I’ve come across in 25 years at SI."

GOD WORK: CONFESSIONS OF A STANDUP THEOLOGIAN

This week, I finished reading Randy Harris’ new book GOD WORK CONFESSIONS OF A STANDUP THEOLOGIAN. I highly recommend this book. Randy uses his typical humor and stories to illustrate some heavy theological concepts. Among other issues, Randy tackles the sovereignty of God, God's will, grace, the Holy Spirit, as well as cultural issues such as postmodernism in Christianity.

GOD WORK makes a strong case for the teaching of doctrine in churches. Harris states that, "doctrine is the rudder that steers the ship. Doctrine matters. And the kind of doctrine we accept either makes us spiritually healthy or unhealthy... we get healthier or unhealthier as a result of the things we believe."

One example of how Randy deals with major doctrinal questions is his treatment of the issues of the sovereignty of God and the will of God. Randy positions himself between the Calvinist and the Pelagian. He finesses his views with real skill comparing dealing with the will of God to playing in a card game with God as your partner. I know this sounds weird but trust me, it makes sense in the book.

I don't just encourage you to buy the book. I encourage you to read the book.

What Do you Want?

Sometimes when I am preaching, a thought will come into my mind that makes so much sense, it surprises even me. I don't know if it is the Holy Spirit at work or I'm having a good day. Either way, I will take it.

The latest example of this phenomenon occurred last Sunday night. I'd been preaching out of Jeremiah, which is not exactly the book you want to pick to win friends and influence people. A lot of times, Jeremiah can be downright depressing. I have had nice people come up to me and tell me how much they are getting out of this series. However, I am sure there are many more out there who are anxious for us to finish this.

Nevertheless, God is working on me at least through the book of Jeremiah. The other night, I was playing off a concept that Eugene Peterson writes about. Peterson says there are two groups of people to come to church. In one group, people are looking to God and to the church to find ways to fulfill themselves and make themselves happy. The other group is looking to God and the church to find ways to make God happy. The first group is seeking what they want. The second group is seeking what God wants.

Anyway, it was within this context that the question popped into my mind: "Is your greatest purpose in life this: 'I want to see that God gets what He wants.' If your priority is 'I want to see that God gets what He wants,' you can change the world."

In the sermon we went on to draw from the lessons of Jeremiah. Jeremiah was going against the cultural current, against the current of power, against the current of his local church, even against the current of God's people, because his greatest priority was pursuing what God wanted. He never saw the fruits of his labor, but God used him to pave the way for the Messiah. Jeremiah changed the world.

I think that one was the Holy Spirit, folks. Considering where we live, considering our day and age, we are swimming evermore against the current. However, if the essence of our purpose in life become's the pursuit of God's agenda, the fulfillment of God's desires, I really believe God will not waste that pursuit. Although, we may never see it, that pursuit in our culture context will be so pristine, God can use it to change the world.

Five things I think I think (a tip of the hat to Peter King for this idea)

1. I loved the Apollo 11 retrospectives this week. A lot of people don't know this, but Michael Murley, Steve and Mark Cook, and I flew to Mars and back in 1971 and 1972. Even more amazing, our rocket ship was my tree house.

2. By now you likely have heard about the surreptitious videotaping of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews in her hotel room and then releasing the videotape to the world on the Internet. With this event we have seen Man's perversion and inhumanity reach new depths. I pray the perpetrator is found. I realize there is no way for him (I am assuming) to face the consequences that he deserves; I do hope that he faces sufficient consequences to ward off copycat actions.

3. Thanks to the thousands who were going to attend our Shiloh men’s team softball game Tuesday night. Sorry about the rain out. Next week we are off; we play again in two weeks. The world awaits, breathlessly.

4. Congratulations to Mrs. Judy Edge. She has been formally offered and she has formally accepted a job teaching Reading and English at Moore Middle School.

5. One more week and our college prep is over; our eldest child returns home to begin her junior year in high school after being away for virtually the entire month of July. I think we parents have passed this first test. Someone said in the college Bible class I teach that if letting our first child go to college is difficult, wait until we say goodbye to our youngest. That is, I was warned, supposed to be the hardest child to release. I told him, "I am not worried. By the time Timothy is old enough for college, I’ll be dead of old age."

Have a great weekend!
　

Watching the MLB All-Star Game this week, my mind went back twenty years to the 1989 game. That night, Sam and Kathy Harrell had invited us to their home for supper and to watch the game. Judy and I had just moved to Brownwood, where Sam was an assistant football coach and Kathy was busy at home raising three boys, Zac, Graham, and Clark. Judy and I were in Brownwood for a few months because the Austin Avenue church was our sponsoring church in our mission to Argentina. Sam and Kathy were active members there.

We hit it off well with the Harrells. Sam and I began playing tennis most weekdays at dawn, which was good exercise and competition.

We left for Argentina and sometime while we were gone, Sam got a head coaching job and began enjoying success as a head football coach. Through the years I have had occasional contact with Sam. One time, I ran into him at the ACU Lectureship. He was there to interview candidates to be a youth intern at his church. That impressed me. You don’t often see head football coaches, who are that involved in their congregation. Sam was so involved that I called him one time to get his opinion on a young man at my congregation in Winters, whom we were looking to hire as a youth minister.

Judy and I have enjoyed watching Sam’s professional success. His Ennis teams won state championships in football. His sons have done well. If you are a Tech fan, you know Graham Harrell as the greatest quarterback in that school’s history. If you are a UT fan, you know Graham Harrell as something else. Last year, I read in the New York Times an interview their writer had conducted with Sam. I was pleased to see the admiration this writer clearly had for Sam.

Four years ago, Sam was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Not wanting to worry their sons, Sam and Kathy kept the diagnosis to themselves. Recently, they decided the disease had progressed to the point that they should tell their family, the school board, and the other coaches. You may have heard about this on the news. Our local Tyler paper ran an AP version of the story last Sunday.

Sam is handling this a lot better than I would. He is not looking for sympathy; he is certainly looking for a cure. I would appreciate it if you would pray for Sam—and for a cure.

Emotional Intelligence

A few weeks ago, I finished reading the book EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE by Daniel Goleman. In it, he tells a remarkable story that illustrates the role that emotional control can play in defusing a potentially catastrophic situation.

Back in the 1950s, Terri Dobson was one of the first Americans to study aikido in Japan. One day he was riding on a Tokyo commuter train, when a worker of the Japanese blue-collar class boarded. This worker was huge, belligerent, and very drunk.

Staggering around, he began to terrorize the passengers. He screamed obscenities; he saw a mother holding a baby and took a swing at her. She careened into the laps of an elderly couple. At this point, everyone stampeded to the other end of the car.

