In Love With Our Pictures
11/1/2004 9:55:13 AM
I once heard a man discuss the plight of a young girl whose father left their family when she was just a child. She always missed her daddy and dreamed of seeing him again. All she had of him was a few pictures that she had placed in a book. Every night, before she went to bed, she kissed the pictures and dreamed of just how wonderful it would be if her daddy came home, took her in his arms, and shared a relationship with her. She felt like she missed out on so much in life. She had so much pain. But at least she had her pictures to cling to when the darkness was thickest.

She grew up into a very beautiful young lady and fell in love with a wonderful man who asked her to marry him. As the wedding approached, she got a letter from a man claiming to be her dad. The man said he wanted to meet her. He wanted to get things right so he could see her marry. Perhaps even become a grandfather to her children one day. She was so excited. She immediately took out her pictures and remembered all of those days and nights when she dreamed of just such a day.

Finally, the day arrived. He met her at a park just outside of town. When he drove up, she knew it was him. She could just feel it. However, when he got out of the car, all she saw was an aging man who resembled the dad of her dreams, the dad of her pictures, only slightly. The years had worn on the man who bent forward slightly as he walked. As he approached her, she could see the lines in his face, the gray hair, the bulging waistline. She felt very uncomfortable. He tried to hug her, but that made her even more uncomfortable. The smell wasn't right. The feel wasn't right. This was nothing like what she imagined he would be. She knew in that moment that she would not pursue the relationship. It simply did not meet her expectations. She politely answered a few of his questions and then made up an excuse to leave. As she left, she detected a tear rolling down his cheek. The entire scene repelled her. This was nothing like her dreams. When she got home, she took out her pictures and hugged them, kissing them softly. She decided to keep the pictures close to her. To forget all about this chance meeting with the guy who was supposed to be her daddy. She went to bed that night dreaming of the day her daddy would one day come, take her in his arms, and share a relationship with her.

MORAL: Reading your Bible is wonderful. But without a fresh, healthy, vibrant relationship with God you will never experience the joy, love, and fellowship your Bible discusses so wonderfully. You'll fall in love with words instead of The Word.

Kerry's Concession Speech
11/3/2004 11:09:04 AM
As I write this, John Kerry is making his concession speech to the American people. The sincere emotions he displays move me. It occurs to me that if this John Kerry had been on the campaign trail the election could have gone the other way. He seems real. His words penetrate. Of course, his loss, his pain, causes empathy in me. In fact, many of the pundits are crediting or blaming—depending on your perspective—the Christian evangelicals for pushing George Bush into a second term. That is an amazing conclusion. Those who cling to Christian Biblical morality have actually made a contribution. There is a sense of victory in hearing that. But there is also a sense of confusion. Just where has this sleeping giant been slumbering? Why haven’t the churches produced a fiery servant class who rush from the pews into the streets to bring the Gospel to our country? We won an election. That’s a good thing. Now let’s represent the Kingdom to which we owe our true allegiance. TheKingdom of God.

Longing Just To Bring Something That's Of Worth
11/7/2004 7:54:25 PM
I did something different tonight at church. I asked the people of the church to bring something that had special meaning to them...something for God. It could be a poem, a song, a painting, a drawing, a photo, or any other object that helped them make a connection to God or made them think of Him. Or it could be something they just wanted to bring to offer Him. I was moved by their offerings. One lady had an old tattered Bible her father used to study. He had been a preacher. Some had songs. Some poems. One teen boy even grabbed his new girlfriend by the hand and brought her to the podium with him, saying he thanked God for giving her to him to love. It was an amazing little service. All of God's children, young and old, bringing an offering of the heart for their God. At the end we replayed a song from the evening as flags emerged from all over the place. It turned into a celebration. What a wonderful moment we shared. My hope is that it moved God as much as it moved His children.

