The Pursuit of Happiness...or Humility?

If you are a dad with daughters, do yourself a favor and invest in Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Dr. Meg Meeker. The book is chock-full of practical advice I wish I'd read nine years ago before Trae was born. Here's a take from Chapter Four on the necessity of a dad to teach his daughter humility:

"Parents always say they don't care what their kids do as long as they're happy. As the mother of four, I understand this. I am incredibly selfish. If my kids are happy, I sleep better at night and enjoy my days more.

But think about this: Is that really what you and I want for our daughters? Should happiness be the goal toward which they work?

We all pursue happiness. It's our constitutional right. And happiness is a great state of being. But if you teach your daughter that happiness is her 'arrival point,' it could make her miserable. Here's why.

If she makes happiness her goal, you and she will discover that there are thousands of things that might make her feel good. Perhaps it's securing a Rhodes scholarship. Or maybe it's having a baby at fifteen. Or maybe it's the uninhibited expression of her beliefs to the point of wearing T-shirts that say '---- Authority!'

The problem with making happiness her goal is the lack of guardrails. A goal of happiness can become a justification for self-indulgence. It can encourage selfishness. It can be how children become 'spoiled.' And, most important, it can actually lead to unhappiness, as there are no limits to a child's -- or an adult's -- 'wants,' and these wants never ultimately satisfy a deeper need. So happiness remains out of reach.

The paradox is that happiness is truly found only when it is routinely denied. In my practice, the happiest girls are always the ones who live with humility. The unhappiest girls are the ones who are most self-indulgent in their pursuit of happiness.

If you think about this, it makes perfect sense. Self-indulgence is easy and takes no strength of character. Eating four pies feels good while you're doing it, but it will leave you feeling sick and make you fat. Watching soap operas rather than doing homework might seem like fun, but it won't prepare you for life after high school. Having sex whenever you want and with whomever you want might feel good, for a while...until you contract a sexually transmitted disease, or get pregnant, or find yourself deeply depressed.

Humility teaches us rules and self-restraint, that we're part of a larger community and need to work together for the good of the whole. Humility teaches responsibility, and it teaches us to consider the needs of others. It tells us to look outward rather than focusing obsessively on ourselves, and it reminds us that we aren't the only ones who count.

The result is that girls with humility experience the real joy and happiness that comes only from strong, healthy relationships with family, friends, and others. We have rules to keep our relationships healthy. And among these rules is denying ourselves so that we can help others.

If you teach your daughter to be good rather than simply happy, she will become both. Teaching your daughter humility is a wonderful gift. And it can be taught only by example" (86-87, 92).

Revival

The history of Judah tells the sad tale of a people loved by God who did not love God in return. The result, as forecast by Jeremiah, was seventy years of bondage in Babylon. At the end of the seventy years, Cyrus king of Persia became sympathetic to the plight of the Jews in his homeland and allowed them to return to their homeland. They returned in three waves: first, led by Zerubbabel, a group returned to begin repopulating Jerusalem; second, led by Ezra, a group returned to rebuild the ransacked temple; third, led by Nehemiah, a group returned to rebuild the wall around the city of Jerusalem.

What is interesting, and poignant for our day, is the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah that led to a spiritual revival in Judah. The revival in Jerusalem wasn't just one of architectural reconstruction for the spiritual life of the nation was also being reconstructed through the spiritual leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah.

When you get some time, read Ezra 9 and 10, Nehemiah 1, and Nehemiah 8 & 9. Those chapters comprise a powerful testimony for the potential of the people of God when godly leaders pray. The revival in Judah was born of the prayers of Ezra and Nehemiah and their determination to call people back to God.

Perhaps the apostles were influenced by the stories of the prayer life of Ezra and Nehemiah. When a dilemma arises in Acts 6 over the neglect of the first church to care for the needs of the Grecian widows, the apostles called on the church to identify seven men to care for the need so that the apostles could "give our attention to prayer and to the ministry of the word" (Acts 6.5). The result? "...the Word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly" (Acts 6.7).

Growth without and revival within is clearly born from the prayers of God's people, especially those placed in positions of leadership among God's people.

All Things Baseball

On Friday afternoon in Bakersfield, John Hollett's Selma Bears capped off an amazing run through the Division III Valley Baseball playoffs, knocking off South 5-1. Saturday's Fresno Bee had a great article, highlighting the game and the difficult year it has been for John: first brain surgery, then the tragic passing of his mother. The team dedicated the season to their coach and now they all enjoy the fruit of their hard-work, determination and focus.

