Repeating Myself

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Some nights, you don’t have the strength to pray. You can only breathe in and breathe out and believe that God’s Holy Spirit can translate those groans and sighs too deep for words into a hymn.

Some nights, you find yourself repeating a simple prayer like a mantra: Abba Father, I belong to you. You had a long list of requests, but you can’t seem to get past “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”

Even on those nights when your mind races and your thoughts won’t settle down, God hears you. He hears the longing and the unspoken desires of your heart. He knows what you need.

Trust that the same God who met you where you were and loved you just as you were still loves you. Trust that this God who paid everything to save you will stop at nothing to make you everything He created you to be. Trust that He will indeed work everything in your life for ultimate good– both yours and His.

Then exhale slowly and know that you are deeply and lastingly loved.

It’s Not Us Against Them

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“We’re not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. No, this fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against supernatural powers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places. And this is why you need to be head-to-toe in the full armor of God: so you can resist during these evil days and be fully prepared to hold your ground” (Ephesians 6:12-13).

It’s not about us versus them. It’s not about us Republicans voting those meddling Democrats out of office or visa versa. It’s not conservative versus liberal, right-wing versus left-wing. It’s about fighting against the evil spiritual forces in the heavenlies. And who does the fighting? God does.

What does the Bible say in regards to us versus them? Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. Yes, speak out against evil but remember that the source of that evil isn’t human. It’s demonic.

Too many times it’s about me proving that I’m right rather than engaging in honest dialogue and actually listening to what the other person has to say. And it’s best to speak the truth with humility rather than in pride, remembering that any truth that I know didn’t come to me because of my intelligence or good looks or wit. It came because God chose to reveal it to me.

That’s my random take for the day. I leave it up to you to figure out how to apply it to real-life.

 

When Fear Ends

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Today I open a Bible and flipped around randomly through its pages. I just so happened to look down at where I landed and, lo and behold, I looked right at Psalm 27. Here’s what I read:

“The Eternal is my light amidst my darkness
    and my rescue in times of trouble.
    So whom shall I fear?
He surrounds me with a fortress of protection.
    So nothing should cause me alarm” (Psalm 27:1)

That reminded me of something I learned a long time ago about fear.

What are you afraid of right now? What is the greatest cause of anxiety and stress for you at the moment you are reading this?

Imagine the worst-case scenario were to come true (which is highly unlikely– think 1 out of 1,000 times). Imagine that you get fired from your job, you flunk out of school, your checking account goes belly-up.

Now, picture this. Even in the midst of all that wreckage, God is still there. You can lose jobs, money, possessions, friends– even spouses– but you can never lose God, because it’s not you holding on to God, but God holding onto you.

I love the image that I heard somewhere. When you hit rock bottom, you find that God is the Rock at the bottom. And maybe that’s a good place to be, where you have nothing left to stand on but the One True Foundation of Jesus.

An old black preacher described fear as “False Evidence Appearing Real.” The future that fear shows you may look legit, but it is always a lie. That’s because fear will always show you a future without God in it.

God promised in His word that perfect Love casts out fear. Fear can’t stand in the presence of God’s unfailing love. The only way for fear to win is for you to doubt God’s love and believe that it has come to an end. Faith is the antidote to fear and it doesn’t have to be great faith in God. All you need is faith in a great God.

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Being on the Ground Floor

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Today at my church, there were few–if any– empty chairs. That might not sound like much until you consider that this church has only officially been in existence since July of last year (with the official launch in September).

I’ve always said that I wanted to be on the ground floor of a church plant and here I am.

My role may not be a big one, but I am playing a small part. I am a greeter on most Sunday mornings and once every month or so I run the graphics, which includes song lyrics and other slides related to the Sunday morning service.

I enjoy it. I really love the fact that we as the local body of Christ are making an impact on the neighborhood in which God has placed us. People driving by can’t help but notice the sign that reads “The Church at Avenue South– a regional campus of Brentwood Baptist Church.” Jesus has moved into the neighborhood and we are His visible body here on earth.

