Experiencing Grace and Peace

Of pastries, protein and Scripture

2010-09-22T09:04:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had a meal that you enjoyed so much that you didn’t want it to end? The meal was so delicious, so well prepared and everything was just right?

Perhaps it was the perfect steak; an awesome pizza; pasta; or maybe dessert?

I have many food weaknesses – cake & ice cream; really good wedding cake; apple crisp; peanut M & Ms; pastries, and much more!

Yesterday marked a year of change in my life. On a Tuesday morning in 2009, I found myself in the checkout line at the grocery store with my usual fare: a cherry bismark and a chocolate star, along with a six-pack of Coke.

As I stood in the checkout line, my cell phone vibrated.

“Hello.”

“Hi, what are you doing?,” the voice on the other end asks.

“I am at the store,” I say.

“What are you doing there?,” the other party asks.

“Getting a donut.”

“Just one donut?”

“Well, two donuts, and some pop.”

The silence on the other end was deafening! The other party, you see, was my wife. She loves me and cares for me and wants to grow old with me. The fact that I was gonna cram these pastries into my mouth, in her mind, was irritating because of her desire for me to take care of myself.

I ate the pastries and drank one of the cokes – but that moment in the store was the beginning of a change in my life.

The next day I began a diet that eliminated most of the carbs, sugars and other negative dietary things from my life and replaced it with healthy food – namely fat-burning protein!

With the bad stuff removed from my diet: things like pasta, sugars, pop, breads, cake, ice cream and desserts, the protein I ate was able to skip having to burn that stuff and go straight to the fat on my body. That's how this diet works, and every diet, really. Protein burns carbs and then fat, but with more of the carbs and sugars - the toxins - removed from the body, the protein can attack the fat cells.

I was 307 pounds on Tuesday, September 21, 2009. I lost 62 pounds by the time I went off the diet.

What does this have to do with anything is probably running through your mind?

Our lives are filled with pastries – or other stumbling blocks – that keep us separated from the lives that God desires us to live. Things that look so good to us for some reason; things like gossip, pride, money, covetousness, lust - you name the sin. Pastries (sins) are so alluring, and yet they are the sugars and the carbohydrates that build layers a spiritual fat in our lives and separate from the life that God has for us.

So each day we make a spiritual dietary decision: a choice between right and wrong; good and evil; pastry and protein, if you will.

The good news is that healthy living is possible if we follow the appropriate diet.

I want to invite you to hear these words from the Book that we love:

Psalm 1

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked; stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields it fruit in season and whose leaf never withers. Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked. They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the ways of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish?”

Similarly, several hundred years later, the disciple John was aging and an old man when he receives these visions while exiled to the island of Patmos:

“Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud with a rainbow above his head; his face was the like the sun and his legs were like fiery pillars.

He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea, his left foot on the land and he shouted like the roaring of a lion. When he roared, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but then I heard a voice from heaven say ‘Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”

Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land reached his right hand up to heaven. And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever; the creator of the heavens, and all that is within them; the creator of the earth and all that is withing it; the creator of the sea, and all that is within it, and said, ‘There will be no more delay.’ But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.

The voice I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more, saying: ‘Go, take the little scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.’

So I went to the angel and asked him for the little scroll. He said to me, ‘Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour but will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.’

I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and I ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.”

This is the word of the Lord!

In 2010, as we live, move, and breathe on this earth, we have choices to make each and every day. Our health has great impact as to how we live and move and breathe and the choices we make.

The temptation of the pastry is all around us. We see pastry everywhere, don’t we? If you are like me, you can even smell the pastry sometimes? Sin is all around and it is all we can do to not give in sometimes – to be healthy. These are the times when we really need a healthy diet of protein – of knowing the scripture and what it says – and its sin-fighting capabilities.

For those of us who desire to follow Jesus there is a healthy-eating manual at our disposal. In fact, God beckons us to us to this life; that we might eat healthy, for he tells us in scripture that he has come that we might have life, and have it to the full.

In order to do so, we must know what he says. And in order to know what he says and how he wants us to live, we need to spend time with him…in prayer and in the Word. He reveals himself to those who love him in his Word and equips us to cope in this world that is not our home.

The best way to do so, according to the Psalmist, is to the follow the example of the blessed man. “His delight is in the law of the Lord; and on his law he meditates day and night!”

In Revelation 10, John says “take it and eat it!”

This is not a skimming of the Word, is it? This is stopping to meditate on it – to eat it.

But what does that mean - to eat the scroll?

In his work, “Eat this Book,” 21^st century theologian Eugene Petersen writes: “Words – spoken and listened to, written and read – are intended to do something in us, give us health and wholeness, vitality and holiness, wisdom and hope. Yes, eat this book.”

He continues…“Reading is an immense gift, but only if the words are assimilated, taken into the soul – eaten, chewed, gnawed, received in unhurried delight.”

“Christians feed on Scripture. Holy Scripture nurtures the holy community as food nurtures the human body. Christians don’t simply learn or study or use Scripture; we assimilate it, take it into our lives in such a way that it gets metabolized into acts of love, cups of cold water, missions into all the world, healing and evangelism and justice in Jesus’ name, hands raised in adoration of the Father, feet washed in company with the Son.”

I may be pushing a little too far with thoughts from theologians, but may I share a thought from John Calvin with you?

Here’s what the 16^th century theologian says: “And here we again ought to observe that we are called to a knowledge of God: not that knowledge which, content with empty speculation, merely fits in the brain, but that which will be sound and fruitful if we duly perceive it, and if it takes root in the heart.” Calvin’s Institutes 1.5.9

Sound and fruitful if it takes root in the heart – this word that nourishes our souls – this protein that wards off the fat of pastry and sin. You see, God’s word – meditated on, chewed on and gnawed on - is transformational. It changes us when we eat it.

We find the pastry of the world less appealing and this protein – the Word – more and more edifying. When we make time to meditate on it, that’s what God does; and it becomes part of who we are and how we respond to the world.

“The most striking biblical metaphor for reading was St. John eating a book: He eats the book – not just reads it -- he got it into his nerve endings, his reflexes, his imagination. The book he ate was Holy Scripture,” says Petersen.

This was true of kids thousands of years ago. Teenagers and even pre-teens would memorize the entire torah, the first five books of the Bible. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy – memorized! They ate the scroll, and it fashioned who they became.

Our lives are so full of activity that it truly requires something of us if we are going to meditate on his word day and night; if we are going to eat this book. But eat it we must! The other choice is a life of spiritual obesity – with layers of pastry and sin separating us from all God has for us

I have found this true in my life. Not that I have already attained all this, but I press on in my “eating” as I look forward to attaining the Prize. My cravings for the things of this world have become sour in my stomach, as I have endeavored to eat this book. The more and more protein I digest, I see two things happening: I crave pastry less and less; and I carry around less fat!

How about you? Are you sick of pastry? Are you hungry for some fat-burning protein? Carve out some time, throw open the Word and let it nourish your soul!

Great and unsearchable things

2010-06-29T05:56:00.000-05:00

It has been so long, so much has happened that I can't even...rather don't even know where to start...so I will start at the present!

I pound out this short piece this morning from another time zone. I am some 700 miles from home in beautiful downtown Holland, Michigan in a quaint little coffee shop this morning reflecting on God's goodness to me and mine.

I am excited for day two along this journey in which I am officially a student. I have been studying and diving into the Word for some time now, but back in January, my wife and I officially succumbed to the call God has placed on my heart to seek out ministry possibilities.

It has been a whirlwind - one amazing blessing after another from a God who has passionately been with me and with us from the very beginning. He has carried us through the storms and is blessing us beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine. The blessings and obvious favor he has shown since coming to grips with swinging this door open to really follow him blow me away.

In a classroom for the first time in 20 years yesterday I find myself encountering Christ in incredible ways and today promises to be even more exciting.

Where is he leading, what does all of this mean? Who knows!?!

God knows - and after all I have been through, particularly in these past six months, where he leads I will follow.

Enough rambling. This is my thank you note to God for blessing me beyond anything I could ever ask or imagine, for revealing to me great and unsearchable things I do not know and for simply deeming me faithful, calling me to his service.

Today, this amazing June morning in Holland, I am experiencing a full measure of grace and peace!

The leaf

2010-01-14T15:20:00.001-06:00

So there I was, braving bitter cold wind chills in the -20 range last week blowing out my driveway yet again after another onslaught of snow and wind filled the end of the drive.

Bundled up in nearly every piece of clothing I could find, including facemask and hooded sweatshirt tied tightly so there was just a little window through which to see, I cleared a path - again.

As I ran the snow blower I couldn't happen to notice through my narrow little window white everywhere. We have gotten roughly 30 inches of snow here since Christmas. Pelted with snow is the best way to describe it, I guess.

On this Thursday morning as I was going about my business there was much on my heart and mind, so as I blew away I prayed for all of those things on my heart. Just 12 hours before I had been dealt a blow in one of my businesses that left me staggering and stumbling, much like this winter's snow - yet again.

This business has been a perpetual source of questions hurled at my Savior..."Why God?" "What do you want me to do with this, God?" "What am I going to do now, God?" Know what I mean?

I am not a very astute businessman, but we have managed to function in this business for a number of years and I have learned much. The timing on this news was perhaps the toughest to take, as a lot of things are going on now and are on the horizon.

So Thursday, as I blew snow in the arctic temperatures, I petitioned the God who sent his Jesus to die that I might live, yet again - asking, "Now what God?" "Why God?" "I know you tell me you have plans for me, for hope and a future, but I am sick of this, God!"

It isn't too often that I am phased by these kinds of things, but I headed for the tank all the while wanting to trust in those promises God makes me. Mark 10:24 was fresh on my mind, though - "I believe, help my unbelief."

Hearing my petitions, as Jeremiah writes..."When you call on me and come and pray to me, I will listen to you," God showed up.

Through my tiny window in the facemask and sweatshirt, amidst the white everywhere, it blew right in front of me.

A leaf.

"What in the world?," I thought to myself. "Where in the world did that come from?"

Tumbling from north to south down the street at the end of my driveway, a LEAF!

A leaf, you ask?

My mind immediately went to the book of James. While not talking about leaves, the passage jumped to my mind and into my soul - as it often does when I want help with my unbelief.

James 1:6
"But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

I so often petition Jesus to hear my prayer. I play it off like I am some super-Christian who never doubts, but I do. I do in the prayers for my business, for my family and for my ministry. I am so often like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Kinda like that leaf.

There are so many for whom I am in prayer today. The people of Haiti; others in hospitals; friends with incredible hurts in their lives; others in the midst of transitions in life.

When my phone rings twice within an hour Wednesday from people needing prayer, do they have any idea who they are asking to pray for them? If they knew that I am often like a wave of the sea - or that leaf - maybe they should have called someone else!?!?

Jesus, help me believe. I beg you to hold me close, to draw me ever nearer to your heart, to know - I mean KNOW - that you hear me and are listen when I cry out to you. Jesus, may the cries of my heart align with yours. May my prayers be yours, Jesus.

May we believe - believe in the sovereignty of a God who loves us so much that he was willing to send his one and only son as THE atoning sacrifice for our sins; believe that the creator of all things loves us with a love that we cannot fathom; believe that when we cry out to him that he hears us!

He is in control, He is mighty to save, He is the Alpha and the Omega - the beginning and the end.

Thank you for the leaf, Jesus. Please continue to help me through my unbelief!

Be like a child

2009-12-25T13:05:00.000-06:00

There is something about a child.

Innocent.

Dependent

Reliant.

I sit here on this Christmas morning in one of my favorite seats in the house. Mine is the only chair that gets to look the other five members of my family in the eye as we dine at this bar – my wife and four kids.

I also have a beautiful view out of the front and back windows of our home at the winter storm that rages on this Christmas that has us holed up in our own home – just our family and no one else. The beauty of the snow is breathtaking, but as I sit here with a little background music, my wife running around doing this or that, all kids are tucked in the basement watching a movie.

And so, for a few minutes, I have quiet in one of my favorite seats – and I can see each face as I look at their respective chairs around this island. The beauty of the snow is one thing, the images I see as I imagine them sitting here with me is quite another.

Those images evoke feelings that only a parent can understand. Love, laughter, irritation, pride, thankfulness – and those are just a few.

God knew the power of the child, too, didn’t he?

“Today, in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord,” it reads in Luke 2:11.

This child was conceived of the Holy Spirit, to a child, who would raise the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. From the beginning of time, this Jesus we celebrate today was innocent, dependent and reliant. So was his mother, the teenager whom God chose to carry and give birth to our Savior.

As Jesus grew and grew, he remained innocent all the way to the point of death on a cross, fulfilling his purpose for living. He was dependent on his Father and reliant upon that same Father to teach, live a life that is an example for us to live by, and to complete his mission.

Children were important to Jesus, too.

In the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark and Luke these words were recorded: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Let the little children come to me. But why? What was so special to Jesus about these children?

It is that innocence, dependence and reliance that enables a child to hear the message and to receive the gift – the GIFT – that is Jesus and all that he affords us.

Children don’t have the weight of the world on their shoulders. They haven’t lived long enough to see the world at its ugliest. In most cases, they are still innocent.

It is that mentality in which Jesus hopes the Gift to be received. He requires, it in fact.

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4

As I went through the photos that were shot while we opened our gifts night before last, several pictures jumped off the computer at me and I wanted to share them with you. These words from Matthew jumped out at me, as did some of the words from Luke 2.

The amazement, excitement and wonder expressed in the eyes and expression of a child while opening a gift is a sight to behold.

As the angel of the Lord appeared to them and and was later joined by the choir of angels who sang “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests,” I see our four year old Anna looking in wonder.

(Anna as if to say "What?")

After hurrying to Bethlehem to find Mary, Joseph and Jesus lying in the manger, I can see her looking in amazement that what the angel and prophets had foretold had actually came true.

(Anna surprised at her gift)

And this last image, this is the image that I love the most. It is this picture that I pray sticks with you – it is this image of child-like innocence, dependence, reliance and excitement that will allow us to live life to the full, as Jesus declared in John 10:10.

(Anna opening one of her presents)

Each day as we unwrap the Gift that is a new day, may we open it with the excitement of a child. May we live each day with that child-like faith – relying and depending on Father, Son and Holy Spirit in all we do.

I fall woefully short of this mark, but it is the mark I aspire to. May we become like children this Christmas and accept anew the Gift each day we are allowed to walk the face of this earth.

Merry Christmas! (Alex opening the new Bible we gave him)

And yet...

2009-12-23T15:00:00.000-06:00

There is a snowstorm of epic proportions en route to the Midwest, with 12-20 inches of snow predicted beginning Dec. 23 and ending Dec. 26...

And yet Christmas is coming!

The world prepares for the impending struggles that come with travel troubles and all that comes with snowstorms...

And yet Christmas is coming!

The storm rages on in the south, making its way north...

And yet, Christmas is coming!

This isn't the only storm that is raging, however, as it would seem that an inordinate amount of "storms" have left a lot of people around me in a position of mourning rather than celebration this Christmas.

My friend Billy Coffey over at What I Learned Today referred to what I am talking about like this: "What did I do that was so bad, Daddy?" when talking about his sone having to open one of the gifts he had wrapped. Billy apparently doesn't wrap well, and so uses a lot of paper and even more tape.

Those ugly packages, he writes, sometime look like some of the "gifts" in our lives, those things that look ugly but wind up blessing us.

In my world today, I know a lot of people who are grieving some poorly wrapped packages, if you will, this Christmas.

There is the family mourning the loss of a beautiful daughter and sister in her early 20s...a young lady who died unexpectedly from complications to a seizure...

And yet they have hope in the Gift that is Christmas!

There is the family from our church who lost a father and a grandfather in the past week after a battle with illness...

And yet there is hope that comes in the form of a babe in the manger!

There are marriages that are on the rocks. One I know of where the husband has moved out in this week and one that I know of where the husband wants to walk out...

And yet, Christmas is coming!

In one conversation I had while on the road this morning, despite everything that is going, this individual has hope.

"Good morning," I said as the gentelman answered the phone. "How are you doing today?"

"Good, you too?" he asked.

"Yeah, I am doing really well," I told him. "Just wanted to call to tell you we are praying for you in all that you are dealing with."

"Thanks," he said. "This is even tougher than when we lost our son."

"I am sorry," I said. "Try to have a Merry Christmas" I weakly conclude the conversation.

"We still remember the reason," he said!

"We still remember the reason!"

Hmmm...

Satan would do everything he could to disrupt Christmas - to disrupt Christ's coming - and yet he came.

"Sorry, Joseph there is no room for you here!"

And yet he came!

He was a perfect man - he never did anything wrong - EVER...

And yet he died for you and for me!

Snowstorms come, travel becomes impossible, lives are full of pain and suffering...

And yet we have hope that comes in the form of a baby, born in the most humble of settings some 2000 years ago.

Things for many can look bleak and dark this Christmas. For some there packages appear to be poorly wrapped. For others people are moving away and leaving a void behind. For still others there isn't going to be much of a Christmas this year because of financial struggles. For still others, Christmas is going to be really hard because it is spent in a hospital waiting room while their patient recovers. And for more, someone will be missing from the celebration.

And yet, Christmas is coming.

He always comes - this Jesus we celebrate - he always comes to meet us when we call on him. When we have cause to rejoice and celebrate in good news, he comes! When the despair is too much to handle and we cry out, he comes! When the storm rages on, that star - His star - still shines!

The Prince of Peace was born to bring just that, peace, in the midst of the storms, the poorly wrapped packages and all that this world offers.

Jesus told us himself in John's gospel: John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives."

I don't know where you are this Christmas. Perhaps you are eager to celebrate our dear Savior's birth. Perhaps things are tough this Christmas - I don't know - but I do know in this world we will have troubles...

And yet, Christmas is coming! Praise God!

Click the ling to read more about Christmas Coming from Jennifer's perspective, or on this one to see what Ann has to say this Christmas.

A baby changes everything

2009-12-21T16:01:00.000-06:00

A baby changes everything!

Can't you see the headlines of the Bethlehem Herald?

A baby, who is to be the Messiah, was born last night in a dirty, grungy manger out back of the hotel because there was no room for him. No one was willing to give up their room for the teenager ready to give birth to a baby, so the hotel manager sent them out to the stables.

For Mary and Joseph, that baby changed everything.

For the next 33 years, that baby changed everything around him as he grew and ministered to the people of his day.

That baby still changes everything - this Jesus we worship and celebrate! He has changed everything for me and has done the same thing for a lot of people in my world.

A few examples for you this Christmas:

This morning, in my inbox, I find a message from one of my dear friends with a link to a Youtube file that simply reads "Thinking and praying" for an individual who is close to me. Legions of people in my Christian community are praying for this person - the number of prayers would certainly bring him to his knees if he had any idea how many people were petitioning our Savior on his behalf.

The Youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvwtyJxExDo is a video of a song by Faith Hill called: A Baby Changes Everything.

The life of my friend who, in the midst of everything he has going on in his world is thinking and praying for someone in mine, is a shining example of someone whose life - whose heart - this baby has changed.

• Another example, from just this morning, is one I will share with you. My wife and I own small businesses. One of the ventures we publish is in a community 45 minutes from here. Two employees were out of town, one works from home most days and the main receptionist called at 6:30 a.m. to tell me she was sick and unable to make it in.

After swinging and missing at a couple of solutions, God led me to a call someone from my Christian community. Explaining the situation and how I wondered if I could hire her to answer the phone for a day, she said, "I will do it. Absolutely, but you are not paying me for it. If I can't do a favor for you without you paying me, I won't do it."

"I love you," I simply said.

"Don't think anything of it, I am happy to help."

Trying to argue over the whole money thing, she interrupts...

"Love you...have a good day!"

Another life that has been changed by this baby. We have known each other for years, but this baby whose birth we celebrate this week, has united us and grown a love for one another and His kingdom that can only be explained in Jesus.