Click here to read the excellent article about John and his championship team.

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Mandy and I were blessed to spend our Memorial Day evening in the Bay Area as we watched the Oakland Athletics and the Texas Rangers. Brandon and Laura Nutt from Kelseyville invited us to take in the game with them and we had a wonderful time reuniting with some dear Christian friends.

Anyone who has read this blog much in the past knows my affinity for Rangers' baseball. I love the Rangers...but they are brutal to behold this year. Following last night's loss to the A's, the Rangers now find themselves tied with Cincinnati of the worst record in baseball (18-33, .353), 12 1/2 games back of Anaheim for last in the AL West, and owners of a 6-game losing streak.

Having now watched the Rangers in person, I can honestly say the product is no better in person than it is via television. Many of the go-to guys, i.e. Michael Young, Mark Teixeira, Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, etc. do not resemble themselves.

It's painful to watch.

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After last week's stop in San Diego, where John Etherton and I enjoyed the Cubs/Padres game, I have now been privileged to catch a game in each of the five Major League ballparks in California. One of the real blessings of living in California -- as a passionate fan of baseball -- is all five ballparks are closer to Fresno than any Major League ballpark was to our former home in Arkansas.

So, here's how I rate the California ballparks:

#5 -- McAfee Coliseum, Oakland

Since the Raiders returned to Oakland and imposed the massive upper deck in the outfield, blocking the view of the Oakland hills, this ballpark has to be one of the worst in the big leagues. The concourses are old. The concession venues are old. Everything is just...old.

#4 -- Angel Stadium, Anaheim

The reverse of Oakland. The Angels took out the outfield bleachers and put in a clever, rock-like landscape beyond the outfield fence. The proximity of the park to all the great Orange County offerings is a plus, but the park itself is dated. Plus, Angel Stadium is home to the Rally Monkey. Enough said.

#3 -- Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

The stadium oozes tradition and for an older ballpark, it maintains a lot of character and charm. Like Yankee Stadium, one feels as though they are on hallowed baseball ground inside of Dodger Stadium. Our trip there included seats in the all-you-can-eat section and while the Dodger Dogs are good, I found them to be overrated (sorry Steve). Also, the access into and out of Chavez Ravine is extremely difficult, i.e. time consuming.

#2 -- Petco Park, San Diego

The newest ballpark in California is an asymmetrical marvel. From the playing field to the grandstands, the asymmetrical design of the stadium is genius, especially the design of the stadium around the nearly 100 year old Western Metal Supply Building. The setting in downtown San Diego, with the high-rise buildings for a backdrop, is gorgeous. I must say the concession staple, Fish Tacos, are out of this world!

#1 -- AT&T Park, San Francisco

Still my all-time favorite ballpark (with PNC Park in Pittsburgh a close second). The view from the upper deck of the Bay and the Oakland hills is breathtaking. And the setting on the Embarcadero is incredible. The concessions are great, the concourses are wide and spacious, and the views are unmatched.

In Memory of the Savior's Love

There's a lot of pride to go around in the on-field accomplishments of two of Woodward Park's own. First, Tayler Williams and her softball team from Central High School played in the Division I Valley Championship softball game on Thursday afternoon against Clovis High School. Central fell to Clovis, 8-4, ending Tayler's high school softball career as a member of the Valley's second-best high school softball team.

Later today, John Hollett's Selma baseball team will play in the Division III Valley Championship baseball game. John's team has to go to Bakersfield to play South High School, but after talking with John on Thursday, he is very confident in his team's chances. In fact, John told me he'd motivated his team throughout their playoff run with a motto from something I'd said in a sermon earlier this year: "It is hard to discourage someone who is focused." John, after you guys bring home the title later today, I'm expecting to get a championship ring!

As a die-hard baseball fan, it is exciting to see our people being rewarded with great success!

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This weekend marks the 50th Anniversary of Yosemite Bible Camp in Oakhurst, California. There is a reunion at the camp this weekend. I am excited about speaking to the assembly at the camp on Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. Mark McInteer, the Executive Director of the 21st Century Christian Foundation in Nashville, will be the keynote speaker on Sunday. The theme for the weekend is "Come Home to God's Mountain" and all the messages center around a significant mountain-event in Scripture. I have been assigned "The Mount Of Olives: Talking to God."