The 2004 Elections
11/10/2004 8:25:15 AM
(Excerpt from my article THE 2004 ELECTIONS: WHAT THE REVOLT WAS ALL ABOUT.)
After nearly half a century of using the Supreme Court of the United States of America to mold our society contrary to the will of the people, liberal royalty fiddled while Pat Buchanan’s Cultural Revolution was burning in our streets, our churches, and our living rooms. They mocked him; laughed him to scorn. They aren’t laughing today. Hollywood belittled people of faith by creating caricatures of fundamentalist Christians as Bible-toting pumpkins too stupid to take seriously. They are taking them seriously today. Court decisions concerning abortion on demand, prayer in school, and pornography as free speech were just the beginning. Middle America could see the writing on the wall. Instead of capitulating, however, the majority availed themselves of the one right not even the Supreme Court could steal from them: the right of self-determination at the ballot box—the ultimate balance of power.

Harvesters!
11/12/2004 7:48:58 AM
A wonderful friend of mine from North Carolina shared something with me today that moved me. She mentioned that Jesus looked out over the fields which were white unto harvest and declared: THE FIELDS ARE RIPE. PRAY THAT GOD WILL SEND HARVESTERS UNTO THE HARVEST. Not planters. Not weeders. Not waterers. Not nurturers. Of course all of those things are necessary if we are going to see a plentiful harvest, but Jesus stated something that should be obvious to us yet somehow eludes us: The harvest is already ripe! We can’t ignore today’s harvest by planning for next season’s crop. All of our talk about reaching out to the poor one day is meaningless if the poor who are knocking at our door even now are turned away because they are dirty, stink, or dress distastefully. The broken, the poor, and the lonely are crying out for help…ripened for harvesting for a dedicated servant with a passion for souls. Oh God, send more harvesters to our church. As a pastor, I can always find someone who is willing to “say” something or give a weekend or two every year. What I truly need are harvesters who can see with their eyes the opportunity for gathering in the fruit of the land into the barns of His Kingdom.

Disappointment
11/16/2004 10:13:36 AM
Disappointment is vicious little creature. It slithers into your life from out of the shadows, from out of nowhere, suddenly interrupting the joy of serving in this blessed Kingdom of our Lord. Anytime one interacts with human beings he finds ample occasion for disappointment to rear its wicked head. People let you down. They oftentimes do not appreciate your sacrifice. They say things—outrageous things—without pausing to consider the truth of their words and how they could hurt you. Sometimes, it isn’t what people say but what they do that opens the door for the darkness of disappointment to enter in. I personally have experienced days when I felt like I was on both top of the world and also at the bottom of the pit, simply by reacting to something said to me or done to me. What I remember in those moments of dark reflection—in those times when the ugly side of humanity creeps into my soul—is that my work here in this Kingdom isn’t done for the benefit of my reputation, my name, or my well-being but is rather done for His sake, in His name, for the expansion of the Kingdom. If they don’t appreciate/love/respect/honor/trust/bless me, they first didn’t offer him those things. They hate me because they first hated me. They hurt me because they first hurt him. And if I should happen to reach a loss soul today, they will listen to me because they have first heard Him speaking in their innermost being. Away!!! You listless, vicious creature of the night! Back to your shadows! I refuse to let you steal my joy this day.!

Kids
11/17/2004 6:47:49 AM
Children are the treasure of the Kingdom of God. A smile on the face of a kid is priceless. Unscathed by the ruthlessness of time and experience, most children are filled with wonder and interest in the things of the spirit. Nothing captivates a young mind more than a discussion about heaven and hell. Praise and worship pours from the joyous lips of dancing kids. I love it when they are being dropped off in front the church and they come drizzling into the sanctuary, running up to me and jumping into my arms. I scoop them up and hug then and spin them around as they laugh and tell me all their stories from school or from home. Their passion for joy renews me. Their faith in God humbles me. Many of these children do not even have parents who will bring them to church. They depend upon the grace of very special adults who take the time and effort to expose their vehicle to raging children in an attempt to assure them spiritual instruction and Godly attention. I love kids. I think that’s why they love me.

How I'm doing?
11/18/2004 3:53:14 PM
I was just responding to a letter from a dear friend, telling her what was going on with me. In a moment of reflection, I listened to the sounds around me. My wife cooking supper in the kitchen (always a work of art and passion.) Rain pounding on my solid rooftop, washing away the multi-colored leaves of the hardwoods in my yard. Music rising and falling from the other side of the house, setting a mood perfect for reflection. Laughter rings in my ears and fills my throat at the stories my nephew shares with me. Suddenly, I find it difficult to recall just what seemed so stressful about my life earlier today. I've certainly been blessed by God. He is such a perfect God. He knows exactly what my heart desires. I guess I would have to say that I am doing very nicely...Thanks!