And how about when Jesus shows up in a ballcap? Another individual who would testify that this baby changes everything dropped by Saturday with a $25 gift card to Applebee's that he wanted me to deliver to someone in Rock Valley - someone that God laid on our hearts moments after he left. You can read more about this at the link above, or read what Jennifer has posted over at Getting Down With Jesus.

This Jesus in a ballcap is someone of modest means, but "this baby" changed everything in his life, so much so that he followed the Spirit's prompting and scratched out 28 names of willing elves in some 30 seconds who God would use to spread $700 of Christmas cheer this week.

A baby changes everything!

He has for a mother whose son is in prison. He has for a group of guys who were willing to spend a weekend behind bars because His plans for their lives are not what their plans are.

A baby changes everything, indeed.

As I sit here this afternoon, I am overwhelmed by the number of people I know whose lives have been turned around by this baby. I am overwhelmed by the depths and degree to which this baby has changed everything in my life. What matters, what I think about, what I desire. This baby has changed EVERYTHING!

My prayer during this Christmas week is that a baby changes everything for you. My prayer is that if you are struggling, that this baby would change everything. My prayer is that if you are in a good place, that you still might let this baby change everything, that he might lead you in directions and ways you never imagined.

The last verse of this Faith Hill song says:

"My whole life has turned around,

I was lost but now I'm found,

A baby changes everything,

A baby changes everything!"

May it be true for me, may it be true for you!

"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' - "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

Luke 2:9-12, 15

Jesus in a ballcap

2009-12-19T15:38:00.000-06:00

I laid awake last night - and again this morning - wondering what it was that this would-be visitor wanted. Why would he drive all the way over here? What did he have for me?

I got a message a day or two ago telling me he wanted to drop by Saturday morning.

"Will you be around Saturday morning?," he asked via that wonderful social networking tool, Facebook.

"I should be," I said. "I don't have much going on," I replied.

"Good, I will drop by around 9:30," he told me.

And so I wondered what this might be about, but I really was clueless. I didn't give it much serious thought even, until last night.

Wednesday I began to catch wind of a phenenom sweeping through northwest Iowa that began with the Spirit's prompting of this person while he was at work. As the prompting persisted, he told me it became clear that it was time to begin writing this down.

And so he did.

Some 28 names were penned on a sheet of 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 yellow note paper - with instructions on how to bless others - names that came to him in about 30 seconds Tuesday, he told me at 9:35 this morning.

People from various walks of life, but all people within this man's "community."

Most of the names had already been crossed off, mine was one of the last to be delivered.

His instructions were pretty simple: give this to someone in Rock Valley that God lays on your heart, tell them "God cares for you and so do I," and then let me know that it has been delivered.

Tears filled my eyes and a warmth invaded my heart as I realized that I was one of the 28 called to be blessed by being a blessing for someone else this Christmas.

We talked for a couple of minutes about God's prompting; some of the stories and comments that he has experienced through the past few days; the act of obedience to part with the $700 he has spent on $25 Applebee's gift cards to fulfill this blessing; and then exchanged a Spirit-filled hug and wished one another a Merry Christmas.

The words to a simple, yet prophetic hymn filled my heart as he drove away - one we have both experienced in the past couple of years as the Gift has been received and become a part of who we are.

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me!

Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me!

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me!

Jesus came knocking this morning in a ballcap and jeans! This man has certainly had the Spirit of the living God fall afresh on him - and I am here to testify that it is a beautiful thing! To see Jesus at work in one's life to the point of obedient sacrifice is a testament to God's greatness and this persons devotion to the Gift.

God's gift to us was a baby, born in a manger - a dirty, grungy stable - the most humble of settings. Today, God sent his Spirit to my doorstep to do his bidding in the most humble of servants.

Pretty cool, our God!

I willingly accepted the call to deliver this gift card and will be doing so later this afternoon. The perfect recipient was laid on my wife Kathy's heart, and we will humbly pass on to this person the words "God cares for you and so do we," just as Jesus in the ballcap asked that we do.

Another way that I am able to experience grace and peace in this lifetime.

If you would like to read more about this piece of yellow paper and the blessings it is bring about, I encourage you to check out Getting Down With Jesus .

Another way to see some rich blessings this Christmas is to click to the Ten Dollar Blessing at What I Learned Today!

Grace and Peace this Christmas!

Plans

2009-12-17T11:44:00.000-06:00

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you; to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you."

Jeremiah 29:11-14

One of my favorite verses!

One of my wife's favorite passages, as well. Each time I get into the vehicle she drives, there it sits near the gas gauge to be read by whoever is sitting behind the wheel.

The verse is imprinted on my heart and really not one I have to read anymore, as I know it. And when I say I know it, I mean I KNOW it!

It is a meaty piece of scripture. It gives God's promise that he has plans for us - that when we go to him he will listen to us (that still just blows me away!) - and that he will be found by us when we seek after him.

Simply astonishing, isn't it? I don't understand why, other than to attribute it to the greatness of my Savior!

I spent last weekend with some members of my Christian community inside the walls of the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility, a medium security prison affectionately know as "Gladiator Camp," helping conduct a spiritual retreat for the inmates of this facility.

To say that they Spirit is alive and well would be an understatement. And to say that He performed miraculous signs and wonders inside the walls of this prison would be, too. Lives were forever changed inside those walls last weekend - the lives of the inmates as well as the volunteers from the outside who ventured in to be God's hands and feet.

Prison is a dark, cold place where even the meekest of young men is forced to put on this rugged, tough persona that only God can tear down and rebuild. There is so much pain, suffering and torment in the lives of these guys that it really breaks my heart. To see guys having to live in a 6x9x7 cell with two or three other men - that's right - two or three other men - and to endure all that comes along with being on the inside simply rips my heart out.

My wife and I have four children, the oldest of whom is now pushing 16. She isn't too much younger than some of the offenders I spent last weekend with. The men with whom I shared a table have been on my heart all week long, as has another young man with whom a connection was sparked almost immediately.

Growing up not too far from the community in which I reside, we hit it off. We talked a lot about life, Jesus, and how he hopes to function when he gets out and is back to life on the streets. I hope to be able to be part of his life on the streets.

He brought pictures of his family one day, pictures of his younger brother and his little sister. He spoke of his mother and even gave me her name.

We all said our goodbyes on Sunday evening and we ventured home. My table guys on my heart, and this young man, too. Throughout the day Monday I had this feeling that I needed to follow through on, so around 5:30 I did it.

Remember our oldest child is not too much younger than some of these guys. The parenting instinct me just aches for parents on the outside whose children are doing time! The feelings of guilt, the pain of carrying around the fact that your son is locked up and having to exist in prison, and everything else a normal person would think of is unbearable.

I felt all day long like I needed to reach for the phone and let this mother know that I had spent the weekend with her son, that he had a great weekend, and that he had someone on the outside both praying for him and hoping to be part of his life when he reenters society.

And so I did it?

The phone rings and I have a sense of peace as it is answered.

"Hi, my name is Chris Godfredsen and I live in Rock Valley."

"Okay," says the mother. "Hi."

"The reason I am calling tonight is to tell you that I spent the weekend with your son in Fort Dodge and we had a great weekend."

Sobbing is what I heard on the other end of the line. Crying like you rarely hear.

"My wife and I have four kids of our own and I can only imagine what it must be like for you, so I wanted to let you know that he has someone out here, other than his family, who loves him and will be here for him when he gets out."

Click.

We got disconnected, but the line rang immediately.

"I am sorry," she said. "I am sorry for crying and for hanging up."

We talked for a while longer and I was blessed tremendously through our conversation. We talked a bit about the weekend, who each other is and discovered that we even do a little business with one another.

We said goodbye, wished each other a Merry Christmas and hung up.

I shared the conversation with my wife and we both prayed for this family, I know.

Tuesday morning upon arriving at my office I had two blank emails from this mother, so I typed her a note to tell her how good it was to visit and that I remain in prayer for her son and all of those guys who touched my heart last weekend.

This is her reply. I share it not as not to prop myself up, cuz there is nothing worth propping, if you know what I mean. I share it as a testament to God's amazing grace and desire to use his people:

"I feel badly for losing control of my emotions last night so instantly after you called. (My son) had been on my heart so much yesterday and I was yearning to know how everything went. Your first words to me 'I spent the weekend with your son' felt like they were not only coming from you but also directly from God, telling me He was there with (my son), too. It was the most powerful statement I think I have ever heard, Chris. I feel and carry the loneliness (my son) lives in every day and I know I can't even feel it as deeply as he does and then to hear that you spent the weekend with my son - spent time with him - gave of your time, was an overwhelming emotion to know and realize he wasn't alone last weekend.

(My son) has such a beautiful heart. I feel I have let him down in so many ways and I wish there was a rewind button to push to see if something different would have made a bigger impact on his life and his decisions. I love him more than he will ever know and want to see him thrive. I know and believe God has wonderful things planned for him! He just needs to believe it as well. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD.

Thank you seems so inadequate. What a blessing your ministry is to inmates and also their families! I would love to know more about your ministry and how we can help support you.

Merry Christmas to you and your family! You gave us the most precious gift last night with your call!"

I sometimes I have no clue what it is that I am doing - okay, confession time: Most of the time I don't have a clue what it is that I am doing, but I do know that increasingly I am trying to following God's leading in my life."

Wow!

I know that his plans for me are to experience increasing measures of his grace and peace and that I need to live the words of the prophet Isaiah, spoken in Isaiah 6:8: Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

What does all of this mean from here on out, with these inmates and this one particular family? God knows, and I trust him fully, because I know - KNOW - the plans he has for me are plans to prosper me and not to harm me - to give me hope and a future. I simply pray that I can be obedient when opportunities are presented me like this one was - to be His voice to a mother who is carrying the burden of a son doing time, to be the arms hugging an inmate who simply needs the love of Jesus in his life.

How about you? Does someone need to hear from you today? Does someone need to be touched by God through you today?

Grace and Peace!

Of Tiger's, Wolves and Vipers

2009-12-04T14:52:00.000-06:00

I am a newspaper publisher in a small Northwest Iowa community who is here to confess that I rarely read, watch or listen to the national news anymore. The entire scene rather sickens me and tends to be a sad commentary on who we are as a people.

Early this week the news broke of Tiger Woods having a car accident near his palatial mansion in Windemere, FL. As the details of the story continue to unfold it would appear that Woods has a number of issues going on in his life that are rather unfortunate and a cause of a great deal of pain in his inner circle.

I haven't paid any attention to this situation because I seem to have enough issues in my life to contend with to not feel the need to enter into his. I know there was a time in my life when I did and I found it somehow beneficial for me to discuss with other people who know absolutely nothing about the situation.

Having steered clear of this mess, intentionally, I was rather bothered yesterday afternoon when the emails began popping up of the supposed "Woods Family Christmas" card depicting a beaten up Tiger standing next to his golf club-wielding wife.

Ugghhh! I suspect that the late night talk show hosts, who are hardly exempt for issues in their own lives, are having a field day with this as well.

As I continue in my quest to experience grace and peace in this life I am left beaten up by this news and the worlds reaction to it. I am also bothered by the fight I learned of that took place in our school this week.

Two young men got into a rumble. The one comes from an incredibly dysfunctional home. The other is Hispanic. They fight because the Hispanic calls the other boy "Stinky," the other boy calls the Hispanic boy "Beaner" and a fist-fight later the boys are on three-day out of school suspension.

Then there is the ex-con who has been arrested for a string of burglaries in the area and appears headed back inside, leaving his wife and family behind.

There is so much negativity and so much evil at work all around us, and so often those seemingly unaffected seem to find it appropriate to talk about or comment on these situations like a bunch of wolves.

Jesus Christ came into this world so that we might have life and have it to the full - that everyone might have it to the full. Even people like Tiger, my friend the ex-con and these fighting youngsters.

John 10:7-12 reads: Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.

In all of these earthly situations, the thief has come to steal and kill and destroy. The wolf prowls around waiting for someone to destroy but Jesus came that we may have life and have it to the full!

As a follower of Christ, it is the desire of my heart to be more and more like Jesus so that I might have life to the full. I know that I fail miserably in so many ways every day, but I pray that I am not a wolf in these situations.

I pray also that I am not a viper.

Matthew 12:34 says: "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."

Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks! If telling jokes about Tiger, mocking individuals of different ethnic and/or social standing, or gossiping about any thing similar is the overflow of our hearts - well, that is why I don't watch the news, I guess!

This is rampant in the world, and in the church, too! This need to make light of someone else's issues and transgressions to somehow prop ourselves up to look better is everywhere and is not what Jesus wants for his people.

Perhaps I don't have a sense of what is funny and what isn't any more? Perhaps I have seen enough pain, suffering and agony to last a lifetime? I don't know, but I don't think people desiring to follow Jesus ought to enter in this territory.

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." I Peter 5: 5-6

Readers of this blog know that I love music. Jason Upton's prophetic music is some that really speaks to me. His song "Glory Come Down" hits me between the eyes on this point.

"The church is sick, in need of God alone" it says. "People, we must seek his face. If we'll turn from our unrighteousness, he'll forgive our evil ways."

Check out the video here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrXhXVNACMw

It is time that we seek His face, isn't it? There is so much hurt and pain in this world. I pray for eyes to see those who are hurting. I ask you, Jesus, for ears to hear their pain and anguish; and I pray for hearts to be open to your leading in this area. I pray, Jesus, that we humble ourselves before you, and one another, as we walk through this life together.

"The church is sick and in need of God alone!" The world is sick and in need of God alone, friends, that is why he sent His son - to save the Tiger's and to fend off the wolves and vipers.

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. Jude 2:2

Grace and Peace

Chris

Clothed

2009-11-05T14:41:00.000-06:00

I got up this morning the same way I do everyday. The routine was much the same, putting my pants on one leg at a time, etc., etc.

On Sunday we heard a message preaching Ephesians 6, putting on the armor of God to defend ourselves from the devil’s evil schemes.

On two separate occasions on Monday, I had conversations with individuals who used that piece of scripture in conversation with me, sharing how as followers of Christ we must put on the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth and to wield the sword – the Word – in battle.

Now I am a slow learner, but as it was preached on Sunday I was moved to an increasing sense of the need to put on my armor and to make use of it. Then to hear it used on Monday afternoon and again Monday night, well, let’s just say I believe that perhaps it is time to devour the scriptures once again in an attempt to ward off the devil’s evil schemes.

So I find myself in the scriptures, eating the Word, pondering the Word and began to study the book of Colossians in the last couple of evenings.

Having completely gone through the book each of the past two evenings, it is foremost on my mind today…particularly this piece of scripture from Paul’s letter to the church of Colosse.

Hear these words from Colossians 3:12-14 (The Message): “So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”

Hmmm…

Seems to me that God is concerned with what I am “wearing.” It is interesting that I have been on a mission to rid myself of much excess baggage. It is no secret to anyone who has read this blog before that I am not a tiny person, and I often use self-deprecating comments to the effect that I am 6-5 and 475 pounds.

This is a fact that I have not been proud of, the act of gluttony that led to the mass of a man that I have become. Seeing a neighbor who had lost a pile of weight inspired me, and so did the phone call that I received one morning several weeks ago.

“Hi, where are you?,” my wife asked on the other end.

“I am at the store,” I said.

“What are you doing?,” she asked.

“Getting a roll and some pop.”

“A roll?,” she asked.

“Well, two rolls,” I said.

If you are married, you will understand what I am talking about when sometimes your spouse doesn’t really have to say anything to express their level of displeasure with you.

I hung up busted, dejected and motivated. I ate the rolls and drank my final Coke.

To date, I have shed 55 pounds and am nearing the weight I listed on my driver’s license more than 17 years ago…one of the first times I have been able to say so during that span of time.

The clothes I have been wearing are now hanging off my much smaller body and I have been forced to order and re-order garments. I love it! It has been a very satisfying reward for sticking to my diet while my family continues to eat my wife’s amazing cooking.

As I was folding some of my now way-to-big-to-wear pants last evening, I felt pretty good seeing the two pairs of dress pants and two pairs of jeans that I can now wear. More are on the way, and I hope now that I am able to live at this weight.

I guess that is what I find interesting. While the diet has reduced my physical stature by some 25 inches around the chest, midsection, beltline, bicep and thigh; and physically I feel great; and I have these nice new clothes, God is concerned with what I am clothing myself with.

First, the full armor of God to fight against the devil’s evil schemes, and now he give me Colossians 3:12-14.

“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”

A couple of situations that are of concern to Kathy and I include teenagers (not ours, far as we know) drinking, and a family who has had their girls placed in foster care.

What do we do with this stuff? What is our responsibility? How do we pray? What do we do, God? These are questions that I continue to run through my mind and contemplate.

Perhaps it has to do with my attire? What do you think? Perhaps we need to put on compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength and discipline? Perhaps we need to put on the armor of God and wield the sword?

What do you think? What are you wearing?

Father, God, as I walk around in new clothes that you have blessed me with, I pray, Father, that what really matters is that I am wearing your armor; that I am dressed in the wardrobe that you picked out for me: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength and discipline. I pray that while physical health matters in my desire to serve you, that my attire, God, would be yours! Amen

Grace and Peace

Beware of those dogs!

2009-11-04T14:55:00.000-06:00

Chris Gardner spent much of his adult life in search of all the world promises in the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness.” He was a door-to-door salesman before he finally convinced someone in the world of finance to give him a chance.

The day of his interview, he has to run from the police station in those duds and then try to make an impression to land a job. While he looked horrible, he was convincing enough to get an opportunity at what he believed would lead to happiness. Gardner wound up being highly successful and achieved more worldly success than most of us could ever dream of in this movie, which was actually a true story.

Many of us understand his pursuit and can relate to it at least on some level, can’t we? As 21^st century Americans one of our greatest desires is to be happy, isn’t it? A big part of my life’s story involves that pursuit. First it was athletic success, then it became working my tail off to achieve this or to have that – to be, well, happy!

For some, the cost for this quote-unquote happiness is very high! As defined by the world, happiness means slaving away to amass a fortune, or to be able to buy the boat, the nice car, or to dine in fancy restaurants. In Rock Valley, it is even defined by a sign that gets stuck up nearly every winter that has Charlie Brown and Snoopy on it. The sign reads: “Happiness is a trip to State.”

What does happiness look like for you?

Merriam-Webster defines happiness like this: “enjoying or characterized by well-being and contentment.”

That sounds nice, doesn’t it? But do you know anyone who lives in the pursuit of happiness who is truly content? Doesn’t the pursuit continue because we are not content, or because we don’t take time to be content with what we have…or where we are…or to be content with what we are doing?

As I ponder this pursuit it makes we wonder a number of things, including: where do we – if we are people pursuing happiness – turn when we are not well, our circumstances are terrible and/or we can’t seem to find contentment? What then? Where do we turn then?

You see, happiness as defined by the world is characterized by well-being, which often translates into having. What happens when the economy turns sour as it has? Where have you turned? Do we turn to the government to bail us out? Do we turn to things that make us feel better in the short term – thinks like overeating, drinking, laying around being lazy?

What happens when hope is lost and we get that cancer diagnosis? It would be pretty tough to be happy in those circumstances, wouldn’t it? I would think so, given the fact that living with cancer is hardly characterized by well-being and contentment!

What would happen if we lost an athletic event that we believe could define us? If happiness and our lives are wrapped up in a game, and we lose? What then?

In a search through the concordance in the back of my NIV Study Bible, I found 32 instances of the word happy or happiness mentioned in the scriptures. Not bad, huh? Nearly three dozen instances where the notion of being happy or happiness is mentioned?

No, not bad - until you consider that scripture references the word joy or joyful 234 times!!!!! With the definition of the word happiness being so atypical of “the world,” wouldn’t it make sense that God has a greater desire for our lives?

Hear these words from Philippians 3:1-8 – “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

“Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh – though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

“If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more; circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church, as for legalistic, righteousness, faultless.

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

I love Paul! He cuts right to it in his letter to the Philippians.

First, Paul exhorts the readers of this letter to “rejoice in the Lord.” I would think that would always be a good idea.