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Also this weekend, my family will be blessed to have John Wiegand with us. John is the outstanding song leader for the Pleasant View Church of Christ in Pleasanton and the editor for the Praise for the Lord hymnal, published by 21st Century Christian.

In addition to our shared passion for ministry, we share a passion for the game of baseball. John will be with us at Woodward Park all day on Sunday to lead singing for both of our assemblies.

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Keep several of us in your prayers this morning as we will be meeting with the director of a Women's Shelter in Fresno for at-risk women/mothers. There are 48 units in this facility, all of which are filled with mothers and children from abuse situations. Our desire is to begin a Wednesday evening program at that facility where members from Woodward Park will go down to provide Bible studies/classes for the women and the children. It is another opportunity before us to expand our witness throughout Fresno and I ask you to pray specifically that the director will receive our proposal with an affirmation for this ministry opportunity.

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Finally this morning, I hope you'll find some time this weekend to reflect on the ultimate memorial -- the memorial to the memory of Jesus Christ. As believers, we are privileged each first day of the week in our worship assembly to remember Jesus through the taking of the bread and the cup.

The irony of the Lord's Supper -- a memorial to Jesus, instituted by Jesus himself -- is that it stands in stark contrast to all other memorials. For instance, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. is in memory of one of our nation's greatest Presidents, who has been dead now for 142 years.

The Lord's memorial, in contrast, is in memory of our Savior's love -- a Savior who is not dead but alive! What a blessing we have each Sunday to remember, not only the death of Jesus that provides for our redemption, but the life of Jesus who is reigning even now at the right hand of God. In memory of the Savior's love, we keep the sacred feast, not to a dead Savior but to a living One!

Joe Boe Update

Here's an update this morning on Joe from an email I received from John Ed. Let's all keep Joe ever before the Lord during this time:

Lorry called tonight. She said the doctor called Joe on the phone tonight and informed him the pathology tests came out positive. This means the cancer had spread outside the prostate. They understood the doctor to say there wouldn't be any additional treatment at this time except to keep a close watch on the PSA blood tests. If the PSA results go up, then radiation will be required. Hopefully this will not be the case. Needless to say, they are disappointed. We all need to keep praying.

Life in the Tent City

Sorry for the blogless Monday. We had some internet server issues at the office on Monday and by the time things were up and running, my schedule was too full to carve out any time to post.

Today, John Etherton and I are traveling to San Diego to visit Joe at the VA Hospital. Joe underwent surgery last Friday to remove his prostate following a cancer diagnosis. The full pathology report hasn't been given, but the early returns are good.

Continue to keep Joe in your prayers as he recovers from his surgery.

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When it was apparent that Joe would have his surgery at the San Diego VA, I suggested he schedule it around the Padres being in town.

Being the baseball fan that he is, Joe obliged.

So this evening following our visit, John -- a die hard Padres fan -- and I will be in Petco Park to watch the Padres and the Cubs.

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Sunday's Fresno Bee had a very enlightening article about homelessness entitled "The Homeless: Myths, Facts and Hopes." Through our ministry downtown, the plight of the homeless has become a very real ministry endeavor for the Woodward Park Church. On Sunday, we had eight homeless persons in our assembly. Our work downtown is reaping dividends, with one of the ladies being baptized last Sunday.

Hopefully, one of the hurdles to our outreach has been crossed with the realization that many we'd reached out were hesitant to come for fear of missing lunch. The Poverello House serves lunch on Sunday to the homeless, but many we'd invited to our assembly were afraid that if they came, they wouldn't make it back in time to be served.

Thankfully, some of our members have taken the initiative to be sure their need for physical food is met, providing them with lunch each Sunday following our assembly. The marriage of their physical nourishment with the spiritual food of God's Word should, I pray, reap a harvest for the kingdom.

Several points in Hedberg's editorial caught my eye. For example: "almost one in five homeless is working. The major victims of homelessness are children. Very few people choose to be homeless. Most are forced into homelessness by circumstances, such as losing work, lack of affordable housing and the absence of a supportive family or social network."

"According to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, families and children make up the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. The Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated that families with children comprise 40% of the homeless population."

"If current trends continue, by the year 2025, multi-millions of American children will have spent at least part of their childhood without a home."

I am grateful to be a part of a church that values the mission of Jesus, not just to feed the impoverished food, but to feed them the Word of God. To serve as a teaching community of the eternal values of a benevolent God. To make a difference to the lost and the least because "whatever you do for the least of these, you did to me" (Jesus).

