Jim Gardner's blog

New Blog - February 1

2010-01-26T06:18:00.000-08:00

Okay, so the new blog has experienced a one month delay. This time, I PROMISE, it will be taking off next Monday, February 1. A new ministry, some technical glitches, some frustrating email exchanges with Wordpress techs, but finally, the new blog at wordpress is ready to roll. Go to and bookmark www.thewayofthecross.wordpress.com. That'll be the new web address. Talk to you on Monday!

New Blog

2009-12-08T09:40:00.001-08:00

After half-a-year without blogging, I am back. My new blog can be found at www.thewayofthecross.wordpress.com. I hope you will join me there beginning in January for my journey home to Benton and to ministry in my hometown. My new blog will not only chronicle my own personal faith journey but the journey of many friends I've known for a lifetime. It will be full of nostalgia and optimism for the future.

YBC - Day Six

2009-06-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

One of the great blessings to the Woodward Park family is the recent addition of the Garcia family. Herman and Marilynn's children, Herman, Jr., Marcelo, and Angelica have been wonderful at our camp this year!

Destiny and Sheonna. Rumor has it, they made a big splash during the Cannonball competition at the pool on Thursday afternoon.

Mike Avedikian baptizes Mariah Bishel. Mariah participated in our First Principles Day Camp and is a really special young lady.

Matt Holcomb baptizes Cody Hill. Cody was our only non-immersed staffer to help at camp this year, serving as our night watchman. Cody has been active in our college small group and has been prayed for by his family for a long time. Thursday morning before lunch, Cody confessed Jesus and was immersed for forgiveness of his sins.

YBC - Day Five

2009-06-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

The highlight of camp is witnessing an eternity-altering confession. Wednesday night, Mario Ruiz made that confession and was baptized into Jesus by his step-brother, Juan Rivera.

A pre-camper extraordinaire, Page Mercer, thrills Wednesday's campfire with her rendition of the Books of the New Testament song.

Breanne Flint and Iyana Lewis

Back in April, Carol Hinton was rewarded as the five millionth fan to pass through the turnstile at Chukchansi Park. Part of Carol's prize package was a day with Parker, the Fresno Grizzlies mascot. As one of the camp cook staff, Carol decided to have Parker make an appearance at YBC. Here, Parker gets in a few pitches during the older boys' home run derby.

And Parker loves on Carol, who made his special appearance at YBC all possible!

YBC - Day Four

2009-06-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

YBC - Day Three

2009-06-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

YBC - Day Two

2009-06-22T08:48:00.000-07:00

Sunday evening's devo concluded the same way as Saturday's - with a new birth into Jesus Christ! Jacob Cantrell, another Day Camp participant, was immersed for the forgiveness of his sins by his big brother, Josh. What was really cool was to see Jacob arise from the water with both fists clenched, as if his favorite team had just won the World Series.

All 4 Him thrills the camp with their splendid singing.

Tyler Clark and Scott Lock making a fashion statement (and a theological statement)!

Mariah, Ariel, Destiny, Sheonna, and Breanna

Isaac and Carson getting ready to smile for the "howling coyotes, burnt weenies" camp photog!

It's Monday morning at YBC and, officially, there are zero sick campers! Zero sick counselors! Zero sick staffers! The morning air is the in the 50's, there's zero humidity, and the refreshing mercies of the LORD that are new every morning are evident everywhere I look!

YBC - Day One (Father's Day Edition)

2009-06-21T08:55:00.001-07:00

An early Father's Day present - Grady gets to baptize his son, Grant, into Jesus. What a great way to kick-off YBC '09.

Allie, Mutt and Jeff

Shiloh, Amanda, Rachel, Andrei, Grace, and Hannah

Julia, Trae and Madison

YBC '09 is off to a fantastic start! John Etherton, camp nurse, reported getting a full night's sleep without a single interruption! That is huge! Not a single child or their counselor awoke the nurse on the first night with a stomach ailment.

The theme for camp this year is "Rise Again: Destined for His Glory." Mike spoke on "Help, I'm Sinking" from Matthew 14 and riveted the attention of every camper and counselor. No one will look upon a "life preserver" in the same way again. We know for certain Jesus is our only life-saving device.

Grant Lane reached for the life-saving grace of Jesus and was immersed by his daddy, Grady. It was a phenomenal beginning to what promises to be a great week at YBC.

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Dear Dad,

Happy Father's Day! Thank you for every single sacrifice you've made for my life and faith. I am where I am today because of the goodness of my Heavenly Father and the graciousness of you, my earthly father. Your example, your wisdom, your love and your friendship are one of my most treasured possessions. Spring turkey hunting together on Howard Mountain is one of my most treasured memories. Thanks for teaching me what a sacrificial daddy is -- not only with words, but with your example! Thanks for showing by being you a glimpse of our Father in heaven.

I Love You, Dad!

Day Camp - Day Three

2009-06-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

Travis and Jonathan (or is it Richard?) gearing up for the final day.

One of the greatest smiles at Day Camp - Matthew Watkins.

Always good to twist and sway with a Lord's Army to begin the day

The crew looking up a Bible verse. We hit 50 kids for the final day

(43 on Monday, 48 on Tuesday)!

Making an emphatic point, that apparently Corben didn't find to be as profound as was

mugging for the camera.

Lunch was provided by Sonya and the great folks at Riverpark Chick-fil-A on Wednesday. We even got an appearance from the famous CFA cow. With the voice of "Eat More Chikin" is Sydney, one of our great college kids who helped during Day Camp.

Before lunch, we got some great group shots with my favorite hero.

And then it was off to Cal Skate, where Trae and Andrei helped

Julia with her first attempt as skating.

Even Tori got in on the skating.

Robynae - one of my all-time favorites!

Derek and Zack grinning big at Cal Skate.

Carlie (aka the CFA mascot), another one of our great college kids, who helped out.

And then the capper, an event that makes an exhausting three days like

First Principles Day Camp all worth it, as a Daddy asks his daughter

the most important question she'll ever be asked.

And with her confession of Jesus as the Son of God, Allie is baptized into Jesus!

Without question, First Principles Day Camp 2009 will go down in my memory as the best one ever. Granted, it was the first time that I looked out over the camp and saw my own daughter in the group, which alone made the last three days extra special for me.

But beyond that, being with the other kids and watching their interest in Jesus and salvation rise is hard to describe! Each day they came with their homework completed (all done the night before with their parents). To listen to their answers and to discern the evident growth of their young faith over just three days' time was invigorating! The discoveries of their young hearts are birthing a love for Jesus that was last a lifetime.

And what better way to finish it all off than a dad and his daughter together in a baptistery?!

Moms and Dads of Woodward Park, thank you for sharing your children with me for the last three days. Their attitudes, their young hearts' desire to learn of Jesus, and the manners to every volunteer was exemplary! You have much to be proud of in your children!

Day Camp - Day Two

2009-06-17T08:58:00.001-07:00

A great week just keeps getting better. 48 were present on Day Two of First Principles Day Camp. We spent the day looking at the solution to the problem of sin -- Jesus Christ! Since Jesus is the Son of God, his death and resurrection changes everything, including our position before God.

We had a wonderful lunch, expertly prepared by Al Avedikian, Brenda Bethel, Michelle Knutsen, Arlo Ro McCreary, and Pam Reddell.

Following the Bible study and lunch, we had fun playing games in the yard, including kickball. We also enjoyed "The Pirates who don't do Anything" on the church big screen.

Today, Day Camp concludes with the faith response to the work of Jesus. We'll talk at length this morning about repentance and baptism. Following a really great lunch, with a special guest (pictures to come tomorrow), it's an afternoon at Cal Skate. Then, later this evening, the first big highlight of the week as one of the kids, and hopefully the first of several, is reborn in baptism.

Day Camp and Lemonade Stands

2009-06-16T09:14:00.000-07:00

43. Count 'em, 43 4th - 8th graders this year enjoying First Principles Day Camp! The kids seem to be enjoying learning interesting tidbits about each other. Add to the 43 the volunteers helping me and our first day saw 49 involved in Day Camp. We had a great Bible study, enjoyed a wonderful lunch prepared by Katie Hammon, Sandy Liles, and Liza Stanforth before an afternoon of go-karts, laser tag, mini golf, rock wall climbing, and bumper boats at Boomers.

Michael Cliff chuckles at his "Would You Rather?" question in the
get-to-know you kick-off session.

Day Camp is a special ministry for 4th - 8th graders the week before Yosemite Bible Camp. This is my 18th year to do Day Camp and it is always one of the high points of the year for me. We spend two intense hours in Bible study each day, discussing the problem of sin, the solution offered by Jesus Christ the Son of God, and the response of faith in repentance and baptism. Each evening, the kido's have homework which they do with their parents to jump-start the conversation regarding salvation.

Sunday night, the college small group that meets in our home was welcomed to the Bible study fellowship by two princesses selling lemonade. Tori and Landyn made out like bandits with their lemonade stand, made especially for the college gang.

Reality Check Friday

2009-06-12T05:48:00.000-07:00

Hey Fresno, there's room on the Rangers' bandwagon, but it is filling up fast! This week, my beloved Rangers used two of their first three draft picks on ex-Fresno State Bulldogs (Tanner Scheppers - first round supplemental and Tommy Mendonca - second round).

This weekend is a good opportunity to test your potential new-found loyalties: Rangers versus Dodgers.

Think Blue...Ranger Blue!

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This week, I had one of those reality checks that hurls men my age into a mid-life crisis! I received a friend request to my Facebook account from a person who attended the first-ever First Principles Day Camp eighteen years ago.

In the summer of 1991, I was interning at the Pine Grove church in Scott Depot, WV. It was a wonderful summer learning ministry from my mentor and friend, Dale Mannon. I put together a notebook of material for the kids in the youth group the week before church camp about the First Principles of the faith. We studied together two hours each day and had a fun activity in the afternoon.

One of the young ladies, Summer, was involved in that first-ever day camp session. At the time, she was 12 and on her way to 6th grade. And in my memory, she's still 12. So you can imagine my shock to receive her friend request on Facebook and discover she is now 30 with a 9-year old son.

Ouch!

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The 18th installment of Day Camp will be held next week at Woodward Park. We'll meet at 10 a.m. each morning (Monday through Wednesday), break for lunch at high noon, and then enjoy an afternoon of fun (Monday is Boomers, Tuesday is a movie on the big screen at church, Wednesday is Cal Skate). Everything will wrap up by 3:00.

This year, I have revised the material -- added some new stuff, deleted some old stuff, and invited the parents' to take a more active sharing role in the nightly homework.

Parents, remember your nightly participation with your children in their homework is the backbone of this effort. Open up with your child, read the Bible with your child, discuss the questions together, and above all, pray with your child. Your involvement in the birth of their discipleship is priceless!

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Day Camp is always one of the highlight weeks of the year for me in ministry. Another highlight of ministry in Fresno is our inner-city outreach. I missed being with the crew last week, due to Tori's dance recital. Cedric, Arnold, Mark, and company always do an awesome job coordinating, cooking, and feeding for the masses that assemble each first Saturday of the month at Ventura and G Streets in downtown Fresno.

In the New York Times Bestseller, Same Kind of Different as Me, Denver Moore (a homeless man from Fort Worth, TX.) describes how he sees and perceives those who volunteer in soup kitchens and outreach to the homeless, particularly one couple who befriended him which forms the heart of the story told in the book:

"Lemme tell you what homeless people think about folks that help homeless people: When you homeless, you wonder why certain volunteers do what they do. What do they want? Everybody want somethin. For instance, when that couple come to the mission, I thought the man looked like the law. The way he dressed, the way he acted. Too high-class. His wife, too, at first. The way she acted, the way she treated people...she just looked too sophisticated. Wadn't the way she dressed. It was just somethin about the way she carried herself. And both of em was askin way too many questions.

While everybody else was fallin in love with them, I was what you call skeptical. I wadn't thinkin nothin evil. It was just that they didn't look like the type to come in and mess with the homeless. People like that may not feel it within themselves that they're better than you, but when you're the one that's homeless, you feel like they feel like they're better than you.

But these folks was different. One reason was they didn't just come on holidays. Most people don't want the homeless close to em -- think they're dirty, or got some kind of disease, or maybe they think that kind of troubles life gon' rub off on em. They come at Christmas and Easter and Thanksgivin and give you a little turkey and lukewarm gravy. Then they go home and gather round their own table and forget about you till the next time come round where they start feeling a little guilty cause they got so much to be thankful for" (p. 93).

Since our inner-city outreach at Woodward Park took off, lives have been touched, souls have been saved, a transition home has been opened, men have been rehabilitated, and formerly homeless people have become productive citizens of this world and God's kingdom.

But I live with this uncomfortable itch that we could do more! More than just once a month.

Could we?

Thanking God for 15 Great Years

2009-06-11T06:36:00.000-07:00

15 years ago today, I married way over my head!

Thank you, Mandy, for saying, "Yes!" the first time.

And thank you for continuing to say "Yes!" today.

Our covenant promise to each other is my life's greatest treasure. Sharing life with you is my greatest blessing.

To borrow a line, "If a star fell from the sky every time I thought of you, the sky would be empty!"

Happy Anniversary (Ecclesiastes 4.9-12)!

A Great Weekend

2009-06-08T14:02:00.000-07:00

The slate of Deacons at Woodward Park now numbers 35 strong - 35 gifted, able men overseeing 35 needed ministries within the church and within our community outreach. As a church family, we are seeking to win the world for Christ, beginning at home! That vision inspires us to be missionaries in our own homes, our neighborhoods, our work places. Today, Woodward Park is doubly blessed by God farther along the fulfillment of that vision through the capable service of our Deacons.

Sunday afternoon, the Valley-Wide Youth Series began with the first host site being Woodward Park. There were 9 different youth groups from Turlock to Porterville represented. As a special treat, Ashley Frizzell's dad, Keith Parker, presented a powerful message on the Forgiving Father and his Sinful Son from Luke 15. The singing was awesome! The fellowship was rich! And the abundance of cookies donated continues to pay dividends among the ministry staff!

But the weekend got off to a bang with Tori spending the night with Hannah for Hannah's 6th birthday.

The weekend finished up with an outstanding group of college and young professionals enjoying a BBQ at the home of Rod and Charlotte Avedikian. Our group of 46 enjoyed a meal together, some ultra-competitive games of volleyball, and a sunset devotional of songs, prayers, and Biblical reflection that was simply inspiring.

24 Hour Rewind

2009-06-05T08:25:00.000-07:00

About this time yesterday, I sat down at my home computer to crank out another blog entry. I was all geared up when, suddenly, a convoy of cars and vans came speeding into our cul-de-sac. The SWAT team, fully armed, descended en mass on a neighbor's house. For the next six hours, I was too distracted to write.

With apologies to Mr. Rogers, yesterday was a crazy day in the neighborhood!

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So I thought Fresno was supposed to be 100 degrees by now. Where has this weather come from? Not that I'm complaining, but wow, a 71 degree forecasted high for June. And that with only 30% humidity.

Perfect.

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Two quotes I have been mulling over in my mind all this week:

"The man I am becoming is disgusted by the man I used to be" and "The turning point in our lives is when we stop seeking the God we want and start seeking the God who is."

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Wednesday night, we discussed the call of Simon by Jesus in Luke 5.1-11. You remember the "fished all night and caught no fishes" episode that moves Simon from respecting Jesus as "Master" to revering Jesus as "Lord."

What I found interesting is the manner in which Jesus calls Simon in verse 11. Jesus meets Simon on his turf, in the course of his everyday career, and invites him to a new task - to "catch people alive." When a person goes fishing and comes home with a stringer full or a live-well full of fish, what happens to the fish? Inevitably, they are cleaned and wind up dead. Simon's call (and ours) by Jesus is polar opposite! We are called as disciples of Jesus to "catch people alive" (the Greek word zogrein, from the Greek root zoe, literally means "alive" or "fully alive").

Catching people for Jesus ushers them into the very abundant life Jesus offers. It is our calling - to catch people alive.

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Finally, our summer kickoff at Woodward Park (in spite of the unseasonably cool weather) begins this weekend with the installation of 19 new Deacons to ministries of service in our church family. Sunday evening is the first-ever Valley Area-Wide Youth Rally at Woodward Park. Ashley Frizzell's dad, Keith Parker, will be the guest speaker.

Sunday should be a great day in the neighborhood!

Teen Talk

2009-06-03T07:51:00.000-07:00

There are so many things to love about being in the family at Woodward Park and at the top of that list is the faith and maturity of our teenagers! We've got a great youth group -- a testimony to great spiritual leadership, past and present.

Today, I am especially blessed by Brandon, Felicia, and Sydney and their contribution in this month's Christian Chronicle. Erik Tryggestad has an enlightening piece entitled "What Teens Want" quoting teens and their desire to be fed and nurtured by their church family. Click on the link and give it a look.

A Day at Disney

2009-06-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

Traveling Mercy

2009-05-31T21:48:00.001-07:00

When I went to South America to teach at the Bible Institute in Guyana several years ago, the universal refrain when I prepared to fly back to the states was, "Traveling Mercies." It was the Guyanese way of extending blessing to me as a traveler.

This weekend, Mandy, Tori and I experienced traveling mercy in a powerfully fresh way. Tonight I write in full assurance that I now have 150 new friends who are fellow recipients of the mercy of God. Today, I have 150 new family members to share this life's journey which will culminate in an eternal, heavenly family reunion.

Four one-hour sessions and one thirty-minute session over two days wore me out! But you never grew weary in sharing the discovery of God's Word regarding a faith that replaces all fear.

Thank you, Yorba Linda church family, for welcoming us, affirming us, sharing with us, and encouraging us. Together, we explored our fear factors and together, we discovered how trusting the faithfulness of God squelches all sources of fear.