That did not stop the drunk. He took a swing at a pole in the middle of the car. Not satisfied, he tried to tear the poll out of its socket.

Now, here was Terry Dobson watching all of this. He was working out each day for eight hours in aikido, so he was in peak condition physically. However, his training emphasized that aikido is about reconciliation. So while he felt compelled to intervene, in order to protect the people on the subway, he also felt concerned that to do so would violate the ethics of aikido.

Terry chose to stand and demonstrate a deliberate presence. At this, the drunk screamed, "A ha! A foreigner! You need a lesson in Japanese manners!" With that, the drunk gathered himself, ready to attack Terry.

Suddenly, there was a loud shout of joy, totally incongruous with the context. "Hey!"

It was an enthusiastic shout, as if someone had found an old friend. The shocked drunk turned around and saw a tiny Japanese man sitting in his seat in a kimono. The old man was probably in his 70s. He offered a bright smile and beckoned to the man to come over with a wave.

The drunk cursed and shouted, "Why should I talk with you?"

Unperturbed, the old man asked, “What have you been drinking?"

"I have been drinking sake, and it's none of your business," the drunk answered.

"Oh, that's wonderful, absolutely wonderful," the old man replied in a warm tone. "I love sake, too. Every night, me and my wife—she's 76, you know— we warm up a little bottle of sake, take it out into the garden, and we sit on an old wooden bench..." Then the old man started talking about the persimmon tree in his backyard, about his beautiful garden, and about how much he enjoyed his backyard and the sake during the evening.

Listening, the drunk’s face began to soften just a little. His fists unclenched. "Yeah, I love persimmons, too…," he said, with his voice trailing off.

"Yes, and I'm sure you have a wonderful wife as well," the old man stated enthusiastically.

The laborer sobbed, "No, my wife died....” Then he began sharing with the old man about how he has lost his wife, his job, and how he was now humiliated.

The old man tenderly invited the drunk to sit down beside him and tell him all about it. The drunk did, lying down on the seat and putting his head in the man's lap.

Goleman writes that this was an example of sheer emotional brilliance. A terrible, and a potentially catastrophic, situation was defused. A wise man calmly governed his emotions. Consequently, he governed what happened in his surroundings.

I obviously do not know that old man. I wish I did. For he modeled for me how we, as Christians, should live in a chaotic world. We Christians, who have the Holy Spirit living within us, should be under emotional control in all situations.

We have the peace of God; therefore, no circumstance should overwhelm us. What an opportunity we have to bless the world, bringing peace to every situation.

Five things I think I think (a tip of the hat to Peter King for this idea)

1. I actually finished the aforementioned EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE a few weeks ago. This is not a Christian book. Goleman writes from the perspective of social science. Still, the book is a helpful read. Although the copy I read was written in 1995, it is still highly relevant. (There is a tenth anniversary edition available now.)

From my perspective, emotions are involved in virtually every human interaction. It is the most underrated reality of human behavior. It is myth to think of ourselves as primarily rational creatures. As a matter of fact, the more rational a person claims to be, the more I have found him or her driven by a deep reservoir of emotion.

Goleman analytically and anecdotally explains his understanding of our emotional being. He also offers strategies for sound emotional development. Read carefully, this is not scriptural or religious. However, if you invest the time, I think you will find a profitable return.

2. Per Brenda Craig’s request, the mighty Shiloh Road 20s (with a few exceptions) softball team, winner of last Monday night’s doubleheader, will next play this coming TUESDAY night, at 9:15, at Lindsey Park # 3.

3. Thanks to the good folks at Van for wonderful time Wednesday night. The last time I spoke there was 1995, but I remember it well. Thank you, Mike Gravois, for setting this up.

4. We have VBS coming up the week after next. If all goes well, John Hill, from Greenville, Texas, will help me kick it off on Sunday morning, July 26. John is an aspiring potter. He is bringing his equipment to help me illustrate Jeremiah 18. When God tells Jeremiah to go to the potter, he is going to tell us to go as well.

5. I saw where Sonia Sotomayor stated that PERRY MASON served as a childhood inspiration for her. I don’t desire for any of my kids to serve on the Supreme Court; however, this might be an old series that my older kids and I will have to check out. Might be fun to watch.
Have a great weekend!

“Our nature is such that we have within ourselves an unquenchable thirst for God." These are words from Ronald Rolheiser in his book, THE RESTLESS HEART. This book has been a great read for me in my devotional time. Scripture, especially the Psalms, often talk about our thirst for God. Unfortunately, I think we are often like a Rolls-Royce or Porsche with gas tanks filled with sand. Our engines are thirsty for fuel, but we have filled them with destructive things. Consequently, rather than running smoothly, we are breaking down.

Rolheiser writes that popular music typically reflects the soul of the audience. In my day, we often heard loud guitars and booming drums reflecting the confusion, torment, pain, and loneliness of our generation. Rob Bell says that the rap music today is the ghetto form of lament, akin to the laments of Lamentations or the Psalms.

We yearn for a deep, close relationship with God, and with others. We yearn for union with God, and with others. And, no matter how much of that we experience in this life, we intuitively sense there is still something out there that is deeper-- and we may never fully experienced it in this lifetime.

A hundred years ago, people typically had to work from before daylight until after dark, if they were lucky, six days a week. And this, was simply to survive. They had less time and energy to spare to pursue fulfillment. The curse of the 40 hour work week is the luxury of time it offers for reflection upon what is lacking.

Society has never been more fragmented. People today long for privacy; upon attainment, their loneliness is accentuated.

Our culture has encouraged people to assuage the pain of loneliness through sexual encounters. Unfortunately, this typically strips away their humanity. Instead of removing the loneliness, it leads people farther into it.

Ultimately, what I hear Rolheiser say is while loneliness will never be eliminated in this world, its power can be harnessed. Like a powerful horse that can destroy its rider, the dangerous energy of loneliness can be channeled into a healthy process. Loneliness can lead us to God and, as a byproduct, help us find contentment and wholeness. Loneliness can fine-tune us to be properly sensitive to the needs of others.

In Christ, the best we will find in this world is still less than what we will find in the world to come. However, a life in Christ will find meaning, and in Christ, each moment will matter.

Five things I think I think (a tip of the hat to Peter King for this idea)

1. I’m normally not a big reader of fiction, but a friend loaned me the book, IF I NEVER GET BACK by Darryl Brock. Written twenty years ago, it tells the story of a divorced father and newspaperman, who is transported back in time to the year 1869.