TGIF

My little sis, if I do say so myself, is quite the wordsmith in her most recent blog entry devoted to my daughter's ninth birthday. Check it out here.

And thanks, Mel! Trae is lucky to have you for her Aunt Meme.

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I enjoyed spending some time with Paul, our new youth minister, on Thursday afternoon. We took in the Clovis West/Central softball game in the Valley Quarterfinals at Clovis West. One of the most recent additions to our church family, Tayler Williams, who just happens to be a Senior at Central High School, is one of the stars on their team.

Central entered the game as the #7 seed in the Valley, a decided underdog against #2 seed Clovis West. CW had beaten Central three times already during the regular season.

They say it is tough to beat a team three times in one season. What about four?

Central pulled the shocker Thursday afternoon, knocking off CW 3-2. Tayler played awesome, especially showing her defensive prowess at second base.

Tonight, John Hollett's Selma High School baseball team plays their second game in the Valley Division III. As the #4 seed, John's gang already has one win under the belt.

Also tonight, the Woodward Park softball team returns to action at 8:00 pm at the Bethany Church softball complex (Shepherd and Maple), looking to improve to 4-0.

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Last night, a big gang of the families from WPCoC took in the Grizzlies game at Chukchansi Park. The Grizzlies knocked off the Salt Lake Bees 8-2 (or was it 8-3). I can't remember because the fellowship was so enjoyable. We had about four rows full of moms, dads and kids, laughing and enjoying the company of friends. Thanks, Rich and Jennifer McDermott, for your planning in pulling together a fun night for everyone.

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Finally, but most importantly, today is a day of prayer for all of us in the Woodward Park family. I hope all of you, far and near who visit this blog, will be diligent in prayer today for Joe Boe.

Joe is our Associate Minister at Woodward Park whose primary gift is in the ministry of Evangelism. Joe is very gifted at teaching the Word to non-believers and leading them to faith in Jesus Christ. He is passionate in pursuing the Great Commission of Jesus, be it at home or abroad in far-flung places such as Ethiopia. Joe is an asset to our church family and in just nine months, has become a dear friend and confidant to me.

Today, Joe is undergoing a 10-hour surgical procedure at the V.A. Hospital in San Diego for prostate cancer. Joe comes from a family history linked to prostate cancer and his doctors were adamant about the necessity of this surgery.

I'm asking that all throughout the day, you will be diligent to pray for Joe, for the skill of the medical personnel providing his care, but most importantly, for the Great Physician to be in charge and in control of today and the days ahead as Joe heals.

Burden Bearing

"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ"

(Galatians 6.2)

"Notice the assumption which lies behind this command, namely that we all have burdens and that God does not mean us to carry them alone. Some people try to. They think it a sign of fortitude not to bother other people with their burdens. Such fortitude is certainly brave. But it is more stoical than Christian. Others remind us that we are told in Psalm 55.22 to 'cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you,' and that the Lord Jesus invited the heavy-laden to come to him and promised to give them rest (Matthew 11.28). They therefore argue that we have a divine burden-bearer who is quite adequate, and that it is a sign of weakness to require any human help. This too is a grievous mistake. True, Jesus Christ alone can bear the burden of our sin and guilt; he bore it all in his own body when he died on the cross. But this is not so with our other burdens -- our worries, temptations, doubts and sorrows. Certainly, we can cast these burdens on the Lord as well. We can cast all our care on him since he cares for us (1 Peter 5.7). But remember that one of the ways in which he bears these burdens of ours is through human friendship.

A striking example of this principle is given us in the career of the apostle Paul. At one stage in his life he was terribly burdened. He was worried to death over the Corinthian church and in particular about their reaction to a rather severe letter which he had written to them. His mind could not rest, so great was his suspense. 'We were afflicted at every turn,' he wrote, 'fighting without and fear within.' Then he continued: "But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus' (2 Corinthians 7.5-6). God's comfort was not given to Paul through his private prayer and waiting upon the Lord, but through the companionship of a friend and through the good news which he brought.

Human friendship, in which we bear one another's burdens, is part of the purpose of God for his people. So we should not keep our burdens to ourselves, but rather seek a Christian friend who will help to bear them with us" (John R.W. Stott, The Message of Galatians, p. 157-8).

Happy #9 Trae Girl

Dear Trae Girl,

Wow! Today you are turning nine-years old. The time has gone so, so fast!