Then he says, “Beware of them dawgs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.” Them’s fighting words in those days because many provided aggressive opposition to the gospel Paul preached, so he takes them head on here with regard to the seriousness of their errors and their destructive, ‘devouring’ behaviors.

Them dawgs might be people who lead us astray, who are leading us away from Jesus. Them dawgs might be things that lead us astray, too like alcohol, television, shopping, eating, gossiping, athletic achievement, or whatever else “mutilates the flesh” and pulls us away from a posture of rejoicing in the Lord.

Paul understands these things and that is why he warns the church in Philippi to watch out. He has been there and done that, he tells them. Once a Hebrew of Hebrews, once a Pharisee with regard to the law, once a preeminent persecutor of the church and murderer, he was also about the world and what satisfied his own desires – what made him happy.

Not that I have already attained all this, but I can say the same thing. Been there and done that. Them dawgs controlled much of my life, they were where I ran when things weren’t going my way – when I wasn’t happy. Anything to relieve the pain, frustration, irritation, lowly feelings – them dawgs were constantly nipping at my heels.

But in verses seven and eight, Paul explains life after an encounter with Jesus – his encounter with Jesus.

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

Those things that used to make Paul happy he considers rubbish – garbage – compared to the joy found in knowing Jesus Christ! Compared to the joy that accompanies the saving grace of Jesus.

Several passages in the gospel of John connect this thought.

Hear these words from John 15:11 – “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

John 16:22 says – “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”

The word joy, in the original Greek, was Chara: the joy received from you; or the cause or occasion of joy.

Webster defines joy as a “source or cause of delight.”

The verses from the gospel are Jesus’ words to his disciples. They are intended to help us understand that the way of Jesus is never dreary or bland – that knowing him more and more will complete their joy – it’s a joy that cannot be removed by the assaults of this world – by them dawgs!

Tom shared with us the thought of living in two worlds last week, giving us great examples of what that looked like in the lives of the two couples he shared with us, particularly the two men – Harold and Michael.

If you are like me, maybe you find yourself living in two worlds. Perhaps it’s all the time, a continual wrestling match with trying to be happy in the world while also going to church. Perhaps this issue of happiness – and the burden that accompanies that pursuit – is becoming more fleeting for you and you are beginning to understand joy and to seek it more and more.

I don’t know where you are today, and I don’t know where your heart is, either. The fact of the matter is that there are two worlds in which we live and move and breathe. One is of this world, the other is not.

One is the pursuit of happiness, the other the pursuit of Jesus and the joy that comes from an increasing understanding of who he is, how much he loves us and just exactly what it is that he did for us, and wants for us.

One world consists of all of them dawgs nipping away with nowhere to turn. The other exists with hope and a place to turn that will never leave us nor forsake us, even when them dawgs are nipping at our heels.

Paul was forever encouraging the churches whom he wrote to be joyful. In Romans 12:12 we read: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.” I Thessalonians 5:16 says: “Be joyful always.”

How do we do that, we ask? These two worlds we live in are different worlds, and their focus is different. The pursuit of happyness is about who, usually? Me!

The pursuit of Jesus and being like him is focused on JOY – Jesus first, Others next and Yourself last! The greatest way to live a life of joy is to try to live like this, I would imagine. “Wouldn’t you?

Jesus first, others next and yourselves last!

But, how do we do that?

1.) Open the Word and learn about Jesus. Discover who he is, what he lived for and everything that he encompasses.

2.) Pray. Talk to God regularly, ask him to take away your desires for happiness, to help you rid yourself of them dawgs, to give you a desire to read the Bible, and so on.

3.) Serve others and do things for others just as He did.

I trust that if we live a life of JOY, that we might be able to take some of the bite out of them dawgs and that our joy may be made complete!

“May the god of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Freedom - Part II

2009-06-17T11:12:00.003-05:00

Sunday night a group of people parted ways whose lives will never be the same - ever!

A bunch of people from "the outside" left the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility to head back to their families, to their friends, to their jobs as people whose hearts were changed and lives will never be the same.

They got to go home to their wives and children waiting up for them. They got to go back to work on Monday morning, to their golf leagues and vacations and all the other stuff that "free" people get to do - but I contend that none of those things will ever look the same, that they will never be enjoyed the same as they were last Wednesday prior to entering the prison.

On the contrary, the inmates at FDCF said goodbye to their brothers on the outside and returned to the prison population, full of the Holy Spirit with hearts changed and burning for Jesus Christ. At least many of them were.

They were thrust back into their cells, their units and the yard - where the reality of their environment is anything but freedom - at least the way the world would define freedom - to live the life that Christ is calling them to live. They were hurtled back into prison life, many of them free from the chains that have bound them for years, but also free from the love of the guys on the outside who were there for three-and-a-half days to share Jesus Christ with them.

Well, maybe.

If the other guys that left those prison walls on Sunday night are at all like me (and I know that they all are), they haven't been able to get these guys out of the minds or off their hearts. The move of the Holy Spirit inside those walls this weekend was an amazing thing to see.

The power struggle, signs of infallibility and toughness that Thursday afternoon showed were replaced on Saturday night by 40 inmates, 15 volunteers from the inside and the 15-20 guys from the outside - arms around each others shoulders swaying t0 the music and praising God.

FREEDOM!

It's an image that will never be replaced. So is the healing service for Rob. So is the testimony of the 33 year inmate who has done time for 15 years who stood before his brothers in blue and told them that their story doesn't have to be his - that Jesus Christ is the way to freedom, to staying out of prison once they get out of prison. Baring his soul, this inmate was a sign of hope, of freedom for us all.

Simply stated, I am blown away at how amazing our God is.

On Thursday afternoon, God put two inmates in particular in my sight. Two guys that he wanted me to keep my eye on, I guess. The first left Thursday night and didn't return, but the other inmate (who had just spent three weeks in the hole) stuck it out.

We only have one chance to make a first impression - and his was not a particularly strong one. But he remained, and was in my line of sight all weekend long. I confess that I steered clear of him when I probably should have approached him, but I managed to pray for him on a couple of occasions, and watched as the walls continued come tumbling down from around him.

From a stone cold, mischievous appearance to one of softening in just four days.

On Sunday, during the final talk of the weekend, my friend Joel had everyone's attention - including mine. He was preaching perseverance, telling his own story and his own struggles and what it looks like to live for Christ.

I was a bawling mess (surprise, surprise for those who know me). Ten minutes after he was done and the guys were discussing the talk, I was still a basket case. Rob comforted me with a pat on the back and I tried to pull myself together, but was going back over the piece Joel read at the end of his talk when I got a slap on the knee.

"You all right?" I was asked.

"Yeah, I'm OK."

"Life's hard sometimes, isn't?" I was asked.

"Yeah, it can be, I guess."

- pause -

"My daughter was born since I've been in here and my mom was killed in a motorcycle accident since I've been in here. I didn't get to go to her funeral."

It's him, the guy God placed in my way the first minutes I stepped foot into the prison.

HE is comforting and ministering to ME!

Huh?

"I'm so sorry," I said. "I am so sorry."

"But wait," I said. "What are you doing? God put you in front of me at the very beginning of this weekend and now YOU are ministering to ME? That isn't how this is supposed to work."

I actually said that.

But that is how cool God is.

It's the moving of the Spirit blessing people. Those from the outside blessing those from the inside and vice-versa.

It is so awesome that the God of the universe, the maker of heaven and earth, gives us a glimpse into his power and might by blessing us in while in willing service in His name.

I can't get those guys out of my mind or off my heart, and so while we will likely never see one another again this side of heaven and we have been thrust back into our individual environments, we have not parted ways.

Ecclesiastes 4:10 tells us "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"

Petitioning Christ Jesus on the behalf of those on the inside is something that will continue for a long, long time. God has joined us together - offering all of us FREEDOM!

Freedom

2009-06-12T21:23:00.004-05:00

Today was an incredible day inside the walls of the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility.

I haven't blogged in recent weeks, and it is not because I was incarcerated since May 5, it just hasn't happened.

Tonight, however, I write to share with you a message of freedom.

Thursday afternoon, roughly 20 clergy and volunteers from the "outside" ventured into the medium security prison to conduct a lay-led short course in Christian living weekend known as Brothers in Blue. This is a ministry that follows the Cursillo method, for those of you familiar with Cursillo. It is also known as Via De Christo in the Lutheran world.

Some 40 men have stuck through the first day and a half of the Brothers In Blue (BIB) weekend, and I praise God as I share this evening about the movement of the spirit inside those walls today.

A fairly structured event that is full of worship, talks by both lay people and pastors, the BIB weekend is one that follows a pretty tight schedule most of the time. Unlike Cursillo weekends, BIB weekends are even more schedule-driven to coordinate with prison requirements for the inmates - thus schedules matter.

At about 1 p.m. today, the BIB team lost control of the schedule and God took over. Now, he is always in control of the schedule - working and flowing right along with the movement - but today he grabbed ahold and no one will be the same.

Last Wednesday, our brother Rob learned he has retinitis pigmentosa (unsure of the spelling and I am too fried to look it up right now). As I received his email last Wednesday morning, I didn't really know what it all meant - but another friend explained that he is losing his sight. It might be a year, it might be 10 years.

It was quite a blow to Rob, his family and those who love him and call him brother. This afternoon, Rob wove this story into the end of his talk and proclaimed that he will boldly praise God, tell his story and give God all the glory, honor and praise. He also said he will be back in December, whether he can see or not, to testify to God's blessing in his life.

As the talk ended, a time of prayer for healing was called for by our spiritual director. Another brother, Scott, stood their with Rob and two pastors when Rob's brother and brother-in-law made their way to the front. The team and I made our way their too - and pretty quick the entire room was standing there, prisoners and free people from the outside, laying hands on Rob and praying specifically for healing.

Tears stained the prison gym floor, people were visibly moved and emotionally drained as the Spirit of the Lord filled the room.

Freedom reigned in this place for that hour - freedom from everything but what God wanted to share at that moment.

Another young man, one of the inmates of the prison, asked Jesus Christ into his heart today and went with his table leader to the spiritual directors asking to be baptized into the body of believers.

On the outside - even at Spirit-filled and Spirit-led movements like Cursillo weekends - the church often looks for reasons to send new believers to a series of classes or some such thing so as to get someone mentally prepared for baptism - to somehow see to it new believers are spiritually fit for baptism.

Today, I witnessed II Corinthians 3:17 first hand:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.

Our Spiritual Director, one of the founding pastors of Brothers in Blue dating all the way back to 1974, led the proceedings while the pastor of the Church of the Damascus Road (the church inside the prison walls) baptized this inmate into the body of Christ.

As I stood in the back of the room, tears streaming down my face, I was struck by the numbers of grown men - prisoners and "free" people alike - who were visibly moved by what they saw God do today.

Prisoners sharing their lives with people called by God to minister to them - to share the love of Christ - is a beautiful thing. One of those amazing afternoons of my life. I have listened to a number of inmates share their struggles, express what finding Christ means to them and how badly they want to get things right.

One inmate I knew from 10 years ago when I lived in another Iowa community. It was amazing to me that we would meet inside the prison walls, but getting over myself, I finally approached him to ask where I would have known him from.

I don't know what he is in for, though I know he has been in for a while and is not getting out anytime soon. But we talked about things we love, like music and Jesus. While he is behind these bars, he is free.

"No one can take that away from me," he told me yesterday.

There is a lot of crap in this world. The people who have been sentenced behind these bars are dealing with it, and so are those of us on the outside, aren't we?

Sin does not discriminate. It grips felons and "free" people alike. The Good News, however, is that Jesus Christ has overcome the world. The chains that so easily bind us - prisoners and civilians alike - are shattered and torn by God's selfless act of sending Jesus to die on that cross for your crap and mine!

Are you free? Are there chains binding you tonight? Are there things in your life that have a hold on you - that are keeping you from enjoying the freedom we all have available to us in Christ Jesus?

I would encourage you to get real and vulnerable with someone close to you. Matthew 18:20 tells us:

"For where two or threecome together in my name, there am I with them."

(No lie - as I finished typing the two sentences above I was approached by one of my closest friends about getting real with one another)

That Matthew scripture is an amazing reality. So is II Corinthians 3:17.

If we want freedom - true freedom - we will come together in Jesus' name - cuz the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Even in a prison.

Hold On Tight

2009-05-05T10:51:00.004-05:00

So there I was, in the jungle of Mexico (I have secretly always wanted to say that), a tad beyond apprehensive.

The rest of my travel companions had already taken their turns and there I stood - unsure that I could conquer this fear. Uncertain that I really wanted to do this, but the shame of saying that I was the only one not to, I did as the tour guide said and walked to the edge of the cliff.

My wife and I took a little trip at the end of March with some dear friends to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. It was a glorious week respite from all things busy. We made a bunch of memories, enjoyed the balmy weather while it was cold and snowy at home, and also had the excursion of a lifetime.

As I have mentioned to stoppers-by in the past - those who don't know me personally - I am not a small man. I am 6-5 and not the skinny high school kid I was in my senior picture.

Being that big and now slowed from years of athletic wear and tear, there are a number of things that bother me. Mice, bats and pretty much any thing else that darts and bobs and weaves quicker than I can react.

There, I said it. I have some fears; some things that I don't like and am mildly afraid of.

Heights is another fear I have. Perhaps it comes from falling out of a tree and breaking a wrist when I was five or six - I don't know - but it is a real issue. Perhaps the fear comes from the realization that if I get it all moving in one direction, there isn't a whole lot chance in breaking the fall.

Which brings me back to the trip. As we planned what kinds of things we might do on our vacation, this Adventure tour came to the top of everyone's list. It included climbing the Mayan ruins of Coba, zip-lining and repelling down into a cenote, which is basically a pool at the bottom of a bat-infested cave.

"Will you do that?" asked Angie, one of our travelling companions.

"Not without a lot of prayer between now and then," I replied. "I hate heights."

I knew I wasn't alone in my fears, but I was serious about my trepidation in this journey. I did pray a lot between the time of booking the trip and when Alonzo the tour guide showed up the next morning.

And so there I stood, helmet on, harness now strapped to the wire that would hold me as I zip-lined over crocodile-infested waters to the cliff on the other side.

"Take this stick," said Alonzo. "It is your brake. Put it behind your head, behind this piece here, and when you get about halfway across, just turn it."

"This crooked stick is my brake?" I was worried about snapping the stick off as I approached the other side.

"Okay, Chris, walk off the cliff and don't forget to use your brake," Alonzo said.

"What if the brake doesn't work?"

"Crash position (knees to chest) and boom!" said Alonzo.

"Crash position, boom?"

"Crash position, boom!"

One more prayer, and there I went. It really wasn't too bad. It was even kind of fun, until it happened. The brake didn't snap, but it didn't slow me down either.

And then it was gone - out of my hand - just hanging on the wire. I was forced to stick the landing (I got a 10 from the young Italian judges who were along, I believe), and was no worse for the wear. The repelling was a similar experience - a leap of faith, really.

Remembering all of this has me thinking today.

Hold on tight! What do we hold onto?

Psalms 91:14 from the Message reads this way: "If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says God, "I'll get you out of any trouble. I'll give you the best of care if you'll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times."

Psalms 63:8 reads this way:

"I hold on to you for dear life, and you hold me steady as a post."

John 6:35-38 says: Jesus said "I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don't really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don't let go."

Hold on tight! It is clear to me that scripture tells us it is a good idea to hold on tight - to hold on for dear life to God. Jesus himself tells us that once we run to him, that he will hold on and not let go.

Yesterday was one of those days that I would just as soon forget. It was a brutal Monday in my world and sucked some life out of me. If it were a test, I am afraid I didn't score as well as I would have liked.

That fact alone makes me thankful that Jesus said "I hold on and don't let go."

But what about when life is really hard? What about those times when we get that diagnosis, or lose our job, or have a bad month business-wise? What about those times when we find ourselves in a spiritual desert? What about those times when we give into the temptation to gossip about people around us?

One of my favorite singers is a guy named Bebo Norman. He has a number of popular songs that you have probably heard, but one of his best in my mind is a little more obscure, one called "The Only Hope." He sings about all these things that God wants for us, and yet how we settle for so little most of the time.

The chorus goes like this: "I'm begging you to hold on tight, begging you to hold on tight, begging you to take my life from me. So tell me you won't let go, tell me you won't let go, cuz you are the Only Hope for me."

Bebo's song and my song are much the same most days. I have a tendency when I don't call on God to settle for much less than he wants for me. I am learning, though, that I must hold onto the people God has put in my life, and hold onto his Word. I must hold onto the promises he give us in scripture, like that passage in John 6.

In the end, all God wants from us is a willing heart. A heart willing to call on him, willing to hold onto Jesus. I don't know what your day will bring you - good or ill - but my prayer today is that you believe what Jesus says, that you believe he actually meant everything he said, and that if you hold onto him, that He won't let you go.

Hold on tight...

Drafted

2009-04-29T13:41:00.004-05:00

Last weekend one of the things I used to live for took place, with little to no attention being paid to it.

There was a time when the NFL Draft meant just about everything to me. In fact, during my high school days, I happened to be sick the same Tuesday of April all four years of high school in the mid 1980s - the day the NFL held its annual selection of players and aired it on ESPN.

I grew up a sports fanatic. In the fall I played football, in the winter I played basketball, in the spring and summer I played golf and baseball. And I longed for a career in one of those sports.

During those Tuesday's in April in high school, I would dream of what it would be like to be sitting by that phone, waiting for it to ring from one of the NFL's teams. I would dream of what it would be like to here my name called on that day by some announcer on ESPN.

Literally, it was all I thought about. The Major League Baseball draft was a similar dream, though it has never been televised that I am aware of. More fortunate than most, perhaps, I was blessed enough to get to play small college football and baseball and even attended an MLB tryout. I wasn't quite fast enough, didn't quite throw hard enough, was a little too old, and therefore didn't get the chance that day to do what I did best - hit!

The dreams have long since faded of playing in the NFL or in the major leagues, my body couldn't take it and I have found other ways to spend my time - thankfully.

But Saturday, for just a few minutes, I switched the TV onto the draft for about 10 minutes. It hit me as analyst after analyst was poring over each player's statistics, times, body size, character and the like that this has to be an agonizing ordeal for these kids. Many of them have spent their entire life preparing for this one day - the day when they make it or not!

For some, jubilation. For others, heart break. As players plummet down the board and go undrafted, the questions must persist in their mind. Were my numbers not good enough, am I not big enough, strong enough, fast enough, did I make too many bad choices?

It all made me think.

It makes me thankful that I have been drafted, so to speak. But the team I am on isn't concerned with my numbers, with me being smart enough, big enough, strong enough, fast enough. My "General Manager" doesn't even care about the bad choices I have made.

I have made my share of mistakes, but Jesus Christ chose me anyway. He continued to pursue me, and knowing that I have absolutely no qualifications to be on his team other than a heart and desire for Jesus, he made a way.

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!," Jesus said in John 16:33.

I reckon we all have/have had trouble - times when we weren't at the top of the draft board. Times when we weren't strong enough, fast enough. Times when we didn't belong on any team, let alone God's team.

But Jesus Christ calls us anyway. He wants us on His team! And when he gets us on his team and gets us excited about the victory that we find in him - in living this life for him each and every day- he asks us to "Go!" and find other people to join the team.

And as we spend more time on his team, the Spirit continues to build in us a desire to spend more and more time with Christ, allowing him to share the finer points of the game with us. In those times he shares more and more of who he is and what he wants for our life. It is in these moments that the game is the best!

I thank and praise God that I don't have to be big enough or strong enough ("My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" - II Cor. 12:9); that my salvation is not based on me ("it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" - Eph. 2:8); and that all he really wants from me is my heart - that he really just wants my willingness to walk with him and talk with him every moment.

I don't have this "every moment" bit completely figured out just yet. I am human! But the longer I find myself on his team, and the more victories we enjoy together, the deeper he draws me in and the more I desire to be coached - every moment.

Are you still hoping to be drafted? If so, let's talk. If we're on the same team, let's celebrate victory together!

Grace and Peace!