Events occur in such a way that he is invited to join the famous Cincinnati Red Stockings baseball team on their nationwide tour. The Stockings were an actual team who went undefeated that year and became a national sensation.

Brock weaves historical figures from that team, as well as others such as Samuel Clemens (whom we know as Mark Twain) in a story that, at times, is profane or graphic. (Don’t loan this out to a junior high kid.) Brock was a teacher of history and English when he wrote this novel. If you like imaginative works, or if you like fiction with historical detail, you will enjoy this book.

I, like many, enjoy fiction that addresses time travel. I’m sure there are lots of reasons why. I was reminded of one in reading this novel. We yearn to relate to all human beings, not just those who live in our present. We humans are bound by time; we yearn to dwell in timelessness.

2. I am a sucker for good baseball books. Every summer, I pull out my copy of SANDY KOUFAX A LEFTY’S LEGACY, by Jane Leavy, and listen to it again. I bought an unabridged copy on audio cassette four years ago for something like a couple of bucks. This is one of the great baseball biographies. It is short, yet offers a fascinating portrayal of Sandy Koufax and what it meant to be a Jewish icon in 20th-century America. She includes plenty of the cultural details of the times that makes her work even more interesting. A great read -- this has become a yearly summer ritual.

3. Okay, I admit it. I'm starting to get excited about the new Harry Potter movie, HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, coming out on July 15.

4. I found on Amazon six Jimmy Stewart movies on DVD for $24. One of them was one of my favorites from childhood—“The FBI Story.” I watched it with Judy and Abby this week for the third time. I still remember the first time -- the night school let out when I was in second grade. Steve Bird and I stayed up late and watched it on WFAA channel 8 late movies. Great every time I see it.

5. Remember the days when you did not know the number one song of the week in the U. S. until Casey Kasem told you on AMERICAN TOP FORTY? This weekend, Casey Kasem retires. The AMERICAN TOP FORTY era ended long ago, but I will miss the man who represented that era.

Have a great weekend!

Child Musings

There is little sand left in the hourglass that symbolizes our oldest child’s time at home. This month, we experience a dress rehearsal of life when she departs for college. Haleigh left today (Friday) for Wilderness Trek; she'll return for a ACU Volleyball Camp in Abilene the second week in July, followed by a two-week session at Camp Deer Run. This fall, Haleigh begins her junior year of high school. It won’t be long.

For those of you who are friends on Facebook with my middle daughter, Abby, yes, I did see the list she posted for the Top 10 Things she wants to do before she dies. The good news was the number one thing she listed was become a Christian. The bad news was the number two item she listed: get a tattoo. On the bright side, I guess number two could have been much worse. However, I must confess both to fit her to a tee.

My son Timothy has given me a new line to use on my wife. One night this week, I was lying down in bed with Timothy and Annie watching a ballgame. Judy had been at the store and, returning home, she came back to tell the children “Goodnight.” Upon her entrance, Timothy squealed, “My favorite woman!” Sorry son, I'm going to co-opt that line. I'm also going to play hardball. Behind your back, I'm going to remind Judy, "A son is a son until he takes a wife."

June—A Refreshing Month

In some ways, June assumed the personality of a sabbatical. I spent a week auditing a spiritual formation short course. Shortly thereafter, Mr. and Mrs. Duane Melton and children arrived for a two-week stay. I preached a couple of Sundays and worked several days in office, but a day off here and a vacation day there, plus a couple of Sundays off, and I entered July rested.

Most of my life I have enjoyed summer. The exceptions were my years in real estate and roofing. Both of those professions are marked with long, hot days in the summer. You sweat a lot in both as well. In real estate, it is because of spending so much time outside in a suit. In roofing, you don't dress as nicely, but the temperature can get up to 120° on a roof.

Typically, though, I have found summer to be a time for recharging batteries. Everyone moves slower in the summer. School is out, so that means I'm not teaching. I have taught Bible classes for either college freshman or high school seniors for almost the past 10 years. I enjoy it immensely, but I never take the allotted two days off per week during the fall and spring. I need a full day for my teaching duties, which means six days of work and one day of Sabbath during the school year. I guess this is my salute to the 10 Commandments.

As I mentioned, my sister and her family visited for a couple of weeks. They stayed one week with my mom and one week with my family. I always enjoy being with them. We have a lot of fun activities and also some significant downtime. I am fortunate to enjoy the company of all of my brothers in law. I have heard horror stories about those not as fortunate, and I shudder to think about what their lives must be like when they spend time with those with whom they are not close. Lissa’s husband, Duane, is very easy-going, fun, and has an optimistic, can-do spirit. We like the same types of movies and saw some good ones over the past couple of weeks.

The cousins got along well with our children. Even though Haleigh is almost 16, she still enjoys spending time with her cousins, the oldest of whom is 11. When she was the youngest, she experienced the same type of love and attention from her older cousins. It is neat to see this kindness experienced and then passed on.

Living so far away, my sister has not seen certain members of our extended family for years. Our cousin, Monty Edge, and his new bride Catherine, visited us over the weekend along with our aunt, Wanda Edge, our cousin, Teresa, and her husband, Gary. They had not seen Lissa in almost 20 years. Catherine had never met Lissa. As you might imagine, we had a wonderful time visiting with them, telling stories, reliving old memories, and getting to know Catherine and hearing stories of her experiences growing up in the state of New York.

We have been saving money the past couple of years to fly to Seattle during the Christmas holiday break and visit Lissa’s family there. If anybody sees a big-ticket opportunity, by all means e-mail us.

Five things I think I think (a tip of the hat to Peter King for this idea)

1. I finished two books recently that I would recommend. First, Grover Cleveland, written by Henry F. Graff. This is part of The American Presidents Series initially edited by the late Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. If you desire to read about the U. S. presidents but do not have time to read the longer biographies, this series provides a helpful alternative. They are shorter but are still well written.

Cleveland was an interesting president for several reasons. He has been the only president to serve two terms, but not consecutively. As a younger man, he was elected sheriff in his New York county and, during his terms, personally served as hangman for a few criminals.
During his first term, at age 49, Cleveland married the 21 year-old daughter of his deceased law partner. This would probably be considered illegal today, but in 1886 the public looked at it more like “train up a child in the way she should go, and when she grows old she will never depart from you.” Actually, by all accounts, the marriage was a happy one.

Cleveland is generally considered in the second tier of great presidents. Books from this series can be found on-line at Amazon.com or at other stores. I found my unabridged audio copy for $3 at a Half-Priced bookstore.

2. Another book I have recently finished is The Preacher and the Presidents. Written by Time magazine's Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy, this book seeks to tell the story of how evangelist Billy Graham has known every president from Harry Truman through George W. Bush. Indeed, some presidents Graham knew intimately, literally serving as their religious pastor.

