Undeniable Truth #7

7. A GODLY MAN IS NOT SOMEONE WHO NEVER FAILS OR FALLS BUT SOMEONE WHO NEVER STOPS GETTING UP AND GOING AFTER GOD- 2 Samuel 12:13, Psalm 51

"Even if good people fall seven times, they will get back up. But when trouble strikes the wicked, that's the end of them." (Proverbs 24:16 CEV)

There is a big difference in a child who walks too close to the ditch and slips into the mud and a child dressed in his Sunday best who sees a muddy puddle, looks both ways and jumps in with both feet.

God sees us when we slip and fall and he sees us when we dive into sin.

And although the bible clearly states that he will not be mocked, (Galatians 6:7) neither will he abandon us- even in our sin.

He will give us the strength to get up. Even the desire to get up and go again is from Him.

A lot of what I know about how to be a son to my Heavenly Father I have learned through being a Father to my own sons.

As a father, I've seen my boys in both circumstances. I've seen them get too close to the edge and slip and I've seen them look both ways and take the dive.

Truth is, no matter how they fell or why, my heart's desire was just for them to get up and go again.

There are some things I know.

I know He has the same desire for me.  I know when I fall that Jesus Christ, seated at the right hand of the Father, is my advocate. (1 John 2:1) I know he fills me with hope through the Holy Spirit and finally, I know that every time I got up after being down-it was because "greater is He that is in me that he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

Sometimes I wonder if we really believe He is for us? or do we still allow a distorted picture of God to creep back into our minds? Do we see a caricature of him as a cosmic killjoy, waiting for us to slip up?

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The bible is actually an amazing collection of stories of great men who fell, some of them time after time. In many cases, it's the story of men who dove into sin with both feet. Men like David who failed God so miserably that he ended up committing adultery and murder and yet, he turned back to God. And he is memorialized in scripture as: "a man after God's own heart." (Acts 13:22)
Who among us would want to be remembered for their lowest point in life?

God is full of grace and his mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Get up...again...and go. He is for you.

Undeniable Truth #6

6. GOD IS AS INTERESTED IN THE JOURNEY AS HE IS IN THE DESTINATION

We were sitting in an airport in Los Angeles getting ready to board a long overseas flight. I was trying not to let my anxiety show but something had happened and this leg of the flight had been left off my itinerary. So, it was possible that as the leader for an international mission, I might not even be able to travel with my team. I explained the situation to the ticket agent but as you know- since 911, nothing happens fast and no amount of pleading can change the process at the airport.

I sat there praying, when I heard my name over the intercom. I responded, and arrived at the counter to find that I was being bumped...up to business class! Now I have been traveling on overseas mission trips for over 20 years and I've been flying domestically for much longer than that and I have NEVER flown anything but coach.

For the next 12 hours I was blown away at the special care, the wonderful food, the unlimited cokes, the gift set, the warm facial towels, the fuzzy socks...the RECLINER!

Normally, my trips to Africa are all about the destination and we all endure the 22 hours in the air and all the plane changes and layovers but it's all about the destination. This time- I appreciated the journey AND the destination.

(of course I did get the full wrath of my team when we arrived and I asked them if they enjoyed their beef tips meal and the cheese trays!)

God cares about the destination to be sure. He does have a will for us- a place we are to land but...He also cares how we get there.

The world lives as if the ends justify any means necessary to get there but with God the quality of the journey is what gives integrity to the destination. God cared deeply how the children of Israel got from Egypt to the land promised to Abram. In fact this relatively short journey stretched across four decades precisely because of how they journeyed. If the destination was the point- God could have translated them miraculously from the Red Sea to the banks of the Jordan river instantaneously. The desire of God's heart was to walk with them in a sacred romance as they watched him win battle after battle witnessing the glory of the Lord marching forward and His name becoming famous.

As a kid, my dad always planned huge vacations...but they were done on a budget. My favorite was driving from Corpus Christi, Texas to Ventura, California in our Oldsmobile Delmont 88. The destination was amazing. California was beautiful and it was so great to see my dad's family. But, getting there was half the fun!  These were the days before seat belt laws so we filled the floor boards with blankets until the whole back seat was one giant bed. My mom packed lots of sandwiches and each of us kids got an allowance to spend as we stopped at places like Stuckeys. Motel expenses were out of the question and the one time we did stop to sleep...it was at a roadside park and my dad slept outdoors on a picnic table. Finally, I will never forget the journey home because while in California my dad bought a Honda motorcycle and loaded it onto bumper brackets which made the car look like a lowrider and caused our headlights to shoot upward into the night sky.

