pray for them…
Last Sunday I went to Arbys with my wife and a friend. I’m not particular fond of Arbys, as a matter of fact I think I said “let’s go somewhere else”. As often happens I was outvoted and we went.
While standing in line to place our orders my attention was drawn to a young couple with two children sitting at a table together. There was an obvious tension among them and a silence that was deafening. Occasionally I would see her fight back some tears. I’m not sure what was going on in their lives at that moment but my heart was broken for them. I began to pray for them at that moment and they haven’t left my thoughts or prayers much since then. I offered her a smile when I caught her eye as they left, which she painfully returned. At first I was kicking myself for not offering more, a kind word, an open comment to spark a conversation… but then I realized why I had been placed there at that time (I don’t even like Arbys, remember). I was there to pray for them… I got caught up in “what can I offer them” and almost forgot “what He can offer them”.
Interestingly enough, the week before, as part of the study “Experiencing God” that Jen and I have been taking for the last 10 weeks I recently prayed for God to break my heart for the things that break His. I’m not not sure what I’ve gotten myself into with that but wow, it didn’t take long for Him to start.
I’m not sure what has come of them or what will come of them but I will continue to pray for them as long as can and I ask that anyone reading this please take a moment and do the same… Thank you and God bless.
Pray…
Preaching at his 8 a.m. service today, Pastor Fred Winters was shot dead in the pulpit of First Baptist Church of Maryville, Illinois. According to reports, he was shot three times and other shots may have been fired had the gun not apparently jammed. The assailant then pulled a knife and injured himself and other congregants until he was forcibly subdued. No motive has yet been determined. A statement released by the church said, “Please pray for Dr. Winter’s family, our two brave members who were injured when they stopped the assailant, for the assailant himself and his family, and for our church members as they deal with this tragic loss. . . . To those who believe in the power of prayer, we covet your prayers right now.”
In the midst of all this chaos and turmoil this church has remembered and called for prayer for the assailant and his family. We need to remember this kind of action in our lives. We are not called to judge but to love others. Not just the people we like or the people that are like us or share our values and beliefs. More often the people who are the opposite of this need as much or more prayer.
This was obviously a person with problems or issues. We may never know what led him to this action and we truly don’t need to know. We simply need to lift him and his family up in prayer. Pray that he can receive the help he needs. Pray that he can open his heart and mind and find Christ through this and seek His forgiveness. Pray that his family can remain strong and supportive. That if they don’t know Christ that this event can bring them to Him. Pray for protection for them against those that may wrongly seeking revenge or redemption. Pray…
And of course pray for those present and those injured and Pastor Winters, his wife and children.
Dinner with a Perfect Stranger and Day with a Perfect Stranger
I recently had the opportunity to check out two new books by David Gregory. Dinner with a Perfect Stranger and Day with a Perfect Stranger. Both books explore the possibilities of modern day encounters with Jesus. I absolutely love the authors depictions of the conversations. They are exactly as I would picture them if Jesus made individual, personal appointments with each of us to discuss our faith or lack of faith. I truly believe He does do this through circumstance and others but these books illustrate it so clear, concise and entertaining. This is exactly what could happen if one could take an evening or a day and suspend their beliefs or mis-beliefs and just talk with Him, something I highly encourage, and these two books could begin your journey. For those who do believe these books are a great chance to reach your friends and family and spark those sometimes difficult conversations.
Dinner with a Perfect Stranger: You are Invited to a Dinner with Jesus of Nazareth The mysterious envelope arrives on Nick Cominsky’s desk amid a stack of credit card applications and business-related junk mail. Although his seventy-hour workweek has already eaten into his limited family time, Nick can’t pass up the opportunity to see what kind of plot his colleagues have hatched. The normally confident, cynical Nick soon finds himself thrown off-balance, drawn into an intriguing conversation with a baffling man who appears to be more than comfortable discussing everything from world religions to the existence of heaven and hell. And this man who calls himself Jesus also seems to know a disturbing amount about Nick’s personal life. ………….. “You’re bored, Nick. You were made for more than this. You’re worried about God stealing your fun, but you’ve got it backwards.… There’s no adventure like being joined to the Creator of the universe.” He leaned back off the table. “And your first mission would be to let him guide you out of the mess you’re in at work.” …………. As the evening progresses, their conversation touches on life, God, meaning, pain, faith, and doubt–and it seems that having Dinner with a Perfect Stranger may change Nick’s life forever. This book may be purchased here.
Day with a Perfect Stranger: What if a fascinating stranger knew you better than you know yourself? When her husband comes home with a farfetched story about eating dinner with someone he believes to be Jesus, Mattie Cominsky thinks this may signal the end of her shaky marriage. Convinced that Nick is, at best, turning into a religious nut, the self-described agnostic hopes that a quick business trip will give her time to think things through. On board the plane, Mattie strikes up a conversation with a fellow passenger. When she discovers their shared scorn for religion, she confides her frustration over her husband’s recent conversion. The stranger suggests that perhaps her husband isn’t seeking religion but true spiritual connection, an idea that prompts her to reflect on her own search for fulfillment. As their conversation turns to issues of spiritual longing and deeper questions about the nature of God, Mattie finds herself increasingly drawn to this insightful stranger. But when the discussion unexpectedly turns personal, touching on things she’s never told anyone, Mattie is startled and disturbed. Who is this man who seems to peer straight into her soul? This book may be purchased here.