Since the subject matter of the book relates to preaching and presidential history, two of my favorite subjects, I naturally found the book captivating. You may not find it as interesting as I do, but it was a best seller on the New York Times bestseller list confirming that a number of people at least wanted to own a copy. This was another audio book I found on sale at Half-Price books.

3. I saw that McDonalds introduced a new $4 Hamburger. “Welcome to McDonalds Let Me Take Your Order…” is taking on a new meaning, as they will be selling burgers made from Angus beef—for $4.00. Either things are not as bad as we are hearing in our economy, or we, as a society, are still driven by our desire to consume and not by saving money.

4. Thanks to all of you who, in the comments section of my blog or in personal e-mails, expressed kind thoughts the past week about Matt and Samantha’s story. They were wed last Saturday afternoon. Except for the one officiating the ceremony, I personally thought the wedding was beautiful.

5. I don’t know if you heard of the tragedy in Bolivia this week. Our former sponsoring church is supporting a work in Bolivia whose youth group was headed to a retreat. There was a terrible crash. Three young women were killed and others were critically injured. Please be praying for these folks. The following is a link to the blog that is being posted concerning events as they unfold: http://cochabambayouthgroup.blogspot.com/

Grace Hurts

This section did not make the cut for my Sunday morning sermon. Not because it is bad, I am sure it is quite excellent! :) Rather, it did not seem to flow with the rest of the sermon. I am preaching out of Titus Chapter 2 about Paul's admonitions, through Titus, to the old and young men of the churches in Crete.

TV commercials today make us want to think that “male problems” are those that call for solutions from Viagra. When Paul talks about male problems, he's talking about challenges of the spiritual dimension—issues such as self-control, dignity, and integrity. Basically, he is saying, yet again, our living should match our saved state.

The motivation for Paul’s solutions to male problems is rooted in the concept of grace:

11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (Titus 2:11-14.)

Philip Yancey, in his book What’s so Amazing about Grace writes about an insight shared by the Christian counselor, David Seamonds. Seamonds has written that the majority of emotional problems among Christians is due to their failure to allow themselves to accept, on an emotional level, the good news of God’s grace.

They understand intellectually that God has offered them unconditional love, grace and forgiveness; however, that data is not connected to the emotional part of their being. Consequently, these Christians cannot find within themselves the capacity to offer unconditional love, grace, and forgiveness to other people. Their emotional lives are stunted; their spiritual lives are diminishing.

I think Seamonds is on to something. I am not sure all of the factors that are involved, but I have a theory as to factor.

I was sitting in a Bible class a few weeks ago in Winters, Texas. The class was led by someone who moved there after I had left three years ago. I had met him once and could not even remember his name, but his class is a good example of how anyone can take the Word of God and bless you life.

In this Bible class, the teacher was talking about grace. He was talking about our tendency as human beings for legalism. We typically want rules in our relationships with others.

As the conversation was developing, a light went off in my head. Evidently, it went off in the head of another participant, because he articulated what I was thinking.

With rules, you are protected in dealing with other people. When I was teaching at ACU, I tried to carefully craft a syllabus that explicitly communicated my expectations for the students and the consequences for not fulfilling my expectations.

I did this for many reasons, one of which was that I realized I did not have time to deal with 50 to a 100 students on an individual basis. Communicating clearly with a syllabus was the best way I could construct guidelines, which would make the decisions in most situations for me. This meant there would be less chance I would feel hurt for letting a student down or feel guilty about a student who was disgruntled with me.

I don't apologize for this. Teaching a class in an academic institution is a task. The student’s academic record is a product. A school or university must, to some degree, be task oriented.

The same is not true in the life of the Church (or family for that matter.) We are much more oriented toward relationships. Nevertheless, sometimes, maybe most times, we do not deploy grace in our relationships because we feel rules, regulations, and legalism protects us from being hurt. And it does.

Grace hurts. (Love hurts too; just ask Nazareth.) We tend to shy away from doing that which hurts us.

What makes us different from God is His abandonment of self when it comes to self-protection. God does not allow fear of being hurt to prevent him from offering us grace.

Now, you may be asking what this has to do with Titus chapter two. Simply this. This same aversion to risking grace causes us to limit ourselves from behaving like Christ. Self-preservation becomes a habit. Rather than selling out and becoming like Jesus, demonstrating his qualities, we too often just cannot let go. We don’t want to get hurt. (Especially we men!)

Here is the irony. In seeking to avoid the pain of grace and gracious lives, we “booby-trap” our lives. We engage in behavior that often generates more hurt than we would have experienced surrendering to Jesus.

When I was a boy, I had bad allergies—worse than now. Shots offered relief. I hated shots. Shots hurt. Unfortunately, without shots I had to carry with me a box of Kleenexes and/or handkerchiefs wherever I went. Not only was this embarrassing, I felt miserable. Finally, my mother convinced me to accept the temporary pain of the shot for the gain of a more enjoyable life.

Following Jesus is the same way. There is pain in denying self. Sometimes it is self-inflicted, sometimes it is inflicted upon us by others. However, a life lived like Jesus is more in line with the way we were created to live. Living like we were created to live is infinitely more enjoyable.

Have a great weekend!

What do you do when a convicted sex offender comes to your church? Two and a half years ago, a young man, named Matt, visited our church. He came from a Tyler halfway house. He had been arrested for carrying child pornography across state lines on his computer. He served in the federal penitentiary in North Carolina. While he was there, he was converted to Christ. Two and a half years ago, staying in that halfway house, Matt was looking for a church home. He visited us, at Shiloh, enjoyed the way our church treated him. Knowing he needed a church home, he decided he would ask the elders if he could become a member at Shiloh Road.

There were complications. You see, Matt was listed on the Internet as a sexual offender. Matt knew the problems this would pose for a church. That is why he very graciously and unselfishly told the elders, if he created problems in any way, then he did not want to place membership.

The elders asked me to check with other churches, which had similar circumstances and see how they handled it. I did so.

I found the way they handled them was one of two. Some leaders told their church they were going to welcome this sexual offender, only to have families rise up and threaten to leave the church. The leaders would then back down and inform the sexual offender that he was not welcome.

Other leaders would welcome the sexual offender but admonish him to keep his status a secret. Thus, he was a potential time bomb, posing terrible problems in the future for the churches.

Neither one of these solutions were acceptable for Shiloh. We never found a church, who welcomed a sexual offender in a holistic, authentic, truthful, Christ-like way, so we had to prayerfully ask God to lead us and try to find a way.