Vivid memories, of a simpler time. They make me smile sitting here in my recliner and they make me love my dad even more.

I know you want to get there. Wherever there is. But, for today- slow down and relish the journey. You will find Him there.

Undeniable Truth #5

THE ONLY MAN WHO NEVER FAILED IS PREPARING A PLACE FOR ME IN HEAVEN- 2 Samuel 12:13, Psalm 51

Nobody bats a thousand.  I've heard that saying most of my life. It's was usually said when someone who cared about me was trying to make me feel better about blowing it. And, it worked. After all, when you think about it every player in baseball has struck out. Babe Ruth lead the league in strikeouts in 1927 with 89 in 540 at bats. But that was also the year the Babe hit 60 home runs.

While our lives cannot be reduced to a percentage of wins and losses and despite the fact that we can't make up for losses (sins) through wins (good deeds.) It is true that any man who pursues any purpose in life with great energy and passion- will miss the mark at times and those failures don't erase his accomplishments.

A great mentor put it to me this way- the only guy guaranteed not to make any  more mistakes is pushing up daisies.

This whole topic makes me think of the apostle Peter. He "struck out" regularly and did it in front of his life coach many of those times. But, what I admire about Peter is that whatever he did- he did it full bore, holding nothing back. And he never gave up.

Just in the last couple of weeks I have put together a pretty impressive string of losses in which I unintentionally said or did something that hurt my family and friends. It's been strange that they seem to come in groups. And as each of these people, whom I love dearly, have granted me amazing grace I realized that it was probably because of so many things we have walked through together. Maybe all those times I didn't strike out with them really did matter and really did put enough roots in our relationship to take us through stormy weather.

I like winning, I like hitting it out of the park. But, no one can do that every time at bat and like the Apostle Paul said: "those things I don't want to do...I do." Be sure you don't let one "at bat" cut you off from someone you love.

If God's grace is sufficient for us to be forgiven by our perfect Savior- it's sufficient for us to forgive one another.

Happy hitting.

Undeniable Truth #4

EVEN GREAT MEN FALL WHEN THEY TAKE THEIR EYES OFF JESUS- Luke 22:54-62

What makes the difference in a great man of God who is serving Jesus faithfully and a disgraced believer who has fallen hard? Most often- it’s focus. It’s not that most fallen believers got up one day and decided “I’ve followed Jesus long enough- I’m done!

Instead, something comes by and like a beagle, our heads turn,  and we think “squirrel” and our attention is gone!

That’s really all it takes- a distraction.  And the only thing that determines how hard and how far we fall is how long our focus stays on something other than Jesus.

I really wish that the only way I knew this truth is from reading it in a book. But, in reality I’ve experienced this up close and personal. I have had very dear friends that I have labored with shoulder to shoulder in the ministry for years who took their eyes off Jesus and fell hard.

And somehow I always knew that as one famous man said: “but for the grace of God- there go I.”I never felt like it couldn’t be me. Actually at times, I was amazed that it wasn’t me. Seeing it up close, and walking through the pain with their family members has served to give me a healthy respect- even a fear that has helped to keep me from the edge.

And, know this- there is no part of me that pronounces final judgment on any man. We need look no further than the Word of God to see David’s example. Here was a man who relaxed for a season- who took his eyes off the battle God had for him and his epic fall was marked by such heinous sins as adultery and murder and yet- he is called a man after God’s own heart. Through genuine repentance, he discovered the depth of the restoring, redemptive grace of God.

My prayer for you, for me is that although we glance at the world that our gaze will be on Jesus- a focus that will keep us on the straight and narrow.

Undeniable Truth #3

THE WORLD IS RULED BY THOSE WHO SHOW UP- Matthew 25:14-30

You know, I am not the sharpest tool in the shed. And really, I am not depressed about it-not anymore. Now there was a time as a teenager that I believed a lie whispered into my heart by the father of lies.

It went like this- only the smartest, most talented people ever really make a difference with their lives.

Although it sounds so clearly unbiblical to me now, at the time it had a certain ring of truth to it. You know, how some things just seem to make sense when you roll them around in your head. I have found that’s a dangerous place for me to keep things lately. (I keep losing my mental notes).  