Your mercy for our journey was right on time!

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This particular leg of the journey has taken us into the heart of the O.C. (Angels' country). Tomorrow, Mandy, Tori and I will spend the day in the (alleged) "happiest place on the earth."

If you plan to be at Disney on Monday, look for us! I'll be the guy proudly wearing the Red Ranger hat!

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"When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me" (Psalm 56.3-4)?

"So we say with confidence, 'The LORD is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me'" (Hebrews 13.6)?

To Kill a Mockingbird

2009-05-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

How do you kill a mockingbird?

We have one in the neighborhood. A loud one. One that has awoken Mandy and I every morning this week much earlier than we would like. One that has forced us to shut all doors and windows to the cool morning air in order to block out the noise.

All day long, this mockingbird flies between a tree in our front yard and a tree in our neighbor's yard. He sings. And sings. And sings. And sings. He cranks up about 4:00 a.m. and doesn't pipe down until sunset.

And he won't leave.

It was pretty the first day.

But not anymore.

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Sometimes it's not mockingbirds that get under our skin...sometimes its other people. When we ministered in Florida, our friends Mark & Marilyn Owen turned us on to a book by their friend, Milton Jones, entitled "How to Love Someone You Can't Stand." Thanks to that mockingbird and an email devotional from Alan Smith, I was reminded again of Milton's insights.

Unfortunately, we don’t always have the option of avoiding people who irritate, people who hurt us, people who offend us. In fact, sometimes those who irritate us the most are found right in our home (or in our church building). So how should we deal with them?

Milton Jones has written a wonderful book entitled “How to Love Someone You Can’t Stand” which I highly recommend. In this book, Jones lists six godly principles which are derived from Romans 12:

1. Manage Your mouth -- Bless and don't curse (Rom. 12.14)

2. Put yourself in the other person's place and try to understand their feelings, thoughts and position (Rom. 12.15)

3. Never, never, never take revenge (Rom. 12.17)

4. Plan ahead to do something beautiful (Rom. 12.17)

5. Don't just win the war, win the peace (Rom. 12.18)

6. Make room for God (Rom. 12.19)

The bottom line is that we do not overcome evil with evil by retaliating and seeking to "get even". The only way to overcome evil is with good (Rom. 12:21). It is never easy to respond to those who do us wrong in a way that is godly, but it is only by following the example of Jesus Christ that we can truly have an influence on the world around us.

"But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps..." (I Peter 2.19-20)

Fear Factors

2009-05-27T06:22:00.000-07:00

A couple of quick hitter updates before posing to you a question:

*Trae finished 2nd in the 200 and her 400 relay team also finished 2nd. That means
she qualifies for the Clovis District-wide meet Friday at Clovis East.

*The YBC Memorial Day BBQ was wonderful! Joel, Shirley, Vernon and the gang have made a science out of parting people and their money! But it all goes to a wonderful cause. Jason and Angi Santymire are doing an awesome job working and generating enthusiasm for YBC. Now, if we can just keep the dreaded norovirus at-bay this year.

*I was blessed to spend most of Tuesday in Turlock sharing and praying (and eating) with Mike Soto and Eli Hooper. The needs of the Valley, from Sacramento to Bakersfield, are so great - especially in the rural communities dominated by Spanish-speaking people. We are praying and planning for the sake of God's kingdom.

*Today, John Hollett's Selma Bears tangle with their arch-rival, the Kingsburg Vikings in a central Section semifinal game at 4:30. With Prime Time discontinued for the summer, I'm planning to sneak down to Kingsburg before Bible class to cheer on John's group.

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This coming weekend following Trae's track meet, we'll travel down to Orange County for a weekend with the Yorba Linda church. They have asked me to share with them five lessons about overcoming fears.

Fear can paralyze our ability to live boldly and courageously for the kingdom.

To help me, I'd love an email (jim@wpcoc.com) today from you in response to these three questions: (1) What is your greatest fear? (2) Why? (3) How do you combat your fear?

It would help me so much to have a sample of ideas from people I know and trust. Don't worry, I won't quote you and I promise complete anonymity should your email peak my interest. Thanks for helping broaden my thinking.

"For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1.7).

Downplaying Sin

2009-05-22T08:15:00.000-07:00

Today, Trae runs again in the 200 and 400 Relay. A top-three finish today places her into the Clovis District meet next Friday at Clovis East.

As for Memorial Day weekend, looks like three trips to Oakhurst for us. Tonight and tomorrow, we got to Paradise Springs for the rehearsal and wedding ceremony of James Robinson and Jen Garcia. Monday is the annual YBC Bar-B-Q Feast. I have been invited to guest speak at the event and look forward to the fellowship with other friends of YBC throughout the Valley.

Hope you all have a blessed Memorial Day holiday, especially all of you going to Hume Lake -- you make me insanely jealous!

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Done with Detroit. It couldn't come soon enough!

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Several weeks ago, my friend Allan wrote a penetrating piece on how everything is a salvation issue. As Allan astutely points out, our contemporary application of church has lost sight of that reality behind a vast array of categories.

Big versus Small. Major versus Minor. Salvation issue versus Non-salvation issue.

Just think about violating commands (sin). Our mental and practical tendency is to imitate those who approached Jesus looking to have the commandments categorized (cf. Mat. 22.34-40). We want to know what command is greater so we don't violate the greater commands.

What is striking, though, is how the ministry of Jesus often shines the light on the commands/sins we deem as minor.

Luke 4.14-21 has often been called Jesus' ministry manifesto. As he reads from Isaiah 61 in his hometown synagogue, Jesus dramatically declares the fulfillment of the Scripture. Among other things, Jesus promises to "proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." In effect, Jesus is saying that Jubilee, a command of the Old Testament, would be realized in him (cf. Lev. 25). Jubilee was to be celebrated every fiftieth year among God's children. It was a year when debts were cancelled, slaves were freed, and land was redistributed.

It was a command - just like "Do not murder...Do not commit adultery...Do not steal." And yet, there is no historical evidence Jubilee was ever practiced!

Why not? Apparently, it got categorized as a "lesser" commandment. Apparently, the people in power had no interest in relinquishing it through the natural leveling effect of Jubilee. But with the onset of Jesus' ministry that "lesser" commandment becomes the very focal point.

We fall prey to this same dilemma of categorizing and responding in light of the categories as we define them in the church today. We disfellowship the adulterer, all the while overlooking pride. We couldn't conceive of condoning murder, all the while winking at greed. In fact, we often applaud pride and greed --we call it "frugality" and "industry" and slap laudable labels to sins that destroy relationships between people, just like more "major" sins like adultery and bearing false witness.

In commenting on Luke 4.14-30, Darrell Bock marvels, "I am always left wondering when I consider Jesus' ministry as a whole that although he challenged all sin, he tended to be clearer about the more subtle sins we tend to downplay."

Perspective

2009-05-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

Alright, I'm back in the saddle for the summer surge! It was wonderful having my Mom here the past two weeks. She was able to watch her oldest granddaughter finish 2nd in both the 200 (first in her heat) and 400 meter relay (a bad handoff prevented a first)at the Clovis West Invitational. She also witnessed her youngest granddaughter's dance team win gold at last Saturday's competition at the Saroyan Theater.

Oh yeah, she and Mandy were able to spend a morning at the Day Spa as a Mother's Day gift.

While the girls were winning awards and the mother's were being pampered, I slaved away on final projects for grad school. A total of 54 pages of research work all got turned in on time, in addition to a comprehensive final exam over four books read during the semester. Over the summer, I'll share with a bit of the research work from Luke 18.9-14 and Malachi 2.10-16.

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Draw a line on I-40 between Little Rock and Oklahoma City and you've got the cradle of American Idol stardom (Kris Allen from Conway, AR. and Carrie Underwood from Checotah, OK.). I was really happy to see an Arkansas boy take the trophy last night. Way to go, Kris!

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On the flipside, there's nothing like a trip to the Motor City to cool off what was the hottest team in baseball. The Rangers just aren't built to play in a ballpark like that. Can't get out of Detroit soon enough!

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Here's something to chew on today. The best strawberry jelly maker of all time, JoAnn Glock, sent this to me this morning. It is a full dose of healthy perspective for me and I hope it brings blessing to you:

An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.'

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jesus .'
27. Laugh!
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

Happy Birthday, Boo!

2009-05-15T06:28:00.000-07:00

We awoke this morning to a driveway covered in sidewalk chalk greetings, the wonderful consequence of a wonderful gift from God turning 11 years old!

Today is Trae's 11th birthday!

We'll celebrate with cupcakes at first recess, then it's off to the Clovis West Invitational Track Meet (Trae qualified for the 100 and 200).

I love you, Boo, and I am proud you in every way!

Haitus Hiatus, Part Two

2009-05-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

A Hiatus Hiatus

2009-05-13T08:28:00.001-07:00

We interrupt this blogging break to bring you this great bit of news...He's Baaaccckkk!

Two Week Hiatus

2009-05-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

For the next two weeks, I am going to follow the lead of my fellow seminarian, Steve Thurman, and declare a blogging hiatus. We are in crunch time with lengthy research papers due over the next two weeks.

Plus, today my mom flies in for a two-week visit. She'll be here for Mother's Day, Trae's birthday, and Tori's final dance competition.

Till then, check out one of the great blog links on the sidebar.

Un-Retired Disciples

2009-05-01T08:46:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday evenings at Woodward Park, Steve Powers and I are leading a Bible study focusing on the Gospel of Luke and Luke’s unique contributions to our understanding of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. Last Wednesday, our intriguing discussion focused on Luke 2.25-38 and the blessing that befell two senior saints. Simeon and Anna are both aged and have longed to see with their own eyes the arrival of the Messiah. Because they are in the right place (the Temple precincts) at the right time (the presentation of Jesus), both were blessed to give thanks to God and to testify about the eternity-altering difference Jesus would make.

Simeon and Anna have much to teach us about aging. We often speak of “aging gracefully,” but Simeon and Anna teach us that “aging faithfully” is equally important! Aging in faithful surrender to God is crucial for our faith heritage. Our children need unretired models (at least in our devotion to God) of faithfulness, prayer, and service to others. I love how Darrell Bock puts it in his commentary on Luke in the NIV Application Series. Retirees, as you read this paragraph, consider how you might invest your time in the service of the kingdom:

“Finally, the age of Simeon and Anna reminds us that ‘retirement’ years may be a misnomer for believers. Many elderly people are freed up by retirement to pursue ministry in a way they could not give full energy to when they were employed. I am reminded of a group of senior citizens in our church, a group whom we affectionately call ‘the gray beards.’ One of them has taken on the responsibility of editing the church paper after years of helping edit the high school paper where he taught. For years God had prepared him to have a ministry of communication to our body. Another couple have dedicated themselves to various projects at a sister church of ours in the inner city, whether it means tutoring kids of different ethnic origin who lack parental involvement or just helping with various building projects at the church. A woman with severe arthritis cannot do much but pray regularly for the body. She may be one of our strongest members who is doing more than many. Finding contentment doing God’s will is a goal that can be reached as we creatively reflect on how we can best minister for him” (p. 98).

Is it a Salvation Issue?

2009-04-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

I'm glad to have a friend like Allan Stanglin. Today, Allan tackled the whole idea of what consitutes a "salvation issue" with precision and pointedness that needs to be read and re-read. I was sharpened by Allan's insight and share it here in the hopes that you, like me, will remember everything is a salvation issue.

You know how we love to classify things as “salvation issues?” Don’t act like you don’t. I know you do. We call things that we believe are hugely important, non-debatable matters “salvation issues.” The implication is that if you mess with these things, if you don’t follow these rules, if you omit any of these teachings or traditions, you will not be granted salvation from God. On the flip side, the things we deem less important, the things we consider to be peripheral matters, we call “disputable” or “opinions.”

The problem occurs — and we’ve all been there — when two Christian disciples disagree about what’s a “salvation issue” and what’s not.

Here’s C.S. Lewis: "One of the things Christians are disagreed about is the importance of their disagreements. When two Christians of different denominations start arguing, it is usually not long before one asks whether such-and-such a point ‘really matters’ and the other replies, ‘Matter? Why, it’s absolutely essential.’"

(I would have said “When two Christians start arguing…” and left out “of different denominations.” I mean, we have these kinds of discussions within our own faith traditions all the time.)

Lewis goes on to explain why he left specific “church issues” out of his book. Like Hicks explains at the end of A Gathered People, Lewis believes a discussion of church issues is secondary to the basic point. Directing attention to controversial questions tends to polarize instead of pointing in the direction of fellowship and unity.

So, let me tackle it. I’m not writing a book or anything.

I believe Scripture teaches us that EVERYTHING is a salvation issue.

Everything matters. Everything’s important. Everything’s critical. Everything we do and say and teach and practice. Every way we act and worship and work and serve. Everywhere we go, everyone we go with, every when we go. It’s all a salvation issue. Everything.

See, when we start labeling things as salvation issues, we always bring up baptism, proper communion observance, and other corporate worship practices about which we feel very strongly. Very strongly. We’ll debate and argue, cuss and discuss, “die on this hill” and as-surely-as-the-Lord-lives some of these things ’til the cows come home. But in all of our red-faced, hard-nosed, do-or-die demonstrations, nobody ever brings up the way we treat the service representative behind the counter at the post office. Nobody ever wants to talk about feeding the poor. Nobody ever puts defending the alien or encouraging one another in the same list as all these “salvation issues.”

Why? You ever thought about that?

What does it matter if you’re baptized by complete immersion in a holy hot tub in a Church of Christ sanctuary “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” if you treat service people in your neighborhood with contempt. What does it matter if you worship God by singing holy hymns, accompanied only by a pitch-pipe to get you going, if you completely ignore the homeless guy under the bridge at 183 and Precinct Line? What does it matter if you partake of the Lord’s Supper each Lord’s Day in the Lord’s prescribed manner if you forward racist jokes by email to everybody in your office?

Aren’t these the “weightier matters?”

Why is it that Jesus can call these kinds of things “salvation issues” but we don’t?

They are all salvation issues. There is no ascending or descending scale of importance when it comes to living like Christ in newness of eternal life. It’s all or nothing. Heart, soul, mind, and body.

Baseball Musings

2009-04-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

Was that really Carol Hinton -- THE Carol Hinton -- splashed on the front of this morning's Fresno Bee sports section? Seems the wife of one of Woodward Park's esteemed Elders entered Chukchansi Park last night as the 5 Millionth fan in Fresno Grizzlies history. As a result, Carol got to the throw out the first pitch and, in the future, gets to take batting practice with the team, gets to help work a radio broadcast, gets to operate the manual scoreboard in right field for a game, and gets to have Parker the Mascot serve as her personal assistant for a day.

How 'bout Parker as a guest for VBS, Carol? Now that'd be a hit!

And to think, if Terry wasn't such a gentleman, allowing his wife to enter the turnstile before him, he'd have been the 5 Millionth fan!

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While thinking baseball, imagine this: the Texas Rangers offense and the San Francisco Giants pitching staff morphed onto the same team.

Would that bunch be unbeatable or what?

College Small Group

2009-04-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

I love, love, love the college students of the Woodward Park Church of Christ!

Several months back, I was invited by Matt Beene, Matt Phillips, and Steve Powers to join in their quest to provide a more dynamic ministry to our college students. For some time, the college students and newly married, young professionals at Woodward Park have met as one group. It became apparent that the two had very different life circumstances and needed settings that allowed for each group to foster deeper, more connected fellowship.

About eight weeks ago, we began meeting on Sunday evenings in homes following the evening assembly. My family committed to host the college small group (18-22 year olds). That "small group" is not-so-small anymore! Last night, we had a houseful of 27!

Among the plethora of benefits, one of the greatest is the blessing my girls get each Sunday night to participate in singing praises with a houseful of beautiful voices. We leave our doors open in hopes the melody will bless our neighbors! My girls are privileged to watch people they admire and look up to sing, pray, and study God's Word.

Invaluable!

From the 45 minute brown bag fellowship, to the 45 minutes of praise and prayer, to the frank Bible discussions, opening our home to our college kids has made Sunday night the highlight of my weekend!

Thanks, gang, for your love and commitment to Jesus! Each one of you is such a blessing to me and my family!

History

2009-04-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Trae's class experienced the thrill of a lifetime! Room 17 at Maple Creek Elementary was one of three classes selected out of 600 that applied for the Madera Method Wagon Train experience. Beginning last Thursday through Sunday afternoon, the kidos and their chaperones lived the life of the 1840's. They camped out under the stairs. They rode in covered wagons. They showed up the for city of Raymond parade.

They worked. They roughed it. And Trae loved it!

Reading her journal and hearing her stories of the experience has been wonderful.

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Trae's new-found appreciation of history and my own renewed appreciation of history -- thanks to our Sunday evening journey through the journal of Nehemiah (see especially Nehemiah 9.5-37) -- reminded of this penetrating paragraph

"Like it or not, we are heirs of a host of diverse and even contradictory witnesses. Some of their actions we may find revolting, and others inspiring. But all of them form part of our history. All of them, those whom we admire as well as those whom we despise, brought us to where we are now. Without understanding that past, we are unable to understand ourselves, for in a sense that past still lives in us and influences who we are and how we understand the Christian message. Every renewal of the church, every great age in its history, has been grounded on a renewed reading of history" (Justo Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity, 1999).

Bryan Shelley Update

2009-04-22T08:20:00.000-07:00

For the regulars, you know we've had an ongoing prayer vigil, of sorts, for my dear friend and colleague, Bryan Shelley. Bryan is a young, vibrant proclaimer of the good news who's been stricken with Stage-4 Cancer. As the latest prognosis shows, the need for prayer now is as great as ever. I know I can trust in you to be diligent and determined in interceding for Bryan's health.