The elders spent a great deal of time trying to decide what to do. Ultimately, what they decided was this, Shiloh Road needed to offer forgiveness and reconciliation, but also, discipleship and responsibility. We needed to offer a chance for redemption, but also, let Matt know we were going to hold him accountable. Gradually, a new policy took shape.

Meanwhile, we debated how best to process this with the church. We knew it was a high-risk endeavor. I never will forget the night J. B. Berry, one of our shepherds, said to the rest of the elders and to the staff, “We may lose families over this, but it is the right thing to do.”

Never was I more proud of an eldership. Finally, we conceived a strategy for communicating to the rest of our church leadership, and, ultimately, to the church, we were welcoming Matt into our midst.

We decided to do so in an assembly, where the whole focus would be on God, the saving work of Jesus, and our response to Matt. That service took place on Sunday, July 15, 2007.

During the assembly, our elders shared how they formulated their decision, items of the new policy, and relevant parameters concerning Matt’s accountability.

I began my sermon time, by playing a clip from a passage that I had preached on from the book of Luke the year before. The passage was from Luke 14 and the sermon was on the parable of the great banquet, where Jesus talks about the master sending the steward into the highways and byways to bring in people because those who had been invited to the banquet did not want to participate.

I had asked the church who the present day people were from the highways and byways. Likewise, I had told them about hearing a program on the radio from Focus On the Family, where James Dobson interviewed a former sexual offender. The sexual offender had talked about how he had become a Christian but how no church would welcome him, and so he was living his Christian life in isolation and in exile. On that day in 2006, I had asked the church the rhetorical question, “Were this man to come to Shiloh Road, would we accept him?”

After playing the clip, I arose and preached out of the same passage again. I told the church, I believed God had led a man to come to our church so that we might have the chance to live out the gospel. I told the church about Matt. I alluded to the communication made by the elders, to the new policy, to how there would be areas of the building, where Matt would not go. I told the congregation that Matt would have to earn our trust. We would hold him accountable, but we would also forgive him and offer him reconciliation and hospitality.

I concluded my sermon by doing something we always do for new members to Shiloh, albeit typically in a different part of our assembly. Normally, we have new members stand, so the church may know who they are. We usually welcome them with our cultural affirmation, which is applause.

At the end of my sermon, I asked Matt to stand and welcomed him to Shiloh. The audience not only applauded him, but they gave him a standing ovation.

After the service, the line of those waiting patiently to welcome Matt to Shiloh Road extended out into the foyer. Most poignantly, I saw a sister in Christ, who was wheelchair bound, asking her husband to wheel her to the back of the line so she too could welcome Matt into the Shiloh family.

We did not lose one individual over this decision. Still, there are complications. There are areas in the building where Matt cannot go, just like in our society there are places Matt cannot go. We have a loop, a freeway, that circles Tyler. Matt cannot drive on it because of a state law. He has to drive through other streets and neighborhoods. (Don’t get me started on the idiotic nature of some of our state laws.)

We also have to tell new members, for liability sake, about Matt. Actually, this has become a positive. Every couple of weeks, we have a conversation with potential members in a session we call, Tell Me About Shiloh. There, we recount Matt’s story and give them a DVD of the worship service. Typically, the response we receive sounds like this, “I want to be a part of a church that welcomes people in this way.”

Incidentally, the policy our elders constructed has helped us in other areas. A couple of times, we have had other former sexual offenders visit us. Each time, the elders have met with them and explained our policy. The individuals then rejected becoming a part of our church. Perhaps they had ulterior motives and the elders, in their wisdom, have protected the flock.

Late in the spring of 2008, Matt began bringing a young woman named Samantha to our services. They had begun dating. Samantha had known heartache in her life. She entered rehab and Alcoholics Anonymous at age 15. Her life had known brokenness.

We shared the gospel with Samantha and she became a Christian. We baptized her into Christ in June of 2008. Since then, we had opportunity to fellowship with Matt and Sam and study with them in various venues; most recently, Matt and some other guys in their 20s have been studying the Bible with me in my home. Moreover, Matt and Sam, and another couple, have been working through the Song of Solomon with Judy and me on Tuesday nights.

Tomorrow, June 27, 2009, Matt and Sam will be married and I will have the privilege of performing the marriage ceremony. You can fly me to the moon, send me to the Super Bowl, vote me the Heisman Trophy, but I don’t think anything will top this in terms of offering contentment, satisfaction, and happiness.

Initially, when Matt came to us, we were thinking God had brought Matt so that we could bless him. Now we realize, Matt is the one who has blessed us.

Five things I think I think

(a tip of the hat to Peter King for this idea)

1. Many years ago, a guy I knew told me of his experiences when he worked for Bob Hope. One of the things that stuck in my mind was the superstition in the entertainment world that entertainers die in threes. I don’t believe in superstition; however, it has been strange how many times I have seen three members of the entertainment world die within a short time of each other. This week, they are Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson.

2. Gratitude is a powerful motivator. One advantage that entertainers have is the cultivation of gratitude from their audience. The audience, feeling that it owes a debt, will overlook a lot of strange, odd, or inappropriate behavior. I am not saying this is good or bad, but it is reality. (The same thing goes for politicians and their constituents.) I will be watching with interest over the next few years the world’s response to Michael Jackson.

3. The past couple of weeks I’ve been arising between five and six in the morning to play full-court basketball with my firstborn. This experience is making me feel like a teen-ager again. More specific, it is making me feel like I did when I began two-a-days every summer before football season—incredibly sore in certain muscle groups. The good news is that I do, evidently, have muscles.

4. My family joined my sister and her family for a day at the Canton water park this week. Having gone there the past two summers, I have totally reformulated my views on modest apparel. Lust is no longer the problem for Christian males that it once was. We live in a very unfit world. Most females wearing bikinis are suited for the category that I would be were I to wear a Speedo—crimes against humanity.

5. I’m easing my way back into the pulpit. I preach Sunday morning. Thanks to Henry Holub for preaching this Sunday night.

Have a great weekend!

Let Me Share My Dad.

This September I turn 49. I have now lived at least one third of my life. :) At this time, I, like many men, am taking stock of my life. In doing so, my thoughts naturally turn toward my father.

“Life coach” is a term being thrown around quite a bit today. The concept is built upon an individual who "coaches" another person on how to live his or her life. My dad was a life coach long before the term was used. More than making a good living, more than having fun, I think my dad wanted to be my life coach.

Through the years I have learned how unusual he was. Too many men, I have known, have had poor relationships with their fathers. Some were abandoned by their fathers. Some were separated by their fathers through divorce. Some lived with their fathers but were disconnected in their relationships. So many of these men have had difficulty living mature, adult lives -- a consequence of their relationships with their fathers.