David Gregory is the author of the best-selling books Dinner with a Perfect Stranger and A Day with a Perfect Stranger, and coauthor of two nonfiction books. After a ten-year business career, he returned to school to study religion and communications, earning graduate degrees from The University of North Texas and Dallas Theological Seminary. A native Texan, David now devotes himself to writing full time.
Experiencing God week 1
My wife, Jenni, and I started a class this week called Experiencing God. It is a 12-13 week lesson in a small group setting. I had heard a little bit about the course from friends that said it can change your life. Two of my dear friends actually quit their full time jobs to become pastors after taking this course. Knowing this Jenni was very leery of allowing me to take it as was I. It’s not that we’re not open to God’s calling but we have grown comfortable in our current positions and settings. This can be a very dangerous thing. I have already felt a calling to the church/ministry for some time now and wrestled with it a bit. I don’t think the time has come yet but it is coming. Well some circumstances occurred (divine intervention?) that gave us the opportunity to sign up for the group.
The first class was last Wednesday and was very interesting. So far the homework has been very eye opening and thought provoking. It is my hope and prayer that Jenni and I can take our next steps together, grow spiritually and learn what God wants us to do. I will keep you posted as the course progresses and we learn to better obey and experience God.
What I want for my daughter…
This is my daughter, Marissa. I know things can’t be perfect for her all her life. But if I can do anything to protect or prepare her for troubled times I desperately want to do that. She recently started driving which I am excited about for her but at the same time it scares the crap out of me. She has begun to look at colleges and is exploring her options of career choices. Again, a very exciting time to share with her but it means time is short. Have I given her my all? Is she ready for what lies ahead? Although I’m sure I wasn’t the father she deserved at times. I hope and pray I have been the best father I could be and that she can forgive me for the rest. I want her to always know, as long as I hold breath in my body, I am here for her, no matter what. There is nothing she can’t bring to me or ask me.
There are certain things I want for her in her life.
- I want her to pursue Christ… I want her to live a Godly life and never stop following Christ and reaching others for Him.
- I want her to know she is beautiful… We are all created in God’s image and that makes us all beautiful, so many women never hear enough, how beautiful they really are.
- I want her to make the most of her life… That may sound corny but I want her to have as few regrets as possible in her life and I want her to hear those words “well done My good and faithful servant”.
- I want her to never know a stranger… She can be the sweetest person I know, when she wants to be, I want her to use that to touch as many lives as she can.
- I want her to never settle… To always do her very best and never settle for good enough in school, work, love or life.
- I want her to fall in love (in the far future) with a certain kind of man…
- He needs to love God… I want him to be the spiritual leader she needs to guide her, lead her and protect her.
- He needs to love her… I want him to love her with all the passion and attention she wants, needs and deserves.
- He needs to make her happy… Not with material things but with what her heart truly desires.
- He needs to make her laugh… Marissa has an infectious laugh that needs to be heard as often as possible.
- (guys if you’re not up to these tasks don’t even bother)
Finally, I want her to know how important she is to me… I have not done well providing, supporting or emphasizing the things listed above for Marissa. I am praying that God will help me to see and sieze each and every moment that I can use to prepare her for what ever He has for her. Please keep me in prayer that I will do better in the future. Marissa, please forgive me my shortcomings, I love you Boo.
I’m not getting fed?!?!
Every now and then I hear someone say “I’m not getting fed enough at my church”. Aren’t we responsible for feeding ourselves? If nourishment is being offered we need to partake in it and grow from it. Now, if you don’t like what’s on the menu that’s fine but it’s not the churches fault. I don’t like Arby’s or Burger King but I don’t think they have bad food I just don’t care for the menu they offer so I eat elsewhere. If you feel led to attend a church other than the one you currently are I think that’s a matter for you and your family to prayerfully consider. But, you should do it for the right reasons. Ask yourself:
- Is my church offering what I need? Is there more than just Sunday services available?
- Am I taking advantage of what’s being offered? Bible studies, Small Groups or other church activities.
- Do I need to use what’s being offered to step up and step out? For example instead of attending a small group or Bible study should you lead one? Are you serving?
If you are just showing up on Sunday for a service, then going home and expecting to get enough of what God has in store for you, it isn’t going to happen. Christ calls us to serve, to spread the gospel, to get out of the boat. Not to sit back and wait for the pastor to FEED us.
Are you hungry? Check the menu. If there’s good stuff being offered you need to dig in.
How can it be work if it’s so enjoyable?