I can remember it like it was yesterday bringing you home from the hospital. The day of your birth in Gainesville, Florida was one of the most precious days of my life. The Bible tells us that children are a gift from the Lord and the first time I held you, well, I felt as if heaven were in my hands.

Trae, you are an angel to me and mommy. We struggle to understand how fortunate we are to have been chosen by God to be your parents. As God's gift to me and mommy, you have brought us joy, happiness, laughter and so many wonderful memories.

Seeing you at jazz and ballet is to behold pure grace. To watch you play with your friends is pure delight. Playing pitch with you is pure fun. Watching you help your little sister around the house and at the park is pure service. Seeing you ride a horse is pure fulfillment. Reading with you at night is pure bliss.

I know the last two years of have been tough for you, what with changing schools as we have moved. I think you so much your young faith that has looked upon these challenges for what they are -- your parents best effort at following the lead of God in the life of our family. I want you to know today, as you turn nine-years old, how incredibly proud I am of you. You have handled every challenge in your young life with great courage. You are a brave young lady, beautiful inside and out.

As your daddy, I want you to know that I consider you not only a gift from God and a wonderful daughter, but I consider you to be one of my very best friends in the whole world. Thank you for all the things you have taught me about enjoying life, about laughter, and about love.

Have a great birthday, Trae Girl! And always remember, your daddy thinks the world of you!

I Love You Sweetheart,

Dad

The Good Old Days are Now

Life is good.

The WPCoC softball team improved to 3-0 with a 21-3 win on Friday night. Attendance Sunday surpassed the 800 mark for the fifth time in the last eight weeks. Esteban Parra was baptized into Jesus. Eight others recommitted their lives in some way to Jesus. The ministry downtown resumed on Saturday with a food and clothes give-away to the homeless. Our new youth minister, Paul Cartwright and his wife April, arrived to begin their new ministry among our teens.

Life is good.

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My little sis has joined blogdom. She has some great pictures of my little niece and nephew poolside yesterday afternoon. I can't wait to finally meet those two personally one month from today!

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I'm rereading one of my favorite little baseball books written by the voice of the Giants and ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, Jon Miller. In his book, Confessions of a Baseball Purist, Miller tells about "what's right and wrong with baseball as seen from the best seat in the house."

In one chapter, he talks about how waxing nostalgic seems to inevitably result in looking upon preceding generations as superior while looking with extreme cynicism on the current state of things; of looking at the present as inferior.

It happens within baseball. It happens in politics. It certainly happens within churches.

That cynical belief that twenty, thirty, fifty years ago were the "good old days" and that in every way, today doesn't compare with yesterday. Time has a way of magnifying our nostalgia, resulting in a bigger-than-life memory of yesterday that might not be in tune with the reality of yesterday. Miller calls it a "blind spot" -- the cynicism that today must always be viewed as inferior to yesterday.

And when it comes to baseball, that means seeing yesterday's game as superior in every way to today's game. For example, here's a sampling of quotes Miller injects into his book:

"The great trouble with baseball today is that most of the players are in the game for the money" (Ty Cobb in 1925).

"Baseball today is not what it should be. It makes me weep to think of the men of the old days and the boys of today. It's positively a shame -- and they are getting big money for it, too" (Bill Joyce, 1916).

"The present crop of big leaguers does not think enough. He feels he has arrived. The result is less intelligent baseball and a bit of laziness" (Tris Speaker, 1926).

"There is no doubt at all in my mind that the old-time ballplayer was smarter than the modern ballplayer. Now the game is all power, lively balls, and shorter fences" ("Wahoo" Sam Crawford, who retired in 1917, offered this opinion in 1960).

Miller's point? Well, twenty, thirty, fifty years from now, folks will look back upon today and, waxing nostalgic, talk about it as "the good old days." Since the good old days are now, Miller asks, shouldn't we enjoy them?

Jesus calls us away from gazing at tomorrow because today has plenty to command our attention (see Matthew 6.25-34). Paul reminds us that yesterday and cannot command our focus (see Philippians 3.12-16).

As the words of the old proverb say: "Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery. Today's a gift, that is why it is called the 'Present.'"

So have a great day...living in the "good old days."

Faith through Female Eyes

I read Scripture as a man, analyzing and studying the lives of the heroes of faith, most of whom are men.

It hit me a couple of Wednesday evenings ago as we talked about the faith of Ruth and Naomi that, were I born a female, I wonder who would be my primary faith-hero?