One at a time

2009-04-24T10:43:00.006-05:00

Track meets in Northwest Iowa are really not spectator sports. The wind often howls, the temperatures are ordinarily not too warm, and when you package those two things together, wind chills on an evening when the temperature reads 49 are more like 29. Not very pleasant!

But when you force your kids to be involved, to make themselves better for other things they are involved in - including life - you had better show up to watch.

So there we sat, my wife and I, on Monday evening in the frigid conditions mentioned above. (At least it wasn't raining!) As we sat, we cheered on the kids from our school, noticed how gifted some of the kids from other schools are and, despite our butts being nearly frost-bit on the aluminum bleachers, enjoyed ourselves.

But then came the 100m hurdle race. When the hurdles are coached well, practiced well and run well, it can be a thing of beauty. A girl from a neighboring school ran a flawless heat and was very impressive.

In a following heat, however, one of the competitors clipped the sixth hurdle. Down she went - face into asphalt, sprawled out for the whole crowd to see!

"Ooohhhh" rang through the bleachers.

As is customary, the hurdler got up and tried to finish the race. She hobbled over the seventh and eighth hurdles, and then bit it again over the ninth hurdle as she tried to complete the race.

"Nnnnoooohhh" was then heard as the crowd hurt for the young lady.

She eventually crossed the finish line, but did so a little beat up.

Made me think of life - our lives.

We can be running along, clearing hurdles and looking pretty good, can't we? Our form is spot on, we pick 'em up and set 'em down and reach whatever finish line is in front of us at the moment beautifully.

Once in a while, though, one of the hurdles seems to jump up and tackle us - to send us sprawling to the asphalt. And there we lie, bloodied, dinged, unsure how to proceed and wondering what the heck just happened.

It is there that we have a choice to make, isn't it? When we are sprawled out on the asphalt, bloodied and dinged, unsure of how to proceed.

I am pretty sure we have all faced something in our lives that we can relate to this scenario - perhaps it was something of our own doing that sent us face first into the pavement, perhaps it was something someone did to us that tripped us up and hurt us? Perhaps it was a disease, an accident, pornography, gossiping, alcoholism, (insert your malady here) that took you down and left you with a choice to make.

Sprawled out on the pavement when life strikes, we do have a decision to make. Am I going to stay down? Am I going to continue in this pattern? Am I going to try to get up on my own? Or might I change the pattern and seek guidance?

The world long told me to pick myself up by my own boot straps and to get out of whatever it was that had tripped me up and sent me sprawling, on my own. But one day, when I had fallen and couldn't get up, God made himself known in the way of other people and the Word.

I love this piece of scripture from the book of Hebrews. Read what Hebrews 12:1 has to offer us:Therefore, 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.

Hurdlers, in a way, understand this. They know that when they run the race, there isn't just one hurdle to clear but 10. They know that if they go down, they must somehow muster the courage to get up and try to clear the next one.

That's perseverance, isn't it? It's looking fear in the eye and walking (or running) right into the face of it. Perseverance is dealing with whatever it is that had us sprawled out on the asphalt, fully and completely, so that we might be able to continue on running the race marked out for us, isn't it?

We have talked a lot about this topic this week, my wife and I. Jennifer Lee over at Getting down With Jesus blogged of a scenario in her own life - where life has presented a major hurdle - and yet walking straight into that fear is part of the perseverance piece.

Chances are there are going to be more hurdles to clear for each of us. That's the other thing about persevering in this race. As long as God allows us to be here on this earth, there are going to be obstacles and hurdles that will be there - that's a fact. We are told in the Bible that "in this world we will have trouble, but I has overcome the world."

Whatever the stumbling block, I pray we call God into it with us. I pray that we rely on God, that we realize that he has a plan for us and that with Holy Spirit alongside (not out in front or behind, but beside you) that we run with perseverance the race marked out before us.

Grace and Peace!

Broken and beautiful

2009-04-14T10:41:00.002-05:00

My prayer, which began in earnest on Palm Sunday, was that I might be led to the cross during Passion Week; that I might see Jesus in a different way this Easter; that I might experience the depth of his suffering; that I might get a glimpse into all that he endured just for me; that I might look anew at the ways in which I live and breathe and follow him.

It was an incredible week, to say the least.

Reading and re-reading the scriptures uncovered some things for me that I had perhaps never really read before, that I must have missed or at least forgotten about Holy Week.

It also drew me in closer to Jesus than I have been in some time. In the midst of personal struggle and a bit of a dry season, I needed to be drawn in.

Thursday evening we went on a journey during our Maundy Thursday service. We journeyed to the table - celebrating in the Lord's supper. We then journeyed to the Garden of Gethsemane and I really heard and understand for the first time that victory was won in Garden, when Jesus decided to take on the cross. And then we journeyed to the cross, where he suffered and died for me and for you.

Thursday night was a meaningful service for me, one in which I could hear Jesus ask from the cross, "What sin?"

Good Friday came and I spent much of the day, for lack of a better word, bothered. Bothered that victory had to come with Jesus hanging there - because of me - for me! I thank God that he did it, but the pain of it all is almost too much. It was my sin that nailed him there, it was me who turned his back on Jesus - who cut and ran. Oh, to not do those things!

But Good Friday also included Bible study. Six broken people who love Jesus, who love each other and are living life together. On this night, we continued to toil through the book of Job (we are officially halfway - yippee!), shared what was going on in our lives and then, dimmed the lights, lit some candles and again ventured to the cross. We took in this Youtube video - I would like to share it with you here...

This Good Friday - the day in which Jesus's body was broken and blood was poured out for the healing of the world, the healing of those who would call on his name - we broke bread together, served each other and enjoyed the feast.

Holy Communion - the Lord's Supper - is a very personal experience. He endured the most excruciating of deaths in which his body was literally broken and his blood poured out. He did it for me and he did it for you, if you believe.

It is the most meaningful of experiences for me to take his body, soak it in the cup and remember what he did for me. It is written: On the night in which he was betrayed, Jesus took the bread, broke it and said 'This is my body which is broken for you. Every time you eat of it, remember me.' And in the same way, Jesus took the cup, and after having blessed it, said 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood which was poured out for many.' Every time you drink of it, remember me.

An amazing thing, isn't it?

Jesus gave us these elements that we might never forget. He also gave us this supper, I believe, with the intent of celebrating it with others. Merriam-Webster defines community as a unified body of individuals. Communion, loosely defined, is the celebration of being in community with one another.

And so, on this night, six broken people whose lives are being put back together through the body and blood of Jesus Christ - and through the love and care of each other - intimately shared the body and body of Jesus Christ. Tears were shed, hearts were opened, and sharing occurred about the very personal meaning of the sacrament. I believe we were all touched by the body and blood, and the sharing, in ways we have not encountered before.

This is a meager attempt at explaining the celebration - but Good Friday will never look the same to me again. I saw him there, broken and beautiful.

Then came Sunday morning - where the church building was bursting at the seams and a cantata called "I've Seen Jesus" was performed. Beautifully sung music and incredible narration took us to what Mary Magdalene, Thomas and Peter all experienced upon coming to the empty grave.

They saw Jesus, ALIVE! He was both broken and beautiful before their eyes.

In this past week, Jesus was both broken and beautiful before my eyes. How about you? My prayer now is that I read and re-read the accounts of his time on earth following the resurrection, that it might become more and more real - that it might lead me ever closer to him - that it might help me better share his love with others - that I might be better prepared for his return!

Grace and Peace!

The burden

2009-04-11T08:30:00.004-05:00

We all have them, right?

Things we wish we hadn't done? Things we wish we could take back? You know, the burden!?!

A rude comment or something we said or did that was hurtful, embarrassing, or painful?

I sit this Saturday morning wondering what the disciples of Jesus, who was crucified yesterday, must be thinking today?

When Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, the account of Matthew 26 concludes this way in verse 56: (from The Message) The disciples cut and ran. In the NIV it says that the disciples deserted him and fled.

Here are these 12 guys whom Jesus had singled out, had told to drop everything they were involved with and to follow him. And they did it. While they followed him they saw signs and wonders, witnessed miracle upon miracle, and heard teachings that baffled the teachers of the law and the Pharisees.

They lived and breathed with Jesus. And yet, when one of their own betrayed Jesus and the crowd came for him to arrest him - the other 11 betrayed Jesus, too.

Jesus foretold of Peter's denial, and he knew that the other 10 would cut and run, too.

After he had been handed over, tried, flogged, beaten and crucified - what must they have been dealing with this Saturday morning? What was running through their minds?

Part of me can identify with them, I think. Every time I louse things up (which is often, unfortunately) it is as if I have handed him over. Every time I neglect someone in need, it is another swing of the hammer. Every time one of those horrible thoughts enters my mind, and I allow it to germinate for just a moment, it is as if I spit in Jesus' face. Every time I do what I want and know it is against his will, it is as if I cut and run.

Increasingly those feelings bother me. There was a time when it didn't matter, because Jesus didn't really matter to me. It was a story from a book written hundreds - no thousands - of years ago. It had no significance in my life.

Jesus matters to me now. Jesus is everything to me now. The fact that it was my sin that nailed him there, that forced him to have to endure all he did on Thursday night and Friday is weighty.

So are the guilty feelings of Saturday. It had to be for the disciples, too! All of the "what ifs" they had to be asking themselves this morning! Uuuuggghhhh!

And the sorrow of the death of their dear friend and King - the one they had hoped in - the one they had dropped everything to follow - must have been incredibly painful.

Praise God we know Sunday's coming. They should have, too, since he told them over and over again that he was going to handed over to sinners, crucified and risen on the third day. But even as he returned to them following the resurrection, they still doubted.

My prayer today, this Holy Week Saturday morning, is that we are able to take a few minutes between the grief of Friday and jubilation of Sunday and perhaps deal with all of the feelings that come in between - the feelings that accompany Saturday.

The remorse...the guilt...the sorrow...the grief...the pain.

I pray we address them all so the fact that the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty - that Jesus is Alive - may be a time of celebration in our lives like none other. That his sacrifice was not in vain and that it is extremely personal. That Jesus' sacrifice on that cross gives us hope, life, grace and peace!

Beat down

2009-04-10T14:33:00.003-05:00

It's Friday. Thank God Sunday is coming.

I sit in my office this Friday afternoon, needing to leave - wanting to leave - but unnerved by it all - by the beat down that occurred some 2000 years ago.

Last Sunday I preached the Palm Sunday message and encouraged those present to ponder why it was that we had to read that story over again. It was a message I needed to hear - one that God clearly laid on my heart to help me to understand the depth of his love for us - how Jesus Christ was the most humble of servants.

Triumphal entry? He knew that while people were cheering and celebrating his arrival this Sunday, that they would turn on him in a matter of days and that he would be betrayed, tried, beaten and crucified. And he entered Jerusalem, just the same.

Triumphantly! And he did it on a donkey - a humble servant entering the city unlike the King's of Old Testament times who always rode in on the finest of stallions. And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred. Entering triumphantly to fulfill his purpose on this earth - to fulfill what the prophets like Zechariah had foretold centuries earlier.

The encouragement was also to be led to the cross in this week. My prayer was that I might be led there, too. In reading and re-reading the varied Gospel accounts of this Passion Week, I have been more intimately to the cross than at any time in my 40 years on this earth.

Today is Friday. I don't like Friday. The weight of my sin and shame is too much to bear. Jesus hanging there - beaten and bloodied because of me - is more than I can bear. I know Sunday is coming - thank God I know that - but the pain of Friday is weighty today, my friends.

Toward the end of Luke's account, Jesus says, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." It was a notion that was on his heart from the moment he left the Garden of Gethsemane, I believe, and is what he still thinks some 2009 years later as we mark the day in which he was crucified.

The Apostle Paul called crucifixion the most humiliating form of execution - it would also have to be the most excruciating form of execution. And so as I sit and ponder what Jesus must have endured on that cross this afternoon, I do so most humbly. It was my sin that nailed him there; it was my failings that nailed Jesus there; it has been my voice yelling "crucify him, crucify him"; it has been me who betrayed Jesus; it has been me who turned my back on Jesus.

And yet...Jesus hung there, nearly out of life, beckoning his Father to forgive me - to forgive you. The beating and flogging he endured are beyond anything we can comprehend, but I believe it was nothing compared to the hurt and anguish in Christ's heart for those who were doing the beating. Had to be, how else could he utter "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing."

My life has been forever changed in this Passion Week. I have experienced things in my time of re-reading the scripture and in prayer, of being led to the cross, that I pray spill out onto others. Tonight, as we gather with dear friends for a time of study, reflection and communion, I pray that Christ's body broken and blood poured out for the healing of the world - for each of us - will transform our lives more deeply than we could fathom.

I pray that from this day forward that we might stop and think about what it is we are doing, that we might think about what it is we are doing here. I pray that we might live in expectant waiting of Sunday. I thank God that Sunday is coming!

The attack and the baby Jesus

2009-02-11T16:50:00.004-06:00

He is so subtle, the enemy.

Satan picks little, innocuous things that seem insignificant to so many to throw us off.

Satan knows just when and where to attack, and always do so when huge things for the Kingdom are on the horizon.

This is the story of my day, which really began last night. I am in the middle of planning and organizing a little weekend of spiritual renewal that will involve between 100-150 men. Some will be new to the event, others will be there because somehow God used the weekend as a tool in His redemptive story in their lives.

The weekend is a well-thought out event, all shedding significant light on the love and grace offered us by Jesus Christ. Detail after detail make up the planning and organizing. In many ways I am an "as the Spirit moves" kind of guy, but also have a level of reverence for this weekend that has me doing all I can to pay attention to the details.

Last night, a thoughtful, well-intentioned phone message was left asking if I had remembered, of all things, popcorn!

POPCORN! Significant enough for one person I know to petition to have it declared the fifth food group. Significant enough to send me into the tank this morning.

There are hundreds of details going into this event and popcorn gets me. See what I mean about subtle? It isn't as if I don't have cooks to provide meals, or people to clean up after the meals, etc. Those would be significant details, but Satan gets me with popcorn.

I have long proclaimed that I don't really care what people think about me and carried a confidence level in the things I do (because I do everything I can to stay away from sure failure), but the fact of the matter is that this has been a lie. We all have a desire to be well-thought of, to have people appreciate us and the things we do, and to, frankly, be loved.

I know I do - some of you may, too, if you cut through the bull and be real.

The morning attack sent me reeling. "Why did I think I could be involved in this, in this position? I can't even remember popcorn." "You're no good at things like this." "I can't believe you forgot that!" "Why would anyone have ever entrusted this position for this weekend to you?"

Takes me into John 10:10. It reads like this: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." The words of Jesus for you and for me!

After shaking off the sucker punch from Satan, that scripture came to me. So did all of the acts of love, grace and mercy Jesus has shown me in the course of my days on this earth. I praise Him that He is giving me eyes to recognize the attack and that He is better equipping me to handle the attack all the time.

This weekend I am talking about has nothing to do with me - it never has. I am aware of that. Popcorn or no popcorn, the weekend is going to be what God wants it to be and how God wants it to be.

Sometimes it takes a four year old to make the point stick.

Having made my way out of the attack I stopped home for lunch. Our fourth child, Anna, is the only home with mom during the day and seems to be our biggest mess maker. I made my way through the living room and one of her messes to encounter her at the island in our kitchen making another mess.

This is the moment at which I sometimes have something stupid to say, get upset with her and the like, but today I just took it in. There she sat, with some Dora dominoes her grandmother had given her just an hour earlier, standing vertically. They were all facing inward, and inside the oval was a couple of dominoes stacked on top of each other with some others on their sides acting like walls.

"They're all looking at baby Jesus," Anna says.

"What?" I ask.

"They're all looking at baby Jesus. All the wise men and people are looking at baby Jesus."

It wasn't until after these words that I noticed the detail described above in the little nativity scene she had created.

God blew me away through that little girl - our little angel. Here I had been running around sweating some silly little detail that is fixable, having allowed Satan to get in my way for a time this morning, when I really should have been looking to Jesus...should be looking to Him at all times in all things.

More and more, as He tweaks my sight and gives me eyes to see exactly what it is that is going on around me I am blown away. They continue to be exercises in experiencing His grace and His peace in my life!

My prayer today for anyone who happens to come around here is simply this:

Abba, Father, may I always know (I MEAN REALLY KNOW) that the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy and that You, Jesus, came that we may have life and have it to the full. In the holy, precious, healing name of Jesus I pray. Amen!

It's all about love

2009-02-05T11:32:00.006-06:00

It's February, which means that commercialized season of love. Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and Robert Hruzek over at http://middlezonemusings.com has launched his latest writing challenge, "What I Learned from...Love" this week. Click on over to the Middle Zone to check out some other thoughts once you are finished reading my take on experiencing grace and peace through the topic of love.

It's all about love, this life we are living. This life is about loving our spouses, loving our kids, loving our neighbors, loving our "framily" and friends, and loving people to Jesus.

Much of what I have learned about love can be attributed to two recording artists. My life has been much like a two-act play to date. The first act looking a lot like a tune recorded by Tina Turner called "What's love got to do with it?" The second act, I pray, is looking a lot more like the Steven Curtis Chapman recording, "It's All About Love."

Love is a tough word to define, isn't it? We fall into love, we love things, love is a feeling, an emotion, a commitment. Huh?!?!

In those days when I lived life wondering "what's love got to do with it" I often played this silly little game in my head. Remember, I am 6-5, 475 (exaggerated for effect), so the thought of me plucking petals from a daisy thinking "He loves me, He loves me not" might be pretty amusing.

I dare say we probably all played this game at one time or another, though. You know the drill - I helped that woman across the street the other day (he loves me); I told a lie (he loves me not). I taught Sunday School this week (he loves me); I yelled at my kids again (he loves me not). You get the picture.

This isn't really what Christ's love is supposed to look like, but for many who don't grasp grace and peace, it has a pretty strong hold.

But as Christ grabbed hold of my life, he began to explain to me and to show me what love looks like. THE good news, John 3:16, reads this way: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life."

As experiencing grace and peace has overtaken my life, those numbers of hope (3:16) mean everything as God so loved the world (and everyone and everything in it) that he willingly sent his son to this earth with the sole purpose of redeeming us from this fallen, broken, messed-up world.

What is love? In the Greek, Agapao (verb) and agape (noun) is the Christian love of the Bible. It means affection, benevolence, good-will, high esteem and concern for the welfare of the one loved. It is deliberate, purposeful love rather than the emotional or impulsive love most of us are familiar with. Agape love is a brotherly or sisterly love that is the kind of unconditional love that comes when a child is born. There isn't anything a baby does to receive love - to earn love - rather affection and high esteem come naturally to us.

As I move away from Tina's thoughts of love being a "second hand emotion," John 13:34 speaks to my heart. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

Stop and chew on that for a second (pause). As Jesus Christ gave up his life for me and for you, we are supposed to give up our lives for others. As I contemplate this passage it becomes clear to me that we are to love in every aspect of life. If I truly get 3:16 and 13:34 then I will love people with all of my heart in every way imaginable.

I Peter 4:8 from the Message continues the theme: "Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything."

Love each as if my life depended upon it? Really, Jesus?

Am I really supposed to do that? My shallow, narrow little mind raises points like: "I know too much about that person to love him; I know how they are; I know who they hang with; I know what they did. Besides, how can I do that? Do I really have to make enough time to get to know someone well enough to like them, let alone love them?"

Living into the scriptures is everyone's battle, isn't it? We don't love because we have to obey the law, but rather we love out of this deep love and appreciation for all that Christ has done for us.

Read these words from I John 3:16-18: "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need, but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth."

I John 4:7-11 reads like this: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

Love. We who follow Christ have learned that we love because he first loved us. And if we say "I love God," and yet hate our neighbors, the Bible calls us liars.

Love. I John 4 tells us that God is love, which leads me back to Tina Turner and her hit song. Tina poses the question, "What's love got to do with it?" She calls it a second hand emotion.

If you and I can agree that I John 4 says that God is love, isn't Tina Turner really asking "What's God got to do with it?"