The following is an email sent out yesterday by Bryan's wife, Debby.

Yesterday (Monday) Bryan and I met with the oncologist after she reviewed the addendum to the original report to the Scans taken earlier. She had a different tone with us than ever before. We discussed how we should share this and Bryan wants to be as transparent as possible so that you, who are praying for us, would know our situation. It shows new growth which is aggressive since it was resistant to the treatment Bryan was on. There are new tumors in the lungs, liver and lymph nodes, in the chest and pelvic area. They are smaller than the original ones but appear to be strong.

Bryan will start his new treatment next Monday. He will get two new drugs, one given by IV and one by capsule. They will be given in 3 week cycles for 6-8 treatments with another CT scan taken after 3 cycles. She encouraged us to do whatever we’d like to do, not to let the treatment interfere as long as Bryan feels up to it. We cried and prayed together and will face this as we did before.

Again, our future is in God’s hands and He will give us the strength and courage to make it through whatever the world throws our way. We hope that God will remove this cancer but we are thankful for every day we have to serve and glorify God. God will protect us and give us whatever is best. Thank you for your prayers and love.

My Two Fathers

2009-04-21T07:57:00.001-07:00

The Wednesday morning sunrise from the crest of Wildcat Ridge on Howard Mountain Hunting Lease. The ground fog in the valleys on this crisp morning, coupled with the brilliance of the sunrise, was magnificent.

The moon setting at sunrise as seen from the eastern-most hardwood ridge on the lease. The tall ridge in the background is Puckett Mountain, which provides the spectacular backdrop for the 17th tee at Cortez.

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It was great to be back home. It was a pure joy to preach again in Sheridan and Benton. I had such a wonderful time hunting with Eric Sheridan and Gabe Bennett. I enjoyed being with Jamie Saveall and Ryan O'Neal watching Jessieville Lions baseball atop a ball bucket in front of the visiting team dugout in Bauxite on Saturday. And what's a trip home without Friday night catfish from Riverside?

Granted, the turkey hunting left something to be desired. Too many hens resulted in sporadic gobbling activity. Gabe and I did get close on Thursday morning, but a hen led the gobbler away once he was within about 80 yards.

All told, I spent 61 hours over the course of 5 days hunting. The result was $250 in license fees, two flat tires to change, an eye nearly swollen shut due to pollen, three books read during the hunting dead times, a body clock set to wake up still at 4:30 a.m. CST, and not a single turkey harvested.

But that doesn't mean it wasn't one of the best weeks of my life! The highlight of the entire nine day stay was the quality time I spent with my two fathers.

My dad provided the lodging (we slept in their camper for three nights for effect), the lunch feast each day (Beanie Weenies, Vienna Sausage -- the typical midday hunting staples), the transportation, and the stories. Being in nature with my dad is priceless and the time we shared -- from old hunting stories, to memories of my Papaw and insights into the Bible and our faith heritage -- is forever etched into my memory bank.

Thanks, Dad, for everything. The Honda Rancher was really nice...but just being with you was even better!

My other Father, though, was present as well! In every sunrise, in the waking up of nature each morning, the clear fingerprint of my other Father was unmistakable. From the brilliance of the moon setting in the west on Tuesday morning to the spectacular sunrise on Wednesday morning, the omnipotent creativity of my Father God was impossible to miss.

Today, I count myself among the luckiest of people. I have two Dads, two Fathers and last week they combined to provide me a week I'll never forget.

Turkeys and Tears

2009-04-16T18:24:00.000-07:00

Bryan Hendricks's column "The Arkansas Sportsman" in Thursday's edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette began with this little diddy: "Some of the saddest stories of my life involve turkey hunting, and the 2009 season has already given me another tear-jerker."

I concur.

Bryan Shelley Update

2009-04-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

Thank you all who've been praying for my friend, Bryan Shelley. I received this email from his sweet wife Debby regarding Bryan's PET and CT Scan results. I share it with you in the hopes you will continue to be prayerful for one of God's good servants.

Bryan had his PET and CT scans last week and we met with the oncologist yesterday. The good news is the large tumor in his liver that was the main concern in the beginning of the chemo treatments is completely gone. His colon is clear and the lesions in the bones are gone.

Our concerns at this point are that he still has three smaller tumors in his liver and two lymph nodes showing some cancer, one in his chest area and the other in his pelvis. There are also multiple tumors showing up in the lungs that don't seem to have been there before. So since the cancer is still present we will have to look for a different type of treatment.

We are pleased that it seems to have improved. The oncologist as well as both of us were frustrated with the report, as we were with the report from the scans that were taken in February. She has requested a second opinion so we'll have a more accurate picture of what we're dealing with and she can know the treatment needed now. We meet with her again next week to review the second report, hopefully with more complete information. She expects to continue giving Bryan the Zomeda for his bones and Avastin to stop the growth of additional tumors and start him on some oral chemo pills. She will know more when she gets the requested report from the imaging center.

We know that God is working through this event in our lives. It is heart wrenching to not know where this is taking us. We ask that you continue to keep Bryan and our family in your prayers. We hoped that Bryan would be cancer free but that isn't what we were told today. We trust God with our future and know that He will give us only good answers to our prayers. He is faithful to the promise that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him." It's not the size of the mountain but the strength of the mountain mover!

Saturday Scenes

2009-04-13T19:41:00.001-07:00

My dad aboard his new toy getting ready to ride down the gas pipeline that cuts through the middle of our hunting lease.

My dad attempting to entice a gobble around midday on Saturday.

Sunrise from the Duval ridge on Howard Mountain Hunting Lease. We got close to two gobblers on Saturday, and I wish to get back in there ASAP. It is our favorite honey-hole! But two days' worth of rain likely has Little Alum impassable and Duval out of commission for tomorrow.

Only 6 1/2 hours till the alarm rings and a full day two of hunting. Day one (Saturday) was wonderful, but the elusive quarry with which were dealing outwitted us. Tomorrow promises a beautiful day and a new opportunity to experience God's creation.

Sunday Night reflections

2009-04-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

Hey Detroit, thanks for pinching me and waking me up from the mirage. Surely a 3-0 start was too good to be true. That was three excruciating losses, the last just gut-wrenching.

But hey, the Rangers are undefeated at home and returning to the Palace for seven straight.

Is 10-3 through 13 asking too much?

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Saturday, the birds didn't cooperate, but it was 16 fantastic hours -- just me, my Dad and God's creation.

It was a perfect day.

Until Sunday.

Preaching back home in Sheridan and Benton were wonderful experiences. My life has been blessed by an unusually large number of encouraging friends. Sunday reminded me just how much one Man's resurrection can continue to impact lives 2,000 years later. I shutter to think of life without the immediate, eternal bond within the family of God. Sunday reminded me just how deeply and profoundly those bonds have formed my life and ministry.

Thank you, Sheridan and Northside, for wonderful worship alongside you!

Today, in back of Sunday's epic rainfall, is a day devoted to family and friends in need. Tomorrow through Saturday morning, it's all turkey hunting, all the time.

Delighting in God

2009-04-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

Don't wake me up.

And don't pinch me if it isn't real.

For the first time in nine years, the Texas Rangers have begun a season 2-0.

The offensive run production has been typical. Nelson Cruz is a man-child. Elvis Andrus is defying expectations at the plate.

The pitching has been uncharacter-istically strong. The team looks excited, the passion and energy is evident, and the future looks wonderfully bright. I know, I know...it's just two games. But it has been nine years since a long-suffering Ranger fan could begin the season with such optimism.

Hey Rick, wish you here! I can't wait till that 3-game series with the Red Sox in the Palace in July!

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Do you have a relationship with God? Or do you have a relationship with the blessings of God?

That question has riveted my attention since Wednesday morning. On Wednesday morning, I was blessed to share in the officiating of a funeral service for Louise Allen, a member of the Woodward Park church.

Just prior to our coming to Woodward Park, Louise was baptized into Jesus. She made an atypical commitment to Jesus after she had turned 60 years old. As we learned during the funeral service, the first major event in Louise's life following her baptism was a cancer diagnosis. In the time I knew Louise, her physical health was constantly ravaged by the cancer that afflicted her.

But it never afflicted her faith.

How is that possible? How is it possible a new disciple of Jesus can be dealt such a painful blow immediately after becoming a Christian, yet live with an unyielding faith?

As I've thought about it since Wednesday morning, I can only conclude that Louise truly had a relationship with God. For her, the blessings of following Jesus included eternal promises, even if the immediate path of her life was rocky and rough. Her steadfastness came not from a faith in God's blessings, but from a faith in God.

Today, ask yourself, do I delight in God's goodness or do I delight in God? Is my relationship with God based solely on His blessings to me or do I recognize that there is no greater blessing than knowing God?

Ranger Reds

2009-04-07T17:32:00.000-07:00

1 down

161 to go.

Call me superstitious but I think it had a lot to do with the red uni's.

Sometime on Monday, my good friend and Angel fan, Steve Thurman, sent me a disparaging email about how the Rangers ripped off the red uni's from the Angels.

Pardon me while I review a bit of history.

From 1995-1999 (the greatest five year stretch in Rangers' history), the Rangers wore red as the dominant color. When Tom Hicks bought the team, among other things, he switched the team's primary color to blue.

Meanwhile, out west, the Angels reeling from embarrassment during the Disney era shelved their blue uni's with the Script A and the very-Disney looking wings for a carbon-copy of the Rangers' reds.

Yesterday was simply a return to roots.

And the results looked vaguely familiar to 10 years ago.

Good offense.

Great pitching.

Stellar defense.

"Hello, Win Column!"

Opening Day

2009-04-05T11:58:00.000-07:00

I used to think October was the best month of the year. Razorback football in the Ozarks, cooler weather, and the onset of fall foliage combined to make it my favorite.

Then I started turkey hunting.

The marriage of time spent with my dad turkey hunting and the opening of Major League Baseball Season did in October.

Sign my up for April, especially the first two weeks -- best time of the year!

Today, in the Palace just west of Dallas, the 2009 version of the Texas Rangers tee it up against Cleveland and Benton boy, Cliff Lee. Don't get me wrong, I do root for the hometown hero, but not today! Here's hoping there are a lot of still photos like this one of Josh and crew going deep, inspiring Chuck Morgan and the pyrotechnics crew to re-enact the Natural.

As for the Rangers? Here's looking at an 84-78, second place finish.

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Here's the view from Cambodia courtesy of my dearest friend, Dr. Rick Northen aboard the Partners in Progress Ship of Life.

"Tomorrow is an exciting day for me. Anyone who is a baseball fan gets excited about the opening day of Major League Baseball! My beloved team the Texas Rangers play their first game of the 2009 season tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. CST. Boy would I like to be there to watch it! Maybe someday there will be instant transportation from one point on earth to the next like Star Trek or something. But now it would take me too long to come and go so I will simply wait for the results.

I told Gail today that I sure wished God was a Rangers fan. I asked her and she said it was not irreligious to wish this. He cares about little things like sparrows...and baseball I am sure. If He was a Rangers fan we would win all 162 games, I guess. We would never have to worry going into the bottom of the 9th down by 10 runs even with two outs and no one on base. We would come through if He wanted us to. I wouldn’t even mind an occasional loss unless it was to the Yankees!"

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AL EAST: Red Sox
AL CENTRAL: Twins
AL WEST: Angels
AL WILD CARD: White Sox

NL EAST: Mets
NL CENTRAL: Cubs
NL WEST: D-Backs
NL WILD CARD: Giants

AL CHAMP: White Sox
NL CHAMP: Cubs

WORLD SERIES CHAMP: Cubs win a Windy City Shootout.

A Weekend of Prayer

2009-04-03T08:19:00.000-07:00

Bryan Shelley is my friend.

Bryan Shelley is fighting cancer.

Through it all, he's been stellar and strong. Bryan is the Preaching Minister for the church in Madera, our neighbors 30 minutes to the north. Just before our Spiritual Growth Workshop last Fall, Bryan was diagnosed with Stage-Four cancer in the colon and liver. Despite the diagnosis, Bryan fulfilled his invitation to speak at our Workshop, just as he has each Sunday at the Madera church since beginning treatment. Bryan has faithfully written daily devotionals on his blog that have inspired many, including the doctors and nurses that have been assisting him. To all who know and love him, Bryan has taught us by his living witness of the power of God.

On Monday, Bryan will undergo a PET-Scan. This is a very critical test that will provide his oncologist information about the success of the treatments. Here are the words of Bryan's wife, Debby, in an email informing family and friends of this test.

"Bryan did complete his 6 months of chemotherapy and has tolerated it very well. It’s gotten harder as we go and the last week was pretty rough but God has continued to supply the strength for him to continue his ministry. Last week we had to take him back into the cancer center. He was having lots of dizziness and tingling in his fingers and toes. They found his blood pressure elevated and he was dehydrated so they sent him to bed and told him to drink LOTS of water. His body is just tired and saturated with the toxic chemicals needed to kill the cancer. But just to show his attitude, he’s growing a beard on chemo!!!

He is scheduled to have a PET scan on April 6^th at 7:30am PST and we meet with the oncologist on April 13^th at 1pm to see the results. We hope to find him cancer free but if the tumors are still there, she said he can tolerate as many as 2 more treatments and then he’ll have to rest for 6 months. He will continue the Avastin every three weeks though, probably for years to come. (Here’s a free lesson from a non-medical person… Avastin is a new drug and is used specifically for colon cancer. It finds the cancer cells and clots off the blood supply to the cell, starving it from it’s food supply. It has been shown to prevent tumor growth)."

Can I ask a favor of you? Will you put Bryan at the top of your prayer requests for this weekend? Will you carve out of your weekend schedule some time to lift Bryan before the Father in prayer?

Thank you.

The Story Continues

2009-04-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

N.T. Wright speaks of Scripture and the unfolding of God's mission in history as a Five-Act play. According to Wright, Act One is creation and the covenant-promise with Abraham. Act Two is the Exodus. Act Three is the building of the nation in the Promised Land. Act Four is the punishment of the nation for their stubborn refusal to submit to the will of their Father. Act Five is the coming of Jesus and the promise of his second coming. As N.T. Wright notes, Act Five is incomplete; as the time between the two comings of Jesus, act five is still being written by those who faithfully follow the Savior.

What Wright suggests is our lives, our witness, and our testimony are helping to finish the script.

Tonight, I begin teaching a new Bible class on the Gospel of Luke that really excites me. Luke's Gospel story of Jesus has been my passion this spring, with reading on and about Luke nearing 2,000 pages. I've always been drawn to Mark; in fact, I preached through Mark in Hot Springs Village for over a year back in 2002-03. That study changed my life and ministry as the message of the Suffering Servant of God, as told by Mark, took root in my heart.

But Luke is closing fast in my mind and heart as a personal favorite. Why? Because Luke writes in a way that draws in his readers as participants in the story. In writing to Theophilus, Luke brilliantly invites his readers to become Theophilus -- to read, to evaluate, and to respond.

Brendan Byrne writes, "the Jesus portrayed in the Gospels is the risen Lord active in the community today. The whole aim of the narrative is to engage the reader in the drama in such a way as to effectively communicate the sense of being a participant, not a spectator, in what is going on. I am Peter overcome with confusion in the boat, I am the widow whose son Jesus raised, I am the woman who touched the fringe of his cloak, I am the leper who returned to say thanks...We would not read the Gospel of Luke at all if we did not recognize that it is in some sense 'our story' too. The hopes and longings for liberation voiced by characters in the Gospel remain our hopes today. Like them, we stand between promise and (ultimate) fulfillment. The 'day' of salvation is 'far spent,' but it is by no means fully achieved. (We must hear the Gospel) as 'our story' today -- to help become the Theophilus for whom Luke says he is writing" (The Hospitality of God, p. 7-8).

Your Story

2009-03-30T08:21:00.001-07:00

This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen! Gabe Bacus sent this to me off Lorrie Centeno's Facebook page. I'm guessing Arnold and Lorrie were in the Monterrey area (?) for their anniversary and in their site-seeing, came across this gobbler in full strut on one of the golf courses.

Simply incredible.

Saturday morning (opening day in California), Doug Liles and I worked to get a gobbler in range for his daughter, Laura. We were able to call a couple of gobblers within about 80 yards. But nature took its course, the gobblers presented themselves in full strut, and when the hen they thought was there didn't show, they left. The challenge of turkey hunting is convincing an old Tom to go against his instincts and, out of curiosity, leave his strutting safe haven to go check out the hen. We got close -- and they certainly put on a magnificent display -- but not close enough.

Perhaps next time we should just head over to the golf course!

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Great, great day yesterday! Two baptisms, a record attendance in my New Disciples' Class brought on by the surge of recent baptisms, and 26 college kids crammed into our living room for a small group Bible study last evening.

God has been and continues to be very, very good to Woodward Park!

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Jerry Jones and I were blessed to share breakfast together twelve days ago before he and Lynn flew back to St. Louis following the Marriage Matters Seminar. We talked theology, preaching, and ministry, but we also talked a lot about turkey hunting (Jerry is more passionate about turkey hunting than I am!).

Anyway, in the course of our conversation, Jerry asked me a question that really stuck with me: "Do you and your Dad hunt the same land together each spring?" I told him we did, a 6,000-acre lease on the border of Garland and Saline counties in Arkansas, and he replied, "Good! Because every trail, every logging road, every path holds a story." Jerry went on to tell me how he continues to hunt the same land he hunted with his dad, and how walking those familiar trails and paths incite a flood of memories he shared with his father.

When it comes to our recreation, we can sure tell the stories, can't we? Be it hunting stories or fishing stories or golf stories, the tales we tell of success shared with the people we love flow so naturally off our tongue.

The same should be true of our Greatest Story.

