A Historical Bad Rap

            He literally saved millions of people from starvation. He did so twice, leading food relief efforts after World War I and World War II.

            In Finland, his work rescuing people from starvation was so noble, his last name became a verb, meaning “to help.”

            It was because of his heart for humanity, not to mention his amazing administrative ability and his unselfish devotion to serving his fellow man, that he was elected president of the United States in 1928.

            Tragically, just a few months into office, the stock market crashed (the fault of which was not his own) and the Great Depression began.

            He was audacious in attempting to address the needs of people, creating many new programs. Yet, struggling with a recalcitrant Congress, he made little headway in alleviating the Great Depression. For this reason, he was thrown out of office in the election of 1932.

            Sadly, during the Great Depression, his name took on a different connotation here in the United States than it did in Finland. It morphed into a word describing locations where poor people lived. Decades later, a popular musical, “Annie”, would casually ridicule him in their songs.

            When it comes to judging a man, society does not always get it right. Unfortunately, popular culture sometimes brands a person in an unfair way that does not reflect truth when describing a person's overall life.

            This was certainly the case with Herbert Hoover. Herbert Hoover was a compassionate man who served humanity for over 90 years. One event overshadowed him. He became identified with it, and that became his legacy.

            I think that is sad. History seems unconcerned with my sympathy.

            Strangely enough, Scripture sometimes seems unconcerned about the legacy of God’s people, but here is the catch. In the Bible, God is held as the standard. Humans are viewed as flawed beings, especially when compared with God. In the Bible, there is God—then there is everyone else.

            The Bible has no qualms about sharing personal information concerning God's community of faith. Today, were we preachers to relate similar flaws at someone’s funeral, people would gasp and consider it in bad taste.

            God’s word does not share our unease. You can check out the legacies of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Peter to name a few. You have the good, and you have the awfully ugly.

            God's word is not concerned about burnishing the reputation of the people of the Bible; rather, it is more concerned about elevating and glorifying the name of God.

Reflections on Kingdom Work

            In Kingdom work, God is the constant; we are the variable. Read the Bible, and after all is said and done, God is the Hero of the story. We have the opportunity to embrace him and jump on board with his wonderful Kingdom activity.

            I know many of you read out of the version of the Bible called “The Message.” Eugene Peterson translated that. He’s written a lot of good books about God and Scripture. In one of them, CHRIST PLAYS IN 10,000 PLACES, he wrote something that absolutely inspired my imagination.

            In John Mark’s gospel, Peter is the prominent apostle. Peter appears to have the potential to move into place alongside Jesus. Then the wheels come off of Peter’s life. Peter does not become the lead apostle; instead, Mark portrays Peter as the lead sinner.

            Peter stays out of the limelight. That spot is reserved for Jesus alone. In Mark, there is only one hero–and he is Jesus.

            The incredible thing about this is we think we know where John Mark got his material–from Peter, who mentored him. And we think a significant influence on John Mark’s gospel were the sermons he heard Peter preach.

             I am absolutely blown away by that. Peter embraced the fact that Jesus stood alone as the hero, and he had absolutely no problem with us knowing that he was a sinner. Yet, Jesus reached out to Peter; Jesus called him, and Jesus was faithful to him.

            God is such an overwhelming hero in the Bible; he easily overshadows—and overcomes—the weaknesses of the people who follow him. So we do not even have to attempt to be cardboard cutouts of saints. We can simply be ourselves.

            As a matter of fact, the more real we are with God and with each other, the more he can form us into the image of his Son. We don’t have anything to be afraid of, and we have a lot to look forward to. It is exciting to watch God work in our lives.

            As I process what is next for me in my own life, I recognize the fact that some of you changed majors in college. Some of you graduated with a degree in one field, and God steered you to another. Some of you started in one career, and God led you to another. That is the exciting thing about God… he is always working on us and through us, to carry out his story and his purpose.

            Did you know that some of our greatest discoveries and inventions have occurred as a serendipity of the original intent of the discoverer? Alexander Graham Bell invented an instrument to inform people of the arrival of telegrams. He did not realize it would become the telephone.

