Christmas is coming
The elves have been away
Now they’re returning from their holiday.
If you haven’t any reindeer
An airline flight will do
If you haven’t got an airline flight,
Then God bless you.
Christmas is coming
Although it’s still July
We’re going shopping, and no asking “Why?”
Hobby Lobby has your ornaments
And artificial pines
If you don’t have one in your town
Then shop online.
Christmas is coming
The elves may call it quits -
Santa’s reducing all their benefits.
If you haven’t got insurance
Obamacare will do
If you haven’t got Obamacare
It’s time to sue.
Having a son soon? Still pondering the little guy’s name? Here’s one for ya – name him after that famous guy in the Bible. Call him Bezalel.
Here’s the press release from Moses:
See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship; to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work. He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer, in blue and in purple and in scarlet material, and in fine linen, and of a weaver, as performers of every work and makers of designs (Exodus 35:30-36).
Did you see that? Here was a man who was anointed and pointed, fired and wired by the Holy Ghost!
For construction. Did you know that God can supernaturally fill you with a love and passion for things that get your hands dirty? [click to continue…]
“Then I told them about the desire God had put into my heart.”
-Nehemiah 2:18
Today it seems little. Important, yes, but H-O scale. But on that day, it was larger than life – even larger than health. And a lesson awaited that was life-changing.
From the time I was 15 years old, I knew that God was leading me to be a pastor. I also knew there would be a pathway to get there, and five years later, I was still on that pathway. I was about the graduate from college. For a year I’d had the privilege of serving at my very first church, full-time in the summer, and on the weekends during school. The people there were gracious and really patient. It had been a wonderful experience. Now, as I was about to graduate from college, both the church and I were preparing to move on.
Because I was a July graduate, and had blown through college in three years, I decided to lay out a year before going to graduate school. When the church caught wind of it, they were delighted to meet with me on a Sunday night and offer me a full-time position. They offered me more than twice what I had ever made in a year (if I told you how much it was, you’d laugh). I said it sounded good; just let me take the week and pray about it, and I’d let them know the next Sunday. I left town that night assuming that the next year of my life was set.
“I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!” -1 Corinthians 9:22-23, The Message
I’ve devoted a lot of time to a life powered by wishful thinking. With that came a lot of declaring about what I was going to do, and by when. Those lists I referred to in the last post even contain a pretty crazy collection of audacious plans. Just one problem. Some of them are lifetime pursuits, and I still haven’t started the chase.
Setting goals or writing down wish lists is a bit like writing a check. [click to continue…]
I’m a list maker. You have your quirks; that’s mine. Not so much the “to-do” variety – that would make me look more organized than I really am. My lists are the more thoughtful type. Let me tell you where it all started.
A few years ago I was reading a book about getting out of debt. Somewhere in the middle of it, the author, Jerrold Mundis, inserted a simple little chapter on goals. He said that while we were in the process of becoming debt-free, it would he helpful to remember why that was important to us in the first place. So he suggested setting goals.
Okay, now! You’re talkin’ my language! I love goals. I’ve read extensively on goal setting, achievement, success, and vision. The gleam in my eye began to shine in eager anticipation.
It’s one of every parents’ not-so-silent dread points. A moment of teenage carelessness, and a 16-year-old wrecks her Mamma’s car.
She was uninjured, so she called home to brace for the next impact – dad’s angry reaction. Instead, her father just asked about her physical and emotional condition.
When he showed up at the accident scene, his first attention was to his daughter. He wanted to see with his eyes that what she said on the phone was true. Then and only then did he turn his attention to the mangled auto being towed away.
When it was time to go home, dad had another surprise. He handed her the keys to his car and got in on the passenger side.
No angry tirade.
No reminders of previous warnings.
Just a lot of love and an overwhelming vote of confidence.
Years later, that girl, now a parent herself, commented, “Words can’t describe what my father’s God-like act did for my self-esteem that day.” She said it left a spiritual impact on her because she saw in her father the character of the God he loved.
Encouragement. Nearly all of us recognize the need for it. I would guess that most of us would like to give it. But how often, when faced with the opportunity to actually be an encourager, do we actually come through?
I believe the key to being an encourager is in learning to think like one. [click to continue…]
I expected to learn some things and be reminded of some things when I made my first trip to Thailand. I was not disappointed. To put an exclamation point on our trip, here are some things I learned along the way…
You may think you know what humidity is, but you’re wrong.
My wife had one unending childhood adventure.
Churches everywhere are made up of humans, with human needs, human potential, and human flaws.
Pastors may not speak the same language, but the leadership issues they face are the same worldwide.
Over the last two weeks, I have spent meaningful time with six different pastors who live 12 time zones away from me. Each is uniquely gifted, varied in experience and have completely different assignments. In the course of that time, I’ve seen and heard some things, learned some things, observed some things. Here’s a sampling:
Each pastor has his own unique model or approach for ministry.
Each is convinced his ministry model is the right one, at least for him.
Each has questions or concerns, if not open criticism, about other models of ministry practiced by others.
Nearly every one of them has been hurt pretty deeply by people in Church World.
The only time I ever bought clothes for my children without a guardian present, I bought two dresses in Mobile – this one and a green one.
Actually, I bought the same dresses twice, for a special reason. Earlier that day my twin girls were born.
Little did I know how quickly they would outgrow them.
Today this dress – and the girls who wore it – turns 25. Time moves even faster now. But the love that filled my heart that July day is stronger than ever.
Happy Birthday, ladies. May you change your world as much as you’ve changed mine.
“It was a day of learning.
I learned how powerful just a little encouragement can be.
I learned that in spite of how well I perform (or fail to), there really are people who believe in me.
I learned again what a nice feeling it is to know that someone is waiting for you.
I learned that the respect and love of my son is worth far more than the nods of approval I work so hard for out there in the grownup world.” source: The Face in the Window
Having a son soon? Still pondering the little guy’s name? Here’s one for ya – name him after that famous guy in the Bible. Call him Bezalel.
“Then I told them about the desire God had put into my heart.”
“I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!” -1 Corinthians 9:22-23, The Message
I’m a list maker. You have your quirks; that’s mine. Not so much the “to-do” variety – that would make me look more organized than I really am. My lists are the more thoughtful type. Let me tell you where it all started.
It’s one of every parents’ not-so-silent dread points. A moment of teenage carelessness, and a 16-year-old wrecks her Mamma’s car.
You may think you know what humidity is, but you’re wrong.
It’s amazing the trust you can gain with a sincere smile. 
Over the last two weeks, I have spent meaningful time with six different pastors who live 12 time zones away from me. Each is uniquely gifted, varied in experience and have completely different assignments. In the course of that time, I’ve seen and heard some things, learned some things, observed some things. Here’s a sampling:
I’m really glad you’re here.
The only time I ever bought clothes for my children without a guardian present, I bought two dresses in Mobile – this one and a green one.