When we were saved, we became part of the Greatest Story ever told. Being invited into the family of God, being adopted by the Father of Heaven through the atoning death of the Son, offers us the opportunity to tell the Story -- the Story of Jesus, the story of our salvation, the story of the difference Jesus can make in the lives of others.

Someone you know, someone you love, is dying to hear the Story you know so well. Don't hoard it, share it! Share it as readily as you share about a hole-in-one, or about the big one that get away, or about the successful hunt you'll never forget. Share it for the sake of their eternal destiny.

Will you not tell it today?

Two Burning Questions

2009-03-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry but I'm about two hours behind this morning. I intended to put a bow on this story-telling theme for this week, but it'll have to wait till Monday.

Till then, answer me this: Is there anything much more painful than a paper cut beneath the finger nail? I got one of those doozies last night reaching into my backpack for some papers.

Ouch!

Why isn't Mike Anderson coaching in Fayetteville, Arkansas instead of Columbia, Missouri? Wow, does that Mizzou team remind me of some Razorback teams of the 90's.

Double Ouch!

The Rio Trio

2009-03-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

As if you didn't notice, my anticipation meter is shooting through the roof right now! April is an awesome month, what with the opening of Major League Baseball Season as well as Spring Gobbler season. Today, I'm reminiscing from the Spring of 2006 and an incredible hunt on the Burdett Ranch in Childress, Texas with Todd Lewis, an Elder at the Marble Falls church and Dan Burdett, a Deacon at Marble Falls.

Last week, I was blessed to be invited by Dan Burdett to join him and Todd Lewis on Dan's ranch near Childress, Texas for some turkey hunting. The ranch encompasses about 12,000 acres and is spectacular, teeming with wildlife and natural beauty.

I was able to harvest a nice gobbler on Thursday. The gobbler sported a 10" beard and 1" spurs. It was the second Rio I've ever bagged.

But the real action heated up hot and heavy on Friday morning. On Thursday evening, Dan, Todd and I spotted a flock of 33 turkeys feeding in a field. So, after an uneventful hunt at daybreak on Friday morning, we decided to make our way over to the field where we saw the turkeys the evening before. We arrived at a bluff overlooking the field at about 8:30 a.m. and through the binoculars, spotted 17 turkeys one field over from where we saw them on Thursday. There were at least three gobblers strutting for the feeding hens.

I told Dan and Todd I would call like crazy in the hopes of coaxing the gobblers away from the hens. A daunting task? Absolutely! The turkeys were about 400 yards away from our setup, with nothing but open fields between us and them. I laid the calling on hot and heavy and they answered nearly every call but seemed initially disinterested in making the long jaunt across the fields.

We placed a jake and hen decoy on the edge of the field and set up just into the woods. We continued peering through the binoculars and noticed the mood of the gobblers begin to change. They began making their way toward us. I continued to call very aggressively and excitedly and each gobble was more vocal and loud -- a sure sign the gobblers were heading our way.

I eased back about 25 yards behind Dan and Todd, just out of sight to the amazing action that was about to unfold. The last time I called, I could tell the gobblers were just out of sight. Then, within a matter of seconds, Todd shot, dropping the two gobblers in the lead. The gobbler in the rear, the dominant bird with sharp 1" spurs, gobbled immediately, startled by the blast of Todd's shotgun. Dan fired, dropping the bird in his tracks, giving us a harvest of three turkeys.

The Rio Trio looked to be composed of a 2 year-old, a 3 year-old, and a 4-year old. Each tom sported a 10" beard.

It was a fabulous way to cap off a great three day time of rest, relaxation, fellowship and pure hunting fun! The Burdett Ranch, two good friends, and the memory of the "Rio Trio" is one I will savor the rest of my life.

Do you have a Story?

2009-03-24T08:20:00.000-07:00

"They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, 'It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.' Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread" (Luke 24.33-35).

For most of my preaching ministry, I've overlooked and missed its impact. The punch of a crucial element of the gospel story has not been emphasized in my ministry as it should.

What is it?

The appearances of Jesus.

For Paul, the gospel is comprised of the death, burial, resurrection, and appearances of Jesus (see 1 Corinthians 15.3-8). In fact, within that text, Paul gives more attention to the appearances of Jesus as a component of the gospel story than the death, burial, and resurrection (though he goes on within that chapter to make the case for resurrection).

As individual disciples bump into the resurrected Jesus, understanding begins to flourish as they share their experiences with each other. Thomas here. Simon there. The women at the tomb here. The Emmaus Road disciples there. As each of these individuals are drawn back to Jerusalem, their willingness to share together what they've seen and heard as individuals births an understanding within the whole that would cement their faith in Jesus.

The empty tomb alone wasn't enough. In fact, the first news of the empty tomb was often met with some skepticism. But when individuals began to regather and share what they'd personally witnessed and experienced, then understanding mushroomed.

In The Hospitality of God: A Reading of Luke's Gospel, Brendan Byrne notes, "the community comes to full knowledge and faith when individuals and groups bring together and share their previously separate stories...individual experience becomes community experience, creating a new sense of identity. The process of understanding occurs, then, not only within individuals but within communities as well" (185, 190).

For the longest time, I thought faith was all about what God does in me. More and more, I'm coming to see it's all about what God is doing among us.

Yesterday, the question was, "Do you have a song?" Today, the question is, "Do you have a story?" If so, your story is worth telling, for the sake of the entire community of faith. Dare to share -- your experience just might be another's eternal life preserver.

The Dancing Queen and More

2009-03-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

I never envisioned spending beautiful spring Saturdays inside an Auditorium for events like the Showbiz National Talent Dance Cup. In fact, that wasn't even on my fatherhood radar screen!

But it's been on Tori's radar screen since she was three. As the daughter of her mom, she is 100% little girl, through-and-through.

And so Saturday, during the midst of the one time of the year when I really enjoy watching basketball, I found myself spending the bulk of the day with Mandy and Trae cheering on Ms. Tori at the Saroyan Theater.

Tori's little dance team, performing to the theme of Disney's Hercules called "Zero to Hero" captured a first place award for their age group and division.

And daddy was very proud.

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Three weeks from today, my five-day Arkansas Spring Turkey Hunting License kicks in. From Monday, April 13 through Friday, April 17 I will be deep into the timber on the Howard Mountain Hunting Lease bordering Garland and Saline counties, doing my best to entice and fool an old Tom.

The girls will be flying home on Monday, April 6th and I'll fly in on Thursday, April 9th, affording a day of scouting in advance of opening day (Saturday, April 11th). I can't wait for that Saturday -- just me and my dad in nature all day long, that is, unless we can fool a Tom off the roost and into range for my dad at daybreak.

On Easter Sunday, I have been invited to speak at two very dear churches to me. Sunday morning, we'll be in Sheridan at Mandy's home congregation and Sunday evening, it's Northside in Benton, my home congregation. I'll look forward to seeing many of you back home on that Easter Sunday.

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"Somehow, about 40% of churchgoers seem to have picked up the idea that 'singing in church is for singers.' The truth is that 'singing is for believers.' The relevant question is not 'Do you have a voice?' but 'Do you have a song'" (Donald Hustad)?

Facebook Frustration and the Final Four

2009-03-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

Frustrated with the new design of Facebook? Upset with the updated layout? Looking for the good ole days when Facebook was so simple and easy to navigate?

Remember your own difficulty to warm up to change with something as insignificant as Facebook the next time something changes at your church.

We struggle with inconsequential changes...imagine the difficulty for our spiritual ancestors who struggle with changes they weigh with eternal consequence.

Change is a chance to show great compassion and exercise great grace.

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When it comes to Marriage and Family Seminars, Jerry and Lynn Jones are unmatched. I was blessed to spend ninety minutes over breakfast with Jerry this morning and my life and ministry are better for it.

I know our marriages and families at Woodward Park are better as well. Wherever you may be today, do yourself a favor and beg your Elders to invite Marriage Matters to your congregation ASAP.

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My Final Four picks:

Pittsburgh, Louisville, North Carolina, and Memphis with the National Championship returning to Chapel Hill (but all bets are off if Ty Lawson doesn't get well).

On Birthdays and Schemata

2009-03-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I turned 38 and discovered birthdays just aren't as much fun as they used to be. It doesn't have to do with advancing age or an inability to blow out the multitude of candles on the cake. It has to do with the spotlight.

On birthdays, it's all about the birthday-ee. The spotlight is tuned to the one celebrating their "special day." Yesterday, that was me. Yesterday, it was all about me. As a kid, I relished that spotlight. As an adult seeking to grow into the image of Jesus Christ, not so much.

I am supposed to be dead to me. I am supposed to live a life of surrender where me is placed everyone else. But not on birthdays. On birthdays, me gets the spotlight -- a spotlight not nearly as comfy as when I was a kid.

Frankly, the birthday that means more to me now is August 1, 1984. The day I died to me by submitting to baptism at Camp Barton on the banks of Lake Greeson. Since that day, the old me and the new me have constantly butted heads. But it's that day that reminds me it's not all about me.

Thank goodness.

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Are Jerry and Lynn Jones hitting it out of the park or what? The Marriage Matters Seminar that began on Sunday and continues through this evening has been outstanding. The melding of psychology, theology and personal experience has provided a rich blessing for every person who's attended.

Monday night, in the course of their discussion on "communication barriers," Jerry and Lynn spoke at length about a barrier called schemata. Schemata is simply a $10 word for those mental maps which guide our thoughts and behavior; they are the substructures of our paradigms.

Now to be honest, no one of us has a perfect paradigm -- no one among us sees reality with complete, total accuracy. Our self-centeredness jades our understanding of reality. Consequently, some of our mental maps -- even though we've held them long-term, perhaps a lifetime -- can be proven false despite our long-term investment otherwise.

How do we typically respond when a cherished mental map that has become our norm is proven to be untrue? Jerry and Lynn say, "the longer a person believes a certain way, even when outside information disproves the truth of that belief, rather than acknowledge the new truth we typically deny its reality. We've invested too much over time."

That's why we'll fight to the death of a relationship (in a marriage...and in a church family).

Funny how we see expending effort to fight for a cherished, though false, presupposition as no real effort but the effort to change for the good of the relationship as cataclysmic. Thinking back to Jesus, he didn't die to save an idea; he died to save people and their relationship with God. Today, a relationship in your life might be worth the cost of a false assumption you've lived with a long time.

But the reward so outweighs the cost!

Tori's Fashion Show Birthday

2009-03-16T08:46:00.001-07:00

Anticipation

2009-03-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

One month from today.

Howard Mountain Hunting Lease on the border of Saline and Garland Counties in central Arkansas.

I can't wait!

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This weekend provides a junction of ministry endings and beginnings for us at Woodward Park. Today, we conclude our 40 Days of Prayer journey and it has been a fascinating trip. God has moved and worked among us during these days. To a person, no endeavor at Woodward Park in the last 3-plus years has generated more positive feedback and across-the-board involvement than our 40 Days of Prayer. We'll do it again, soon. Thanks to all who participated so diligently and faithfully.

Sunday, we welcome Jerry and Lynn Jones to Fresno for the Marriage Matters Seminar. It is a chock-full, four-day schedule that promises to bring immense blessing to all our marriages. Mandy and I had the pleasure of participating in this Seminar in 2006 and it continues to bless us through the relational skills we learned.

Here's what I wrote back on March 1, 2006 following our time at Jerry and Lynn's Seminar in Texas: "Can I give you a piece of advice this morning? If Jerry and Lynn Jones are ever in your area to present their Marriage Matters Seminar, run(!) don't walk, to participate! I have been blessed to sit at the feet of a number of skilled marriage counselors: Joe Beam, Paul Faulkner, Carl Breechen, Adrion Hickmon, and Lew Moore among others, but for content and depth, it's hard to beat what the Jones's offer."

I look forward to seeing you all Sunday through Wednesday.

Health Threats

2009-03-11T09:04:00.000-07:00

Thanks for bearing with me over the last week. One week ago, I was stricken with a severe case of food poisoning (no, it wasn't from Chick-fil-A, thank heavens!). One trip to the Emergency Room, two liters of fluid, and about five days of recovering later, I'm feeling back to normal.

Trust me, the flu is far preferable to food poisoning. I pray that is a once-in-a-lifetime experience as I never want to go through that ever again!

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Timothy Dolan was recently appointed the archbishop of New York. Last year, in a lecture on preaching, he made the following observation:

"Maybe the greatest threat to the church is not heresy, not dissent, not secularism, not even moral relativism, but this sanitized, feel-good, boutique, therapeutic spirituality that makes no demands, calls for no sacrifice, asks for no conversion, entails not battle against sin, but only soothes and affirms" ("Church News" Times-Dispatch, Richmond, VA, 2-25-09, A-10).

Praying for Bryan

2009-03-04T08:57:00.001-08:00

What a moving night of prayer last evening in the home of Bryan and Debby Shelley. An army of Prayer Warriors from Madera and Fresno counties descended on the Shelley's home for a time of diligent agreement together through Jesus.

Last fall, Bryan (the Preaching Minister for the Sunset Avenue church in Madera) was diagnosed with Stage-4 Colon Cancer. The cancer had already invaded his liver and the prognosis was grim. Since the diagnosis, Bryan has been on a very aggressive regimen of chemotherapy treatments. Amazingly, he doesn't seem to have lost a thread of hair throughout the treatments.

As Bryan's treatments near their conclusion, his wonderful wife Debby invited a host of Christian friends to come and pray. About 12 guys (including 6 of our 8 elders) from Woodward Park joined me on this journey.

There were tears. There were hugs. There were audible "Amens" expressing agreement. There were readings from God's Word. There were reminders that the stories of the Bible aren't there to tell us what God did, but to infuse our faith in what God can do. There were affirmations that the One living within us is greater than any disease that might afflict us.

Last night, I was blessed to be a part of an army of prayer.

Today, I'll continue praying for my friend and my brother, Bryan Shelley.

I hope you'll join me in that prayer.

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"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him...And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5.13-16).

Divine Bailout, Divine Stimulus

2009-03-02T08:16:00.001-08:00

I'll never forget yesterday. It's the first time I've ever left the platform after preaching with a half-smoked pack of Marlboro's and a cigarette lighter.

Yesterday morning, we spent time in Luke 7.36-50 and the powerful story of the time Jesus accepted a dinner invitation at Simon's house. Table fellowship is critical to the entirety of Dr. Luke's story of Jesus. Behind the text often lie very elaborate cultural conventions and expectations for the host, to the guests, even the seating arrangement at the table.

As host, Simon fails miserably. The conventions expected of the host/insider were either lost on Simon or beneath his preconceived stature and dignity. A "sinful woman," however, an outsider who didn't know any better (or did she?), broke through convention and performed admirably the hospitable tasks of compassion and grace expected of Simon.

Simon is disgusted. "If this man were a prophet," he thought to himself, he'd surely scold this sinful woman. For Simon, Jesus' reputation as a prophet hangs in the balance. So what does Jesus do? He proves himself a prophet, not by discerning the morality of the woman but by disclosing the mind of Simon.

To help the seal the deal, Jesus tells a story in Luke 7.41-42 pregnant with meaning for our times. It's about a banker who "bails out" two men unable to repay their debt. The banker's generous bailout becomes the stimulus for the appreciation of the two men.

As Jesus admonishes Simon, it is clear his oversight toward Jesus is not as devastating as his judgment of the woman. The woman, recognizing her need to be bailed out of her sin, responded with great appreciation and love for the Savior. The woman is aware; Simon is simply counting the amount.

And that's where Allen comes in. The call at the close of the sermon yesterday was one that honored spontaneous response of appreciation and gratitude for the Savior who bailed us all out. We closed by talking very specifically about how the divine bailout at Calvary becomes our divine stimulus to respond to Jesus with love, grace and compassion.

And Allen did.

He came to the front, not just to fill out a Response Card, but to literally lay down his burden in front of the whole assembly. Allen was baptized into Jesus on November 10, 2008 and since that time he's grown in his faith. But Allen's had a barrier -- an addiction to nicotine -- that has inhibited his full devotion to Jesus.

Yesterday, in an act of rare courage, Allen made himself accountable to the entire assembly as he begged for prayer to overcome addiction. For those of us lifers in the church, Allen's act defied convention. But that's exactly the response Jesus honors! Allen's uncoventional act of devotion and dedication was in no small part stimulated by his appreciation for God's divine bailout.

I fully expect we'll hear more and more about "financial bailouts" and " economic stimulus" in the weeks and months ahead. But I hope, when we do, we think not of our financial status but our spiritual status. Thanks to the incredible bailout offered by God's grace, we are stimulated to join His Kingdom cause in this world, to lay aside our burdens, and to love others without a judgmental spirit.

My Favorite Picture

2009-02-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

Thanks for your responses yesterday. It seems the family pictures and stories are some of your favorites. So, in back of your feedback, here's one of my all-time favorites from our time at Pier 34 in San Francisco last November. The sports store there had some old Raider helmets, sans faceguards, that the girls and I tried on. Mandy told us to make mean faces and here's the result.

Happy Blog Birthday!

2009-02-25T08:52:00.000-08:00

Happy Fourth Birthday, dear blog. It was February 25, 2005 when I fired off my post from the secretary's desk at the Village Church of Christ. Now, four years later, this blog that has become a dear friend, a therapeutic outlet, and at times a source of consternation, is still up-and-running. Thanks to all of you who drop by, who care to email with comments and suggestions, and who support my ministry through prayer and words of encouragement.

With that, I thought I'd solicit some input today. What themes do you most enjoy reading here? For the regulars, you know my blog is often a mix of faith-based issues, family, and sports (especially baseball). Which theme(s) do you find most enjoyable? Shoot me an email today at jim@wpcoc.com and share your feedback.