            An Italian explorer sailed across the Atlantic Ocean hoping to find a new route to India and enrich himself trading for spices. Christopher Columbus, instead, discovered a new world, which literally led to seismic shifts in geography, world power, and, literally, worldview.

            All of these serve as a nice symbols of the Christian’s walk with God. Whether they are true failures or unplanned directional turns, Scripture teaches us God can work through both. This truth lends an atmosphere of excitement to the Christian journey. As my former colleague, Tim Henderson, put it in one of his blogs, “It is better living to be watching for the unexpected than expecting the living to follow our plan. May you enjoy a life of watching God do more than you can explain or imagine.”

                        

National Treasure

            I was reading LEADERSHIP JOURNAL a while back, when I encountered a story that moved me deeply.

            Back in 1944, James Hampton, “a quiet, virtually unknown janitor” from Washington, D.C, began to search for items discarded by people. He collected anything from old furniture to kitchen foil, from coke bottles to cardboard—anything he could find.

            He was moved by a verse in the Bible—Prov. 29:18: “Where there is no vision the people perish.” James Hampton believed that people should have a vision of the glory of God, so, using his collection of abandoned materials, he set to work creating an artistic work portraying the throne room of God.

            Using glue, tape, tacks and pins, James precariously fitted together his articles of art. James worked on his project for twenty years, and then he died; he had not told a soul about his endeavor.

            Perhaps he decided his project should be for God’s eyes, and God’s eyes only. It may be James thought his work was not very good. Maybe, in time, he thought to himself, “I’m a janitor. Who am I kidding? Who would ever want to see my work?”

            After his death, someone found James Hampton’s artwork in his garage. Today, all 180 pieces of James’ work reflecting the throne room of heaven is prominently displayed near the entrance… of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Art.

            James Hampton’s composition is now considered a national treasure.

            When I read that story, it brought tears to my eyes. Here is a man, who labored on a work he believed no one would see.

            Millions did.

            It inspires me to hope.

            All of us will die having done work we believe is beneath God’s standards, or incomplete. Yet, we can die hoping God will take that work and bless lives with it, bringing glory to Himself.

            And why not hope? Millions of people have entered a museum, some surely expecting to see neutral works of art, only to be transported into the throne room of God.

           Five Things I Think I Think (with a nod to Peter King for this idea)

1. What a series! First, the Rangers became the third team to come from behind and win a World Series game after trailing 1-0 in the ninth inning. They did so against a closer, who only allowed one hit (and base runner) for the past month.

            Then, Saturday night, Albert Pujols became the third player in MLB history to hit three home runs in one World Series game.

            As of this writing, the series is tied 2-2. Why not stick to my original prognostication—the Rangers in six games?

2. I had a great trip to Miami over the weekend. Joining me was my sermon-visual go-to-guy, Travis Gilbreath. We traveled to take a closer look at Dr. Rick Blackwood’s preaching ministry and the evangelistic work of his church. Rick is the author of The Power of Multisensory Preaching and Teaching: Increase Attention, Comprehension, and Retention.

             I have written much about this book before; I consider it to be exceptional. Moreover, his church is made up of members from over seventy nations, spread over five campuses in the Miami area.

         Rick graciously hosted us in his home on Saturday. We also received an extensive tour of their Palmetto Bay campus and attended one of their worship services. I have never seen such a multi-cultural collection of church members in a worship assembly. We closed out our trip by meeting with Rick in his office after the worship service.

          I consider what Travis and I did akin to college football coaches traveling to another university to see what the staff does there. This can be invaluable for church leaders.

         I thank Rick and his staff for being so hospital to us. I left inspired and with many new ideas.

3. While on the plane, I read Rick’s book for the second time. I was blessed as much as I was the first time back in 2008.

4. Incidentally, some of you may be familiar with Eric Geiger. He joined Thom Rainer in writing the book SIMPLE CHURCH a few years ago. He was formerly on the staff at the Palmetto Bay campus, having left earlier this year.