The truth is, I have known some incredibly smart and talented people who have not influenced others for Christ because they have simply not shown up. And, at the same time, some of the people who have greatly influenced my life have been simple, ordinary and in some cases uneducated men but- they showed up in my life!

As my wife and I were talking about this subject, she reminded me of two sayings: “Don’t gripe if you didn’t vote” and “You must be present to win.”

Impacting the world is about lovingly, consistently, showing up.

In every arena of your life this is true:

In our work- there are people who we have watched leave at the first sign of trouble or pain. Now, we all know there is a time to leave but that timing is up to God. Even if your work becomes a place with no joy that sucks the very life out of you, show up until God says otherwise.

In our family life- there are times when that precious little bundle of joy that you brought home from the hospital and adored will look at you and hiss like a venomous snake (usually somewhere between the ages of 12 and 19). Guess what? They still need you in their lives. Tie a knot and show up…this too will pass. They are just checking to see if you will check out.

In our Christian life- there are people God has put in your path so that you will impact them for His glory. Sometimes this is easy because you are walking with them through victory. But sometimes we have to walk with them through their pain. The main thing they want at these times is not profound words- they just want us to be there- to show up and be the hands and feet of Jesus to them.

One of the most basic truths I have learned over the past four decades of knowing Jesus is this: the tortoise still beats the hare in most every case. It’s not the flashy events I have orchestrated that show the greatest fruit for the kingdom (and boy have we done some dooseys, from Mud Mania to Bethlehem Nights). It’s time spent loving people in late night discussions, in one on one counseling, and in years of small groups that translate into what Jesus calls in John 15 “fruit that remains."

In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 the one who received one talent lost it all. Why? Because he simply didn't show up. He became fearful and buried his talent and his life lost it's meaning.

Your life matters. Victory is around the corner. Remember, “you must be present to win.”

Undeniable Truth #2

Undeniable Truth #2

A GODLY MAN HAS THE RIGHT FRIENDS AND ENEMIES- Luke 6:26

When I first started in the ministry I had some pretty unrealistic expectations. One of the most ridiculous was the notion that somehow I would be liked by everyone. After all, I reasoned: "I have no axes to grind, no personal agenda's to push and nothing to  prove." So, I figured that simply living for The Lord would be enough to put me in good favor with most if not all folks.

Boy was I wrong. I have made my share of enemies in the last 30+ years. And, yes it still bothers me. Trinetta still tells me that my skin is dangerously thin and every now and then she has to hit me with a pretty hard dose of reality when I am criticized or attacked and I let it send me into an emotional tailspin.

At the same time, life in the ministry has had it's rewards. We have developed so many wonderful friends all over the country. People we have worked shoulder to shoulder with in sharing Jesus around the globe. No two friends are closer than those who's friendship is centered around Christ.

But, finally as I am getting older, I have come to grips with the fact that the man who has no enemies is either a man with no convictions or he's pushing up daisies in a graveyard somewhere. Jesus said in Luke 6:26 "Beware when all men speak well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets." The inference here is that is you change your convictions/message to tickle the ears of those around you...in order to keep them happy or on your side, then you will receive God's judgement.

When you do have convictions, when you do take a stand, there will always be someone who will oppose you. And, not just people who are in the world- sometimes your biggest opposition will come from someone in the church. This can be devastating if you are not prepared for this eventuality. So, my counsel is: expect it, grow some alligator hyde and don't lose your joy over it.

We only need to think about the fact that the only man who ever lived, without making a single mistake, without so much as a solitary sin on his record, had enemies that were literally consumed with destroying him. And in the end, they plotted and proudly played a part in His death.

Jesus is our example of a suffering servant and he never lost His joy...even facing the cross.  The bible says of Jesus:

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.


 

Out on a Limb

1. REAL FRUIT IS ONLY FOUND OUT ON A LIMB- Luke 5:4

“Playing it Safe” is a very human tendency especially for certain personality types. And, there’s a lot to be said for minimizing risk in a world where too much ventured too soon can hurt everyone on a team. Like a lot of things in my life- I am learning that it’s not a matter choosing one or the other- safety or risk. It’s a matter of choosing when to risk and when to play it safe.  As with most aspects of life with Jesus- it’s all about getting the “nod from God” to go big or stand still.