All of the blessings that I enjoy in my life I owe to God, first. After him, my dad would be at the top of the list.

It was 30 years ago this summer I headed out to ACU. I was playing college football at the time. I actually moved out in July to work out a month before two-a-days began.

July, 1979, produced a challenging time in my life. I had dreams of somehow overcoming all obstacles in attaining football greatness. In case you have not been reading the sports pages over the last 30 years, I did not reach my goal. Still, I learned much from God. His chief instrument during those years was my father.

My leaving home placed our relationship in transition. As a teenager, my dad and I spent most Friday nights and Saturdays at our cabin near Sulphur Bluff, Texas. There, in incidental moments, my dad did a lot coaching. With me away at ACU, geography separated us. But dad kept coaching me. He did so in phone calls and mainly, in letters.

I have in my possession a file filled with letters that he wrote during the course of my undergraduate years at ACU. I have photocopied them and given copies to my sister who lives in Seattle. If a fire destroys one set, we will have the other. You carefully preserve that which you highly value.

It is not unusual for me to encounter people who knew my dad and have them tell me how much he meant to them. The latest came from someone I grew up with. Lisa Landers Monday sent me a message through Facebook and told me how much my dad had meant to her. She had worked for him and wrote me that she still thinks about the wisdom he possessed. Whenever someone recounts to me a story like this, it always makes me feel good.

Darvin Edge has blessed a lot of lives, none more than mine. So if you're sitting there as one who did not have such a father, let me share with you mine. I want to share the first page of the first letter I received when I was in college. I say first page because the letter is typewritten, 5 ½ pages long, single-spaced. It is full of advice and wisdom. Before I do, let me share with you a little more of the context.

As I told you earlier, I went to college with dreams of football glory. I prepared hard for two-a-days. I was in spectacular shape. However, the morning of the first practice I was in for a shock. There were thirteen quarterbacks in our camp. Even though at that time ACU was a NAIA school, the level of competition was quite high. Some of the conference football players had gone on to play professional football, including some from ACU.

That first day reality began to sink in, and reality stank. It wasn't long before I began to see that not only was Mark Edge not number one in the coaches’ heart, he might not even be number 18 in the team’s game program. As you might imagine, I became quite discouraged. About this time, a letter arrived from my dad. The letter was dated October 7,1979. As I have mentioned, daddy wrote this on his typewriter. I have edited the punctuation a little to convey to you what he communicated to me:


Dear Mark,

The school of hard knocks sometimes ain’t no fun. I hope I can soften the blow somewhat for you but one thing is for sure, I can't eliminate the school. Life is a series of ups and downs. We are fortunate that one of your first challenges is football, something that is not very serious.

You are going to have problems that cause you concern and worry as long as you live. Look at it this way: the only way you can grow, learn and mature is by these challenges. How you handle these will determine what type of individual you are. It is how you react to them that will determine your character.

If you will see that there will be one after another as long as you live, then you will be better able to see that you will just have to settle down and not get uptight with them because as soon as you dispense with one of them, there will be yet another. So learn to relax and figure out the best way to cope or handle them and do your best.

If it is meant to be that you master whatever it is, it will happen. If not, learn from it and you will be better able to handle the next problem because it will come.

You have to learn to handle anxiety. Do not let it eat on you. You cannot change the outcome one bit by being anxious. Don't get to wanting something so badly that you are willing to get uptight to get it. I do not mean that you can't get excited about it, but I mean "do not get to desiring it so badly that you worry about it.” That is when you get to wanting it too badly. If you believe in Christian providence, then give it a chance to work.

Do not anticipate what you believe is best for you. If you do your part, the outcome will take care of itself. Keep the faith – never doubting that the results will be good for you. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to learn how to cope with pressure in something that is not all that important -- football. If you wait to learn this lesson until you get married and are in a much more serious situation, then it will be much harder on you. I wish I could take away the pains of learning from you but you must go through these by yourself. That is the only way you will learn.

Take advantage of it.


It's funny, some of the same character flaws I had back then I have today. I still am tempted to allow anxiety to eat on me. I still find myself wanting something so badly that it eats away at me.

I still have difficulty practicing the Christian discipline of changing myself by becoming more Christlike -- the only area of life I have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to control -- because I am so distracted by the illusion that I can change others, or even circumstances.

Daddy's words speak yet to me from the grave. If you stayed with me thus far, I hope those words have blessed you as well.

Happy Father’s Day.

Spiritual Formation at ACU

I had a great time at my ACU short course. Rare is the room in a building
that becomes sanctified and holy, but that is the case with the Commons Room in the ACU Bible Building. To explain, let me take you back to a time in my life four years ago.

In June, 2005, I was set to attend a class in my DMin program called Spiritual Formation. I was in a bad way. My life was dis-integrating. My mind, my body, my emotional being, and my spirit were operating on different levels.

I was extremely agitated by my stomach going into this class, so much so that I visited a doctor. The main problem was, I was always feeling extremely full, almost nauseous. Having a great-grandfather, who died of stomach cancer, and a father, who died from stomach cancer, my medical doctor, knowing my family history, excused himself and went out of the examining room.

A few minutes later, he came back and said he had made an appointment for me to get a CAT scan the following morning. A few days later, I visited him for the results. He had a big smile on his face and he told me nothing was wrong with me. I asked him, then, what my problem was; he laughed and said, “Stress.”

“Stress?” I said. “I’m not stressed.”

He laughed again. He said he received that kind of reaction from his patients all the time.

The truth was I was extremely stressed. I was in the DMin program, I was preaching full-time, I had two children, plus two foster children—it was a very difficult time in my life. I had been studying the Bible, as always, but something was missing. Consequently, my life was unraveling.

It was at that short course on spiritual formation that the pieces began coming back together. My life, my being, began to re-integrate. I learned there was a whole venue of spirituality that was biblical, that I had ignored, namely, meditation and contemplation.

All week I was taught about Christian spirituality, and it was modeled for me through strategies and practices that immediately addressed those issues. Ultimately, I began a major reorganization in my life and it made a difference. I have told churches this and I believe it—I was blessed by this class and it has added years to my life. Now, I realize the purpose of the spiritual journey is not to add physical years to a person’s life; however, at my age and with a wife and children, I do appreciate the by-product.

Okay, fast-forward back to June, 2009. Last week, I attended the Spiritual Formation class as an auditor. Fortunately, my spiritual life, indeed my entire life, was nowhere near the mess it was in four years ago. Still, I knew this class offered a time for maturation and fine-tuning.