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Funny, but since leaving the Bible Belt, I have not had to deal with the "persons of significance" who thought it their place to censor the content of my blog.

That has been refreshing.

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So, have you Woodward Park'ers accepted the 48-hour challenge of no TV?

Let's see, you're probably thinking, "We're being asked to fast for 24 hours beginning every Tuesday evening and now forgo television for 48 hours this week. When is it going to end?!"

I'm grateful for this time calling us to deeper discipleship and the consideration of how our routines rob us of golden time with God and with our family.

The last two nights have been so enjoyable for us. No TV has meant no time restrictions on our devo time. It has meant a 30-minute neighborhood walk to share and rehearse the day together. And it has meant games of Connect Four and Pretty Princess (yes, I do play and do wear the jewelry, but you'll never see pictures of it!).

I hope you've found a special blessing in your family the last two days by altering your routine to spend more quantity time together.

God's Majesty

2009-02-24T08:06:00.001-08:00

Today's mountain majesty comes courtesy of my old Razorback buddy, Dave Gowen. Dave took this picture near Wood Lake and it does a much better job capturing the beauty of the snow-peaked Sierra than my effort posted up last week.

I still thrill every February through April at the diverse beauty of the California landscape. The hills near the coast are greener now than any other time of year, making me and my sweetie long for a get-away to Cayucos. The Sierras are breathtaking with the snow caps. And yesterday, down in the Valley, the first buds on our Magnolia tree, affectionately known to our family as "Nelda," opened with magnificent white blooms.

My eyes are telling me what my heart knows is true -- this creation we are blessed to experience is no accident!

"You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power..." (Psalm 65.5-6).

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P.S. The little note yesterday about free breakfast at CFA wasn't just for me. All of Fresno is invited! Today, it's chicken, egg, and cheese bagels. Each day this week, a different breakfast item is available for free from 6:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Basketball and Free Breakfast

2009-02-23T08:03:00.001-08:00

We have had such a fun time this winter with basketball. During our short stint in Marble Falls, Trae played basketball in the Little Hoopsters League, but that's been it for hoops.

Just one season.

This year she decided to give basketball another shot. And it has been great! I committed to coach her team in the Upward League hosted by Woodward Park Baptist and Bethany Church in northeast Fresno.

We've got a great team of girls and a wonderful bunch of parents. The focus on learning basketball in a Christian environment has been a great blessing. Our team has done well and the girls have enjoyed some real good success.

In spite of their coaching!

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Sonya and crew at the Chick-fil-A in River Park (across from In-N-Out Burger at Nees and Blackstone) are running a too-good-to-be-true deal this week.

Free breakfast Monday through Saturday.

That's right, swing by Chick-fil-A any day this week and ask for the breakfast special and it is...FREE!

Prettiest Day Ever

2009-02-20T08:20:00.001-08:00

Yesterday may have been the prettiest day I can ever remember. The purple mountains' majesty of the Sierras was simply breathtaking. The air was so crystal clean, even the coastal mountain range was clearly visible.

65 degrees, pristine air, and 6 feet of snow on the mountain peaks.

Wow! Is God some artist?!

If there were no God there would be no music
There would be no dream to be dreaming of
What a dreadful thought of an empty future
If there were no God there would be no love

If there were no God there would be no children
There would be no joy to relieve our tears
Not a tender hand to provide us comfort
No consoling heart to subdue our fears

But we know that God is with us
And we know His majesty
Reigning now, the King eternal
Yes we know the victory

If there were no God there would be no sunshine
There would be no rain to refresh the earth
There would be no jewels to display their value
There would be no thought of enduring words

If there were no God there'd be no creation
There would be no light there would be no breath
No surpassing joy nothing in existence
If there were no God all would be death

But we know that God is with us
And we know His majesty
Reigning now, the King eternal
Yes we know the victory
Yes we know, yes we know the victory

Henri Nouwen on Leadership

2009-02-18T13:58:00.000-08:00

While reading for my Luke class at MBBS, I came across an excerpt about Henri Nouwen. Nouwen taught for over twenty years on the collegiate level before suffering burnout. As a change of pace, he accepted an opportunity to minister in a home for the mentally challenged. It was in that setting that Nouwen came to realize how much the desire for prestige and popularity had derailed his heart for servant-leadership. For servant-leaders, starting strong doesn't always equate to ending strong. It was somewhere between the two that Nouwen recognized his burnout was the result of getting sidetracked on his priorities. In his autobiography, In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership, Nouwen shares a frank account of his personal journey:

"My movement from Harvard to L'Arche made me aware in a new way how much my own thinking about Christian leadership had been affected by the desire to be relevant, the desire for popularity, and the desire for power. Too often I looked at being relevant, popular, and powerful as ingredients of an effective ministry. The truth, however, is that these are not vocations, but temptations. Jesus asks, 'Do you love me?' Jesus sends us out to be shepherds, and Jesus promises a life in which we increasingly have to stretch out our hands and be led to places where we would rather not go. He asks us to move from a concern for relevance to a life of prayer, from worries about popularity to communal and mutual ministry, and from a leadership built on power to a leadership in which we critically discern where God is leading.

The people of L'Arche are showing me new ways. I am a slow learner. Old patterns that have proved quite effective are not easy to give up. But as I think about the Christian leader of the next century, I do believe that those from whom I least expected to learn are showing me the way" (71-72).

Nouwen discovered that relationships, absent personal ambition and power plays, are the essence of true spiritual leaders. Shelving self for the sake of deeply relating on an authentic level with others is the path of true leadership.

It is realizing that everyone I interact with can teach me something.

It is loving Jesus by loving others.

Happy Birthday #5 for Ms. Tori

2009-02-17T08:27:00.001-08:00

Today, our baby turns five.

I can remember like yesterday the dramatic events surrounding Tori's arrival. The 6" snow four days before her birth that socked us in on Castano Drive, cancelled church services that Sunday, and left her mom-to-be and I fretting should Tori decide to arrive early...

Oh, I don't want to go there. It still raises my anxiety meter every time Mandy and I think about it the dramatic way in which Tori arrived.

Yes, our darling Tori entered the world in dramatic fashion. The snow did eventually subside with the sun melting the snow off the hill so we could safely arrive at St. Joseph's for her birth. In a way, that drama has continued for all five years of Tori's life.

And I mean that in a good way!

Tori is our drama queen, our dancing queen, and our in-home comedian. She is enthusiastic, funny, cheerful and full of giggles. She is our soft-hearted one who cries easily, shares readily, and will never go to bed without a Bible story and a prayer.

She's got her Momma's eyes, her Grammy's heart, and her own unique personality that makes life in our home a special blessing.

"Children are a reward from the Lord," wrote Solomon. Today, for the third straight year, we'll go to John's Incredible Pizza and celebrate the reward that is Ms. Tori.

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart.

Daddy Loves You!

Waking Up in Arkansas

2009-02-09T07:05:00.001-08:00

It's good to be home for a couple of days, even if the circumstances are sad. My dad's older brother passed away Friday afternoon. My dad and I were able to ride from the airport in Little Rock to El Dorado together for the visitation and then home to Benton afterward. That was 4 really special hours of visiting and sharing about the past and the future as we drove through the highways of south Arkansas.

Today, mom, dad and I return to El Dorado for the funeral and fellowship meal. Because of Uncle Gerald's influence through coaching and church leadership, it will be a wonderful reunion and celebration of the life of a good man with a wide influence. Hopefully, the Benton Courier website will update today with the wonderful article yesterday honoring my uncle.

Thanks for praying for my dad and all our extended family. Truly, this is one of those times when the intersection of grief and joy is unmistakable. Because of Jesus and hope eternal, the sting of death is diminished. Because of the promise of God, today we find strength.

It is good to be home.

I think my Uncle Gerald would agree.

The Goodness of God

2009-02-06T09:44:00.001-08:00

Thanks for your prayers for my uncle. Apparently, ex-Razorbacks don't go out without a fight. My uncle is still hanging on, despite the fact his eternal destiny is not in doubt! I do appreciate your continued prayer.

God is good, in times of grief.

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Last night while I was in class, Joe immersed another couple into Christ. Wow, has God ever been good to us with 8 baptisms in the last 12 days! Rogelio and Maria are newborns in the family of God! They are friends of Vipul and Linda and have been studying and searching for nearly two years. Rogelio and Maria join Shawn as newborns this week.

God is good, in times of joy.

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This morning, my friend and Gospel of Luke classmate, Steve Thurman, summarized well the highlight of class last night. Here's his take, accompanied by my hearty, "Amen!"

I learned a lot in my first Luke class last night. We discussed who Luke was, whether he actually wrote the book, who Theophilus was, and many other things.

We also spent time looking at the great themes of the gospel and focusing our attention on Luke 1: 5-25. In this passage we encounter most of Luke's major themes: The Holy Spirit...God at work...the salvation story set inside world history...joy, singing, and praise...attention given to the marginalized...and lots and lots of prayer.

The mathematician in me enjoys the symmetry of the text. At the beginning, we read about Zechariah's service, then about the temple, and then about the people outside. At the end, we read about Zechariah coming back to the people, then about the temple, then about his service. The passage points from both ends to the middle. It creates a focal point. And at the very center, we read this: "Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God." The focus of the text is God's desire to have His people back.

Nobody knows for sure what Zechariah was praying for when he was in the temple. A personal prayer would have been for a child. A dutiful prayer would have been for the Messiah. God answered both.

God is good, in response to prayer.

Special Prayer Request

2009-02-05T08:58:00.000-08:00

Could you say a special prayer today for my dad and extended family? My dad's older brother, my uncle Gerald Gardner, is not expected to live through the end of this day.

My uncle was an outstanding football player, starring at Benton High School and then for the University of Arkansas where he played on Razorback teams with Barry Switzer, Fred Akers, and Lance Alworth. He graduated and went into coaching, serving at Harding Academy in Memphis, Benton, Texarkana and concluding his coaching career at El Dorado. After coaching, Uncle Gerald became an Administrator at El Dorado High School.

He and my Aunt Barbara raised three beautiful daughters who have given to them a quiver-full of beautiful grandsons.

For many years, my uncle served as an Elder at the College Avenue Church of Christ where Dan Williams does a fantastic job as Preaching Minister.

I will always remember my uncle for his passion for football, fishing in the Ouachita River, his family, and most especially, his faith.

This is a tough time for my dad, Aunt Barbara and the girls (Kim, Kristy, and Keri). I would very much appreciate your prayers for our family today.

On Relevance in Preaching

2009-02-04T08:21:00.000-08:00

I was moved this morning by the following quote from Stuart Briscoe in Fresh Air in the Pulpit: Challenges and Encouragement from a Seasoned Preacher:

"The problem for the preacher who rightly aims at relevance is that the more the preaching moves in the direction of the hearer's interests, the greater is the danger of the preaching being irrelevant. It is the unique distinctiveness of the gospel which makes the difference in people's lives. But if the preaching has become so 'relevant' that it differs little from the kind of discussion that fills the weary hours of the talk shows, questions people may legitimately ask are: 'Why should we bother with this message called the gospel, which seems to be little more than a religious-version of talk-show babble (57)?"

40 Days of Prayer

2009-02-03T08:39:00.001-08:00

Yesterday marked the beginning of a 40-day prayer commitment among the family of God at Woodward Park. Together, we have pledged to pray each day, lifting before the throne a united voice.

Families, I hope you are taking advantage of these 40 days to begin a new routine in your home. Turn the TV off, carve out some quiet time as a family, and share your hearts with each other and with God.

As for our church family, last week was about as good as it gets! In every, we witnessed a new birth into Jesus (5 total for the week). Watching God work in response to the pleas of his children is amazing! James wrote, "you do not have because you do not ask" (James 4.3). We are asking God to work, and to show us where and in whom he is working, for the sake of his kingdom in this world.

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Today, the greatest answer to prayer God has ever given me celebrates her birthday!

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart. I hope today is a blessed day for you.

Super Bowl Sunday and 728b History

2009-02-01T20:08:00.000-08:00

My friend, Allan, posted this to his blog late Friday afternoon. It's a little late, but no less convicting as it calls us to consider our priorities. Does Matthew 6.33 mean all the time? Seriously? Here's Allan take, with a hearty "Amen" from a dad who takes seriously the stewardship of his children's faith and the message his decisions have on the formation of his children's faith:

I’ll never forget — ever — a telephone conversation I had with my sister, Rhonda, back on Super Bowl Sunday, 1994. It was about 2:00 pm. I don’t remember what we were talking about, but in the middle of the conversation, I told her I was skipping church to go to a Super Bowl party at a friend’s house.

She was genuinely surprised. “You’re skipping church to watch the Super Bowl?”

“Well, yeah.”

“You’re kidding.”

I said, “Rhonda, come on! You know me!”

And she said, “I thought I did.”

That was the last time I ever skipped church to watch a TV show. I urge you to make the same switch in your lifestyle and in the message you send your kids and your friends starting this weekend. Please don’t skip church this Sunday night to watch a TV show.

It is quite amazing that in an era of TIVO and DVR's, worship attendance on "Super Sunday" seems substantially less than before technology. Is it possible our hunger and thirst for an "experience" has marginalized our submission?

Could it be the culture is doing a better job impacting church than church is doing impacting culture?

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My good friend, Jeremy Turner from the Bay Area and now living in Kansas, accepted the challenge of Friday's blog to dig up some history on "Our God, He is Alive" and its famed place as #728b. Here's what Jeremy found:

Your latest blog post and question inspired me into a little research into the so-called churches of Christ national anthem.

728B is found in Alton Howard's Songs of the Church which was published March 1st, 1971 (ISBN: 978-1878990136). "Our God, He Is Alive" was written by Dr. Aaron Wesley Dicus in 1966. Dr. Dicus was a scientist, inventor, songwriter, and minister. In his early years, he ministered to the church in Bloomington, Indiana. Every time you change lanes, think of Dr. Dicus, for he invented the automobile turn signal! He was deeply into the study of physics, mentoring many students who would go on to train in other areas such as nuclear research. ACU professor Bill Humble was one of his students. He served as the head of the Department of Physics at Tennessee Tech, before retiring early to teach and become a dean at a small Florida Christian college. His mathematical background spilled over into music and his faith. He wrote several songs, probably "Our God, He Is Alive" arguably being the most known. His physics, math, and music background also gave him the skills to consult with churches on designing their auditoriums.

None of that really answers your question, but I found it fascinating! From what I have heard (and therefore should be more as speculation), the song became so popular especially at youth events Howard Publishing felt they had to include it in the hymnal. I'm 99.9% sure there was a 728. But why didn't they pick 729?

The 728B Fan Club

2009-01-29T21:21:00.000-08:00

When I first saw it on my Facebook news feed, I doubled over in laughter.

Seriously, a 728B Fan Club?!

Here's the question of the day: Does anybody really know what made the hymnal editors decide to go with 728 "B"? If you know the answer to that little nugget, I'd love for you to email me the background information (jim@wpcoc.com).

No hymn in church of Christ lore ever reached the fame of "Our God, He is Alive." It was (and is) a stirring hymn, but it owes its fame, in part, to that mysterious number...

728B

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Two Sundays ago, I challenged Woodward Park to bring the names of unsaved friends and family for which the church could earnestly pray. 258 names were brought forward on that day.

And since then we've begun to pray and fast as we ask God to be about the business of Luke 15, searching and seeking to accomplish his greatest longing (2 Peter 3.9) in the lives of those separated and estranged from God.

And since then? 3 baptisms and a fourth on the way really soon!

God is good. God is at work. Our God, He is Alive!

Are you kidding me?

2009-01-27T19:58:00.000-08:00

Would someone please get on the horn to Nolan Ryan and inform him these whatever you call it's aren't fit for girls tee-ball! For heaven's sake, the only thing missing is the airbrushed nickname of the first grader with the accompanying flaming softball.

I cannot believe anyone in the Rangers' PR office ever signed off on these.

For a historical tour of Rangers' uniform history, click here. We can only hope the brass in Arlington come to their senses before pitchers and catchers report and do not these hideous things to a needy Little League in the Metroplex.

Another Manic Monday

2009-01-19T10:07:00.000-08:00

The State of California is out of money and the State Controller announced on Friday that tax refunds would arrive in the form of IOU's from the state to the taxpayers.

So, could a taxpayer owing money to the state attach an IOU with their return and mail it off to Sacramento?

Hmmm....

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Today is a manic Monday because early tomorrow, I'll join my good friend Eli Hooper on a Southwest flight bound for Lubbock, Texas. I am honored by the opportunity to speak at this year's Sunset International Bible Institute Lectureship. You can find a complete schedule of the program here. It'll be great to renew acquaintances, to discern more the plans and processes required for the creation of a West Coast branch of AIM, and to be with Dale and Lauri Mannon. Every time I'm in Lubbock, I stay with Dale and Lauri. Dale was my Youth Minister in Junior High and has been a life-long mentor. He's currently involved in a wonderful ministry preaching for the Greenlawn Church of Christ in Lubbock while serving as an Adjunct faculty member at Lubbock Christian University.

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Trae's basketball team couldn't offer their coaching deficiences (yes, I am the coach!) and lost by six points on Saturday. But it was great fun! I am a big fan of Upward Basketball and its focus beyond ultra-competitive athletics for children. The integration of spiritual nurturing into sports is a wonderful idea and has already provided a great blessing to my daughter and the other girls on the team.

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"Apathy can only be overcome by enthusiasm and enthusiasm can only be aroused by two things. First. an ideal which takes the imagination by storm and second, a definite, intelligible plan for putting that ideal into practice" (Arnold Toynbee).

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Here's a little Presidential Inauguration History, courtesy of Sunday's Fresno Bee, of which I was unaware. Did you know the longest inauguration speech in history was delivered by William Henry Harrison. His speech, some 8,444 words, lasted so long that a brisk wind brought with it rain during the midst of the prolonged speech. As a result, Harrison contracted pneumonia and died one month later (the shortest presidency in history).