5. Fun fact from our Miami trip—Travis Gilbreath and I got one of those HOTWIRE deals where we got a great hotel for the price of an inexpensive motel. Consequently, we stayed in the MIAMI AIRPORT HILTON, which hosted the Chicago Bears during the Super Bowl of 2007 as well as three other NFC teams in years past. One of those teams was the 1989 World Champion San Francisco 49ers. Just think, Joe Montana could have stayed in our room 22 years ago!

God Stalkers

            Ever read reports about stalkers? These are guys who become so enamored with someone, they will write incessant letters to the object of their attention, hang out on the perimeter of the house of the person they are stalking, and basically narrow their life’s focus exclusively to one individual.

            The problem with that kind of close attention and behavior is not necessarily the attention and behavior; the problem is the person they are focusing upon is not built to receive that kind of attention.

            That's why a person receiving this kind of intense consideration will obtain a court order seeking legal protection. It is a dangerous situation.

            Some people are self-stalkers. By that I mean they are totally focused upon themselves. From the time they get up until the time they go to bed, they are thinking about themselves and viewing everything that occurs through a personal prism.

            All worry is self-stalking. When a person worries, he is totally obsessed with a problem and how the problem will affect him or someone he loves. Over and over again, in his mind, he plays and replays scenarios. He mentally brainstorms, looking for solutions. In essence, he is praying to himself.

            This kind of behavior and focus is appropriate with the right kind of being. Unfortunately, a human being is not built for this. He will break down with this kind of focus.

            Lets move to a communal level. Ever heard of Elvis Presley? He was nicknamed “The King.” In the fifties and early sixties, thousands-no, millions-around the world so focused their lives on Elvis Presley that they combed their hair like him, walked liked him, tried to sing like him, and even snarled their lips like him.

            This idolization took a toll on Presley. He died at age 42. Still, our culture embraces the idea of venerating pop stars. It’s for good reason FOX named their TV series AMERICAN IDOL.

            We smile and understand the thousands of girls who desire to be princesses. They gather their cues all the way from Disney princesses to Princess Kate. They comb their hair like them, they dress like them, and they focus on them totally.

            They will spend their money to read issues of magazines trying to discover every detail possible about their princess–so DEVOTED they are to them.

            All of this behavior is spiritually oriented. Even the behavior of the stalker, strangely enough, would be appropriate, if it were directed toward God.

            Think about it: what if a person always hung out where God was, he journaled his thoughts to God, he continually talked to God, and became totally focused upon God?

            The other day, I was wrestling with a sermon on “glorifying God,” and it occurred to me part of my struggle was the way we redundantly use the word “glory.” I had discussed with sympathetic friends how I felt I needed to redefine the concept of worshipping-adoring-glorifying God. Then it occurred to me. I shouldn’t have to do this. We should naturally do so. It should be instinctive.

            Then it struck me. The instincts are there; however, from childhood, we typically channel those instincts in a direction pointed toward people—or ourselves.

            David channeled those instincts toward God; David was a God-stalker. Just listen to Psalm 63:

 1 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; 
I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, 
in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 
3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 
4 I will praise you as long as I live, 
and in your name I will lift up my hands. 
5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; 
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 
7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 
8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.

 9 Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. 
10 They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.

 11 But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

            We were wired to focus on God. Our DNA contains the code to glorify God. Let’s channel our instincts away from everything but, and focus exclusively upon, God.

Five Things I Think I Think (with a nod to Peter King for this idea)

1. I absolutely loved MEGAMIND. My younger kids, Judy, and I saw it on DVD this week. I would love to be able to write books for kids that would communicate well with adults—like MEGAMIND does as a movie. Part of the reason I enjoyed the movie is Will Ferrell’s ability to make me “crack up.” The guy is a genius.

2. I survived SIX FLAGS last week. I stand by what I wrote. The rides were great. I hate long lines.

3. Finished LINDBERGH, by A. Scott Berg, last week. It is a very good book, written in great detail, about the life of Charles Lindbergh.

4. If you have never seen THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS, watch it with your kids. A little dramatic at times, but it does a great job demonstrating the skill and courage involved in the Lindbergh’s flight over the Atlantic.

5. Happy 235th Birthday, United States!