Jesus is the Subject; I am a Verb

The other day I was talking with some friends of mine.  One's life has been devastated by the downturn in the economy... one is dealing with major issues at his place of employment... another couple's marriage is crashing into the rocks... and yet another worries about the direction our country is going and fears for what the future holds for his grandchildren.
It seems that everywhere I turn there is this feeling like life is in ruins.  A financial tornado blows through, relationships blown apart by hurricane force winds, and the future shaken by an emotional earthquake.  This is becoming the reality for more and more people.  I admit that I am most definitely an optimist – I really do think that everything is going to be ok.  But for what seems to be a growing majority, life is being shaken to the core.  This, for me, has presented a great challenge of listening and offering some encouragement – I honestly don’t always know what to say. Recently, a young friend …

I'm doing some planning of some upcoming and future teaching series at the Java Roasting Cafe, finding myself in random conversations about politics, the weather, American Idol, 80s music and Jesus... like ya do.  Then this question comes up that I've been asked more times than I care to count: "What's the difference between your church and the Baptists?"

My response?  "Exactly!"

OK, before I get nailed for my infamous answers that aren't really answers, let me unpack that a little bit.

My point is "what is the difference... really?"  I think a better question is "How are we alike?"  I've found myself caught up a bit lately in using terms like, "Our tribe" and "Your tribe" and "Their tribe" and to be fair, there are of course some differences.  But why do we have to let the differences define us?  When did things like baptism methods, expression of spiritual gifts, how we define "Sabbath&quo…

So I created quite the Facebook stir by posting the link to this news story about a teenage girl in Mississippi who wants to attend her high school prom with her lesbian girlfriend.  So yeah, they are both lesbians... just to clear that up.  In case you missed the article click HERE.
The "stir" on my Facebook page was a back and forth debate between judgment and grace.  Many want to make this a debate about "right and wrong."  I feel that it's much deeper than that. After posting the link and asking what others thought about it, I spent the rest of the day away from the internet in meetings (during which time we actually discussed this very story/issue).  Upon returning to the flame-session/love-feast that I had instigated, I found numerous requests for what I thought about it.
I am much more of a feeler than a thinker... but I try.
#1 - my heart breaks for this young woman.  To be told "we don't want you" must be one of the most painful things to…

Tomorrow is my 41st birthday.  These days I don’t find myself anxiously awaiting “the big day” the way I did when I was a kid.  When I was young, it was hard to be patient while the days slowly passed until my birthday.  My parents always made birthdays a great celebration, and while it was difficult to be patient, it was always worth the wait!


How good are we at waiting?



Psalm 40 says, “I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.  He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be astounded. They will put their trust in the LORD.” (v.1-3, NLT)

I’ve been stuck in the mud before.  I mean literally, on more than one occasion I have had the wonderful opportunity to push, pull, beg, and wench a vehicle from being stuck in miry mud.  Being stuck in the mud is no fun, for…

Until the mornings warm up a little more so that I can sit on the deck, I like to sit at the dining room table to do my morning reading and meditation.  This is because I can look out the sliding glass doors that open to the deck.  It's almost like enjoying being able to sit outside... only without the coat.

Hanging above the dining room table is this chandelier.  With one light out.  This makes it very hard to read.  This may seem odd, seeing how there are four lights shining brightly upon me.  I mean, really, what difference should one light make when the other four are doing their job?  I can't explain the quantum physics of the directional path of light in conjunction to width and depth of open space; I just know this space I find myself in isn't all it can be, nor all it should be, and this most definitely affects my ability to read and enjoy that reading.  In order to get the most of my morning, I really need the fifth light. 

All of the lights are meant to work toge…