This tour through scripture would tell us that with God, "It's All About Love."

I have seen love first hand, acts of agape love that are carried out in this world - sometimes simply because God first loved us and because of what Jesus did on that cross. How can you show love to someone around you?

Perhaps when someone is hurting and has nowhere else to go, you listen to them and pray with them. That's love.

Perhaps someone needs their sidewalk shoveled or their lawn mowed, and you do it for free!?! That's love.

Maybe someone needs a lift somewhere and you give them one!?! That's love.

Perhaps you write a note, send an email, make a phone call - you fill in the blank!

Experiencing grace and peace in this life has come in many forms for me - the greatest being love. Love of my God who could've turned his back on me. Love of my wife, family and friends in the toughest of times and in the best of times.

That love has transformed my life, has put love in my heart for God, his Word and a desire to proclaim it that I have a hard time containing. For me, it's all about love!

Check this Jeremy Camp song out - this is the result of what I am experiencing right here, right now!

Have You Seen Jesus?

2009-02-03T14:02:00.003-06:00

I once was blind, but now I see!

An oh-so true refrain from the classic "Amazing Grace," true of me and perhaps true of you.

While Shawn McDonald is not a hymn writer, but rather a former drug addict and drug dealer who found Jesus, his lyrics from the song "Open Me" are appropriate for consideration today.

Would you open up my eyes, so I can see?
Would you open up my ears, so I can hear?
Would you open up my mind, so I can know?
Would you open up my heart, so I can love you more?

That is my prayer - EVERY DAY - that he would open up my eyes, my ears, my mind and my heart, that I can love him more!

When I was blind and could not see, it wasn't even a thought - I could have cared less.

The other day I was led to recall a conversation I had with my old college baseball coach - a conversation that occurred one day before graduating from college way back when.

"How do you want to be remembered? The way you are known around here is probably not how you want to be remembered!?!"

He went on to challenge me in a number of areas of my life, none of which was any good at the time. While the conversation is nearly 20 years ago now, I remember it to this day and thank God for his having enough interest in me to have the guts to pose the question and make me think - even if the reaction was delayed for at least a decade-and-a-half.

Like I said, I was blind but now I see...and with that sight comes a constant desire to see Jesus, to hear him, to know him and to love him more.

If you are new here, music has a significant influence in my life. I love to sing and to worship our King - it feels like that is one of the reasons I am still here. I have already listed two choruses that have meaning in my heart - here's another.

"Have you seen Jesus, my Lord, he's here in plain view.
Take a look, open your eyes, he'll show love to you!"

I love how it seems that stretches of time seem to fit together. Saturday I saw Jesus, and Sunday was challenged by my pastor to see Jesus in all things. He challenged us to stop and think when we here of the cancer diagnosis. Does that have the last word, or do we look to see Jesus? When we fall on economic hardships, do they have the last word, or does Jesus? When our lives are falling apart, does whatever is happening around us win out, or do we look to Jesus?

A powerful message.

On Saturday, I saw Jesus in the middle of the afternoon. He showed up in the lives of two of our dearest friends who were present at a meeting to show their love and support for my wife and for me. They shed tears with us, they prayed with us, they hugged us and they laughed with us. Jesus in the flesh is quite something!

He came in the form of a woman with whom I share elder responsibilities in our church. Her loving kindness, her caring in situations where most people want to judge and/or gossip inspires me.

I also saw Jesus in the form of a pastor-friend from a neighboring community whom I have gotten to know over the past several months. When I was stuck with a computer file, I called him. Dave figured out the solution within an hour and was back to me. But more than that, we had a great conversation on Saturday - one that will not leave me anytime soon - talking about where we've been, but more importantly, where we are heading.

I saw Jesus on Sunday when I sat down with a family facing one of life's greatest challenges - living with five children while being caught in the middle of this economic downturn or depression, whatever we are calling it today. With no income thoughts are normally desperate and of the poor-me variety.

"I guess God has something else in store for me. He must know that I wasn't supposed to spend the rest of my life at that job. Maybe I will go back to school and find something part-time to help the situation, but it seems people who hire want people with college degrees."

That's seeing Jesus, isn't it?

More and more, I am seeing Jesus. I saw him on Friday night at a basketball game, for just a couple of minutes when it was all over, when he told Kathy and me how much he appreciates us.

I see him all over the High Calling Blogs network when I take the time to sit down and read blog posts there.

I see him in the lives of those who are dearest to me. The lives of the people in my inner circle are so ooozing with the love, care, grace and mercy of Christ that it is impossible to miss.

I just finished reading Patty's post over at www.flirtingwitheternity.blogspot.com where she talked about Jesus' desire for us to "bear fruit - living fruit." She is just one who is doing it - where it just oozes in what she writes. There are tons of others, as well.

It oozes out of the two guys (I was gonna call 'em old guys, but thought better of it) who were driving around Saturday afternoon inviting people to church on Sunday. They dropped by after several stops to tell me what they had been up to. The younger of the two is 61, the other close to 80, and they have a love for Jesus and a desire to see others come to him...I saw Jesus in those two guys this weekend.

All of these sightings now have me wondering where I will see him next? At the game tonight? On my next sales call? Over the phone? On Facebook?

Have you seen Jesus, my Lord? He's here in plain view! Take a look, open your eyes, he'll show love to you!

I Can Only Imagine

2009-01-28T09:01:00.003-06:00

Late Saturday morning, I sat in a church in a small, rural community with tears running down my cheeks.

I know I was not alone.

We celebrated the life of my dear friend Scott's dad on Saturday. His nearly year-long battle with leukemia ended last Wednesday afternoon at 5 p.m. Just a couple of hours earlier another friend and I had prayed to God to throw the doors open and welcome Paul in - he did just that on Wednesday. Praise God!

Peace the passes all understanding is carrying the family left behind - a mother, a wife, two sons, a daughter and all of their families. Peace that comes from the blessed assurance that Paul is dancing with his creator in Heaven, that he is in a far better place where there is no more pain and suffering, continues to carry these amazing people of God.

But Saturday morning as I sat in that church pew with my wife and some friends along side, tears streamed down my face as the tune to the MercyMe song "I Can Only Imagine" began to play. Seated where I was, I could see Scott with his arm around his mother as they watched, listened and had to think about the words coming out of the soloists' mouth.

I sure did. Mine weren't tears of sadness, you see, but rather tears of rejoicing for Paul and wondering what it was like for him...what it will be like for me.

The lyrics to the song go something like this...

I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see, when your face is before me
I can only imagine, I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for your Jesus, or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine, I can only imagine!

I can only imagine when that day comes, when I find myself standing in the Son
I can only imagine, when all I would do, is forever, forever worship you
I can only imagine, I can only imagine!

I don't really spend a lot of time thinking about what Heaven will be like. Why not? I really don't know the answer to that question, but on this bitterly cold Saturday in the dead of winter (and again right now) I was thinking about it.

Will I stand or will I fall? Will I ever let go of that welcoming embrace when He flings the door open and reaches out His hand to me? Will I sing and praise without ceasing? Will I dance? (That would be a picture!) Will I sing and golf at the same time? What is everything going to look like? Will I fall to me knees in awe and amazement of everything?

To be surrounded by His glory - I can only imagine what that will be like!

And as I think about all of this today, with tears welling up in my eyes again at the thought, I can't help but think of the many, many others I know who think on these things - and those I know who don't. It is for these that I live - it is for these that we must bring along!

I got a little glimpse of Heaven in that church pew on Saturday, a glimpse of what Heaven will be like as I pictured some of those things in my mind. I thank God for times like these, when the pace slows and He reveals Himself to me.

I pray for more and more of these times, for more and more glimpses of what eternity is going to be like. These glimpses during this life is what John was talking about when he talked about having life and having it abundantly - when Heaven and earth collide and get us to start imagining what it will really be like!

Grace and Peace,

Chris

Blogapalooza, y'all!

2009-01-16T11:21:00.002-06:00

Hey, y'all! I want to encourage anyone who happens along this site to head on over to Middle Zone Musings on the High Calling Blogs network (www.highcallingblogs.com).

Robert Hruzek over at Middle Zone Musings is a real, live cowboy who is rustlin' up some of the greatest Christian bloggers you ever did see. Robert's goal of 100 blog entries has been eclipsed and the number continues to climb.

Head on over for a fantastic celebration of readin' and writin'...it's not called Blogapalooza for nuthin'!

The right One for me

2009-01-16T09:05:00.005-06:00

If you've read my profile or know me in person, you know that my wife and I have four kids. Two girls, a boy and a girl - to identify them in order by gender.

To define each of them by personality in this space isn't very realistic, as I would probably lose you with the length of the blog. Plus, their personalities are all so varied it could take forever. Not different than your kids, I'm sure - it seems to be the way God created us and our families.

Invariably there is something going on in the life of our last born, nearly four year-old Anna. She has the biggest, brownest eyes you have ever seen and is quite the drama queen. She is all girl, can usually be found running around the house in a bathing suit or a tutu (even though it was -24 here yesterday), and loves to play with dolls. She can also usually be found with her hands on her hips, you know the way someone who has something to tell you does?!?!

As I was working in my office the other night, just a few hours after Anna decided to give herself a "self-haircut" for the first time (much to her mother's chagrin), my wife was prepping the youngest two for their nightly bath when I hear this from the bathroom.

"Anna, why did you do this with the band-aids (picture opened band-aids in a drawer, others strewn about)?," her mother asks in a frustrated, it's-been-a-long-day kind of voice.

"Well, I had to find the right one for me," says Anna.

Hmmm. I laugh out loud a couple of rooms away. My wife, frustrated as she was, laughed too! Sometimes kids say the greatest things.

"I had to find the right one for me."

Kind of reminds me of my life and my search for "the right one," if you will. It been an interesting search, trying to fill that hole in my heart.

Growing up, I figured I would fill that hole with sports. I played every sport that was in season during high school. I played football, basketball, track, golf and baseball. I loved sports and found a great deal of satisfaction in competition and playing the game - whatever it was. Not unlike most high school kids, I suppose.

I was even fortunate enough to play sports in college. I got to play small-college football and baseball and had a great time, but that wasn't really filling the hole anymore, so I started drinking, too, hoping that might "be the right one for me."

I never really drank during "season," football or baseball, until I got a little further into college, then that was what I did during baseball season. I got up, skipped class, played a baseball doubleheader and then celebrated. I got up, skipped class, skipped chapel, went to baseball practice, partied - you get the picture.

Drinking and having a great time began to consume large portions of my time. I was still trying to "find the right one for me." I knew I had a problem, that something was missing, but also knew I could quit when I wanted to. I eventually grew up, though I still enjoy a nice Guiness once in a while.

During this time in my life I met this angel who I would eventually marry. We moved hours away from family and friends, and it was there that I met Jesus for the first time. Still trying to fill that hole, though, "trying to find the right one for me," I jumped head-long into the pursuit of success.

I worked dog-like hours in the pursuit of success. I wanted to have it all - a business empire, a loving wife and family - and I was chasing that American dream. The "hole," though, remained. I hadn't really met the "right One for me" yet, largely because of me.

The hole in my heart was a God-shaped hole that no amount of athletic prowess, no amount of alcohol or no amount of business and financial success could fill. I went to church, and most of the time did the right things, but the hole in my heart was the result of a life-time of dreadful decisions and choices, running from the One who only wanted the best for me all along, because I didn't figure there was any way He could or would love me!

It is because I found the right One for me, and that He was patient with me all the while, that John 10:10 is a becoming more and more of a reality in my world. "I have come that you may have life and have it to the full." That is not to say that life isn't full of trials and times of difficulty - not at all, but His grace is sufficient for me. God's amazing grace saved me, inspires me and has me wanting to shout from the rooftops about Him and what Christ has done, and is doing, in my life.

Having life to the full to me looks a little like this...

...A day-to-day walk with Christ, seeking to experience grace and peace in the moment, in the mundane, in my surroundings - wherever I may be...

...Bible study with people wanting to dive deep - deep into the Word and deep into each other's lives. People who enter in at the most gut-wrenching levels with us, and we with them, as we journey through this life together...

...Praying alongside brothers and sisters in the midst of struggles, whatever they maybe. (Please remember to pray for the Paul Lee family as Paul is home on the farm, living his last days - however many they are - to the full. Go ahead - pray right now!)...

...Celebrating successes with those in our lives...

...Serving others, be it in church or in random acts of kindness that happen because we have found the right One...

...Cursillo weekends...

...Praying with and for my wife as we follow Christ together (there is NOTHING better!) - and watching our kids develop a relationship with Him (a very close second)...

...Having people love you, even when they know from where it is that you come - community at it's finest - and invest in your life...

The list could go on and on. I thank God in Heaven every day for not giving up on me, for loving me even when I am unlovable, for offering me life to the full - right here, right now - and for being the right One for me. I thank Him for that amazing gift of grace, Jesus crucified and resurrected!

Is He the right One for you? What does having life to the full look like to you?

Tick, tick, tick

2009-01-14T10:55:00.000-06:00

Can you hear the counter spinning out of control? It's the number of hits on this blog - well, maybe not.

My wife and I used a little down time during the Christmas break to watch a movie. We don't do that very often, and since I have been pretty well "banned" from picking out movies, she ran into town to select the flick for the evening.

"Untraceable." That was her choice. Never heard of it? I hadn't either! I am not one to give movie reviews, but there is a point, so stick with me in this as I walk you through this movie.

Untraceable is a story of a serial killer in the Portland, OR area who tortures people to death - live - through hits on his website. He is a computer genious whose father's suicide had been captured on film and broadcast over the Internet. He then went on to torture his victims, those who played a role in his father's suicide being broadcast on live TV and then the Internet by using hits on his website to hasten the execution. The movie was called "Untraceable" because the FBI and all of its experts couldn't trace the killer because of how brilliant he was in his use of the Internet.

As movies go, the FBI intelligence folks finally tracked him down and the good guys one out.

It was disturbing on so many fronts, one of which being how the world of cyberspace would continue to log-on to watch these people executed, even though they knew their mere presence would quicken the death of the victims.

A couple of days later I was in the office of a friend of mine who is a successful magazine and Internet publisher. He is always on the cutting edge and was working at that moment on a project that he is both excited to launch and also afraid to launch.

He asks:

"Have you seen the commercial - the one for the two guys who launch an Internet site? They sit there waiting for that first hit. Pretty soon there are 20 hits, a hundred hits and all of a sudden the hits just keep coming - so fast that they can't keep up with them all."

Tick, tick, tick...

I find it interesting that this conversation took place a day after watching that movie with my wife. Here we just watched the power of the Internet, used horribly the night before in this movie - and now I am having this conversation with a successful businessman who wants to provide his customers with the "tick, tick, tick" at a great pace to increase business, and yet wants to be able to handle all the hits that come along without things getting out of control.

Both examples are webmasters, so to speak. One fictitious, the other very real. They use this thing we blog on, communicate on and are entertained on to drive traffic - one for bad, the other for good.

It makes me think of God, on His throne high and lifted up - THE webmaster, if you will. Can't you see Him sitting there watching the numbers to "tick, tick, ticking" along - the numbers of those who accept him, who profess the name of his son, Jesus Christ for the first time.

I think God wants us on the streets of our communities, on the Internet, in our churches, in our workplaces telling others about Him. I think He wants us to let His light shine through us, to get his counter spinning seemingly out of control.

In Matthew 28: 18-20 he says: Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

God isn't sitting in heaven worried about being able to handle the load, to have the counter spinning out of control. He can handle that - He's God! In fact, I think it is what He wants.

I believe God wants everyone to come to Him - that not one would go uncounted! I believe He wants everyone to accept Jesus and to allow the Holy Spirit to work in everyone's life...don't you?

Isn't it humbling that He wants to include us in that work? Isn't it humbling to think that the God of heaven and earth - who created EVERYTHING including us - wants to use us in the lives of others who may not know Him? Who may not yet have chosen Him? That God wants us to go and make disciples?

Tick, tick, tick...

Who do you know or encounter that might not yet know God? I mean know Him, in his or her heart. Anyone? Are there people you encounter or run into that might be in need of a savior? May we do what we can to get them counted!

Shine Your Light

2009-01-11T14:59:00.006-06:00

For women, I would expect one of the great joys in motherhood comes when daughters join you in what you enjoy doing. Perhaps it is baking, perhaps it is shopping or getting dolled up to go somewhere.

In the past couple of months, our six year old son, Alex, has taken a liking to watching football with me. It makes me smile. Something in me has gotten excited to sit down on the weekend and watch football with my son, passing on one of the great passions of my life to our only boy.

He is like a sponge, too. He asks a billion questions and wants to learn, which is fun. During stretches of the game, like right now, he puts on one of his helmets and mimics what he sees going on during the game - motioning like the quarterback who sees a blitz coming - running and sliding for a first down. Stuff like that. It is awesome.

One a humorous note, like his dad, Alex really doesn't care much for losing. Sometimes if we are watching a game where I really don't care what the outcome is, we change who we are rooting for in the final 15 seconds to avoid the tantrum that can accompany losing!

Thursday night I had to be out of town at a local high school basketball game with our oldest children - the night of the big BCS championship game between Oklahoma and Florida. Thanks to modern technology, I DVR'd the game so that Alex and I could watch it later.

On Friday after school, we watched the first half. The conversation at the start of the game went something like this.

"We are we cheering for, Dad?" asked Alex.

"Florida," I said.

"Why the Gators, Dad? Don't we like the red team?

"We like the red team okay, Alex, I'm just cheering for the Gators."

"Okay, me too!"

"Great," I said.

"Why are we cheering for the Gators, Dad?"

"Well, we're cheering for the Gators because their quarterback, Tim Tebow loves Jesus."

"Oh," said Alex. "I love Jesus, too, Dad."

"I know," I said.

"How do we know that Tebow loves Jesus?" asks Alex.

"I have heard and read a lot about him, Alex, and see his face, he has Bible verses on his eye-black?!?"

After explaining what eye-black is, why players use it and everything else that goes along with that topic, the conversation continues.

"Dad, does the red team's quarterback love Jesus?"

"Why, I don't know," I said. "He might, I just don't know."

"Why don't we know?" asks Alex.

"Because he doesn't tell us, son."

"Oh!"

Makes me think a little bit about this life we are living. Do we tell people we love Jesus? Do they see that we love Jesus? Are we bashful about who He is and how much we love our Savior? Are we leading others to Him?

Matthew 5:13-16 reads like this...read these words:

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

A bridge in one of my favorite songs by Hillsong entitled, Mighty to Save, goes like this:

"Shine your light and let the whole world see, we singing, for the glory of the risen King, Jesus!"

Tebow and the Gators won the game, which was fun for Alex and I to see. Even more, it was awesome to see a picture on ESPN.com leading up to the BCS title game with him having Philippians 4:13 on his eye black, and then to see John 3:16 on his face during the title game. Every single time Florida ran a play, there it was for the whole world to see.

A two-time national champion and Heisman Trophy winner isn't hiding his light under a bowl...neither is a six year old boy in a living room in northwest Iowa.

Are you? Do I?

May we be a people whose love for Jesus is evident to those we come in contact with - everyone we come into contact with. Not just at church on Sunday, but on Monday when the going is getting tough! May our light shine bright and it be so obvious to all that one might think we were wearing eye-black testifying to God's greatness.

The Steelers game is coming on. Know what question I have been answering in the past day-and-a-half?

"Dad, does Ben (Roethlisberger, the Steelers quarterback) love Jesus?"

Grace and Peace,

Chris

Rest

2009-01-09T06:29:00.012-06:00

As I stood looking out my back window the other afternoon, thoughts of spring, rebirth and holy ground flooded my mind and my heart.

Though a nice January day by northwest Iowa standards, we are in the dead of winter here and hope is sometimes fleeting during these cold, hard winter days.

My friend Janelle over at www.ihavebeenchanged.blogspot.com posted an entry called "Holy Ground" the other day and got me to thinking about that topic - those special places where we have seen and met God - those places in our world that we deem to be holy ground.