I had an awesome opportunity this week to help work on our new addition at the Ridge. It was such a great day working with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Not just because they are great people to be around but also because of the bigger purpose we were serving. We are adding on classrooms that are very much needed. The Lord has blessed us in abundance with so many new attenders and their children that we felt led to make more room so we could explore Gods word with them in a better more comfortable setting. It is such an honor to serve Him and others in any way He can use me. I am so awed and humbled sometimes that He can use me to help others and grow His kingdom. Life is good!!! Check out the progress of the build here.
Seize Your Divine Moment
Check this out. It ROCKS!! Are we doing what He is asking us to? If not what are the consequences and who does it affect?
You just never know…
It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering.
What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.
- 1 Corinthians 3:7
About nine years ago I was out mowing the lawn on a sweltering hot day. The pastor of the church my wife had been attending drove by and saw me. Now I didn’t really know this guy and I had no interest in church or anything it had to offer. The guys name was Bill Craig. Anyway, he stopped back by a little later and offered to help me. He got in the back of his car and pulled out this old, rusty, antique mower. He meant it as a joke and I think I laughed a little bit and probably thought “thanks a lot jerk” (or something not so clean). Now my wife and I like to decorate our house and yard in what is sometimes referred to as country clutter (or hillbilly chic to some) and I put that mower in a flower bed in front of the house. Bill left the church a bout a year later and I really never got to know him (something I will always regret). My wife continued to attend that church and eventually I came to know Christ there. It is now the Ridge where we both serve and attend. We recently celebrated our ten year anniversary and I had a chance to talk to Bill Craig. He made a comment about that mower and I told him I still had it. I see it every time I mow, work in the yard, or step out of the house. That silly mower was a seed that Bill planted many years ago. A connection that we made however brief that I have never really forgotten. Bill knew where I was and probably how I was living to an extent but he still reached out, in a strange sort of way, and showed me a little love (and humor).
I’ve been thinking about this lately and the Lord has shown me, in all this, that you should never pass up an opportunity to reach out to someone for Him. It may be the only chance you get to plant a seed. Don’t worry about how big or small it may be just do what the Lord leads you to do and He’ll take care of the rest.
Again, it’s not important who does the planting but, you do need to plant those seeds when called to do so, You just never know…
(thanks Bill)
Pop Goes the Church
I just finished the book Pop Goes the Church by Tim Stevens. WOW!!! What an amazing piece of work. It’s about leveraging pop culture to reach people for Christ. I have always been on fire about this concept well Tim has dowsed that fire with gasoline. I could go on all week about this book and how dead on I feel it is but I wouldn’t do it justice. GO OUT AND BUY THE THING!!! You can find it here I can’t wait to attend the seminar on it June 23 at GCC Tim, thank you and thank You God, for giving Tim the inspiration, passion and ability to write this book.
Marissa…
My daughter Marissa, 2nd from the left, (ain’t she adorable) was inducted into the National Honor Society tonight I am so unbelievably proud of her. I don’t tell her nearly enough and I’m not sure she gets it when I do tell her. She will be 16 in August. She has been such an amazing child and is becoming an amazing young lady (BACK OFF GUYS!!!) Sometimes I wonder how in the world she survived all these years with me as her father and then I remember she has another Father and it is through His grace that she survived me and my failures. I am truly blessed to have her and her mother and I thank God everyday for them. I was baptized almost 2 years ago now and right after I was baptized I had the amazing privilege and honor to help baptize Marissa. That is one of the most memorable times in my walk so far. I had a chance to see the video again in a baptism compilation video at church last week and I lost it. Thank you Lord. I love you Boo. -love, Daddy.
I got me some God time…
WOW!!! Monday I took the day off and had an awesome day. I started off with breakfast with my mom, dad and sister. Then golf with dad. Now I can swing a club and make contact with the ball, I can even get the ball down the fairway but that’s about where the resemblance to golf my game ends. Later I took my Bible and my prayer journal and I hit the local hiking trails. Just me, the Word and God. I spent about 4 hours just walking and praying. IT WAS AWESOME!!! I hadn’t been on those trails in probably 18 years or more (pretty sad considering they are less than 5 miles from my house) I opened myself up and gave it all up to the Lord. I spoke some dangerous prayers. I asked God to:
- use me for whatever He needs
- reveal to me the next steps He wants me to take in my walk
- challenge and teach me
- make me bolder in my faith
I found a little island in the stream there and sat for while and read some passages I had marked in the last year or so. It was so powerful. I also reviewed my prayer journal from the past year (it was not nearly full enough) and saw how God had answered the prayers I had. It was interesting to see how some of them had been answered in ways that I had not expected but they had been answered in one way or another. I highly recommend this to everyone. Maybe the woods are not for you but get some God time. Get alone for an extended period of time and speak with Him. I’m planning to take longer next time. I’m also planning on doing it again very, very soon. I hope to do this 1-2 times a month for 5-6 hours each time. I will be asking others to keep me accountable for it.