Ladies, I'd like you to take a moment today and send me an email (jim@wpcoc.com) telling me who your primary faith-hero is and why she (or he) is your primary faith-hero.

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Several years ago, I was teaching a class at Hot Springs Village, bridging off one of Steven Covey's seven habits ("begin with the end in mind"). I asked the class members to think of what they'd like written on their tombstone.

I'll never forget Trish Frazier's response. With a determined look and a steady voice, Trish said, "I'd like my tombstone to read, 'She was a Proverbs 31 woman,' and have no one who reads those words laugh."

How many times I've heard a sister declare, "The Proverbs 31 woman is an impossible calling! I'm a Christian woman...not Wonder Woman!"

As a Christian male, I shudder to think of the missing pieces of my faith were it not for the wonderful stories of Naomi and Ruth. Of Hannah. And what about the priority demonstrated in the focus of Mary's faith in contrast to Martha's busy-ness?

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With Sunday being Mother's Day, I am eternally grateful to be the son of a true Proverbs 31 woman. My mom taught me Jesus, not just with her words and not only by singing to me in the swing as a child, but through her sterling example of faith. Her daily commitment throughout my life to model Christ has left an indelible impression on my life and my ministry.

So, Happy Mother's Day Mom. What you've taught me by how you've lived has made an eternal difference. Know that my prayers are full of thanksgiving to God for having given me you for a mother!

Preaching Priorities

Thanks to my good friends, John Wiegand (Editor of the Praise for the Lord hymnal) and Mark Guy (Minister for the Pleasant View Church of Christ in Pleasanton), I was privileged to take in the Monday evening Giants/Mets game from AT&T Park. It was a perfect end to a perfect weekend!

An unseasonably warm night in the City by the Bay made it ideal for baseball. The Giants won the game 9-3 and we were able to witness history as Giants catcher, Bengie Molina, hit two home runs in the same inning, the first Giant to do so in 30 years.

My first night game experience at AT&T was awesome and the new Hi-Def scoreboard and video boards, obviously installed in anticipation of the All-Star game at the ballpark, are incredible!

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I am coming to a place in my life where my preaching priorities are undergoing a radical reorientiation.

It all began with an invitation around Christmas to my mentor, Dale Mannon, to speak at our Spiritual Growth Workshop in the fall. Dale is one of the best preachers I know; a brother of immense sincerity, depth and wisdom. As I pressed Dale for a commitment to be one of our speakers, he shared with me honestly, "Jim, I'd love to come...but not if it means I miss my son's football game on Friday night."

We were able to work the schedule around Dale's commitment to his son and he will be with us, speaking three times on Thursday. He'll catch a flight home to Lubbock, arriving at 3:00 pm allowing him ample time to make his son's game on Friday night.

I wonder sometimes, in the era of celebrity, about the celebrity factor within the church. I wonder about those who, at all cost, seek out invitations to speak as a means of promoting their latest book. I wonder about the heavy PR emphasis on promoting materials in addition to promoting Jesus. I wonder how deeply ingrained the mission of Paul might be among my colleagues today: "We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your servants for Jesus's sake" (2 Corinthians 4.5).

What refreshed me -- and reoriented my priorities -- was Dale's unashamed commitment to his children. Did he want to come to Fresno to participate in our workshop? Absolutely, but not at the expense of teaching his son that his career in ministry meant more to him than the commitment he'd made to his son.

As Mark Guy and I visited at the game on Monday night, he relayed to me an incident when a church was interviewing him for their vacant preaching position. He was asked by the search committee about his commitment to ministry. His reply? "This church will have many ministers long after I'm gone but my children will only have one daddy. I believe my first priority must be to my children."

I respect that. I admire that. And I want to be like that -- not driven by the desire of the next out-of-town speaking opportunity but driven by the desire to be faithful and focused at home.

Acapella Worship

How was your weekend? Mine was awesome! Here's some highlights:

On Friday night, our church softball team won 32-4. That makes two games (2 wins, 0 losses) with a combined score of 47-8. I'm having a blast being a part of an exceptionally talented team!

On Saturday, Trae and I picked up Brenda Gallardo and then met up with Jamie Perry and Mark Carrasco for a journey to Bakersfield and the Deaf Workshop hosted by the Highland Church of Christ. It was a wonderful and spiritually enriching time. Jose Abenchuchan, who is Deaf and leads the Deaf Ministry at the San Jose Church of Christ in Jacksonville, Florida was the speaker and his presentations were outstanding.