I immediately went to my back window and the hours that I spend on my lawnmower during the spring, summer and fall. My lawnmower and my lawn are my sanctuary, that place where I go to unwind - let my hair down, if you will. We - God and I - have the most intimate times there.

It is on the lawnmower that I listen to my wife's iPod, belting out praise and worship songs for hours on end. I once thought that the lawnmower was loud enough that others couldn't hear me, but am pretty sure that is incorrect - who cares? It is always a great time of worship for me.

It is on the lawnmower that I go to God with the cries of my heart. It is there, during that mindless act, that we meet one another and that I experience a little grace and peace in asking what it is He wants from me in this life.

Jeremiah 29 tells us: "you will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found be you."

I love the truths that the Lord has for us in His word. I love the fact that we can find him, and do so when we seek him with all our hearts.

As I read Janelle's post, the old hymn by the same name, Holy Ground, came to mind...

This is Holy ground,

we're standing on Holy ground

For the Lord is here

and where he is, is Holy

This is holy ground,

we're standing on Holy ground,

For the Lord is here

and where he is, is Holy

Chorus:

We are standing on Holy ground.

And I know that there are angels all around

Let us praise Jesus now

We are standing in Your presence

on Holy ground

"For the Lord is here, and where he is, is Holy." For me, my backyard is holy. Though it is snow covered and ugly with dead grass right now - it is Holy ground.

So is my living room. It wasn't really until reading Janelle's post that it dawned on me - that it really sank in for me. I have blogged about my desire to be intentional in reading, praying and studying as I "used to."

I have had mixed results so far this winter. Life blows by at breakneck speed and we let things get in our way of spending time with God. For me it is rest.

I have been so dog tired of late that I really long for my lawnmower - that forced 2-3 hour break in my week that I spend on Holy Ground. I used to have that time in my living room, in this spot right in front of my fireplace.

I spent a lot of time there - in front of my fireplace - last winter and last spring. In prayer, in the Word. I had some amazing moments there. When I do spend time there, the chorus from that old hymn becomes true. "We are standing on Holy ground, and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now, for we're standing in Your presence on Holy ground."

Yesterday I returned to the fireplace - my indoor holy ground - and commit to meeting him there every morning in prayer for my dear friends Scott and Jennifer Lee, and his dad Paul, who is home on the farm...living.

It was 11 months ago that Paul learned he had leukemia (yet another attack on this old soldier's body). After months and months of treatments, he was home working on the farm as he loved to do, when recent back pain sent him back to the hospital. A new fungus was detected, pain meds were administered to deal with that pain and some relief was coming, but last Friday a scan showed that the leukemia cells had returned.

At this stage, Paul's options are pretty limited, so he is choosing to live. John 10:10, to be exact: "He came that they might have life, and have it to the full." He is at home on his farm in northwest Iowa where his family and friends continue to pray for that healing miracle, but he is also there choosing to live, to make memories with family and friends.

Watching this past 11 months from a close distance, to hear how Scott and his dad have talked about their faith with one another - for father to tell son of his own holy ground and his own blessed assurance - is a thing to behold. While it has been an incredibly hard 11 months, I believe it has also been a good 11 months for them spiritually, relationally.

So often we go about our days with no true purpose, just getting by to the next day. Over the past year these two farmers and their family have had some great times and will continue to do so. They are just more aware than ever - than most of us - that these times really are fleeting, that we really don't know how much time we have on this earth, and so they are living.

I praise you, Jesus, for your work in the life of the Lee family. I praise you for their strength in the storm. I praise you for perseverance. I praise you for their witness to your power, might and strength. I praise you for the love of a family on display for the world to see.

I am reminded of another piece of scripture. Matthew 11:28 says: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

This is a verse for LIFE. When we are tired and stressed, when we don't know what to do or where to go - we may go to Jesus - learn from him - and he will offer rest. Not necessarily more sleep, that's not it. But peace in the storm, hope for tomorrow, a will to live.

And so I commit to standing on Holy Ground, right there in front of my fireplace, every morning on behalf of the Lee family (and others in our lives who are in need of prayer - the list continues to grow), knowing that there are angels all around...knowing that He offers rest for our souls...that He listens to us.

Will you join me by standing on your own little piece of Holy ground on their behalf and on behalf of those in your life who need your prayers - who need Jesus?

Grace and peace,

Chris

Tagged

2009-01-06T13:45:00.009-06:00

I have been tagged in a blogosphere game of "tag." As one who enjoys a little tomfoolery once in a while, and doesn't mind poking fun of himself (safer this way than someone else doing it), I have decided to play along.

My buddy Billy Coffey at What I Learned Today (http://billycoffey.blogspot.com) was tagged recently and applied the tag to me yesterday. The rules are simple: list six random or weird facts about yourself and then tag six others. As Billy penned, I am both random and weird, so this really shouldn't be too difficult.

My entry consists of six facts that are listed in no certain order:

1.) I have been known to rock pillows to sleep! Being a hard-working guy who used to rise quite early in the morning to get to work, the thing I liked least about babies is when they would wake 75 times in the middle of the night. Taking my turn was always brutal, and one night after my wife elbowed me to get up, I obliged. But I grabbed my pillow, was swaying back and forth saying "Shhhh!!!" to her - only to illicit an irritated response from my wife that the baby was actually in her crib in the other room.

2.) I am quite a sight in a lime-green cocktail dress! (See attached image) Along with a number of other businessmen in our little community, I donned a dress and paraded down the runway this fall in a fundraising effort for the American Heart Association. I am proud to announce that I didn't realize until after the fact that my wig was on backwards! My only regret in this is that I didn't think of sending out Christmas cards with images of others on them like one friend of mine did with me in the center!

3.) My college experience included many things, but mostly playing football and baseball. Part of my education was paid for because I could swing a bat. I didn't say swing AT BATS! A manly man (6-5, 475 pounds - self-deprication works here since that is the topic of the entire piece) by all accounts, I am afraid of bats! So much so that when one decided to swoop through our bedroom in a former residence, a friend had to be called around Midnight to come get that disgusting creature out of my house.

4.) Earphones tend to irritate me! Or is that the call of the official. For a number of years I was a high school football coach who had a hard time with referees and their blatant lack of ability to see what was going on on the field. Missed call after missed call would occasionally result in my headset being thrown to the turf. I thank God I have retired from coaching and that headsets no longer irritate me - wish I could say the same for referees.

5.) God and I communicate on the lawnmower! Some of my favorite moments, the most intimate and deeply spiritual moments with Christ I have ever had, have occurred on my lawnmower. For whatever reason, perhaps it is slowing down to do nothing but communicate with him for the 2-3 hours it takes to mow my acre of ground, we have some of the most amazing times together when I am seated on the mower. My wife doesn't always seem to enjoy these conversations because of where they lead - but I think deep down she loves that He and I chat and/or sing together during these times.

6.) I am somewhat cell-phone challenged! Totally frustrated with my former provider, I recently switched cell service and acquired a new phone. Our eldest daughter is irritated with my phone (as it is far better than hers), which is one of the fun things about it. However, I need to figure out how to lock the keys on occasion. My wife returned home the other day to hear a message on our answering machine - it was me singing the song "Counting on God," at times in unison with my truck stereo, other times in perfect harmony - but there was no sound of the stereo in the background - JUST ME! I love to sing, just a little self-conscious on occasion.

Well, there it is folks. Six random and weird thoughts. Someway, somehow, I tend to experience a little grace and peace in my shortcomings and being able to laugh at myself...hopefully you chuckled a little, too!

In the spirit of continuing this blogosphere game, I tag:

Popcorn - The 5th Food Group

Flirting With Eternity

Red Letter Believers

Jennifer Lee

Scott McQueen at Just a Thought

The Van Otterloo Family

Think on these things

2009-01-02T14:04:00.006-06:00

The year 2008 was one of awe and wonder in my little world. In the midst of it all - moving from one day to the next, it is sometimes hard to see the forest for the trees - but as I now reflect on all that transpired in 2008 - blown away is the best useage of the language to describe what God has been up to.

In case you have missed it, the Spirit is on the move and is doing amazing things in this world through His people. The great bloggers over at Red Letter Believers and Getting Down with Jesus have inspired me to share with you what God has been up to in the past 12 months as I think on these things. I encourage you to take a peek at other reflections on 2008 at www.redletterbelievers.blogspot.com.

One of my favorite pieces of scripture was used by Jennifer Lee in her entry in this project - her poem there is beyond anything I can touch - but Philippians 4: 8-9 is certainly a fantastic backdrop to what comes to mind for me in 2008.

Here is the passage from the NIV: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice (or "do" - emphasis mine). And the God of peace will be with you."

The volume of things that God worked in and around me in 2008 was staggering, indeed excellent and praiseworthy, and thus I want to "think on these things" with you for a little bit.

The past year was one that saw incredible highs for me and those closest to me, and yet some wrestling and struggles that also draw us closer to the One we love.

On a late-February 2008 Saturday night, I spent an hour with a friend in one of the basement rooms of a conference center in tears and in prayer over the word he had received the night before that his father was sick again. Seeing the pain and concern, the struggle and hurt is something I will probably will never forget - but that hour was a powerful one in my walk with Christ. This was certainly true, pure, noble and right - I often "think" of this evening.

A day later, in the same building, seeing my dad make a choice for Christ was an answer to hours and hours of prayer. This was certainly excellent and praiseworthy - something to "think" about again and again.

February also marked the start of a new little outreach ministry of our church called The Lighthouse. Some of you might be getting sick of reading about The Lighthouse here, but statistics tell us that even in a part of the world where church attendance and "Christians" are plentiful, there are still people who don't know Jesus, don't go to church and feel downright uncomfortable with the notion of both.

So we started this little outreach. with the objective being to shine the light of Christ on life in a variety of ways. As a result lives are being restored, transformed and are flourishing - this goes for the lives of the target audience I mentioned a moment earlier, as well as those of us who have ventured into this ministry in hopes of showing the love of Jesus to people who don't know him. Again, excellent and praiseworthy!

An incredible time of growth and development was also occurring for my wife and I in the midst of these February events and throughout the spring in our involvement with The Lighthouse and Bible study. Times of reading, praying and studying with framily that continued to draw us closer to Himself.

In mid-June, our 14 year old daughter professed Christ. Her 11 year old sister did so in late September - both without external pressure but certainly partially in response to the things they were seeing happening with us and this ministry. I think on these two things often.

Another memorable moment in the month of June for me came on the practice tee of Brooks Country Club at Okoboji. There on the practice tee I discussed the idea of grace, what it looks like, what salvation is, who it is for and "who is this Rick Warren guy, anyway?" with my mother. She had attended the women's weekend a week after my dad's weekend in February - and is today continuing in her quest for knowing more and more who God is.

For a parent there is nothing greater than to see your kids accept and profess Christ - but as a child of parents who aren't getting any younger, finally knowing for sure their final destination is a pretty huge thing, too. Excellent and praiseworthy, even, so I think of these things often, too.

Professionally speaking, 2008 was a roller coaster that drew me ever closer to God. Business has long been about me and my ability - my penchant for generating revenue and chasing the dream. I don't remember the exact day (I wish I did and really don't believe that I can't), but in a tear-filled wrestling match with God, I threw my hands in the air and washed myself of the pressure of one our ventures making it. I finally gave it to God, fully.

That decision didn't come without some stress and angst, but more and more prayer in this situation has alleviated some of that stress and there is no way to explain what has gone on in our little businesses in 2008 - in this economic mess our country finds itself in - other than God! I will forever "think on these things." All praise, glory, and honor to him!

The fall brought more and more blessings in ministry, in prayer, in reading and in study
- and also another conference weekend in November. Another late night conversation with a dear friend was a bond-tightening one that neither of us knew at the time would be so necessary just a few days later. It was also a weekend in which my dad prayed over me. It was a fairly big moment for us both, I know.

For my wife and I, 2008 has to be the year in which we look back and say "WOW!" Has God been amazing or what? We had no personal tragedies to deal with, but were able to stand alongside some who were struggling. We have experienced the hope, joy, peace and love of Christ in so many circumstances and events during the past year that it is humbling to say that God has let us be a part of some of them.

And now that 2009 is upon us - that it is here - my prayer is that more and more we will think on "these things" and that we will "do" more and more of them - those things that are right, pure, lovely, and true. That we will not miss opportunities to be blown away - that more and more, with every fiber of our being, we will seek God in everything. In the hear and now...in the everyday...in our families and friends...in our businesses...in our walk with Christ...in our ministry opportunities...in prayer and in study.

May we think on these things, knowing that when we do, "the God of peace will be with you"!

Grace and peace,

Chris

Count your blessings, Part II

2008-12-31T07:04:00.007-06:00

Four weeks ago I penned "Count Your Blessings" on this site shortly after reading The Ten Dollar Blessing and being issued a ten dollar blessing challenge by another writer on the High Calling Blogs network.

I believe the doxology goes something like this: "Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen"

That's what I have to report today - praises to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost - for the little Ten Dollar Blessing that became so much more in our little community.

Billy Coffey told the story of a parent and child in a diner and how another patron was so blessed by observing this parent and child that he dropped a $10 bill on their table and told them how blessed he was to have dined in their presence. It was a moving story.

The challenge was then issued to find our own "$10 blessing" opportunity and to report back.

In "Count Your Blessings" I told the story of a young family in our community with five small children. The mother had quit her job a while back to stay home and raise these kids, and the father just lost his job. On top of all of that, the father of these kids is still dealing with the loss of his brother in the war in Iraq some 18 months ago and told me that he still has this gaping wound or hole in his heart.

I am counting my blessings again this morning in several ways, four weeks to the day of writing "Count Your Blessings." My life has been blessed, but more importantly, many families who have little to nothing have been blessed as a result of what God has done with this challenge - working through His people.

Blessing #1: I have been blessed by the individual on the other side of the country who read the original post, emailed me for the address of the people written about, and then put his money where his mouth is and dropped a $10 blessing in the mail to them. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow..."

Blessing #2: After writing Count Your Blessings and being convicted of how much so many of us have and how little others have, I went to my Thursday morning Bible study with the challenge - explaining to them the situation of the family in our community (some were aware, others were not) and how people from across the country were now chipping in to bless them, and that I wanted to challenge the other six or seven guys in our Bible study to a little $10 blessing challenge.

Our challenge looked like this. We set out a hat the following Thursday morning, and guys could come and put whatever God had laid on their hearts to give - the idea being that we would pool our $10 bills and get them a grocery gift card or something like that - something people with no income can really use.

The challenge yielded $305 and three families in desperate need have been blessed as a result. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow..."

Blessing #3: Sunday marked the day of a little Christmas party for the families of The Lighthouse, the second campus ministry of our church, which my family and I are a part. The Lighthouse is a place where the lost, hurting and disenfranchised of the church can come and feel welcome, see and hear the love of Jesus, and enjoy community.

Many of those being served by The Lighthouse are in need: emotionally, spiritually, financially and communally. The Ten Dollar Blessing also touched the lives of The Lighthouse, as the idea was presented to the group who initiated the ministry to throw a little Christmas party and provide gifts to the children who are regular attendees.

After worship on Sunday we played games together, enjoyed a time of fellowship and more food, and then called kids forward to receive their gifts - which came from the hearts of the people of The Lighthouse.

The collective "whoooaaaa - coooool" which was heard in unison was one of the greatest gifts I received this Christmas. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow..."

I pray that 2009 is full of blessings in each of your lives, that we continue to be a people who look to bless others and in return are blessed beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine...and when that happens, I pray you will praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Grace and peace,

Chris

Unexpected gifts

2008-12-23T13:47:00.004-06:00

I love the miracle of Christmas.

Jesus, born in a grungy, dirty manger, somewhere out in the back of the Inn, where there was no room for his parents. Born to a virgin, just as the prophets foretold centuries earlier - and the first to celebrate his birth were the shepherds, the uncouth of the day.

Such a contradiction to the way most would have expected the Savior of the world to come.

I was always a kid who wanted to know what he was getting. I often spoiled the surprise of Christmas by searching high and low for where my folks stored the Christmas presents they had bought us. I even used to make my way into wrapped packages to see what I was getting, trying to be careful to retape in such a way as to not give myself away - as if they would somehow be worse for the wear.

I was the one who lost out on the surpise of the gift. When I knew what was in the package, it was no longer a surprise, nor was it unexpected. It was simply what I knew I was going to get.

I find it interesting how often I go about living this way. I want to know what is around the next corner, where I am headed, what is in store for me and my family, etc. - and so often I miss the gift of the unexpected.

And so, as the Christ in Christmas has become more and more meaniful, I find myself taking great joy in the unexpected - if that makes sense. The focus of the celebration has become a whole lot more about the giving rather than the getting - I am thankful for that. And that focus has become incredibly gratifying and entertaining this Christmas as I take my focus off of what I might get and find ways to give.

Something called "The Ten Dollar Blessing," which was blogged about by Billy Coffey at "What I Learned Today" several weeks ago, really opened my eyes, my ears and my heart to what God was up to and the gift he wanted me to receive this Christmas. And so, this year has been about giving. My wife and I have "given" before, but the attitude through which the giving is taking place this year is somehow different, more meaningful, more Christ-centered.

And in the process, the gift of giving has been an unbelievable blessing. There will be more on this in a coming blog, but to say that we have been blessed through this Christmas season would be the understatement of 2008.

One way we have been blessed is through the bounty of cards, pictures and letters we have received...record numbers, it seems. It is in one of these Christmas cards that arrived today that I have been deeply touched. An unexptected gift!

I spent my college days ditching classes, playing sports, drinking heavily and making my way into a little trouble on occasion. I was rarely alone, which means there were others like me. Slowly, God is claiming every last one of us, and creating a new heart within us. I think maybe each time he "gets" one of us he might feel like I do when I get an unexpected gift.

At any rate, the card that arrived today brought tears to my eyes, warmth to my heart and a sure sense of what Christmas is all about. The card came from one of my old partying buddies (the first time I have ever gotten a Christmas card from him), thanking me for a little, seemingly insignificant, role I have played in his life in the past two months.

His card, though, sheds the words "seemingly insignificant" from my mind and it has touched my heart. All praise, glory and honor be to Christ Jesus for the work that is going on this guy's heart.

Similar to Jesus' birth all those years ago, my favorite gift (other than Jesus' birth) this year has come in an unexpected package, in an envelope of all things. There was no money in it, just the imprint of Christ in the words of an old friend that fully lay claim to this season of advent - hope, peace, joy and love. An unexpected gift, that's for sure.

May you be blessed this Christmas and may the greatest gift you receive be in the form of the unexpected gift - the gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord!

Frigid

2008-12-17T10:16:00.007-06:00

"Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. And since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let is snow!"

Uuugghhhh!!!!

It is winter in Northwest Iowa - I mean winter. Yesterday I think the temperature reached 4 degrees. And we were thankful! Plus, we got four inches of powdery, white snow. I know, I guess I could move somewhere else if I truly hated winter as much as I think I do right now, but moving really isn't an option yet, either.

Frigid - that's the first word that comes to mind. We have saw -13 degrees on Monday morning with 40 below wind chill. Yesterday got all the way up to 4 degrees and this morning, -4 didn't even feel so bad.

FRIGID!

Merriam-Webster defines frigid as: intensely cold, lacking warmth or ardor.

The prospect of an entire winter of frigid is daunting, particularly when it is mid-December. Mid-February is another thing - at least then we can say in a couple of weeks it might warm up - but in mid-December it is cause for concern.

As I was blowing my driveway clear early last evening from the snow that had fallen during the day, and the drift that had been built up from Monday's windy day, the word frigid was on my brain and on my heart. I wasn't so terribly cold in completing this task, but the idea of being frigid in my life began to swirl around in my mind - kinda like the snow in the air.

Revelations 3:15-17 reads like this: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (NIV)

The same passage from The Message reads this way: "I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot--far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit."

These are Jesus' words in my handy red-letter Bible.

Jesus, obviously, can't stand the thought of us being lukewarm. If we know the story, His story, and yet seem oblivious or don't really care that He has come and offered Himself as a living sacrifice, then we make Him want to vomit!