What a warning to all long-winded speakers, huh?!

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Finally, since I'll be out the remainder of the week, here are the two syllabi for the graduate courses I'll be taking this spring: Biblical Interpretation and the Gospel of Luke.

T.G.I.F.

2009-01-16T08:19:00.000-08:00

The logo on the left represents the newest way for me to spend my idle time. For baseball fans, the wait between the end of football season and opening day seems like an eternity.

Not anymore!

Thanks to start-up of the MLB Network (that's channel 213 for all you DirecTV subscribers) baseball buffs like me can get the "national past time, all the time!" Thus far, I've been captivated by Don Larsen's perfect game in the '57 Series and the nightly Hot Stoves dissecting off-season player movements. I've been re-captivated by Ken Burns's epic series on Baseball, originally shown on PBS.

If you're a baseball fan, do yourself an off-season favor and give the MLB Network a look. It lives up to the hype and delivers on its promise.

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Speaking of athletics, Trae has her first Upward Basketball League game tomorrow morning. I have grown to appreciate the Upward program very quickly. Each practice involves a 10-minute break for Bible devotions and Scripture memory work. The halftimes of each game involves a devotional for spectators.

It should be fun tomorrow...if Trae's little team can overcome their coaching deficiencies!

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Andy tells me over 85 kids are signed up and ready for this weekend's Winter Retreat to Yosemite Bible Camp. The weekend should be awesome. The weather's great. Eli Hooper will do his usual phenomenal job. And lives and futures should be changed as a result.

Keep our kidos and their chaperones in your prayers this weekend.

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Finally, today is a "circle of life" day, so to speak. There are two funerals today for loved ones of family members at Woodward Park. Following that, there's a visit to the nursery at Clovis Community Hospital to welcome George and Brandy's little baby boy.

And in the middle, an opportunity to spend an hour volunteering in Trae's classroom, grading 4th grade spelling, reading and math tests.

Hope your weekend is blessed. Keep dreaming and praying big!

Nehemiah and Integrity

2009-01-13T08:20:00.000-08:00

On Sunday evenings at Woodward Park, we're journeying through the chronicle of Nehemiah's effort to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. The account of Nehemiah's leadership is fascinating as his life exemplifies deep care, persistent prayer, and careful planning.

The introduction to Nehemiah in The Message carries a powerful reminder about the integrity of the people of God. Somehow, somewhere, we bought into an unbiblical concept of life as compartmentalized, living by segments rather than integrity. Of the many things Nehemiah teaches, one of the most penetrating is the call to integrity -- to view all of life, including our work, as wholly devoted to God.

"Separating life into distinct categories of 'sacred' and 'secular' damages, sometimes irreparably, any attempt to live a whole and satisfying life, a coherent life with meaning and purpose, a life lived to the glory of God. Nevertheless, the practice is widespread. But where did all these people come up with the habit of separating themselves and the world around them into these two camps? It surely wasn't from the Bible. The Holy Scriptures, from beginning to end, strenuously resist such a separation.

The damage to life is most obvious when the separation is applied to daily work. It is common for us to refer to the work of pastors, priests, and missionaries as 'sacred,' and that of lawyers, farmers, and engineers as 'secular.'

It is also wrong.

Work, by its very nature, is holy. The biblical story is dominated by people who have jobs in gardening, shepherding, the military, politics, carpentry, tent-making, homemaking, fishing, and more.

Nehemiah is one of these. He started out as a government worker in the employ of a foreign king. Then he became a building contractor, called in to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. His co-worker Ezra was a scholar and teacher, working with the Scriptures. Nehemiah worked with stones and mortar. The stories of the two men are interwoven in a seamless fabric of vocational holiness. Neither job was more or less important or holy than the other. Nehemiah needed Ezra; Ezra needed Nehemiah. God's people needed the work of both of them.

God's people still do."

Going to Church or Being the Church?

2009-01-12T10:41:00.000-08:00

This week, Andy is taking a week-long intensive course on "The Missional Church in a Postmodern Context." The guest instructor, Milfred Minatrea, wrote the primary book on which the course is based: Shaped by God's Heart: The Passion and Practices of the Missional Church. One particular paragraph stood out to me as I skimmed the preface and conclusion:

"For many, His church has become not a place of relationship but merely a place where people gather for religious ceremonies. Members belong to the church just as they may belong to the Lions or Rotary Club. They go to church, but often they do not see themselves as the church. Even (members) speak of the facilities where they meet as 'the church.' What was intended by God as a living Body has been reduced to bricks and mortar, a building made with hands."

Final Top 20 Poll and the Poetic Justice Bowl

2009-01-09T08:28:00.000-08:00

I was saddened last night for friends like Sam, Janis, Bobby, Linda, et. al. I really was pulling for the Sooners for the sake of so many dear friends. Plus, Urban Meyer just rubs me the wrong way (I think it is SEC regional jealousy).

Before I share with you my final KK&C Top 20 poll, I'd like to make a proposal. I'd like to propose a new bowl game, to be played annually, between teams who've lost at least three consecutive BCS games. There's got to be a way to get these consistently under-performing teams out of the mix, so as not to clog up new and worthy teams from a spot in the BCS (so long as the BCS continues to be the system to determine the National Champion). The teams for the "Poetic Justice Bowl" would be slotted immediately following the bowl season and would lock them, regardless of next season's record, into the Poetic Justice Bowl.

So (drumroll, please) the participants in the Poetic Justice Bowl following the conclusion of the 2009 season: Oklahoma versus Ohio State.

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This year, I have been honored to be a voter in the KK&C Top 20 poll, hosted by Allan Stanglin on his blog. Here is the final poll I emailed to Allan this morning. The results of the final poll are due up on his blog later today:

1: Florida -- #1 on body of work, but second best team in the nation.
2: Utah -- Best mid-major team since the inception of the BCS.
3: USC -- #3 on season's body of work, but champs in a playoff system.
4: Texas -- Big 12 South's lackluster showing dims the shine of their season.
5: Alabama -- Finish on a 2-game losing streak, but still held #1 spot for 6 weeks.
6: Oklahoma -- Sooners making a habit of not showing up in January.
7: Penn State -- Old Crank returns to the sideline in '09 sans kick demonstrations.
8: TCU -- Only losses to Oklahoma and Utah...impressive.
9: Boise State -- Lose to TCU by 1 or they're up there challenging Utah.
10: Oregon -- Human highlighters and a little Nike money make sport of Cowboys.
11: Georgia -- Headed for a heartache without Stafford or Knowshon.
12: Ole Miss -- Only team to beat Florida and most impressive win of Bowl season.
13: Texas Tech -- the Pirate's defense came back to earth to end the year.
14: Virginia Tech -- Hokey Hi, the boys from VPI get an irrelevant BCS win.
15: Cincinnati -- Could we please give the Big East berth to the Mountain West?
16: Missouri -- A good year overlooked in the hoopla of the Big 12 South.
17: Oklahoma State -- Will Mike Gundy have an assistant left by spring practice?
18: Oregon State -- Sun Bowl champs in an offensive shootout.
19: Iowa -- Sent Spurrier back to the coop licking his wounds.
20: Ohio State -- THE most overrated program in the history of college football.

Happy New Year

2009-01-06T11:08:00.000-08:00

Ok, let me begin with a brief note of clarification in light of the load of emails I've received the last couple of days. I intentionally took my blog off-line on Sunday with every intention my next post would be a fond farewell to blogging. Honestly, with my Mom here over Christmas break, writing here had taken a backseat on my priority list.

I found that lessened demand to be refreshing.

Next month will mark four years since the birth of my blog. I began blogging because, well, everybody was doing it. I've tried to maintain a five-day a week commitment here without recycling a lot of sermons and class content for the benefit of those who hear it live and don't want reruns. However, being alert to constantly fresh insights five days a week, while teaching four times a week, while striving to be a good husband and father, in addition to grad schooling has been a bit taxing.

Because of your emails and kind words, I've reconsidered and decided to maintain my blog. I've discovered that it does provide a blessing for some I never realized. However, I'm not promising new stuff here on a daily basis as I've tried to do in the past. I'll blog occasionally, as things arise that I believe might encourage you.

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As for the ministry at Woodward Park, we have launched into the next five years with a Vision and a Dream for the Kingdom of God in Fresno. Today, that dream and its accompanying picture of what the Woodward Park church can become by January 5, 2014 excites me. God has placed on the heart of His people at Woodward Park an ambitious dream -- a dream that follows the outline of Acts 1.8 and the mission-endorsed strategy of Jesus to begin at home in reaching the world with the good news. It is a dream that involves equipping disciples of Jesus within the current membership, training young people through a West Coast-branch of Adventures in Mission in the diverse laboratory of Fresno, and providing satellite-delivery of Spanish-language Preacher Training to Woodward Park. The dream that "The Woodward Park Church of Christ will become a family of disciples of Jesus, united in faith, hope, and love and, beginning at home, will win the world for Christ" is the dream that drives me from January 1, 2009 forward!

That dream, along with the commitment to further development my own ministry through graduate schooling (this spring, two courses with a 224-hour commitment as opposed to the fall's one course with an 86-hour commitment), and the opportunities afforded me as a dad and father to win the world for Christ, beginning in my own home, means this blog will now be a secondary commitment in my life and ministry.

Thanks for your emails, your encouragement, your love and your support. Now, I covet your prayers -- not only for me and my family but for the ministry of the Woodward Park church. Pray that the dream God has put on our heart for the sake of His Kingdom in Fresno, the San Joaquin Valley, the state of California, and the ends of the earth will find His full blessing. We're envisioning together, as one family, a dream that's bigger than our own resources. But those are the dreams that God seems to relish -- the dreams by which God does His best work. I ask that you, my friend, whether in Fresno or far away, will join me in praying daily that we, God's people, will be faithful to join God in what He is doing in our city, our county, our region, our state and our world.

Happy New Year!

A Cayucos Christmas

2008-12-30T08:04:00.000-08:00

Disneyland might claim to be the "happiest place on Earth." I beg to differ. For my family, it's hard to beat the central Coast, specifically Cayucos and the Beach Inn. After Santa arrived, we loaded up and headed for the coast for three nights. We had a good time -- playing Calico Critters, Caddoo, taking walks on the beach, playing in the sand, watching the surfers, driving up to San Simeon to see the seals, and eating entirely too much.

Grammy -- The Greatest Gift

2008-12-22T07:43:00.000-08:00

So we've been cooking up this little surprise for our girls and trying to keep the secret for almost three months. That surprise was having Grammy fly in for Christmas and spend Trae's entire Christmas break with us.

Grammy flew in Friday evening, about nine hours later than scheduled. I went to FYI to pick her up while Mandy had the girls prep'd for the surprise. When Grammy and I got home, Mandy had the girls seated on the hearth. I had the girls close their eyes and told them they had a big Christmas surprise. Grammy came in with a Santa hat singing a Christmas carol and, before the girls even saw her, their priceless expressions unmasked their joy. In our own excitement, Mandy and I forgot the camera/video to capture the moment, The image of it, though, is safely locked away in our memory banks.

Now, to set the scene a little more, last Monday at our Staff Christmas luncheon, our associate minister Joe (knowing my Mom was coming but not fully realizing the girls didn't know), asked Tori, "When will your Grammy be here?" Without skipping a beat, Tori answered, "In the summer!"

So you cannot imagine our delight and laughter when, after hugs and happiness Friday night, Tori announced to all, "I am so glad it's summer!"

Priceless!

Saturday, to get into the Christmas spirit, we took the short drive up to 5000' and Shaver Lake where at least a foot of snow remained from last week's winter storm in the Sierras. As you can see, Grammy, the girls and the sights of Shaver are fabulous.

On Sunday, I was privileged to speak with Grammy in the audience. What used to be a weekly event I took for granted doesn't come around as often do the distance that separates us. But when it does, it is so special.

Dad, thanks for sending Grammy our way! Grammy thanks so much for coming! Your presence this Christmas is the greatest present we'll receive!

Pray for Whitney

2008-12-18T09:31:00.000-08:00

She's one of my all-time favorites and she's in surgery today at Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas.

Whitney Stanglin, affectionately known as "Whit-pit" and the oldest daughter of dear friends Allan and Carrie-Anne Stanglin, is having surgery today. The procedure is reconstructive surgery on her left foot to repair some long-term issues. In back of the surgery, she'll be on crutches, wear a cast, and enjoy getting wheelchair rides.

Whitney is one of my favorites because she is an unabashed sports fanatic! If anybody cares about the Texas Rangers more than me, it's Whit. She's a Longhorn. A Star. A Ranger. A Maverick. Basically, anything in the way of Texas sports captures Whit's full attention.

I'm praying for Whitney today and ask you to do the same. I know Allan and Carrie-Anne would greatly appreciate it!

The Power of God

2008-12-17T08:20:00.001-08:00

In case you needed evidence the bloated, over-saturated bowl system doesn't work, check out this link. It is a blog from the Chicago Sun-Times that found the Humanitarian Bowl, that incredibly appealing game on the blue turf featuring Maryland and Nevada, has sold a grand total of 24 tickets as of Monday.

That's right, 24 tickets.

The BCS has essentially rendered the bowl season meaningless and, apparently, the fans of Nevada and Maryland are voting with their feet.

Who could blame that? In this economy, in that weather, on that blue turf -- Maryland versus Nevada? Yeah, I'd stay home too.

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I'm kicking myself this morning for not taking pictures yesterday. It's an opinion, and I know it's debatable, but yesterday was the most beautiful day we've ever experienced in Fresno.

Allow me to set the scene.

Saturday, the girls and I drove up to Shaver Lake for some pizza. There is a wonderful little pizza joint there that reminds me so much of Perrigo's Pizza and we love the scenery on the 45-minute drive up. The weather was mild and crystal clear in the valley on Saturday, but as we neared the foot of the mountain at Auberry, clouds began to thicken. Before we made it to 4000', it was snowing. About 2" covered the ground at Shaver and we were able to enjoy our pizza (pepperoni, beef, mushroom, and black olive, in case you were curious) and the beauty of the falling snow.

On Sunday night, I shared with the assembly how that in the south, there is an old adage: "if you don't like the weather, just wait an hour." In California, that could be said, "if you don't like the weather, just drive an hour." Thanks to the elevation changes, the weather can be drastically different just an hour outside of Fresno.

Which brings us to Monday. Mandy and I hosted the paid staff of Woodward Park for a holiday luncheon. After the last guests departed, a black cloud formed, similar to the thunderheads of the south in late spring. The next thing we knew, hail started falling. The street and our yard were covered in pea-sized hail, such that it looked as if it had snowed. And then, Monday night, the hail came again, prompting Trae and Tori into the street with other neighbor kids to play.

That brings us to Tuesday morning. We awoke to brilliant sunshine, not a cloud in the sky or trace to Tule fog. About 2 feet of snow had been dumped on the Sierra Nevada's, with dusting in the foothills as low as 1000'. There was no smog. There was no haze. Just brilliant, picturesque proof of God's handiwork as far as the eye could see.

I took an afternoon drive to the Seminary to collect my final essay for the semester and, all along the 168 Freeway, I marveled in amazement at the scenes to the East.

This morning, the typical Tule fog has returned, blocking the scenery that yesterday brought so much visible proof of God's power. For David, the clearest evidence of the power of God seemed to lay in the heavens (see Psalm 19.1-6 and 33.6-9). I envision David, lying on his back after a hard day, the sheep safe within the fold, gazing up at the Palestinian night sky and marveling at the evidence of God in the stars. Each day, at times subtly and other times forcefully, God reveals His power within creation. We have inspiration all around us to pen our own Psalms.

Burnout: A Mom Shares Her Fear

2008-12-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I blogged about the value for my ministry and personal growth in being a student again. I received one especially touching email in response to my blog yesterday from a mother whose son is in ministry. As I hinted about the danger of burnout, especially in regard to the vital role Shepherd/Elders play in the church, this mom shared her heart and her concern for her son and for the men who aspire to Shepherd the church. I asked for, and was granted, permission to share her words with you today.

There is a small fear I don't allow myself to entertain often that someday my son might get burned out with his job. Right now, he has tremendous zeal and passion for his ministry. If he were a ditch digger with that same passion I would not worry if one day he woke up and said, "I don't want to dig ditches anymore". Quite a different concern if he ever says "I don't want to preach the gospel anymore because the task is too difficult." A parent with grown children worries their children will become disenchanted and leave the church. That is a given for all of us. How much greater the fear that the beloved church might beat your child down so much that they walked away from their passion, that passion of spreading the good news far and wide, of helping transform lives, of ministering to those in need - both believer and nonbeliever? I have seen brothers and sisters become vicious at times. Is there a more dangerous person on the planet than a misguided Christian?

I say all of that to say this...maybe we need to occasionally rise to the occasion and lift up our shepherds and ministers for they do carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. They may lay hands on us at the lowest times of our lives. Every single elder came and prayed with my dad before he passed away. Without even knowing my husband's parents, several of them came to their funerals. That gave us tremendous comfort. When our shepherds stand before the congregation and reach out to those who have responded to the gospel it brings me to tears. We do not have priests in the churches of Christ, nor do we put any man in an exalted place. Nonetheless, the scripture tells us that elders that serve well are worthy of honor and praise.

A couple of weeks ago, I urged you to cut the spiritual leaders within your church some slack. Despite their leadership, they remain fallible men. This week, can I encourage you to seek out a Shepherd, a Minister, or someone who has mentored you in the footsteps of Jesus. Pat them on the back. Take them out for Sunday lunch. Share with them a word of encouragement. Lift their spirit. It just might be God uses you as a conduit whereby a leader on the edge of burn out is encouraged, renewed, and re-energized in their ministry.