I can’t wait to see what happens in the year ahead. I pray that we won’t be content to maintain status quo but instead seek ways to think outside that proverbial box and truly become all things to all people, just as Paul talked about in 1 Corinthians 9:22.

In fact, my prayer is for all the churches in Nashville to do the same. I really do hope that we can get away from the competitive spirit and learn to work together as the Church. After all, Jesus prayed that we would be one as He and His Father are one.

More than that, I pray the churches in Nashville will stick to the Gospel that Paul preached, no matter what. That’s what saves people and that’s what people are dying to hear, both figuratively and literally.

 

A Thought for a Late Saturday Night

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“The smallest deed is better than the grandest intention” (Roger Baldwin).

I’m challenging you to do just that– go out and do something small for someone else. Even if that means sending a text or post or making a phone call to a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while. Maybe it’s getting together with someone for a cup of coffee. Or maybe that means giving a smile to a random person you pass by. Or maybe it’s sitting down and writing a letter by hand. Whatever God puts on your heart to do, do that.

Do one small random act of kindness. Pay it forward.

 

Thag You Very Buch Again

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“Thorin looked and walked as if his kingdom was already regained and Smaug chopped up into little pieces. Then, as he said, the dwarves’ good feeling towards the little hobbit grew stronger every day. There were no more groans or grumbles. They drank to his health, and they patted him on the back, and they made a great fuss of him; which was just as well, for he was not feeling particularly cheerful. He had not forgotten the look of the Mountain, nor the thought of the dragon, and he had beside a shocking cold. For three days he sneezed and coughed, and he could not go out, and even after that his speeches at banquets were limited to “Thag you very buch” (J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit).

Once again, I have a cold. At least that’s my amateur non-medical opinion. I have a scratchy throat, stuffed nose, and a fluffy head. Oh, for the joys of being able to sleep in tomorrow.

I know most guys turn into babies when they have colds. At least that’s what the prevalent opinion is all over social media. I for one am not going to dispute that. I will crawl into my bed in the fetal position and possibly suck my thumb.

I am thankful that I got my flu shot this year. Colds are bad but the flu is worse. I should know.

Still, I am grateful for another day to be alive, even if I don’t feel so alive at the moment. When I ask a friend of mine how he’s doing, he almost always responds with “I’m living the dream.”

That’s me. I can say I’m living the dream. I’m living God’s dream for me and I eagerly await to see how that dream will unfold, but I know it will be good. It will be better than my wildest dreams and beyond my imagination.

Maybe I’ll dream about that instead of having the usual cold-inspired weird dreams that I normally have when I’m under the weather.

 

Your January Report from Yours Truly (Borrowed from TCM)

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I always love when they have the monthly updates from TCM about new DVD releases, as well as biographies about the classic movie stars and information about upcoming classic movie festivals.

As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so here’s my own January report:

I recently read a fantastic book by Mark Batterson (In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day,  Wild Goose Chase, The Circle Maker) called The Grave Robber. It looks seven miracles of Jesus from the Gospel of John from the viewpoint that the God who did those miracles back then is the same God who is just as capable of producing miracles in this day and age. It definitely came at a time when I needed a spark of renewal and revitalization in my own faith, so I give it two thumbs way up.

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Also, I’ve been listening to some old Bob Dylan. By that I mean his first eight studio albums, remastered and released in mono. I love the way he has with words, even if I don’t always understand completely what he’s singing about. Plus, I’m sure my two uncles are smiling down from heaven at this musical selection.

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In keeping with the 60’s theme, I went to the library and checked out an old movie adapted from a Neil Simon play, Barefoot in the Park. It features Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, both looking radiant and very young in this film. It’s a comedy that manages to be funny and intelligently witty at the same time, a rare feat for Hollywood.

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I think that wraps up my report for January. Hopefully, I’ll be able to keep you updated on my latest book, movie, and music finds that will probably not be new (or possibly even new to you) but they will be new to me.

So until next time, watch TCM and keep me posted on what you are reading, listening to, and watching these days.

 

 

 

Constructive Criticism?

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“Wounds inflicted by the correction of a friend prove he is faithful; the abundant kisses of an enemy show his lies” (Prov. 27:6).