Vacationing in Houma
11/22/2004 1:32:56 PM
I'm with my brother and his family in Houma, Louisiana today. His youngest, Amanda, is simply the most amazing little girl. I could listen to her talk for hours. I could watch her prance around as if she owned the whole world all day long. It is so fun to watch her enjoy her life. My brother has done a wonderful job with his kids...and with his church. Being here with him is great because I get to remind him of where he came from. I get to be his big brother and boss him around. I get to laugh and tussle and trade licks with him like we were still just a couple of teenagers aggravating mom and dad. I am proud of my little brother. He's done very well for himself...and for the Kingdom of God.

Tornado
11/24/2004 5:15:17 PM
The people of Olla, Louisiana need your prayers. The town is simply devastated. I have never seen anything like it: People milling about through their possessions which have been cast about for hundreds of yards and mingled with their neighbors', tossed like some sort of surreal salad...rooftops, furniture, and clothing scattered everywhere. The sound of chain saws replacing the sound of the wails that were heard by the volunteers during the night in the immediate aftermath of the sudden strike that came without warning. The damage will leave a scar in this community forever. Some of the most peculiar sights to see included a bathtub resting in the arms of a huge oak tree and a trailer turned upside down sitting on its blocks. A huge swath of homes and trees were leveled by the tornado. Tragically, there was loss of life as well as many injuries. Urania's small hospital was overwhelmed. The city is doing the best that it can, with help from the Parish of LaSalle, volunteers and others. Please pray for the people of Olla.

Survival
11/25/2004 3:20:14 PM
These people defy nature's fury the old fashioned way: by surviving! I stand in awe of their resiliency. Perhaps a hundred homes lay wasted in the path of the merciless tornado of November 23, yet there is no desperation, no giving up, no fists raised to the heavens. The people of Olla, Louisiana, like a bed of ants, quickly zip to and fro in an attempt to repair the damage to their lives. Those who, in the eerie midnight hours when the rain soaked them through shredded ceilings, wondered if they would ever smile again are already laughing with friends and hugging neighbors. Sure, moments come when a deep breath is needed to digest the mountain set before them, but to a person they will tell you this one thing: “I have so much to be thankful for.” Every one of them gives thanks to their maker for their new appreciation for the very breath He has given them. People are pouring over the horizon like hordes of gift-bearing locusts to help the victims of this crime of nature. Line workers, social workers, local and not-so-local volunteers are all there trying to restore electricity, and a sense of normalcy, to these stricken bastions of hope by cooking food, cutting logs, hauling trash, and salvaging the scattered treasures of their lives. Governmental agencies and the Red Cross are doing their job. National Guardsmen have been called in to help. Our District Office has offered to help our church reach out to the community. This town has seen so much over the last few years. These people were abandoned by big business as the two large plants which sustained the community suddenly closed down, leaving them without work. The entire town suffered for weeks in a search for a lost, elderly loved-one with Alzheimer’s who had disappeared one day only to be discovered deceased in an abandoned field. We wept with those from the town who got the news that their family members would not be coming home from the war in Iraq. Now this. Somehow, watching the determination in their eyes, their furrowed brows and jutting chins that have dealt with so much for one little town, I look out over the work ahead of them and am pulling for the people of Olla, Louisiana. Indeed, these country folk can survive!

Cleanup
11/29/2004 9:05:54 AM
I have even more respect today for the National Guard. These guys are amazing and efficient. They have been so helpful in the process of cleaning up in the aftermath of the killer tornado. Every four or five minutes, one of those huge National Guard trucks exits the devastated area of Olla, loaded down with the broken pieces of people's lives, headed to the landfill ten miles away. Filled with twisted trees, shattered rafters and walls, ripped and tattered furniture, these trucks have become a constant in the community. One exits the area as another is returning: a steady stream for days now. Can there be that much destruction in the world? The helpers are hanging tough. Electricity is slowly restored. Plenty of food is being provided. These victims are determined to restore peace and security to their lives...with a little more appreciation for its blessings.