From there, Trae and I journeyed east to the Lake Isabella area where I taught on Sunday at the Mountain Mesa Church of Christ. Our hosts were Terry and Wendy Mullens and their children, Tyler and Heather. They treated us like royalty and we now feel especially blessed to personally know about 70 people with whom we will spend eternity!

Incidentally, the Lake Isabella area is absolutely gorgeous (as shown in the picture). The magnificent blue lake nestled into the mountains is proof-positive of the majesty of God's creative hand!

On our journey back to Fresno Sunday night, I received a voice mail on my phone from Jamie relaying to me that Judy Eberwein's friend, Lulu -- who lives in the Los Angeles area -- was baptized on Sunday at the conclusion of the Deaf Workshop. My family has fallen in love with Judy -- she has been a wonderful teacher in helping us learn ASL. Now, Judy has been used by God to share her faith with one of her dearest friends who is now her sister.

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For all you Woodward Park'ers, I know you were blessed to hear from John Smith yesterday. In light of his presentations -- especially the central thesis of his argument for acapella worship -- I want to share with you some of my own thoughts from a blog last year:

One of the distinctives of our heritage in the churches of Christ has historically been our commitment to acapella (Latin for “in the style of the chapel/church”) singing in the worship assembly. But why has acapella singing been a hallmark of our heritage?

It is important to remember that as descendants of the Restoration Movement, our aim has always been to restore faith and practice as described in the New Testament. When one studies the worship assemblies of the New Testament, no where is instrumental music mentioned as a feature of worship.

“But Jim, what about David? Didn’t he play his harp in praise to the Lord? And what about temple worship in the Old Testament? Doesn’t the Old Testament speak of instruments within temple worship? And what about the end of time? Doesn’t Scripture say the very second coming of Jesus will be signaled by the blowing of a trumpet? And aren’t the praises of God in heaven going to be accompanied by instruments?”

Those questions form the basis to many of the objections I have heard voiced to me personally regarding our historical position of singing without instruments. But my response to those questions is this: our aim in the churches of Christ, as descendants of a Restoration Heritage, isn’t to restore the worship of David, the temple or even to seek to duplicate the worship of heaven. Our aim is to restore the faith and practice of the first churches as revealed in Scripture. And the revelation of Scripture is that the first churches used their voice alone in praise and worship to God.

In Ephesians 5, Paul describes a clear evidence of a Spirit-filled Christian when he says they “speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5.18-20). Elsewhere, Paul told the Colossian church that the proof of the indwelling Word of Christ in a believer’s life is seen in a commitment to “teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and…sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3.16).

Ironically, some of our Restoration leaders had a hang-up over the validity of even vocal singing to God. Men like Thomas Campbell interpreted the Scriptural injunction to “make music in your heart” and “sing…with gratitude in your hearts” as a prohibition against vocal singing since the over-arching emphasis in the language of Scripture was upon the heart, not the mouth or voice. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard a person advance the argument against acapella singing on the basis some of our Restoration leaders did, but that argument was a very real discussion in the early days of the churches of Christ in North America.

Practically speaking, the voice is the only instrument God had a direct hand in creating. And theologically, historically and practically, I am supportive of our historical/biblical position in the churches of Christ to worship God corporately with acapella singing.

Awaiting a Wonderful Weekend

Tonight at 9:00 p.m. at the Bethany Church softball complex, the Woodward Park Church of Christ co-ed softball team will retake the diamond. Last week, we kicked off the season with a 15-4 win.

I had a blast playing last week and look forward to being back out on the diamond tonight. It's the first competitive softball I've played in about six years. Last Saturday, on the heels of my first game back, I laid around all day, moaning about the soreness that had overtaken me.

What I learned from my first experience on the WPCoC team was this: (1) our team is pretty good and (2) I'm not nearly as young as I used to be!

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This weekend doesn't provide much opportunity to overcome sore muscles, aches and pains. On Saturday morning, Trae and I will meet up with Jamie Perry. Our plans are to pick up one of the newest members of the Woodward Park family, Brenda Gallardo, who was contacted via our downtown outreach to the less-fortunate, and make our way to Bakersfield.

Jamie, Trae and I are going to participate in a workshop for the Deaf at the Highland Church of Christ. Brenda is going to spend the day reconnecting with her daughter who lives in Bakersfield. Mandy and Tori are staying behind to participate in the Ladies Day at Woodward Park on Saturday.