I don’t like getting criticized. To be honest, it hurts my ego. It’s okay if I find fault with myself for doing dumb stuff but I’d prefer if other people didn’t. Still, if I’m honest I have to also admit that I need it. I need someone else who will keep me accountable for my words and my actions so that they line up with what I profess.

I see so many posts on various social media that basically say, “I do what I want and don’t you dare judge me”, i.e. say anything that might be construed as negative or critical in any way (or even someone who tells you the honest truth). While Jesus did speak against those who are judgmental or who are critical and mean-spirited, I do think it’s equally wrong and dangerous to live outside of any kind of accountability. After all, as a pastor once said, “The first person you lie to is yourself.”

You and I both need people who will get in our faces (in a loving manner) and call us out when we speak and act in ways contrary to our true selves. We need people who will say, “What you’re doing doesn’t match what you say you believe and that’s giving the faith you profess a bad name.”

True, the ability to speak that way has to be granted. Only true friends to whom I give the right can speak this way. And no, being a prophet doesn’t give you the right to trample over people’s feelings and be careless with your words. Prophets always spoke God’s truth in love and often spoke God’s judgment through heavy hearts and tears.

I’ve heard that for every rebuking/correctional word you speak you should always give two encouraging or complimentary words. And I do believe it’s never a good idea to try to rebuke or correct another person via any other forms of communication other than face-to-face. E-mails and texts and posts are good in their way, but they leave out facial expressions and tone of voice so vital to any kind of constructive criticism.

Most of all, remember this. The God who chases after you isn’t running you down to tell you what a no-good lowdown dirty dog you are. His words to you tonight are this: you are still My Beloved, the apple of My eye, and I thought you were worth dying for. I love you just as you are but I refuse to leave you that way. I won’t ever stop with you until you look just like My Son Jesus.”

 

Gotta Go Back in Time

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Digital-speedometer

So tonight Kairos was different.

The worship was stellar as usual. The teaching from Mike Glenn was spot-on. There was a full crowd per the norm. Then how, you ask, was it different?

Kairos took place tonight in Wilson Hall instead of Hudson Hall, where it is normally held. As in the Wilson Hall which hosted Kairos from its inception in 2004 through April of 2009.

For me it was like stepping out of that famous Delorean into 2008. It was weird how seeing the coffee and snacks in the lobby instantly conjured up old feelings. And not just any old feelings. I could remember exactly what I was feeling and thinking back then. The only thing missing were the people– there were very few of us in there who were there during the first go-round. That also means that a new group of people got to experience the magic of Wilson Hall.

I’m not saying I’d want to go back. I’m content with where I am now. Who knows how different things would turn out if I went back with what I know now and tried to change things?

This may not be the ideal future I envisioned for myself way back when, but this is where I’m supposed to be. This is where God has put me and where I find His provision for my need delivered at just the perfect moment when I need it most. This is where God promised that His plans for me were not for harm, but for hope and a bright future.

I found this benediction in a book I was reading today that seemed fitting to close this post:

“You go nowhere by accident.
Wherever you go, God is sending you.
Wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there.
Christ who indwells you has something He wants to do through you where you are.
Believe this and go in His grace and love and power” (Dr. Richard Halverson).

 

Radnor Lake in January?

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I couldn’t believe it when I stepped outside. It felt like early October (or late March, depending on your viewpoint). In other words, it did NOT feel like January.

Instead of meeting my friend and accountability partner at the normal location, we met at Radnor Lake State Park and went hiking.

More accurately, we met at the park, waited 40 minutes to find parking spots, THEN went hiking. Apparently, half of Nashville decided to take advantage of the 65 degree weather and go to Radnor. At the same time.

The wait was worth it. We counted several squirrels and turkeys snd at least eight deer. Or maybe we saw the same two deer in four different places. It could go either way.

I’ve heard the term “God-wink” used to describe a totally unexpected albeit small blessing. Today was one of those.

It was a small reminder that if God can show up in the small and seemingly trivial details, then He can surely show up in the big moments and dark places of my life.

I know I’m not the only one who needed this reminder on this Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Day.