I guess He knows where we stand if we are cold or hot, and He prefers it that way, but I also believe that God doesn't have a whole lot of interest in us being frigid. Am I right? If He had it His way, I believe he would want us piping hot!

As we continue to Advent, continue our waiting upon the Savior's birth, I pray that we are not frigid this Christmas season--that we are not intensely cold or lacking warmth. I pray that we are paying attention to those who are in need, those without income and in dire circumstances. That we are warm to those who need Jesus in their lives, those who are looking for any sign of hope in their lives.

I also pray that the reality of the Season, this Christmas season, may move us from frigid, through lukewarm, to hot, if need be! I have spent a lot of time since finding Jesus pondering his death and resurrection and what it means for me. How that amazing gift of grace is life-giving for me.

I haven't spent a lot of time truly "getting" Christmas, it seems. For many years I hustled as much business as I possibly could before Christmas, and by the time the day occurred, I was simply spent.

It appears to me that it is becoming more clear that Jesus' birth is the most precious gift - an incredible gift to each one of us. Had He not been born - come into the world the way He did - and lived as He did, His death and resurrection would not mean what they mean to us and for us.

I learned a little Greek word in the past couple of weeks and have spent a little time thinking about this word. The word is hupotasso - it is the Greek word for subject - and is defined as "voluntarily giving in, cooperating, accepting responsibility or carrying a burden."

My prayer, this Christmas, is that we would all hupotasso, if you will, those in need. That out of our love for Christ, for the amazing gift that God sent into the world for us, that we might love a little more deeply, that we might give a little more voluntarily.

May Jesus see us inside and out and find a lot to His liking. May He find us piping hot, even in the midst of a long, hard Iowa winter. May He find us anything but stale and stagnant, but rather joining Him in His work in this world. May He find us celebrating His birth, showing His love and sharing it with those around us. May He be glorified in all that we think, say and do!

So long frigid! Today is the day you have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Ladies Man

2008-12-11T11:05:00.003-06:00

I'm not sure when the switch went on for him, but there are a lot of women in our fair little community who are glad that the switch was clicked on at some point.

There's this 60 year old friend of mine that I really, really appreciate. He is a man's man, he is a sharp business man and farmer. He loves God and he is a ladies man!

But not of the sort of ladies man that gives the term a negative connotation. He loves the ladies, but he loves them as Christ loves each one of us - with a kind, caring, giving heart. A compassionate kind of love that doesn't like the thought of one feeling lonely, particularly during this Christmas season.

This ladies man (and his wife) has a heart for the lonely - those who are widowed, divorced and/or single. He has a heart for those who are alone perhaps due to disability, as well. Many, I suspect, have hearts for the lonely, but this guy actually does something about it.

The second annual "girls night out" took place Wednesday night, with ol' Earl the ladies man, his wife and 17 women who are either widowed, divorced and/or single. They enjoyed a meal at a local restaurant, a small Christmas gathering, and were serenaded by our church youth group with a Christmas carol or two.

So here is the room full of women, some out for the first time in a while, varying greatly in age, all together visiting, laughing and enjoying one another's company.

On a Wednesday night in the dead of winter, I suspect many would have been doing the same ol' Wednesday night routine. Eating alone, cleaning up the dishes and doing whatever else they do. Somehow a night on the town, on someone else, seems more appealing. It was quite a gift for these gals.

I thank God I am not alone. I thank Him for my wife and kids. I am pretty sure I couldn't function in that environment, so when I think of these women (and men who are alone) and I quantify what my friend, the ladies man, has done for them these past two Christmases, I am forced to stop and look within.

It seems I do that far more than I used to. I know that is true for ol' Earl, too.

This passage from Philippians 4:8-9 seems particularly appropriate during this moment of introspection. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." - Paul

Think about such things!

Earl lost one of his dear friends a year-and-a-half ago - a friend whose wife was left widowed. No doubt this is when and why the "girls night out" began, and since it is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable, we ought to think about such things.

What can we do this Christmas for someone in need? Who can we serve? Who can we show the love of Christ to like my friend, the ladies man? May our eyes be open - and our hearts open - to what and who that might be.

And the God of peace be with you!

Brewski Time

2008-12-09T10:18:00.005-06:00

There I sat across the table from this friend of mine Sunday. We were enjoying a meal together and I really hadn't given much thought to his attire.

Church has become like that for me. I really don't pay a whole lot of attention to what people are wearing anymore; it just doesn't seem to matter. Where we worship, people come in jeans, t-shirts, dress pants, button-down shirts, sweaters, sleeveless shirts (though not now as it has gotten colder) - you get the drift.

Come as you are, we say.

We have lunch together often on Sunday, this guy, his family and mine. It has become part of our lives - though there was a time when we probably believed we were too good for this family. There was a time when we felt we were somehow superior, smarter, a notch or three above them.

God has changed that about us and we praise him for that.

On most Sundays, some 75-90 people stay after worship and enjoy a meal together. On this particular Sunday, though, two worlds collided as mother church and members from our congregation joined us at The Lighthouse for an annual church function known as the "Agape Feast."

In the Greek, agape means love. Every year for the past several years at our mother church, this agape feast, this feast of love, has taken place. People bring salads and deserts and a meal is shared. A communion service is also part of this annual event and it is a good thing.

But like I said, on this Sunday the agape feast took on a new dimension.

The Lighthouse is 10 months old and people who don't look like most of us, act like most of us and/or live like most of us from mother church have been coming. Christ is beginning to touch the lives of these people who for voluminous reasons haven't been attending a church and worshipping our forgiving, loving, merciful Jesus.

People like the folks we dined with again on Sunday.

So as the room filled with some 200 people, most of whom were dressed in their usual Sunday attire - dress pants, shirts, sweaters, and the like (not that this is bad) - tables began to fill up with friends and families taking up tables toward the back of the room as they joined us after worship.

But there in the front of the room there sits at one table two ex-cons and their family. The ex-cons had to get up early and leave to get back to the half-way house they are staying at on time. At another table is a gal whose life has been full of addictions and legal trouble. She had to get up to leave early, too. At yet another table is a woman and her grandson who has absolutely nothing at all (I wrote about her son in Count Your Blessings last week). And at yet another table sit our friends, who we regularly eat with.

These last two tables were just about empty - as all of the other folks took their seats with people they know and with people who look an awful lot like them. This grandma and her grandson were alone, until a caring couple slid in next to them. And our friends were alone, until we ventured over to sit with them and another couple who are friends of ours.

So as we are sitting there, sharing in this meal, these two worlds having collided, it hits me. The guy sitting across the table from me never went to church before The Lighthouse was started. He comes most every Sunday - wearing jeans (particularly wholly ones this week), a t-shirt and a cap. The cap this weeks reads "Brewski Time" with a mug of beer on it.

I am not sure if others noticed it or not, but I absolutely loved it! I almost spit the juice out of my mouth when I finally saw it. Here's this guy, perfectly comfortable in who he is and comfortable where he is, wearing a hat that saws "Brewski Time" at a church function!

He is a work in progress. I'm not sure he believes in Jesus yet or that he fully grasps "the story." Neither do I know if the ex-cons do. Nor do I know if the addict will stay clean and living the life that Jesus wants her to live.

Neither do I know that the people in the nice clothes and the well-groomed hair really love Jesus and are living for him. I don't know where their hearts are and if they even noticed what was going on around them Sunday - that people who don't look or act or live like them might be meeting Jesus, too.

Those things aren't my concern. What is my concern, is that we love because Christ first loved us...that we love because God sent his son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins...that we love "the least of these" because of the blessing we have in Christ Jesus.

It's not about our appearance - what we wear, how nice our hair and complexion look, what our bank account looks like - it's about our hearts and Christ in them.

Wish you could have seen it. "Brewski Time!"

Three seconds

2008-12-05T06:53:00.005-06:00

Many people leave indelible impressions on us, some for the good and some for the bad. I have been thinking a lot about my JV basketball coach lately.

One of the things my wife, kids and I do is chase after the activities of our family, particularly the activities of our children. Last night we sat at a Christmas concert at school and were blessed by the singing of the kids, the musical choices and the like. Tonight we will sit through basketball games.

Since Christ has really invaded my heart and taken up a good share of space there, my heart has changed in a number of areas, including athletics. They don't matter to me like they once did, but I still have a competitive side and God has yet to show me a referee who is any good or really knows what he was doing (I have friends who officiate these games and I give them a hard time, too).

Before the season began a couple of weeks ago I told my wife that I no longer want to be that fan in the stands who is constantly yelling at the officials and questioning every call (though it is pretty easy to question them all). I told her I want to go the whole season without "any problems."

I made it through three quarters of my daughters first game before my old high school JV coach came to mind. It was a nip-and-tuck game against a team our girls had never beaten. They have a girl who is a force in the paint, which is good for them. The problem, though, is that she sets up shop in the lane and rarely leaves.

Now, for those who don't know basketball, this is a violation. You have to move in and out of the lane, not staying in the painted area for more than three seconds at a crack.

After having a three seconds violation called on our girls a little earlier in the game, and as I see the game starting to slip away, it was time for me to offer the refs a little help. "FOUR, FIVE, SIX" I counted out for them. I am a big guy who has a mega-phone voice when I need to use it. I wasn't too loud, but I was definitely audible.

Then I looked to my right. There is my beautiful wife looking at me, smirking almost as she asks, "How is that working out for you?"

I didn't even make it a full game, but I want to continue to improve in this area.

But more than that, I'd like you to work with me in this a little bit today. The three second violation exists in an area that is in close proximity to our goal. It is called when we spend too much time in an area that at most is 15 feet away from the goal.

If a referee was officiating your game today, would he be able to call you for three seconds because you are spending too much time close to God, our goal? Would the whistle blow because of too much time being spent in the Word, in prayer, in worship or with others who are chasing Christ?

I want to live in the lane! I want to set up shop in the paint and have whistles blaring all around me while I take the time to heed the words of Psalm 46. "Be still and know that I am God."

Holding basketball up to life right now is pretty easy. Our lives are lived in the transition game. We are busy filling the lanes up and down the floor, trying to hustle back on defense, rebounding from the misses in our lives, and then flying back down the floor hoping for a look at the basket or goal, if you will.

My wife called me for three seconds yesterday.

I spent an hour during the morning with a friend I haven't seen in a while. Our lives are similar in that we are business owners who are wrestling with what God has in store for us. We both are part of church ministries that are operating outside of the normal church box and we have a love for the other that is centered in Christ. It was a great "three seconds" of "being still." So was the drive to and from.

I got back to town in time to have lunch with another friend whom I dine with every week. We are walking through the tough stuff of life together and the hour we spend together is a blessing to me each week. We talk God, farming, business, sports and whatever else comes up, but the "three seconds" is a great part of my week.

An hour later, another friend called and we grabbed a cup of coffee at the local diner. I know, that's a lot of caffeine, but with the conversation centered around what God is up to in our church, in our lives and where we are headed, it was another great "three second violation" of being still.

How do you take "three seconds?" Do you take "three seconds?"

Remember the good old days before shot clocks? When basketball teams ran the four-corners offense to slow the game down, spread the floor and get easier looks at the goal? My prayer today is that you experience grace and peace as you camp in the lane, that you are intentional in being whistled for three seconds in the scriptures, in worship, in prayer and time with others who believe, and also with those who are hurting and in need of Christ.

Grace and peace,

Chris

Count your blessings

2008-12-03T06:08:00.005-06:00

Tears filled my eyes and some rather violent tugs were pulled on my heart strings last night as I checked my email before bed.

I was taken back a year-and-a-half or so to a time when our community paid tribute to a young soldier who died in the war in Iraq. I never knew him as he wasn't even living in our community anymore. But his mother was, and so was his brother and his wife and kids. They were kind of lost in the shuffle with some of the more major news outlets at the time as the young soldier's wife was more featured in the grieving process.

Times goes by and we forget. We live our own lives, go through our own sorrows and joys, and hopefully along the way we touch someones life. Right?

Billy Coffey shared a touching story of the Ten Dollar Blessing on his blog (What I Learned Today) a short time ago and I was moved. Another blogger on the High Calling Blogs network was moved too and started a challenge - a Ten Dollar Blessing challenge - to others in the network.

Here goes.

I have said before that we worship on Sunday mornings in a former bowling alley turned banquet hall. The gospel is preached by both pastors and lay people in a place where we cover the bar in the back of the room with black curtains and provide a setting in which the unchurched or underchurched in our little community can come, feel comfortable, loved and meet Jesus.

A couple of months ago this family began to come to The Lighthouse. A husband, wife and their five kids. Oh, and his mother and sister also come along. We provide a little breakfast-type item prior to church, worship together and then share in a meal together following the service.

They came back and they have continued to come. Praise God. One of their first weeks to worship at The Lighthouse was my Sunday to teach it - and towards the end of the service a challenge was issued to those who needed prayer to come and pray. To get up, right then and there, to come and pray.

One of the people I got to pray with that morning was the fallen soldier's brother. "Ever since my brother died I have had a hole in my heart," he told me. He went on from there to ask prayer about choices and struggles that accompany his pain, but wow, what a blessing to pray with and for him that morning and since.

Some three weeks ago, this young man lost his job. Remember, he has a wife and five kids at home and now they have no income, but they continue to come to church on Sunday morning. This past Sunday morning, during a time of prayer requests - when people actually take a moment to write them down and then they are all read in the front of church - one came from this young man.

I was home sick, but was sent this email last night. Thus the tears:

Chris,

I thought I should pass this along to you. It was a prayer request from Sunday at the Lighthouse. Showing you again that you make a difference:) I ask for all to pray for my family, and I would also like to thank God for people like Mike and Chris and all the others at the Lighthouse who have been so helpful in my family's time of need.

I have prayed with this young man, emailed him a couple of times and I talk to him on Sunday mornings. I have spoken to an employer on his behalf, but I haven't given him anything. I haven't really done anything for him.

Or have I?

All I have done is a portion of what just about everyone reading this would already do, but I share this with you for a couple of reasons this morning. A.) I know full well where my ten dollars is going; and B.) Blessings so often come in forms other than money. This young family has seen Jesus afoot in a place we call The Lighthouse and we are blessed to be at work with God in what he is doing there. It isn't about me, please understand that, but it is about what God is up to in the lives of this young family.

At the time of the funeral procession for the fallen soldier I was dealing with enough of my own junk that no one else really mattered. It bothered me that a soldier from our community had lost his life, but that's where it stopped. Today, my heart is so full of compassion and hurt for this guy and his family that I want to sell everything I have and help him and others like him, but I know I can't and am really not even supposed to. That's part of my experiencing grace and peace in this life.

I continue to fall back on II Corinthians 9 where Paul writes that each man should give as he has decided in his heart to give - not relunctantly or under compulsion - for God loves a cheerful giver.

I can't save this family, only Jesus can, but I can give them my heart, my love and my prayers. Perhaps I am even supposed to share ten dollars and ask all of my friends to do the same.

That's my challenge today, and my challenge to anyone who happens to read this. I pray you count your blessings; that you open your eyes to see those around you; that you open your ears to hear those around you; and that you open your heart to those around you to love them more and to show them Jesus each and every day.

Giving out of thanks

2008-11-26T09:02:00.004-06:00

Sitting in a pew last night during a Thanksgiving Eve service is not a place that I would ordinarily shed a tear. There are definitely places where I am so moved, but this particular setting has not been one of them.

But things are happening in the body and people are beginning to share, to give back to Christ for what he has given them.

On this particular Wednesday night the them of the service was five ways of giving thanks. One was in the way of celebrating creation, so the local science teacher got up and spoke of galaxies and cellular adhesion molecules - the things that hold our bodies together. Boring!!! Right? Well, he shows a picture of a black hole in a galaxy that is 300 billion light years from earth that is in the shape of the cross. Then he shows the molecular structure of these cellular adhesion molecules, the molecules in our bodies that hold us together. What does they look like? They are in the shape of a cross! It was an awesome message, seeing and hearing his passion for us and how God's imprint is on all things.

Moments later, a woman in her 50s gets up and talks about walking with God everyday as a way to give thanks. Her life has been a little different than she expected it to be with bi-polar disorder and drug addiction having hit her household. She talked of the struggle, the constant questioning if she would have been a better mother would this or that have occurred. She talked of living in the pain, and giving thanks in the midst of it for her God being there.

People standing behind the pulpit of this relatively large church in small town USA, sharing what has them excited and what Christ means to them. Getting real with the rest of the people in the pews, putting all masks and coverings aside so that God might be glorified all the more!

I love it when God shows up like this. There I sat with my wife and kids, tears streaming down my cheeks, not really caring who would notice because this is the same Christ who has ransomed my life, who has pulled me out of the pit and given his life for mine.

This Thanksgiving morning, I am reflecting on last night's service and on our church's "Test Me Challenge." Our facility is not big enough to handle all of our kids for Sunday School and catechism at one time, so we are looking at a building project. The "Test Me Challenge" is an opportunity for people to test God in the challenge of giving of their time, their money and their hearts!

I have been a taker for much of my life. It is only in the past couple of years that I can say that II Corinthians 9:7 has really meant something to me. But as I sit here this morning, I pray it is true in my life, as well as yours. "Each man should give as he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

I contend that when your heart is so full of gratitude and thanks that it is impossible not to give. Perhaps you money, perhaps it is in a smile, a handshake. Perhaps you give time to help build a new church, make a meal for a family who needs one - none of it done reluctantly or under compulsion, but rather out of gratitude.

II Corinthians 9 continues, and in verse 11 it says: "You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."

Experiencing grace and peace in this world is done, largely through giving. People giving to us, us then giving to others because of what Christ has done for us! My prayer this Thanksgiving, and in all the days to follow, is that we will all be made rich in every way so that we can be generous on every occasion - giving all Glory and thanks to God above for blessing us so richly with family, friends, lives we don't deserve and Life we don't deserve.

When opportunity whispers

2008-11-24T14:44:00.004-06:00

Opportunities come and go. Sometimes I am well aware of them, other times they present themselves and I wouldn't know one if it hit me in the mouth.

In my continuing quest for all things Christ, opportunities come and go, too. Sometimes they come at "opportune" times, other times they come when we least expect them. Sometimes they are incredibly visible and come through a bullhorn, other times they come in a whisper.

In recent days I have been challenged in a couple of areas in my walk - both part of the quest. One area in which I have been challenged of late is to be intentional in my pursuit of Christ. To read, pray, worship and commune with Him and others as often as I can.

Additionally, as I near the end of a book called "The Divine Conspiracy" by Dallas Willard, the message of not just hearing or reading the Word, but to also be a "doer" of the Word, has become increasingly clear.

I need to retreat here just a touch. I am a morning person - I love the early morning hours. I used to be able to get more done at work between 6 and 9 a.m. then I would the rest of the day. As my quest for Christ has sped up, I have had some of my most amazing times with Him in the dark, at 5 or 6 a.m. where I used to spend those hours working.

Several months ago I was delivered what felt like a knockout blow. I would get out of bed in the morning more tired than when I climbed in - so I had a sleep apnea test done and now get to sleep with one of them-there masks. For some it is the answer, it cures the sleep problem. It still really hasn't for me, but this weekend I believe I may have an answer as to why.

In this continuing quest, where being intentional and being a hearer and doer become intertwined, I found myself awakened frequently on Friday night - opportunities missed. Saturday morning, though, it was as if a light went on and I decided to seize those opportunities and to simply pray.

Sure enough, opportunity came knocking again Saturday night. On at least four occasions I found myself lying in bed, mask attached and operational, but engaged at times during the night with Jesus in prayer. Two different couples came to mind on two different occasions - so I prayed for two different couples I am acquainted with twice during the night on a leading from the Spirit. It wasn't through the bullhorn that the opportunity presented itself, but rather in a whisper in the dark of the night.

Isaiah 62: 6-7 (The Message) reads this way:
I've posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. Day and night they keep at it, praying, calling out, reminding God to remember. They are to give him no peace until he does what he said, until he makes Jerusalem famous as the City of Praise.