On Being a Student Again

2008-12-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or is this year's bowl lineup incredibly weak? Wow, never thought I'd see the day that the Poinsettia Bowl was one of the better match ups.

With apologies to all my Sooner friends, I still say you robbed Texas of their rightful place in the BCS championship game.

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Yesterday in our weekly Shepherds/Staff prayer session, we asked, "Who shepherds the Shepherds?" That's a great question, and one we don't often consider. Sometimes, positions of leadership can be a lonely place.

Perhaps the application of that question in my role as Preaching Minister propelled me to accept a free course this fall at the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Fresno. The course, entitled "The Church and God's Mission in the World," has assuaged my own propensity to burnout. That may seem odd, seeing as how the semester's assignments included reading and writing essays on seven books, but the opportunity to be a student again was beyond refreshing. As one who teaches four times each week (two sermons and two class sessions), sitting in a classroom with others and being a student again has renewed my own walk with the Lord and enhanced my ministry.

I've enjoyed it so, and the blessings that have accompanied this semester as a student, that I have decided (with Mandy's blessing) to continue on. My quest isn't to earn a degree -- though should that occur it would be an added blessing -- but to continue to grow in Christ as a student. It'll be a sacrifice, as there are no tuition waivers from this point forward, but I am grateful for this serendipitous opportunity to sharpen the Sword.

Values Audit

2008-12-09T08:14:00.000-08:00

With the help of Bruce Sharp, an assessment of the personal and perceived congregational values of Woodward Park was taken last Sunday. According to Bruce's research, all-volunteer organizations, such as congregations, have a higher level of commitment (above corporations) when the vision and values sync with the personal values of the members. That is, people are willing to invest in communal causes that promote what they personally value.

In an effort to better discern what our church values individually and how they perceive our collective values, we presented the following audit last Sunday. We're still collecting and processing the data, but I thought in sharing it here today it might be beneficial to others. If you would like a complete copy of the assessment, email me at jim@wpcoc.com and I'd be happy to forward it on to you.

1 – LEAST IMPORTANT
2 – SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT (I’m not interested, but I believe others should be)
3 – IMPORTANT (I would like to invest time and energy on this value)
4 – MOST IMPORTANT (I am very passionate and will invest time and energy on this value)

1) Evangelism – sharing with others the good news of Jesus for the purpose of salvation 1 2 3 4

2) Community Outreach – revitalizing and strengthening churches throughout our region 1 2 3 4

3) Giving – joyfully and generously providing a portion of one’s finances to support church ministry 1 2 3 4

4) Relationships – people lovingly involved in each other’s lives 1 2 3 4

5) Family Ministry – strengthening and enhancing marriage and family relationships 1 2 3 4

6) Bible Knowledge – intentionally seeking the truth of God through Bible study 1 2 3 4

7) World Missions – spreading the gospel of Jesus throughout the world 1 2 3 4

8) Benevolence – active participation from the heart in meeting other’s needs 1 2 3 4

9) Encouragement – offering inspirational support to those who need it 1 2 3 4

10) Leadership – influencing others by taking initiative in pursuit of God’s mission 1 2 3 4

11) Prayer – bringing thanks and requests to God on behalf of self and others 1 2 3 4

12) Stewardship – working to and maintaining high standards that bring glory to God 1 2 3 4

13) Creativity – encouraged to develop new ideas for doing ministry
1 2 3 4

14) Worship – humbly submitting to the will of God in spirit and truth 1 2 3 4

15) Status Quo – a preference for the way things are currently done 1 2 3 4

16) Ministry Involvement – actively working together for a specific purpose 1 2 3 4

17) Fellowship – a commitment to the gathering of God’s people
1 2 3 4

18) The Future church – ministry to the youth and college students of our community 1 2 3 4

Christmas Pictures

2008-12-08T08:07:00.000-08:00

Photos courtesy of Lynn Smith

When We Are Weak, then We Are Strong

2008-12-02T08:17:00.000-08:00

During our short stint in Marble Falls, I repeatedly heard Allan Stanglin and Todd Lewis trumpet the value of the writings of Marva Dawn. Thanks to their graduate schooling at Austin Grad, they'd both been exposed to Dawn's work and her keen insight into issues related to the tension of being the church in our contemporary culture.

So, you can imagine my excitement when I saw the syllabus for the class I'm taking this fall at MBBS. The last of seven required readings is Powers, Weakness and the Tabernacling of God. In the book, Dawn touches on the reality that God inhabits weakness, but the contemporary church is enamored with the strategies and structures of this fallen world. The principalities and powers of the world are in stark contrast to the ways and means of God throughout Scripture.

As Dawn notes, "Our churches operate as fallen powers when the gospel is no longer a stumbling block, when the 'foolishness' and 'weakness' of God outlined in 1 Corinthians 1-2 are discarded in favor of status, position, wealth, popularity, acceptability to the modern or postmodern minds, or power. Only in the paradox of glory through suffering can we find the truth of God's triumph, not as an oppressive power, but in the power of submission to death. Churches have lost their vocation when they please the world too much and lose the scandal of justification by grace -- the helplessness that sticks in the craw of those who want to be able to fix themselves by themselves" (91).

That's Dawn's take. Here's the Lord's: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." And here's the Apostle Paul's: "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12.9-10).

In a culture oriented around success, weakness is far from virtuous. We typically live to enhance and develop skill and strength where we were once weak for the sake of success. Scripture, on the other hand, calls us to take stock of our weaknesses, not in order to self-help our weakness into strength but to discover in our weakness the very presence of the power of God.

Why?

2008-12-01T08:23:00.001-08:00

I'm sorry, I meant to say Boise romps Fresno by 51, not 21.

Good grief.

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Mack Brown said it best Saturday night during the defensive exhibition that was the Oklahoma/Oklahoma State game: "How do I explain to my team that we beat Missouri and we beat Oklahoma and they play for the Big XII championship game while we stay home?"

Good question.

With all due apology to my dear Boomer Sooner friends, I think Oklahoma's entry into the Big XII Championship game over a Texas team that beat them on the field by ten points is a travesty. I love college football, despite its flawed postseason system, but the slight to Texas due to the output of computers and the opinion of voters while overlooking the head-to-head score is not right.

If there is any athletic justice in the world, Missouri will beat Oklahoma Saturday night.

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While reading over the weekend, I was struck by this insightful section from Marva Dawn in her book Powers, Weakness, and the Tabernacling of God.

"The (texts of Paul) about Jesus crucified in weakness and inviting us so to be crucified with him, the (texts of Peter) about following in the footsteps of Jesus, whose suffering has left us an example, and the (text of Revelation) urging perseverance in affliction all raise crucial questions for churches in our times. We must remember that what is true of Jesus, Peter, and Paul is no doubt also true for churches, since most of the Bible is written in plural and since the Scriptures repeatedly show that the way of God is through weakness. If the Church is most faithful to its true vocation as a created power through the weakness that gives way to God's tabernacling, then we must ask such questions as these:

Why have we turned pastors into successful CEOs instead of shepherds for the weak?

Why do we search for (preachers) who are handsome, sophisticated, charismatic -- instead of models in suffering?

Why do our churches adopt practices of business life and its achievement models?

Why do we resort to gimmicks...instead of practicing an 'unadultered handling of the Word?'"

A Week of Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T23:47:00.000-08:00

I found out over Thanksgiving turkey that several loyal readers here intentionally bypass all writing regarding sports. So, I'll make it quick on this Football Friday.

LSU squeaks by Arkansas by 3; Boise romps Fresno State by 21; and Clovis East and Bullard win to advance to the Valley Championship Game next weekend.

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Like many of you, I was stunned by the sudden passing of Prentice Meador. Prentice and I had been exchanging emails in an effort to secure a date for him to present his "Weekend of Champions" seminar for the men of the Central Valley. As a prior resident of California, Prentice seemed genuinely enthusiastic about coming and we were near finalizing a date in 2009 for him to be in Fresno.

I had the privilege of hearing Prentice present the Weekend of Champions Seminar at the Westover Hills church in Austin, Texas three years ago. To this day, I lean on the lessons he taught at that seminar. His call to integrity, to brotherhood, and to purity were penetrating and practical. The handouts still serve as a rich resource in my own preaching and personal growth.

The most striking impression I will forever carry of Prentice, however, is from a lecture he presented at the Tahoe Family Encampment about four years ago. Prentice had been invited by Paul Methvin to deliver a lecture on Baptism he'd presented at the ACU Lectureship. Before he delivered his lecture on baptism, he opened by sharing news of the then-recent leukemia diagnosis of his granddaughter, Palmer. What is burned into my memory is how Prentice told of calling his entire family together and stating that, as the father of the family, he would be out-front spiritually and emotionally for the well-being of his family through the crisis.

I've never forgotten that and I never will. It struck me as rare, though it shouldn't, a father/grandfather leading his family through a crisis in such a Christ-like fashion.

In an era when the whole idea of the family patriarch is devalued, Prentice Meador taught me what it means to be a man, a responsible father, and a spiritual leader for a family.

Today, I am thankful for the life of Prentice Meador and his impact, even if from a distance, on my own life as a husband, father and minister.

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This week has been a great blessing to my life. Sharing a week of thanksgiving with you has refocused me and given me a greater appreciation for the grace I've already received. If you're like me, too often our prayers are saturated with pleas for future expressions of grace from God. It's times of Thanksgiving when we remember with gratitude all the gracious blessings we've already received.

I'm renewed. I'm refocused. I'm re-energized...thanks to a week of thanksgiving. I think we should make thanksgiving a regular part of our routine, don't you?

A Week of Thanksgiving -- Thanksgiving Edition

2008-11-27T08:45:00.000-08:00

“When the blessings of life are seen as a result of God’s grace, it makes us into gentler, more grateful people. Such an attitude prevents us from assessing life in terms of what we are owed, an attitude that can sow seeds of anger and bitterness ” (Darrell Bock).

It's simply profound, this perspective where all of life takes on a hue of increasing gratitude when seen against the backdrop of God's grace. James says, "every good and perfect gift is from above." On Thanksgiving Day, we as a people intentionally pause from our routine to count our blessings, all sent from the storehouse of God's grace.

Today, I am thankful for thanksgiving! No, not the holiday; I am thankful for the value of thanksgiving. Can you imagine life without gratitude? Can you conceive of the emptiness and the hollowness of life where thanksgiving was non-existent?

I am thankful for my immediate family. Mandy, Trae and Tori make my life full of excitement. I dare not say more lest I gush more than I already have this week. Suffice it to say, I'm smitten with the gift of my wife and daughters! I am truly completed and balanced by the blessing of their presence.

I am thankful for my mom and dad. My mom taught me compassion and sensitivity to others. My dad taught me wisdom and the value of hard work. Together, they instilled in me a passion to study the Bible and to share what I learn from it with others. I think today of the deep, abiding love and respect I have to my parents that only grows with each passing day.

I am thankful for my little sis. I had the honor of baptizing my sister and performing her wedding, two events locked into the treasure of memories that birth gratitude in my heart. I am grateful God has given to Ryan and Melissa two beautiful children, with all the energy and enthusiasm of their older cousins.

I am thankful for my extended family and the heritage of faith its given me. My family's faith heritage and the history of the Northside Church of Christ in Benton, Arkansas are inseparably linked. It was there both of my grandfathers served as Elders (only my sister can match that claim). It was there my dad served as an Elder. It was there I cut my spiritual teeth. It was there from cradle roll to high school my faith was formed alongside my entire family. My family and my home church have been very good to me and I owe them an eternal debt which I've tried to pay forward in my ministry to others.

I am thankful for the churches in Sheridan, AR; Hurricane, WV; Lake City, FL; Hot Springs Village, AR; Marble Falls, TX; and now, Fresno, CA who've given me an opportunity to minister. Each stop along the road of ministry has made an eternal difference and I can only hope I left an impact half as great as the one these unique assemblies of God's people left on me.

Most of all, I am thankful for Jesus who makes all my thanksgiving possible. My life is meaningless without the cross and the resurrection. The cross allows me to look back with gratitude at the event that makes my faith real. The resurrection allows me to look forward with gratitude at the future promise that makes my hope real. Together, faith and hope allow me to look around with gratitude, living out the real love of Jesus for real people he loves.

For what are you thankful? What fills your heart with gratitude? Find a quiet moment alone today and count your many blessings. Then, dare to share what you're thankful for with your family. Share it with your mate, your children. Consider God's grace in your life and express it to another. Gratitude for God's grace makes us gentler, more grateful people.

A Week of Thanksgiving -- Speechless Edition

2008-11-26T10:24:00.000-08:00

Dearest Mandy,

Of all my earthly blessings, none compares with you. Be it your love for animals (both real and pretend), your spot-on imitation of the Governor of Alaska, your beauty, or your love for our daughters, there's no one else I'd rather spend my life with than you! You make what could be an overwhelming life much more fun and light-hearted.

I'm as speechless today as I was the day you stunned me by saying, "Yes" when I asked you to dinner. Thank you then...thank you now!

I Love You!

A Week of Thanksgiving -- Tuesday Edition

2008-11-25T08:13:00.001-08:00

Trae nestled among the Sea Lion statute outside of Pier 39

The innocence of my oldest, killing time before lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe on the Embarcadero by coloring. Our table was next to an aquarium wall. This was one of the few moments I caught Trae seated before our meal arrived. Most of the wait, she was exploring the animals and the environment of the Rain Forest Cafe.

In front of the Wax Museum of San Francisco's rendition of the Sermon on the Mount. Incidentally, Tori was too scared to tour the Wax Museum so she and I sampled Ghiradelli chocolates while Mandy and Trae toured the Wax Museum.

Trae is mid-flip on the bungee jump at Pier 39.

And another glimpse at her adventurous spirit hurling down a ride at Discovery Kingdom that flips its riders upside-down (Trae is in front, left as you look at the picture).

Dear Trae,

As if anyone couldn't tell by the pictures, you are an adventurous one! You love to explore, to search, and to hop on amusement park rides that spin and twirl and flip. By nature, sitting still is not your strong suit because you're afraid you'll miss something. That adventurous spirit of yours has certainly made life fun! Your daring spirit has provided me experiences I would've been too scared to enjoy, if not for your impatient, "Come on, Dad. It'll be fun!"

With you, life is never dull. Your creativity turns ordinary days into extraordinary experiences. I love you for your imagination, your artistic abilities, your innocence, and your love for exploring.

Affectionately, I call you my "tom-boy" because you love sports and getting dirty. Maybe that label fits...or maybe it doesn't. I couldn't help but notice as I posted your pictures here that your sweatshirt says, "Daddy's Girl." Come to think of it, that's the label I like best. I like it best because of the joys I have coaching your basketball and softball teams. I like it best because of how we spend every Sunday morning together at church, just me and you, before anyone else arrives. I like it best because for the last ten years, God hasn't only given me a precious gift in you, he's given me a little buddy whose made life a lot more fun and fulfilling.

I could go on and on about how much you've impacted my life, but I'll close with this: on this week of Thanksgiving, I am so thankful to God for you, my Trae-girl. Of all your passions, always be sure God is in the very center of everything you do.

I Love You,

Dad

A Week of Thanksgiving

2008-11-24T08:57:00.000-08:00

Tori smiling after petting the Elephants on Saturday at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Tori prep'ing for a ride on the kiddie swings

Ms. Funny Face in mid-Churro bite before the Dolphin show

Enjoying the Carousel

And my personal favorite from Saturday, Tori and I getting ready for a ride on the child's roller coaster.

Dear Tori,

Two weeks ago, I shared with my blog readers how that you were our dancing queen. What I forgot to tell them is you are also our drama queen! Your impressions of Hannah Montana, your intuitive way of seizing a moment to generate a smile, and your sense of humor make our family fun. Your vocabulary is so vastly superior to your maturity at age four, which makes for some hilarious moments!

Make no mistake, your motor is always running and there are few who rival your enthusiasm.

I also love your heart. Your heart is so soft. You are our "little grammy" because of your sensitivity and your sweetness. Your quick with caring compliments and in your innocence, you radiate to me Jesus.

On this first day of a week of Thanksgiving, Tori, know that I am grateful to God for you. I am grateful for your energy and your passion and your enthusiasm and your sensitivity and your generosity. When I count my many blessings, I thank God for blessing me with the gift of you.

I Love You!

Dad

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We're having a blessed time in the Bay Area. Friday through Sunday, I was privileged to share a five lesson seminar with the Lassen Street Church of Christ in Vallejo. On Saturday, we spent the day at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Today, we're going to ride the ferry over to Pier 39 in San Francisco and ride the cable cars through the city.

Oh yeah, we'll probably sneak in a stop at Ghiradelli's!

Pray Everyday

2008-11-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

So, how is your prayer life?

There are a couple of areas in my prayer life I feel really good about. First, I value deeply the opportunity I have every Wednesday at 3:30 to pray with the Elders of the Woodward Park church. Those are rich, gratifying times spiritually when we, as a leadership team, take the cares and concerns of our church family before God. I grow from the time spent in prayer with men of spiritual maturity.

I also do well praying in times of tragedy. For example, in my last blog entitled “A Day to Pray,” I asked you to pray for the Metheny family. When tragedy strikes and there is nowhere else to turn but to the Lord, I pray with fervency and passion.

But the problem with my prayer life is the daily routine. It's the grind of going before a Lord I cannot see and who does not communicate back audibly to my requests. I struggle, personally and in my ministry, to prioritize the time in prayer that I give to Bible study and class preparation.

On Wednesday evenings, I’ve been leading a class through the life of David. We’re nearing the end of 1 Samuel in our journey and one repetitive theme in David’s life has been very evident. The man after God’s own heart is a fugitive throughout the latter part of 1 Samuel, on the run due to the jealous rage of King Saul. The songs of the nation have praised David, while inciting Saul to envious rage.