Following the workshop, Trae and I will continue on our journey to Lake Isabella to teach/preach there on Sunday. John Smith, a former minister at Woodward Park and the current preaching minister for the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma church, will be in Fresno following the Pepperdine Lectures and will speak. John's presence allows me to fulfill an invitation extended to me from Terry Mullen. I met Terry and his family two years ago at Tahoe where Trae and Terry's daughter, Heather, became the best of friends during the week. Trae is excited about reuniting with Heather and our time in Lake Isabella will afford them the opportunity to play together. I'll be speaking on the theme of discipleship.

I hope you have a blessed weekend and are looking forward to the opportunities of spiritual growth and worship afforded on Sunday. I know I am excited!

Walk This Way, Part Two

Yesterday, I shared with you about a walk I had with Trae on Monday evening. The very real way the passing of Christina and Esteban's baby affected me one week ago today has forced me to reevaluate some priorities in my life -- especially with regard to the investment of time I make in my girls.

Last Sunday, one of the dads in our church confessed his struggle in prioritizing his life in order to spend more than adequate time with his daughter. Last night at Prime Time, he and I visited shortly and he shared, "You know, she's already nine years old! I can't believe how fast the time has gone. Her time in our home is already half-over."

Thanks for all your honest email feedback to yesterday's post. Here's just two I want to share with you this morning. The first from a dad:

"Hey, just wanted to email you to thank you for the Blog this morning. It was something I needed to hear. Our children are with us for such a short time of their lives and we give them so little of our time."

And then this one from a mother:

"Loved your blog today and the excerpt from the book. I believe it is almost impossible to talk too much to your children. For all the mistakes my husband and I have made as parents we talk as long as they want to talk to us at night before bed. My memories of summer vacation include all of us crawling into our bed (good thing its king sized) and talking and laughing until after midnight when my husband and I would have to tell them 'we gotta get up in a few hours' and they would go on to bed. At a time when so many of our friends would say they hated summer break with the kids home we were always the opposite. We loved them being home together, no homework, time to be kids for a few months. We sacrificed sleep and time because we loved being with them. We can catch up on our sleep when they are gone. An elder once told me 'you only get one chance to raise each child.'

I was blessed with a mom that talked to me always and is my best friend. Lots of love and listening. When Trae is a teenager these early years of listening to her will help you understand her when she may not be as willing to tell you what is in heart. Like Mary (the mother of Jesus), cherish these things in your heart."

Walk This Way

Last evening, Trae and I went for a walk.

Just because.

Life in ministry is busy. For that matter, life in any career these days is busy. The hectic demands of contemporary life, coupled with the incessant entertainment demands, force life into a break-neck existence. Anymore, nights at home without an agenda are the exception rather than the rule.

And so, last evening, against the backdrop of a beautiful purple-orange sunset in the west, my oldest daughter and I took a walk.

And we talked. We talked about God. We talked about Jesus. We talked about school. We talked about her friends. We talked about her challenges. We talked about her future.

That walk was long sorely overdue and, I must confess, was born of something insightful I read in Michael Farris's wonderful little book What a Daughter Needs from Her Dad: How a Man Prepares His Daughter for Life. The following paragraphs capture a letter Farris received from a friend, Pat, whose father had been a preacher. Despite the ministry load, Pat remembers how her father always had time, i.e. made time, to spend with her:

"My parents lived very busy lives with church activities and lesson/sermon preparation. Dinner was always rushed and my parents were always busy doing something for the church. As an only child, it was sometimes very lonely, except for the almost daily activities revolving around the church. I didn't see much of my mother between her job and the church. As a result, my relationship with my father was much stronger than with my mother.

But for me, the saving aspect of this very chaotic life was our evening walk. Every evening my father wanted to go for a walk around the neighborhood just to unwind. What else was there to do but talk to each other? I learned so much from my father and he became my friend. The time together was the cement in our relationship that weathered the difficult years when peer influences were so strong on me. For most of my contemporaries, the only time they spent with their parents was in front of the TV.

I only got about thirty minutes a day of undivided attention from my father, but that is probably 100 times more than most kids get. It made the difference in my life. To this day, when I go and visit my family, my dad and I go for a walk every evening. It's what I look forward to the most" (55).

Dads, I know your day today will be busy. I know you'll be pressed from all sides. I know demands will be made on your time.

But would you do me a favor? Take one of your children for a walk this evening. Just to talk. Just to be together.

It was the greatest part of my day yesterday; it just might be the greatest part of your day today!