Category Archives: Stops on the Journey

Terrible Things

Posted on by
1

This passage of Scripture from Malachi chapter 3 has been chewing on me for days, now.

13 “You have said terrible things about Me,” says the Lord. ”But you say, ‘What do you mean?  What have we said against You?’

Before going any further, imagine what these “terrible things” could possibly be:

Curses? Insults? Blasphemy?

Amazingly, no:

14 “You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the LORD of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins?

15 From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.’

God considers it a terrible thing to say about Him when we:

  1. Say that serving Him has no value.
  2. Say that  confession and sorrow for sin are worthless.
  3. Say that God treats the world better than His followers.

But surely I haven’t actually “said” anything like that.  Surely I would not “say” anything so terrible to God.

But I may have felt/believed/acted as though those things were so… And that’s a terrible thing to do.

It happens when we:

Give up on Him.

Stop trusting Him.

Think He is unjust.

Believe He no longer cares.

Assume He has deserted us.

Terrible.  Things.

Terrible. Life.

So today, I’m saying this:

  1. Serving the Lord is valuable, and I do so from a heart of gratitude.
  2. Confession of and sorrow for my sin is an absolute necessity.
  3. God loves me, has the big picture and knows what’s best for me.
  4. God has already done more for me than I deserve.
  5. I will trust Him with my life.

For to be shallow, whiny, ungrateful and miss the point of my life would be a terrible thing, indeed.

Visioneering With Andy Stanley In A Hallway

Posted on by
2

Several years ago I was at the Creative Church Conference at Fellowship Church in Grapevine, and Andy Stanley and Ed Young were seriously on a roll. They had just written, “Can We Do That?” and they were just rocking through the conference.

It was just a week or two before we attempted to launch “North Point Fellowship” (eventually to become Compass Church), and I was inspired, motivated, and very much ready to win the world for Christ.

I was also nervous and excited, and was eating up all of the wisdom these guys were dishing out in large helpings.

On Friday night of the conference, I was particularly moved by some of the things that Andy taught in his session. Understandably so, I guess, since his book, “Visioneering” was so instrumental in helping me process and think through the steps I needed to take to get ready to plant a church. (I wish I had followed the principles more faithfully, but that’s a post for another time)

Thirty minutes or so after the conference ended that night, I was still hanging around and talking on the phone with my lovely wife, Leona when Andy and his wife, Sandra, walked right past me. I had to do a double take, because it was kind of unusual to see one of the main speakers at a conference this size walking around through the crowd afterwards. Usually, that’s a logistical nightmare.

I told Leona, “I just saw Andy Stanley walk into the church bookstore.” Of course, since his book had had such an impact on me, she encouraged me to say hello to him. So I decided to do just that…

“Andy!”

I shouted it without batting an eye and as if I had known him for years.  He turned at the sound of his name, and seconds later I was shaking his hand and introducing myself.

…And then I just blurted it out like Bill Murray in “What About Bob?” or something:

“Visioneering,” I said with a dramatic pause, “…changed my life!”

The look on his face was priceless. Surprise, amazement, humility, a sense of wonder and a little bit of “I’m not sure what to think of that” were written all at once in his expression.

I then quickly went on to explain how God had used his book to give me clarity and direction about planting a church, and “thank you so much for writing it.”  As I was talking, his wife was just beaming and looking at her husband with a knowing smile.

One of the nicest, most gracious guys I’ve ever met, and a classic moment in my memory.

(Not that he would remember  it or know or recognize me if you mentioned my name, but cool encounter nonetheless.)

Now if you ask me who I’m patterning my life after and who I am following, my answer would of course be Jesus, not Andy Stanley.

But I’m thankful for the wisdom of  Andy Stanley.

And I’m thinking it’s time to re-read Visioneering.

Has someone been a blessing to you?  If you have the opportunity to do so, tell them.

Comfort, Ye…

Posted on by
Reply

This passage of Scripture captured my attention recently:

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. – NLT

A few quick thoughts I’m chewing on:

  • God is the source of all comfort.
  • He comforts us in our troubles.
  • He does this so that we can comfort others when they are troubled.