When I think about this idea of “the nod” it takes me back to my childhood. I am a true middle child, my brother is 18 months older than me and my sister is 18 months younger. And, one thing I remember is people always telling my parents that their children were very well behaved. There was a reason. My dad loved us and he was never abusive in any way but- he demanded respect. All it took when we stepped out of line was one look in our direction and that furrowed brow was enough to strike fear in our hearts.

When we would visit another family at their home, all three of us would line up like ducks in a row on the couch. Even if the family had children, we didn’t get up to play with them until we had sat still for a time. Then my dad would give us the nod that it was o.k. to get off the couch and join the other children.

It’s that nod that Jesus gave to Peter in Luke 5

4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

It’s the nod we need to launch out despite the risk. It’s the nod that leads us out on a limb where the fruit is.

Listen for His whisper. Pray for the courage to move out when He speaks clearly and the risk will be worth it- the fruit will be a blessing not only to you  but many in your circle of influence.

Undeniable Truths

One of the nicest things about Christmas and the New Year is the chance to be with family and have some time off. And for me, time off means a few mornings and late nights where I steel away to my man cave/shop in the corner of the garage to create sterling silver things for people I love. 

Several years ago I developed this habit that anytime I would find something old like pictures, plaques, poems or awards- I would hang them in my man cave. It's turned out to be a very random collection of stuff that's nailed to the wall with only one thing in mind, where is there still room on a wall. HGTV and the "Design on a Dime" staff would vomit if they saw the arrangement... but for me? Well it makes me feel happy while I do something that relieves stress in my life. It's like I get to relive the days when the boys were little and our hairdos were big (you know the Bee Gees period). 

So, I was sitting there yesterday trying to perfect my newest experiment of making earrings out of old silver flatware and I looked up and saw a plaque. It's a very simple photo copy of something I had written on notebook paper back in 1998 when I was preparing to leave Spring Texas to come to San Antonio. I had served for almost 8 years at Spring Memorial Baptist Church in Spring, Texas and it had been the most blessed period of ministry with the greatest fruit we had ever been a part of to that point in our lives.

The plaque which has now been placed in an old natural wood frame is entitled: "10 Undeniable Truths I Have Learned at Spring Memorial." As I read over them it was amazing to me that those truths scribbled on notebook paper almost 15 years ago were basically the same things I had experienced this last year of my life. That's how it is with truth- it's timeless. Some of the things listed on it are so real and so fresh because they involve lessons I am still trying to learn. Others, because people are people no matter where you live and still others, are like old friends sent from God to comfort me as I look ahead to 2013. 

I thought I might share them with you along with some of the verses of scripture that inspired them. If you find them helpful, why not print them out and post them somewhere you will see them often as you start out this year. No need to frame them, they may not be worthy of that, just stick 'em up with a straight pin and see if God speaks to you the way he spoke to me. And then, make your own top ten list this year and pass them along to those you love.

10 UNDENIABLE TRUTHS I HAVE LEARNED AT SPRING MEMORIAL

1. REAL FRUIT IS ONLY FOUND OUT ON A LIMB- Luke 5:4
2. A GODLY MAN HAS THE RIGHT FRIENDS AND ENEMIES- Luke 6:26
3. THE WORLD IS RULED BY THOSE WHO SHOW UP- Matthew 25:14-30
4. EVEN GREAT MEN FALL WHEN THEY TAKE THEIR EYES OFF JESUS- Luke 22:54-62
5. THE ONLY MAN WHO NEVER FAILED IS PREPARING A PLACE FOR ME IN HEAVEN- 2 Samuel 12:13, Psalm 51
6. GOD IS AS INTERESTED IN THE JOURNEY AS HE IS IN THE DESTINATION- Judges 7
7. A GODLY MAN IS NOT SOMEONE WHO NEVER FAILS OR FALLS BUT SOMEONE WHO NEVER STOPS GETTING UP AND GOING AFTER GOD- 2 Samuel 12:13, Psalm 51
8. WE ARE BETTER THAN ME- Exodus 18:13-27
9. LIFE IS SHORT- GOD IS FUN- John 10:10
10. PRINCIPLES MUST BE HONORED OVER PERSONALITIES- Proverbs 27:6

P.S. In my next few blog entries I will try to walk through some of these and explain how they came to be etched into my heart.

Stay tuned and if you have the time please subscribe to my blog so I will know you are walking with me as I think out loud about what God is teaching me along the way.