Jeff Childers and David Wray blessed me again in their teaching of the class. They shared new material and new things they had learned since we had last been together. The other men in the class blessed me as well. In our final session, on Friday morning, each man shared about his spiritual journey. Each man was prayed over in groups of three.

I was the last man to share. As I revealed the details of my journey, David Wray affirmed me. Praying over me last, Jeff Childers expressed the value that he placed on our relationship. He affirmed me with wonderful compliments. He held up my needs and confessions.

I must admit, during that prayer—out of nowhere—tears began to form in my eyes. They rolled down my cheeks. I was so overcome with gratitude and emotion. I knew I had not yet attained that to which God had called. However, I knew I had climbed to a much higher ground than before.

Those moments were a wonderful culmination to a marvelous week. Yes, that room, for me, is holy ground.

Isn’ it funny? A common room, in a common building, can be transformed into holy space.

Time with Friends

The first few nights of my stay in Abilene, I stayed with Steve and Marsha Ridgell. The last couple of nights, I stayed with Tim and Carolina Archer.

Steve and Marsha have been my friends for over thirty years. I have spent many evenings in their home and this relationship has been one that I have treasured throughout the years. I don’t have many relationships that have remained constant like this.

The same can be said about my relationship with Tim Archer, who was my college roommate and, in graduate school, my roommate, yet again. Later, Tim and I were teammates in Argentina. Carolina and my wife, Judy, became close there in Argentina.

Although I am now separated from both families by 300 miles, there is still a bond. The main thing I appreciate about my relationship with Tim and Steve is not dialoguing with them about the things we hold in agreement. Rather, what I really appreciate is the relationship I have with them, as expressed in the areas of disagreement. So often, my thoughts have been sharpened by their disagreements. I think this is the mark of the deepest friendships--when you can disagree, agreeably, and never place the relationship in jeopardy.

Winters

Sunday morning I was able to attend Bible class and worship service at the congregation, where I preached for seven years. It was marvelous seeing those wonderful folks; they were so kind and patient and forgiving to me through the years, and I appreciate them for that. The reception they gave me was so marvelous.

The present pulpit minister, Jordan Hubbard, was most gracious and kind with his words. He is doing a tremendous ministry there, along with his wife and family, and I find great satisfaction in saying that. It makes his words that were complimentary, so much more meaningful to me.

At the very end of the service, Sam Nix, one of the elders, was making announcements and he had me stand up and give a report on Judy and the kids. Although he caught me totally off guard and I was somewhat discombobulated, I still appreciated the generous gesture, especially because (and I think Sam knew this would be the case) the folks were so emotional as they processed how my kids have grown. I could feel their emotional tie to my family. I found that feeling most satisfying.

I had lunch with Ken and Mary Slimp, and their daughter, Zannie, along with Tamra Groman, my old secretary. We were able to make a skype hookup with their daughter, Kelly, who is in Ireland, and their son, Guy, who is in Iraq. A great end to a great time in Winters.

Five things I think I think (a tip of the hat to Peter King for this idea)

1. I think Ronald Rolheiser is one of the great writers of the twentieth/twenty first century. His spiritual insights have changed my life. Currently, I am reading THE RESTLESS HEART for devotional guidance to begin my day.

2. I listened yet again to TRUMAN, David McCullough’s biography of our 33rd president on my Abilene trip. A marvelous book.

3. Thanks to the congregation in Rusk, where I spoke last Wednesday night. You ministered to me in your singing, and I have never had a group more ready to receive a message from God’s Word. You even laughed at my jokes. Out loud! When preaching becomes discouraging, I will think of people like you.

4. I think I am going to quit beating my head against the wall about how we in our tradition, do not commune in communion. Rather, I think I am going to focus on our strength—the Lord’s Supper, for us, is a marvelous opportunity for communal contemplation.

5. Welcome Duane and Lissa Melton, and girls! I look forward to being with you over the next two weeks.

Have a great weekend!

Friday, June 12, 2009

A Day in the Life of a Preacher

I have been at ACU all week enjoying a short course that I was auditing. It was awesome and I’ll tell you about it next week.

Now, though, I need to leave for home, so I’m posting something in response to a question a get asked occasionally—what is a typical Sunday like for you? To answer that question, let me share with you a diary I kept on a recent Sunday--May 17, 2009:

5:15 AM—My alarm goes off. I arise, get the paper, eat breakfast, read a portion of the paper, and drink a cup of coffee.

5:45 AM—I put out the dogs, brush my teeth, and get my stuff together to take to the church building.

6:30 AM—I leave for the church building.

6:45 AM—I preach my sermon to an empty auditorium. This is something I started doing in January. I don’t know if anyone notices any difference, but I think it has helped me minister more effectively. Each year I attempt to find ways to improve my preaching. Last year, for example, I began writing a manuscript of my sermons. I do not read them, but I allow them to help formulate my thoughts. When I preach my sermon to an empty auditorium, I imagine the people in the audience. I sometimes identify things that I had thought would work, that will not. I also have thoughts come to me that strike me as better illustrations or explanations. My goal is that when I preach the sermon in the assembly, it is not a recitation of what I have studied. Rather, I desire that it has become so internalized, I can say my words without calculation. They have been burned into my heart.

7:15 AM—I make any changes on my sermon that I wish to note, turn on my computer, check my email, check the news, make all other provisions needed for the morning, and make a pot of coffee, drinking one cup myself.

8:00 AM—I go home to shave and change into my “church clothes.”

8:35 AM—Cecil Taylor, one of our shepherds, always comes by to pray with me.

8:45 AM—I take my allergy medicine and brush my teeth. I realize this is my second time to brush this morning, but nothing is worse than a preacher with funky breath.

8:55 AM—Head over to the auditorium to get miked for the assembly. I always stay after the assemblies and visit with as many people as desire, but I try to avoid contact before the assembly with people. I am so focused that I am concerned about treating people rudely.

9: 00 AM—the church assembly

10:20 AM—I visit with folks who want to talk with me.

10:40 AM—I co-teach a class for college and young singles with Patrick Leech.

11:15 AM—I visit with people from my class and people who have stayed for Bible classes. When the crowd has thinned down and people are headed to their cars, I go to my office.

11:30 AM—I start looking over my stuff for Sunday night’s sermon and organize my office a little.

11:45 AM —I eat lunch with one of our fellowship groups in the church fellowship hall. Each week, one of our seven fellowship groups offers a meal after Bible classes. They do so for fellowship, as well as, to invite our guests to lunch. I think this is a neat way we're able to offer people hospitality.