When David inquires of the Lord, his life has direction. But when David fails to pray, to seek the Lord, he wanders into Philistine territory, going so far as to settle for 16 months in the shadow of Goliath’s hometown. Due to his failure to seek the Lord, David, his family, and his followers suffer grievous consequences.

Perhaps you’re like me. Perhaps there are times in your life when prayer is difficult. “The problem with life,” one sage has written, “is that it is so daily.” And for some of us, that is our greatest struggle in prayer.

Wednesday before our leadership devoted an hour to prayer, our associate minister reminded us of the teaching of Jesus regarding prayer in Luke 11. The words of my Savior regarding prayer have strengthened me and I share them with you today in the hopes that, if you share my struggle, your prayer life will get a jump-start from Jesus.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.”

Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness (persistence, tenacity) he will get up and give him as much as he needs. So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of your fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how much to give good gifts to your children, how much will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11.1-13)!

I need to remember (and perhaps you do as well) that God cannot answer a prayer we don’t pray. And our God, our good, gracious Father who is able to do beyond what we ask or imagine, is sitting at the ready to come to the aid of his children.

A Day to Pray

2008-11-19T09:13:00.001-08:00

Three weeks ago, I asked you to pray for the family of Matt Metheny, who at the tender age of 22 was seemingly losing a battle to leukemia.

Yesterday morning, Matt passed from this life.

I ask you today to find a quiet moment and pray specifically for Kim, Lynne, and Josh -- Matt's dad, mom and little brother. Their hearts are breaking.

At times like this, answers are elusive despite God's promises. We grapple with our questions, finitely wondering, "Why?" That's where the Methenys are today and what they need most is a great cloud of witnesses laboring in prayer for their heartache.

Thank you.

This and That Tuesday

2008-11-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

Big, huge, gigantic props this morning to my friend, Jeremy Turner. Jeremy is a Bay Area native now living in Kansas and a real guru off technical computer/internet issues. He resolved the problem with the RSS feed on my blog. For those of you whose subscription has been stuck, it should be working great now (the RSS Atom link in on the bottom of the front page). You may have to resubscribe but it is now feeding as it should.

Thank you, Jeremy.

(And a belated thank you to Ken Green. Ken's son offered up some advice via email on Monday night after Jeremy had fixed the broken RSS feed. Thanks, Ken)

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Speaking of the Bay Area, this coming Sunday, the girls and I will be in Vallejo to share Friday through Sunday with the Lassen Street Church. I'll be speaking five times and they have graciously chosen to lodge us at the Courtyard at Six Flags MarineWorld. It'll be a great weekend for our family and, hopefully, a great spiritual feast for the family at Lassen Street.

In my absence Sunday at Woodward Park, Stan Williams, will be speaking. Stan preached in Fresno during the founding of the Woodward Park church.

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Another new blog link today. Jared and Darlena Lehnick have some of the most beautiful children I know! Their most recent gift from God, though, is extra special. Braden was born earlier this year with Down's Syndrome. He is absolutely precious and has already provided special blessings to his parents, his family, and to me!

Darlena is now blogging about their experiences and I know you'll be blessed to share their journey. Here is the link.

Of Dads and Daughters

2008-11-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

During my three-and-a-half years of blogging, I don't remember a post as touching and penetrating as the one that follows. I found it via a link on Megan's blog. As a father of two daughters, the story that follows and the depth it displays defies the ordinary. It is an honest peek into the mistake of a daughter and the ways of her father who's certainly been molded by the Heavenly Father. The following is a picture of the father I long to be:

Last week a friend of mine was admiring the small sapphire ring that I wear on my right ring finger. It was a gift from my parents in honor of my high school graduation and it was given to me as a reminder that even though I would soon be leaving the physical covering that they provided I was still under the spiritual covering of my family, and more specifically, of my father. Although the ring itself is quite lovely, there is another reason that I continue to wear it to this day. That ring is a reminder of a very personal part of my testimony and I feel like God is leading me to share it here.

When I was a freshman in college I did something that I could never undo and that I very quickly came to regret. I was in a relationship with a boy who I thought I loved. And even though on some level I think I always knew that he was not the one for me, I chose to give him that part of myself that I knew was meant for my future husband alone. I still don’t really know why I did it. I guess I was afraid of losing him and I didn’t really trust that God had a better plan for my life. The relationship ended soon after and I was left completely devastated. I felt so ashamed, so stupid, so much like a cliche. I could not believe that I had so easily given away something that I had always viewed as sacred. Because my mother and I shared a very open relationship, I confided in her about what I had done. She of course was heart broken for me, and because she and my father also have a very open relationship she did not feel that this was something she should keep from him. I can still remember the sinking feeling I had in my stomach when she told me that he knew. My father is so self disciplined and so unlikely to make a self destructive or emotionally based decision. I had always thought that he and I were so alike in so many ways but I knew that he wouldn’t have made, had not made, this mistake. And yet on some level I still felt like I needed him to know.

I have tears in my eyes every time I think about the way my father handled that situation. He could have chosen to ignore it. We could have both pretended that he didn’t know, or he could have just passively avoided me until the awkwardness of the moment wore off a little. God knows I wouldn’t have blamed him, in fact I might have even been relieved. But that is not what my father did. Instead he invited me out to dinner just the two of us. I cannot tell you how nervous I felt that night. Picking at my french fries I tried to imagine what he might say, what he might be thinking of me at this very moment. And then he began to speak. He did not shy away from the subject we had come here to discuss. He did not blink. Instead he looked me right in the eyes, and he told me that he loved me. That what I had done in no way changed the way that he saw me. That he wanted me to know that I was still under his covering, and that I would continue to be for as long as I remained a single woman. The entire conversation probably lasted no longer than 15 minutes and yet the profound effect that it had on me will last a lifetime.

My father may never know the full impact of what he did for me that day. Little by little from that point forward my concept of grace and redemption expanded. The grace that he extended to me was unexpected, undeserved and almost beyond my comprehension. I slowly began to understand that my worth was not based on what I did or did not do, but rather on the love that had covered me since the day I was born. It was a love that pointed me to the greater source, that was rooted firmly in the divine. It gave me the strength to walk away when I was later faced with the opportunity to enter back into that same broken relationship. And three years later, I felt the far reaching implications of that grace that keeps no record of wrongs when I saw the untainted joy in my father’s eyes in those private moments before he walked me down the aisle to meet the man who was to become my new covering. I am convinced that only the love of a father can cover that depth of shame, and extend the kind of grace that transforms weeping and brokenness into joy and a raised countenance.

Never a Discouraging Word

2008-11-14T08:18:00.000-08:00

Perhaps you noticed on your own, but yesterday I neglected to highlight a new blog link. Randy Stumpfhauser, Woodward Park's very own BMX champion, is now blogging here. His blog has some great stories, beautiful family pictures, and a very apropos tribute to "the ultimate role model on the BMX Racing Circuit." Randy's friendship is a blessing in my life and I know his blog will become a blessing to yours.

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It's Football Friday, but what's to be excited about this weekend? A disappointing home season ends tomorrow at the corner of Cedar and Barstow when the Dogs host the Farmers of New Mexico State. This game shapes up to be the poster-child for mediocrity. Fresno State hasn't lived up to expectations, but hey, you only get to attend five games a year. We'll be there, with tempered expectations.

As predicted, Nevada gashed the Dogs run defense last week. I called 41-31. The Dogs were a field goal short of fulfilling the call (41-28). As bad as the Dogs have played, the Farmers have been worse. The scoreboard lights up in a defense-less shootout.

Dogs -- 45
Farmers -- 41

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How much slack are you willing to give to your ministers/elders?

This week has been like an epidemic. A wave of phone calls have poured in to me from friends and colleagues throughout the country struggling under the weight of criticism. Most of it is couched as "constructive criticism," but it is criticism nonetheless. The critic often never understands the depth of the wound inflicted on the man of God wholly devoted to the ministry.

When was the last time you expressed your gratitude to your spiritual mentors? When was the last time you told your minister you appreciate him? When was the last time you took an elder and his wife to lunch as an expression of appreciation for their spiritual work?

The words of Chuck Swindoll are ideal for this circumstance: "Be tolerant with your (shepherd). A better word is patient. Try your best not to be too demanding or set your expectations too high. Multiply your own requests by however many there are in your church, and you'll have some idea of what the shepherd of the flock must live with. Be very understanding...Pray for him! Encourage him! When you do, you'll find him all the more willing to serve the Lord among you" (Hope Again, p. 226).

Is your minister not your ideal guy? Cut him some slack. Are your elders stuck in neutral? Try encouragement rather than criticism. As we Fresnans can attest, lofty expectations can be an ideal setup for great disappointment. Rather than cutting critique, why not try a compliment or two? As one who's blessed by a congregation with an unusual measure of encouragement to me, I can testify that it does a minister of the Word wonders.

Give it a try with your leaders beginning this Sunday!

Taking One for the Team

2008-11-13T08:17:00.001-08:00

I need some tech help from a RSS guru. For some strange reason, my blog feed has been stuck on a post from about six months ago. When it was brought to my attention, I tried every trick in the book, but to no avail. I even went so far as to delete my reader and reinstall, but still it registers "Culture of Narcissm" from six months ago.

Can anyone help me resolve this? I'd sure like to satisfy my loyal RSS readers who think I haven't updated in six months. Thanks in advance.

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1 Samuel 25 is a neat story capturing the intervention of a beautiful, intelligent woman on behalf of the life of her surly, cantakerous husband.

David and his 600 men who departed the cave have provided protection for the wealthy Nabal's shepherds. When it came sheep-shearing time, David sent messengers to seek, in essence, a tip from Nabal for services rendered.

Nabal refused. And David was livid.

He instructed 400 of his men to strap on their swords as they rushed headlong in the direction of Nabal's house. David's not going there in search of peace, but in search of vengeance. He feels slighted, mistreated, done wrong.

And somewhere along the way to vengeance, Abigail intervenes. Take a few minutes today and read the entire story (1 Samuel 25) and the diplomacy and grace with which she acts. What impresses me most about Abigail's tact is her willingness to shoulder the blame of her husband's slight. "My lord, let the blame be on me alone," she said to David (1 Sam 25.24).

Accepting responsibility is rare in our culture. But going so far as to accept responsibility for the fault(s) of another is a dinosaur. And yet, I no of no other leadership trait in God's kingdom that is more commendable than humbling taking the bullet for another.

Sometimes, relationships are salvaged when someone dares to accept responsibility for something they didn't do. Sometimes, unity is upheld when someone takes one for the team.

That's what Abigail did. Her intervention saved not only the lives of every male in her family (if only for a moment for surly ole Nabal) but also the reputation and integrity of the Lord's anointed and the future king of Israel.

Cayucos

2008-11-12T09:02:00.000-08:00

If you live in the Bible Belt, most likely you've vacationed a time or two in an area affectionally dubbed "the Redneck Riveria." Stretching from Gulf Shores, Alabama to Panama City, Florida, the beaches of the Gulf Coast provide warm water, beautiful sand, and amazing sunsets. I think back with the fondest of memories of the times spent along the Gulf Coast with family and friends.

The only real problem was it took a good eight hours to drive there from Arkansas.

So you can imagine the blessing the central California coast has become to me and the girls. We have fallen in love with the little coastal hamlet of Cayucos. Only about 1500 residents live in Cayucos and it is a slow-paced, "un-tour-isty" place where you can park at the Cayucos Beach Inn and walk for the remainder of your time. No big commericalism (just antique stores) and no chain restaurants make Cayucos a throw-back, and a great getaway for my family.

And the best is it's just two hours from our home!

Football Friday

2008-11-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

Before we get to Football Friday, take some time and read this opinion piece in Thursday's Fresno Bee by syndicated writer Cal Thomas. It is spot-on and an excellent analysis of the role of the church should play in rising above the power structures of the state. I appreciate Morgan Bowden's text message about Thomas's article and his note that Thomas seems to be echoing many of the strains we've been thinking through at Woodward Park in our study of First Peter.

In all honesty, I'd missed reading this during our morning routine on Thursday. Mandy spilled her coffee all over our Thursday morning Bee and the op-ed section didn't survive (funny how only the Home Depot circular survived the drenching!).

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It's Friday and the Bulldogs -- the mediocre, underperforming Bulldogs -- actually play in an ESPN game against Nevada.

We had tickets. We gave them away. We're going to Jason and Serena's wedding.

And we don't expect to miss much. Never has a team with more preseason hype done less to live up to expectations.

Colin Kapernick goes off tonight and Nevada rushes for 400 yards. In another wacky WAC game: Nevada -- 41; Fresno St. -- 31.

Tomorrow in Columbia, South Carolina, Bobby Petrino's Hogs face Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks. In contrast to the Bulldogs, the Razorbacks have far surpassed every expectation this year! The Hogs are within 3 points of being 6-3 (and the three definitive losses were to Texas, Florida, and Alabama). Arkansas has improved light years from the season-opening escape against Western, Central, Eastern, Southern Illinois (it was one of those directions, I promise).

The Hogs play tough on the road, but the Fightin' Chickens eek it out: South Carolina -- 20; Arkansas 13.

She's Our Dancing Queen

2008-11-05T07:27:00.000-08:00

She's our dancing queen, our youngest. Here's Tori in full kick mode yesterday at her Dance Studio. She's a member of the "Baby Dolls" team and has been invited to participate in four competitive dances in the spring.

Trae likes sports. Tori is 100% girl, from her dance classes to her incessant requests for makeup to her headband with tails longer than her hair.

In full drama/dance queen pose

And another, capturing one of the sweetest smiles ever.

The highlight of my election day was the break yesterday afternoon to watch Tori and to snap off some pictures of her in action. She's such a precious reflection of God, in a very energetic little package! But she is a source of rejoicing for me this morning.

First Peter 3.19-20

2008-11-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

7:44 AM Update -- Trae and I have just returned from breakfast at Chick-fil-A (shock, I know). Anyway, Angelina informed us that if you stop by the Blackstone and Nees Chick-fil-A today between 2:00 and 7:00 pm with your "I Voted" sticker, you will receive a FREE #1 Sandwich.

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Today I will vote as a citizen of the state in which I currently reside.

But the outcome of today's vote has no bearing on my ultimate citizenship! I am a citizen of heaven, where there are no elections for King. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, a resident of the kingdom of God; called to live as an alternative to the powers and principalities of this world.

I will exercise the opportunity afforded my earthly citizenship in a democratic nation and cast a vote. But tomorrow, I will awaken and resume the mission of God in my life as a proclaimer of a kingdom that is not of this world, regardless of the outcome.

Some have suggested the political centers of this world need to be shaken up. Today, I am eternally grateful for the privilege, blessing and security of being a citizen of a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

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Thanks for your patience on First Peter 3.19-20. After soliciting your email input last week, my inbox was overwhelmed with suggestions as to what in the world Peter might have meant. Thank you for sharing with me your diligent study. I am a better student of the latter part of 1 Peter 3 as a result of all you shared with me.

Essentially, three primary viewpoints have been suggested for these confusing verses: (1) As the Apostles' Creed declares, Jesus literally descended into hell between his death and resurrection to the preach the gospel to those who'd never heard. (2) Noah served as a pre-existent type of Jesus Christ by preaching good news of hope to the unbelievers of his generation; (3) Jesus proclaimed victory upon his ascension to the right hand of God.

Immediately, I dismiss option #1. Suggesting that Jesus offered a second chance by preaching the gospel to those who'd never heard undermines some of Jesus' very teaching, i.e. the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. If there is no purgatory of second chances, then having Jesus descend into hell serves no valid purpose, other than to one-up those suffering away in the prison. Option #1 just doesn't fly because it doesn't fit Scripture or the attitude of Jesus.

Option #2 has some merit. It does connect with Peter's writing in his second letter (2 Pet 2.4-5) where Noah is presented as a preacher of righteousness. Certainly, during his boat-building days, Noah proclaimed hope to a generation that wouldn't listen.

However, in the context of suffering as a paradoxical means of victory and vindication, Option #3 makes the most sense to me. The Greek word translated "preached" is actually kerusso, a very general word meaning "to proclaim; to herald." We tend to assume, upon reading the word "preached," that the gospel is always the subject of the preaching. But kerusso is a word never attached to the preaching of the gospel in the New Testament.

Add to that, our fundamental assumption that "went" means Jesus went down is unnecessary. Couldn't Jesus have gone "up" just as logically as he could've gone "down"?

When was the victory of Jesus completely finalized? When he returned to the right hand of God, providing access to the Father for those who would believe in faith. This brings together the entire context of the latter portion of First Peter 3. Peter is writing to suffering Christians who are in the center of God's will (3.17). Their suffering is not prompted by the Law of the Harvest -- they are not reaping what they've sown. Rather, they are suffering unjustly for no other reason than their obedient faith in God. This puts them in good company -- with Jesus himself -- who suffered unjustly to rescue the relationship mankind forfeited with God because of sin (3.18). Peter then speaks of the proclamation of victory within the spirit realm (3.19-20), connecting the victory provided by Jesus with our response in baptism (3.21). Peter concludes by declaring Jesus to have ascended, where he now reigns with all authority in submission to him (3.22).

Contextually, that makes sense to me. But as I shared with the church family Sunday, I'm not going to fight anybody over that interpretation. This is one where a certain measure of obscurity exists, despite our best effort to understand.

But the obscure should never overwhelm the obvious! And what is very obvious is that Jesus rescued our relationship with God the Father, securing access to the very throne room of God, through unjust suffering. Paradoxically, his unjust suffering secures our salvation and provides for believers an example for how to respond when injustice comes our way (2.21-24).