Think of it. If we are followers of Jesus, when we are going through difficulties and troubles, God provides a way for us to be a channel of His comfort to others.  What a subtle reminder that it really isn’t all about me and my problems, and yet – God works through them providing comfort to me and through me.

Pain can produce anger or empathy.  Difficulties can produce bitterness or compassion.

So once again, I’ve been off track:  All too often, I’m complaining far more than comforting!

But everything changes when I begin to see my misery as an opportunity for ministry.

Through a Glass, Darkly

Posted on by
1

1 Corinthians 13:12
12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.*(lit. face to face)  All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. – NLT

I don’t have to understand everything.  I don’t have to know why things happen the way they do.

Because things will always be a bit blurry here.

But God sees and knows.

And I take great comfort in knowing that one day I’ll see and understand too.

Till then, I’m ok with going without fully knowing.

And with a nod to the classic KJV, I’ll continue

squinting through this glass,

darkly.

Such Very Much

Posted on by
4

Such Very Much Neighborhood

If you are not interested in people who do not follow Jesus, you haven’t been following Jesus very much.

If you do not care about a world that doesn’t know Jesus, you’re not getting to know Jesus very much.

If you care about a good cause more than you care about people who are not following Jesus, you don’t understand the cause of Jesus very much.

If you care more about exegesis than you care about your neighbors, your heart does not reflect the heart of Jesus very much.  (Nor did you do a good job with your exegesis.)

If you care more about doctrine than you care about others, you don’t understand the doctrine of Jesus very much.

And if you are a church and all of that is true about you,  that is such

A shame.

Because you can do much

Better.

And so much

More.

Very much.

Stinging Thinging

Posted on by
Reply

wong-way

There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

If it is the wrong thing, it is the wrong thing.  If you change it up, put fresh paint on it, work harder at it, or pour more money into it, it won’t work if it’s the wrong thing.

Generally speaking, this applies to most relationship choices, project selections (and solutions), career choices, church strategies and company decisions. 

Don’t try to fix the wrong thing.  Stop doing the wrong thing.

Instead, discover the right thing and pour everything into that.

What if God Asked You to Do Something?

Posted on by
4

sidewalk-step-2

What if God asked you to do something?

Would you do it?

Or

Would you ask for a better time table? (Like this guy - Matthew 8:21-22)

Would you make excuses? (Like Moses - Exodus 4:1-16)

Would you balk and get angry? (Like Naaman – 2 Kings 5:10-12)

Would you run away? (Like Jonah – Jonah 1:1-3)

Would you keep asking for signs until you were sure He was asking you? (Like Gideon - Judges 6:36-40)

Would you say no? (Like Peter – John 13:6-8)

Would you explain why it couldn’t be done? (Like Jesus’ Disciples - Luke 9:12-14)

The truth is, God is asking you to do something.  It is very likely that you know exactly what it is.  You sense it.  You feel it.  You may have been avoiding it, but you know it.

What if you were to just …do it?

Maybe you would:

Catch more than ever before. (Like these guys – John 21:6)

Set many people free. (Like Moses - Exodus 12:50-51)

Find healing.  (Like Naaman – 2 Kings 5:13-14)

See a nation restored. (Like Jonah - Jonah 3)

Win against incredible odds. (Like Gideon – Judges 7:7-9)

Discover a deep sense of belonging. (Like Peter – John 13:8-9)

Experience a miracle. (Like Jesus’ Disciples – Luke 9:14-17)

Regardless, you’ll experience and know God more deeply and fully if you obey.

What if God asked you to do something?  

…What if you actually did it?

sidewalk-step

The Real Deal

Posted on by
Reply

smiley-balloon-centered

Authentic.  Real.  Genuine.  Sincere.  Not a phony.

You can say you are all of these things all day long, but words are fairly inexpensive.  It is your motives and your actions that will always tip your hand.

And in the world in which we live, most people can smell a phony from a mile away.

“Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.”  - Romans 12:9 (NLT)

I think that sometimes I try too hard to make it look like I have it all together.  I don’t.   I’ve yelled at my kids,  argued loudly with my wife, missed opportunities, been lazy, been a hypocrite, gotten depressed, been angry with God and a host of other stupid things along the way.  

Obviously I’m not perfect, but by God’s grace, I am forgiven and growing.  And that motivates me to see the people around me differently.   To genuinely care about them and to not insult them by “acting” as though I do.  

An honest view of self provides me with a healthy dose of perspective and humility as I strive to lead and Pastor others.

“We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit.” – 2 Corinthians 6:6 (NLT)

It’s time to lose the fake smile.  

It’s time to gain the real smile.

I’m working on it.  How about you?  Are you the “real deal?”

Roofer Madness

Posted on by
Reply

roof-hands

Recently, a huge hail storm came through our area.  It was pretty freaky.  Some of the hail was baseball sized, and the storm caused a lot of damage in our neighborhood.  I suspected that we’d probably be hearing from “hail damage repair” companies before long.

Then it happened.   The next day we were up to our roof in roofing companies.

First, it was one door hanger.  Then two, then three.  ”Ralph’s Roofing Company!”  ”Big Top Roofing Company!” “Roofy Roof’s Roofing Company!”  For over a week – no kidding – we received 3 to 4 door hangers a day promoting one roofing company or another.

Then the signs began springing up. “Shingles R Us Roofing Company!” “Better’n Yer Neighbors’ Roofing Company!”  All over the neighborhood there were lawn signs advertising the companies that my neighbors had chosen to repair their roofs.  … Er, rooves?   Whatever.  It looked like a campaign season.

Then the doorbell started ringing.  Literally, the roofing companies started going door to door.  I personally talked with 3 or 4 representatives.  At least 2 of them explained to me that the other roofing companies were using all sorts of gimmicks and some of them were even breaking the law!  (Apparently it is against a Federal law for a company to pay your home insurance deductable for you.)  These guys were very nice, generally respectful and kept their visit short.

Then we started receiving mailers.  ”Super Roofer Roofing Company!”  ”Roof Roof Rover’s Roofing Company!” There they were in my mailbox along with Grocery store circulars and Furniture Store inserts.

Then I started seeing random signs around town at railroad crossings and traffic lights.  I’m surpised I even noticed them before the Fort Worth code enforcement car started removing them.

So to sum up:  We had a real need.  We were bombarded with door hangers, signs, personal visits and direct mail.

  • The door hangers became annoying after the 3rd one.
  • The signs were just a sea of noise – no one sign impressed more than another.
  • The personal visits, though amiable, were uninvited sales pitches nonetheless.
  • The mailers were just one more piece of junk mail.
  • The random signs around town just seemed like desperate cries for help.

And we’ve decided on no one.  (Not sure we can meet our deductable anyway. )

But if we do, it won’t be because one door hanger was cooler than another or because I drove past a sea of signs and thought, “That one.  That blue one there in the middle.  That’s the company for us!”

I very much could be wrong (I often am) but I have a feeling it will be because of something else.    And that something else will have to wait for another post.

And yes, churches sometimes come across like roofing companies. :)

It’s All About God…And People.

Posted on by
Reply

crowd-rock-concert

If you are a follower of Jesus, you go where He leads and you care about what He cares about – and that always leads to people. 

If you want to say, “No, it leads to making God famous!” then I have to ask, “Famous to who?” And again, we’re talking about people.

The Bible is about God’s revelation of Himself and His redemption of people.

Some Christians seem to imply that people are irrelevant in ministry because it’s “all about God.”  Um… Hello? I think something’s being missed, there…

Sometimes I want to shout to these well meaning Christians  something along the lines of:

Yo!  Dude!  You are People!  And that ‘whooshing sound’ you just heard was the point sailing past your head…

I understand what is meant by the phrase, “It’s all about God.”  I’m just saying that if that is indeed the case, then we should care about what God cares about.

And God cares about people.