Apparently, God calls people to pray - day or night, to keep at it - to remind Him not to forget about the lives of people here on earth.

And sometimes, when He really wants to reveal Himself, the blessings are made known immediately. Sunday morning, one of the couples I had prayed for walked into the former bowling alley-turned banquet hall where we hold church. Sitting there visiting with my folks who were visiting, I was drawn to another table where that couple was sitting. They began to share their desire for growth, to dive into the Word and for more interaction with a community of people wanting more and more of God - and the wrestling match they find themselves in. I sat there listening, eventually telling them how God had whispered to me in my sleep and made them visibly clear to me and how I had prayed for them.

Awesome!

I also emailed the other couple to tell them I wasn't sure why, but I had been awakened to pray for them. This morning he replied to that email that they had taken their son who is eight weeks old the ER during the night, only to have him better by the time they saw the doctor!

Mind-boggling!

I convey this piece today for one reason - to spur each of you on in your walk with Christ. To follow his leadings. To stand watch on the wall, day and night, not missing an opportunity to pray. I pray we are people who day and night "keep at it, praying, calling out, reminding God to remember. They are to give him no peace until he does what he said, until he makes (our towns) famous as the City of Praise."

It isn't everyday that God will give instant gratification, but I think He knows that I need it once in a while and that in-so-doing, I will be a lot less likely to miss the next opportunity.

I love to sleep, but I believe my prayer, right now, is that He wakes me again tonight so that I might pray for whoever it is He brings before me. May I be ready again tonight or tomorrow night when opportunity whispers in the wee hours of the morning!

Beyond thankful

2008-11-21T08:37:00.004-06:00

Thanksgiving is upon us, and if anyone on the face of this earth has reason to be thankful, it is me. Blessings flow in many forms and many fashions, including my beautiful wife, kids, family and the business ventures in which I am involved. I have been blessed in countless ways in these areas, but to say that I have been blessed by, in and through Christ would be the understatement of the century.

L.L. Barkat at High Calling Blogs has issued an invitation to "bloggers" (which I have a hard time claiming to be - I simply offer some random thoughts now and then) to join in a Thanksgiving Celebration, bringing things for which we are thankful to the table of grace.

Today, I offer thanks for my Savior, Jesus Christ - and for all those who proclaim His name and unashamedly champion him in this dark and cold world. As I read Jennifer's post on Getting Down With Jesus about being thankful for beds, my mind jumped immediately to all that Christ has been up to in my world in the past couple of years.

That amazing piece of scripture penned by the apostle Paul to the Philippians is one of my favorites. Philippians 1:3-11 reads this way: Thanksgiving and Prayer "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."

I am a sinner saved by the grace of God, and God has lavished community upon my wife and I in ways we could have never imagined. We have met people diving deep into what it means to follow Christ, to live as Christ would have lived in this world, and have been blessed beyond all we could have ever asked or imagined in the process.

They are not perfect people - they don't claim to be - but their heart for all things Jesus and who He would have them be is an inspiration. "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy..."

This community has forced me to dive deep, to look into my heart and soul and to see the gaping hole that was there - that had been filled with everything of this world for so long - and to finally decide to begin to let Christ fill that hole. And as others have welcomed us into their worlds with open arms, walking along side as we continue this adventure, it is no wonder that I am thankful. In fact, Paul says "It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus."

In the course of several years, the focus of our lives (my wife and I) has turned dramatically. God has called us out of our comfortable Sunday morning position in one of the back pews of our church with our four children, and into the lives of people who are broken, hurting and in need of Christ. It is a feeling we know very well.

Broken, hurting and desperately in need of Christ ourselves, God used community to begin to draw us to Himself. We pray that as our lives are continually shaped and molded by Him, that we can show Christ's love to others as it has been shown to us over and over again.

It is the cry of my heart to follow Christ - to give Him all that I have - that he might open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, my mind to know and my heart to Him and everyone around me, that I might love Him and them more and more.

As we get to be just a little part of what God is doing in this massive universe, I am thankful for every glimpse of Him that I get. And He is showing up everywhere these days. He is showing up in my wife and kids, my framily (friends who are so close they are family), my family and people being served by the ministries we are involved with.

In each of these cases, I echo Paul's prayer at the end of this passage: "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."

Thanksgiving is so often lost, isn't it, in the commercialism of Christmas? Let us give thanks for Christ, for who He is and what He has done for us; for the many ways in which He touches our lives (mostly through those around us); and for the work He has yet to accomplish.

Grace & Peace,

Chris

High Calling Blogs

2008-11-19T09:48:00.001-06:00

A friend has put me onto this fantastic site and tool called HighCallingBlogs.com. I pray that as you continue to walk this walk and increasingly desire to talk this talk, that HighCallingBlogs.com will become part of your intentional journey into all that Christ has in store for you.
Check out the site, read some of the blogs and be blessed as you spend a little time there.

In His grip,

Chris

Intentional grounding

2008-11-18T15:17:00.001-06:00

As a high school quarterback, I spent most of my time on offense running for my life. Defenses were in hot pursuit - all the time it seemed - rarely leaving me with any time to make the proper reads, to deliver the ball where I was supposed to, or to be any good at playing the position.

I found myself running for my life and/or throwing the ball away - something a quarterback is penalized 15 yards for - a penalty called intentional grounding.

All these years later, not much has changed, it seems. I find myself running around with my head cut off a lot of the time - often times it is doing Kingdom stuff, work and family activities - but I am running just the same.

Sometimes I just want to be able to stand tall in the pocket, have the protection I need to find the open man and deliver the ball on time. Does any of this make sense to you women reading this?

Much has been made in recent hours of being intentional. I have been hammered with this theme, in fact, and realize that I have been doing so much running and am so busy with "stuff"
that my time with Jesus and the Word of God hasn't been what I love it to be of late. The frantic pace (again much of it being good stuff) should have drawn a 15 yard penalty.

Wait - it did yesterday noon. Really it began Sunday afternoon at the conclusion of the fall Cursillo weekends, when this notion of being intentional was first thrust my way. It continued yesterday noon, when a phone conversation with my mother questioned where I have been, what I have been up to and if they (my parents) had done something to upset me.

FLAG!

This is one area where I could make a little priority shift. It was with remorse that I issued my apology and heard my mom tell me how they have been intentional with one another of late, taking time to eat together, hold hands and pray! That blew me away. I praise God for his movement in their lives.

In addition to that, I am looking for a little "divine intentional grounding", if you will. Not the kind that draws a flag - where there is a penalty - but rather a getting back to early mornings by the fire - reading and talking with Jesus the way we used to...the way I want to.

Ephesians 3: 14-19 from Eugene Peterson's translation of the Bible, The Message, reads this way: "My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God."

In another version of the Bible the phrase "with both feet planted firmly on love" is translated "being grounded." I want to be intentionally grounded in Christ - and that when I am He will reveal to me the breadth, length, depth and height of His love. It is when I am with Him, intimately and frequently in reading, thought and conversation that I am able to live a full life, full in the fullness of God.

This is being intentionally grounded, friends. This is when I am at my best. This is when we are as He intended us to be. This is when everything is the most clear - when before everything else - "I get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth."

Join me in prayer that this intentional grounding catches on and takes hold - that we might all be grounded, that we might all slow down and that we might all spend intimate time with Jesus each and every day!

Spinning

2008-11-12T09:49:00.000-06:00

A friend and I sat in the quiet of a large dining room last weekend, chatting until the middle of the night. We just sat there, he and I, talking about life and how it just keeps spinning.

"I'm cold," he said. "It's (life is) kind of like that ceiling fan. 'I know you can shut off that fan God', so why don't you just do it?"

It's as if we ask of God, "Life is spinning out of control, I know you can stop it God, why don't you?"

This circumstance you have put before me is just too hard God, won't you just fix it?

There are people starving all over the world, can't you just feed them, God?

There are people hurting all around me, can't you just make them feel better, God? Can't you just take their pain go away?

Just some of the questions that rattle around in my mind as this notion of the ceiling fan spinning continues to play out in my mind.

My phone rang at 10 p.m. last night with a distraught friend on the other end. The situation he described to me through his tears, and even sobbing, literally made me pose the question, "God, why? Why didn't you stop this, why won't stop the spinning?" It also led me into an attitude of prayer which may not subside soon.

I am no answer man - that is clear to anyone who knows me - but God is teaching me a few things through this life I am living...for Him.

One reason He doesn't just fix everything, I believe, is that Jesus wants us to draw near to Him...to come to Him with everything.

In Jeremiah 29 He tells us that "you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." AWESOME! He wants us to bring our petitions to Him - each and every one of them. When there are things we question, He wants us to ask for the answer. He wants us to turn to others and have them do the same. When life is awesome, He wants to hear that, too.

He's also calling into His work.

I had a conversation with a friend of mine this morning, relating this whole ceiling fan conversation. This was his question - rather poignant, at that. "Was there a switch in the room where you could have turned the fan off?"

Of course there was, but that would have required something of us, wouldn't it?

I have very few answers to many questions, but our God is one who is always at work - and He calls us into His work - to join Him in it. That in itself is amazing. That He wants us to help in His redemptive, restorative work in this world, but that's the point of the question about turning the switch off. He has taught us some things and also equips us to work with Him in others.

There are situations, virtually everyday if we are dialed into them, when God poses the same question posed in Isaiah 6:8: And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I, Send me."

Experiencing grace and peace in this life is summed up, in part, in this. It is seeing our resurrected Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at work. It is having the fan spinning out of control in our lives or in the lives of others around us and Him asking us, "Whom shall I send?"

Call out to Him today - listen to what He is calling you into - and trust that the fan spinning is one way in which you may see Him show up today.

Grace and peace,

Chris

Best shot

2008-11-10T16:28:00.000-06:00

Here we are a third of the way through the month of November, the temperature is hovering around freezing and there is still some residue in our lawn from a Thursday evening wintry mix that left a light blanket of snow here in Northwest Iowa.

Winter is apparently upon us, and I have golf on the brain - sort of!

I spent the past three and a half days at Cursillo, a weekend devoted to providing a short course in Christian living to those who want to attend. It is always an awesome experience and I leave having been blessed far beyond anything that I could possibly have given to God or anyone else during those three days in the Hills.

I am now home and have a couple of blogs in my mind - the first the result of a conversation I heard between two men who were enjoying a little fellowship and getting to know one another.

I forget who the other gentleman was, but the evangelist who got my attention was this beautiful 71 year old guy named Phillip. He was telling whoever it is that he was talking to about playing golf with his wife.

"We play best shot," he said. "We go out there, each hit our shots, use the best one and in the end, it's our score. If we shoot 85, it's our score."

I was just sitting there in meditation, quietly thinking about a lot of different things - apparently eavesdropping, too - when Phillip's words pierced my heart. A few feet away is this guy talking about how he just loves spending time with his wife - even golfing.

That conversation took me back to times that weren't so wonderful in my life - when my wife and I were on our own paths, doing our own thing, often fighting as if our very lives depended on it. We were often on the offensive, attacking the other and doing our best to win each and every fight. Our goal was rarely oneness and in battle we were anything but loving.

Read these words from Ephesians 5:22-28:
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself."

Genesis 2:24 ends with the words, "and they will become one flesh." When I read the end of Ephesians 5:28 my footnote took me to Genesis 2 saying that for the man to love his wife is to love one who has become part of his flesh.

I could also go to I Corinthians 13 to get the Biblical definition for love: love is patient, love is kind, it keeps no record of wrongs and the like. I love these passages because God gave them to us as the best way to live. He has a full book full of the best way to live - including in marriage.

Until Christ become the most important thing in my life, I certainly wasn't loving my wife as Christ loved the church. Probably don't now, but I want to. I certainly didn't give myself up for her. I was far too selfish for that. May still be some times, but I don't want to be.

As God began to put our lives back together and continues in his restorative work in our lives, I love the idea of playing best ball. I'm no scratch husband (if you can hang with the scratch golfing metaphor here), but I want to be! In order to do that, I need to keep the ball in play and not hit it out of bounds. Finding myself in the rough and behind a tree isn't overly productive, either. I must not care about winning, about being right and being selfish can no longer be an option - that is the rough personified.

The more Jesus Christ matters to each partner in a marriage - the more we stand on earth and desire to grow closer to Him who is seated on the throne high and lifted up, the closer we will grow to one another.

When "my" score doesn't count and "ours" does, this is marriage as God intended it. Thank you, Phillip, for this incredible visual. Thank you, Jesus, for taking his words and piercing my heart in this manner!

Hungry?

2008-10-02T13:55:00.000-05:00

As I sat in the Pizza Ranch yesterday afternoon waiting for my lunch guest to return to the table, something caught my eye in the midst of my miserable state of having over-eaten the Ranch buffet.

"Ever felt a hunger so powerful you couldn't tame it?" reads the piece of Pizza Ranch literature that also includes a menu and the phone numbers of their growing list of stores throughout the midwest. "That's Cowboy Hungry...And when Cowboy Hunger hits, there only one solution. Head straight for your nearest Pizza Ranch."

I have spent my professional life in newspapers - covering meetings; writing stories; photographing people, athletes, etc.; and creating and selling advertising - you name it in newspapers, I have probably done it. I particularly have always enjoyed the creating and selling part, helping businesses promote themselves and to increase their bottom line while increasing my own.

A sort of hunger, I suppose.

That being said, I appreciate a good ad campaign when I see one. But as I glanced out the window at the beautiful sunshiny day, this piece of literature grabbed my attention and I couldn't let go of it.

Over the past few years, my hunger and desire for things has changed immensely. My hunger and desire to exceed expectations, to earn money and provide for my family (which isn't all bad), to have this and that and to not be like others was an all consuming hunger. I suppose there was even a time when I headed straight for my nearest Pizza Ranch (or some equally worldly place) to appease my "cowboy hunger."

That which I hunger for now, though, has become "a hunger so powerful that I can't tame it." In my continuing quest to experience grace and peace, the hunger for all things Christ burns deep in my being.

That hunger helps John 10:10 come to life when John talks about having life and having it to the full. It is an appetite to know God more and more and to see him show up more and more. It is a desire for a daily diet of prayer, praise, scripture and community. It is a hunger for eternity here and now.

God showed up in a worship service on Sunday, a restaurant yesterday, a phone call earlier today and in song a moment ago.

Read these lyrics from Shawn McDonald's "Here I am" as he hungers for more and more of Christ:

"I lay myself at your feet,

won't you meet, won't you meet us

I cannot do it on my own,

I cannot do it all alone

Here I am, tonight,

with my arms open wide

I want you to come inside"

I wonder where he is going to show up next!?!

The beauty of a life of hunger, of being "Cowboy Hungry" as my brothers at Pizza Ranch would put it, is that I know He is going to show up again very, very soon!

My prayer today is that we are starving for Jesus - that suppressing that appetite isn't an option - and that we will look to Him and to each other to be fed...that we will hunger for Him like never before.

Are you hungry?

Pots

2008-09-25T20:28:00.000-05:00

Walking around my in-laws house is a treat. The lawn is perfectly manicured and there are pots of plants everywhere. Creations that my father-in-law has painstakingly potted and then cared for.

As I look at these things I am struck by just how amazing it must have been to be God as he began creating this world we live in. The splendor of it all strikes - as beautiful as the plants and pots that Harold creates are, they are nothing compared to what the Creator of the Universe puts together.

Lately I have thought a lot about pots. As I prepare a teaching for The Lighthouse, our churches second campus ministry, pots are on my heart.

"Huh?," you ask.

Growing up going to church, and even into my adult life, I would walk into church and see people who seemed to have it all together, whose lives were seemingly perfect and fruitful and growing. I liken them to the beautiful pots around my in-laws' house. Perfectly manicured, well cared for, grown with love and care. Perfect!

As I spent this time in church and observed some of these people, I really began to compare their pot with mine, if you will. My pot, I felt, was nothing compared to those whose lives were "so perfect," those people who seemingly "had everything together." Their lives were so beautifully arranged, crafted so well that it was obvious to me that God loved them far more then he did me. He had to - otherwise these church-going peoples' live would look more like mine. I figured that those people with "amazing pots" must have lived perfect lives and been basically sin-free.

That thinking, albeit false, can make "church" pretty intimidating, wouldn't you say? And if you're like me, your pot never really looked like one of those. My pot, in my eyes, looked like it had cracks all over it. Eventually, that pot was so badly marred that it was broken into a million pieces.

The Creator of the Universe, though, is here to put all of us "broken pots" back together again. He holds us in the palm of his hands; molding us and putting our broken lives back together.

Read these words from Jeremiah 18: 1-6: This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord. Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message. So, I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands, so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel."

In the Hebrew, the word for potter is "yatsar" - it means to form, fashion or frame. It is also translated as "Creator" or "Maker." In the text, Jeremiah goes down to watch the potter and sees that while the clay in his hands can sometimes be marred, the potter starts over again and re-forms it - re-fashions it. And then the Lord asks, "can I not do with you as this potter does?"

I am amazed that a piece of scripture given to Jeremiah around 600B.C. is relevant in my life today. As this teaching comes together, I find myself right in the middle of this text, as if the Lord is saying to me today - "O, Chris, can I not do with you as this potter does? Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand."

As I continue to pursue Him with all of my heart, looking for grace and peace along the way, the past (Satan) seems to like to re-appear - as it did today. And yet, in the middle of the struggle from which I am now incredibly emotionally drained, He speaks to me, for He is molding me and shaping me into who He wants me to be.

II Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come."

The Yatsar - the Creator of the Universe - doesn't care what we have done, how horribly we have sinned, how many terrible decisions we have made. He comes to us in our brokenness, sweeps up the pieces of our shattered pots and begins to reshape us - if we let him.

He wants to do it for me - He wants to do it for you, too! My prayer tonight is if you have made mistakes; if your life is less that you think it should be or can be; if you are stuck in patterns that lead you to feelings of despair; if someone has hurt you; if you are at your wits end; if you are broken - that you would listen to the question anew: "O (your name here), can I not do with you as this potter has done to this clay? As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand!"

The parking lot

2008-09-11T13:34:00.000-05:00

There are times when God makes himself perfectly clear to me. Times when I can almost see him and touch him...then there are those moments like I experienced in the parking lot last night that leave me dazed and confused, asking if I am really a Christ follower.

Having just left a time of praise and prayer, 45 minutes with Jesus and others who are longing for more of him, it was time to pick up kids from catechism & youth group. Kid #2 was on time, kid #1 not so much.

After running a friend home, running to the store and taking #2 home, there I found myself back in the parking lot for the third time, AT CHURCH, with rage coarsing through my veins. "I am exhausted, I have things to do, things I want to do, it is time for them to be finished. Why can't you be done with youth group on time?" Thoughts like this run through my mind in the parking lot.

As I continue to experience grace & peace in this world, I am dumbfounded at how I can be so in touch one minute and so out of it the next - part of Satan's work I guess. Having read enough John Eldredge books to know that there is a battle going around us all the time, and that I need to judge what is going on around me by its fruit, invariably I find that I have not arrived and that I am not even close yet when "parking lot" moments occur in my life.

The youth group was late because they had surrounded the home of a gentleman from our community who is battling cancer. Some 45 kids and youth sponsors surrounded the home of this couple and turned to Christ in prayer. It was a moving time, I am sure, for two of the kids and their parents, who are part of this youth group. As I learned of this today, tears filled my eyes and shame filled my heart for what I was thinking as they were offering petitions to our Lord.

To experience grace & peace is to come to that point where life isn't about us anymore. It is to come to that point where Jesus Christ and what He is up to is what life is about. It is about not thinking so much about our own timetables. It is about circling someone's house in prayer and loving others above ourselves.

When this occurs John 10:10 becomes available to us. "The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

In this world so driven by schedules and a me-first attitude, I experience grace & peace when Christ shows up - and when he reveals himself to me. He did it at my computer twice within five minutes today - bringing tears to my eyes as he shows me just how present he is if - just if - I take some time, even in the parking lot, to experience the grace & peace he wants for all of our lives!