12:15 PM—I facilitate a conversation that we call Tell Me About Shiloh. At Shiloh Road, we hold a high view of the church. We don't invite people simply to come down during an invitation song and join our church. We want people to understand our mission, our vision, our church culture, and feel that we are a good match for them. We tell folks there are plenty of good churches from which they can get to heaven, and if they find another place is a better fit, they will not hurt our feelings. On the other hand, we tell them we want them with us and we hope they will ultimately choose us. Joining me are typically two of our elders and their wives. Virtually always, our guests leave telling us that they have been blessed by our time together. And most people who attend become part of our church.

1:45 PM—I go home to spend some time with my kids.

3:30 PM —I return to the building to get ready for our 6 PM service. This day is an unusual day, in that we will be hosting a special prayer vigil for foster children, foster families, and other organizations who are engaged in foster care. John Daniel is the visionary behind this effort. Last year, he found out this week in May is National Foster Care Week. Thanks to his leadership, we offer our facilities for a special service. This day we will do it again. We spend a couple of hours putting the final touches on the assembly preparation.

5 PM —John and I welcome Haley Wielgus, who is a reporter on one of our local television affiliates, CBS channel 19. Hayley had called me during the week asking if she and a cameraman could film a portion of our assembly. I help the cameraman find potential places to shoot from while John gives Haley an interview.

5:30 PM —We begin welcoming people for our 6 PM special assembly.

6 PM—Our special service. One of our members, Matt Blake, tells what it's like to be a foster parent. Gary Miller shares with us from the perspective of Christian Homes. Interspersed in their presentations are prayers for families and various organizations engaged in foster care. A group of our children, between the ages of six through middle school, sing a few songs. My role is easy. I simply share a few scriptures and try to put a theological perspective regarding God and children. The assembly is a tremendous success.

7 PM —Some of our members have prepared a marvelous reception for our guests. I get to eat a lot of good food and visit with some neat folks.

8 PM—The evening is winding down. I go home and eat supper with the family and help the little kids get ready for bed.

9:15 PM—I spend some time with Judy and the big girls.

10 PM —Together we watch the broadcast on channel 19. You don't always know about television interviews and stories. This night, though, the story was well edited and I'm grateful for the message Channel 19 broadcasted on the TV airwaves.

10:30 PM-- I bring the dogs into the house and get ready for bed.

10:45 PM— I do a little bedside reading. This is something I have done virtually every night since I was six years old.

10:55 PM-- Lights out.

It’s Friday, But Sunday’s Coming

1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for (Heb. 11:1-2).

13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (Heb. 11:13-16).

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:1-2).

Sometimes, God calls us to follow him and behave in a way that is pleasing to him, but to no one else. We understand what God is about, we understand what God wants, but we do not necessarily see the impact of that. Others may not see the impact either. God sees it. God appreciates it. But we are not receiving encouragement from anyone else. So we operate by faith. And, the writer of Hebrews says, the ancients were commended for living lives that reflected the certainty of what they did not see.

He gives us some examples:

Noah was not hailed by his town as a great visionary. They thought he was a nut. And so, when no one could see the future, Noah built an ark and saved his family.

According to verses 13 to 16 of Hebrews chapter eleven, people like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did not get much encouragement. They lived as aliens and strangers. They didn't see much here in this world. By faith they saw something ahead that would be better. They lived for that.

Moses, according to Josephus, was in line to become Pharaoh. But he gave the throne up to follow God and to lead a group of people who did not always give him encouragement. It was tough, yet Moses was faithful.

The scripture says he chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time… because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt and he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.

Finally, in Hebrews Chapter twelve, the author tells us this: we do have some who are watching. We do have some who are encouraging us. It is the great cloud of witnesses. While there is certainly symbolism present, I also believe that the witnesses are real. I do believe Moses is watching and encouraging us, and Isaac, and Jacob, and Abraham.

So, be of good cheer. God and spiritual beings see your good work, even if no one else does.

Let me tell you about someone who could not see his audience. Lyman was born in upstate New York in 1856.[1] He was one of the many wandering Americans of his generation. The late 1880s found him in Aberdeen, South Dakota, first opening a department store and then working on a newspaper. A few years later, he popped up in Chicago; he eventually settled in California.
Along the way, Lyman failed in the axle grease business, managed an opera house and a baseball team. He was a traveling salesman and a buyer for a department store, before becoming the editor of The Store Window for the National Association of Window Trimmers.

In his younger days, Lyman had hoped to write a great novel that would win him fame. However, nearing forty, he surrendered his dreams for greatness. He pursued other tasks that seemed to lead him in the opposite direction. He spent more time with his children. For, as he wrote his sister, “... aside from my evident inability to do anything [great], I have learned to regard fame as a will-o'-the-wisp, which, when caught, is not worth the possession; but to please a child is a sweet and lovely thing that warms one's heart and brings its own reward."

Lyman took to inventing stories for his children, which they enjoyed immensely. So much so, they began to invite their friends who likewise reveled in Lyman’s tales. With the children’s encouragement, Lyman decided to put his stories in a book so that perhaps other children might enjoy them.

The title came to him in an inspired moment in his own living room during one of his sessions with the kids. He had been telling them about a special place—a magical land. The children kept pressing him for the name, “What is the land called?”

Unsure, Lyman’s eyes scanned the room for ideas. Finally, they rested on his file cabinets. One bore the letters A-N, the other, O-Z. “Oz,” he said. “The name of the land is Oz.” And so it was, in 1900, Lyman published his book for children titling it, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Where would the world be without the Wizard of Oz? That book has blessed our planet for over 100 years. Millions of children and adults have enjoyed Lyman Frank Baum's stories through the avenues of books, movies, plays, and musicals. In moments of service to children, L. Frank Baum was laying the groundwork for blessings unseen. Even though Baum enjoyed success in his lifetime, he died not knowing the benefits that future generations would receive from his efforts.

Oftentimes, a person feels unsuccessful because he or she did not meet predetermined expectations for success. However, those who receive the fruits of the labor view this individual with respect, awe, gratitude and even affection.

Christians profit from a reality that no one else enjoys. Christians have the Word of God to tell them what pleases God. And, because of Hebrews 11-12, Christians can know they have an audience who appreciates their efforts, even if no other human beings do.

Play to your unseen audience; they see you. To do so is true faith, and you will be blessed for it. And who knows what future unseen audience in this world will someday be blessed as well?

[1] This “rest of the story” is taken from notes I scribbled from an entry in Civilization –The Library of Congress Magazine, Feb/March 2000. I copied this down in my dentist office that year and have, unfortunately, lost all other data. It is synthesized with a story found in my children’s Childcraft.

Have a great weekend!