i love...

...coffee, scrambled eggs, bacon and toast in the morning

grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup at lunch

juicy cheeseburger with all the fixings and fries for dinner

anything chocolate for dessert

but her smile—the one that lights up a room—oh, her smile

to die for!

 

...football, hockey and occasionally baseball

gladiator, braveheart, to kill a mockingbird and anything bourne

johnny carson, jimmy stewart, bruce willis and russell crowe

Scripture, a tale of two cities and anything by Andy Stanley

but her giggle—the one that tickles me down to my soul—oh, her giggle

to die for!

...the purr of a kitten

the cocking of a crow

the mournful wail of a distant train whistle

the chirping of birds and rushing water

but the way she makes me laugh—like nobody else—oh, the way she makes me laugh

to die for!

...sunrise, sunset and everything in between

night sky in all its glory

woods and fields, fields and woods

walking, walking, walking 

but the way she calls me by name—spoken or written—oh, the way she calls me by name

to die for!

her—after all these years--her

to die for!

oblivious to the obvious

I went for a walk with my dog Charlie this morning and we saw five deer. Well, I saw five deer. Charlie was oblivious to them.

You see, despite being no more than 20 yards or so in front of us, Charlie never saw the does. That’s because he was doing, well, what he always seems to be doing: sniffing the ground like there’s no tomorrow.

Yes, he seemed to smell them once we reached the spot where they had crossed our path, and while it was no doubt a thrill for him, I can’t help wondering if it would have been more exciting had he actually seen the darn things.

Unfortunately, what happened to Charlie sometimes happens to us humans: we miss the obvious because we’re too busy to notice.

Me? I’ve missed the obvious fact that not taking time off has burned me out and contributed to a downward spiral in my mood. Even though I know intellectually it was foolish, I kept doing it. Pushing, pushing and pushing some more. So much to do and so little time. No time to take time off.

Wrong.

What about you? Are you too busy to notice the obvious in your life? What are you missing at home? Work? School? Everywhere else?

Are there warning signs right in front of you, but ones you’re oblivious to? (I know, I know, if we’re oblivious to things then, well, we haven’t seen them and aren’t even aware we’ve missed them.)

But here’s a thought: For the next few days, keep your head up and your eyes and ears open. Who or what needs your attention?

Maybe, just maybe you’ll find that you’re missing something obvious. Just ask Charlie.

remember and reflect

I was nervous and, if I am honest, more than a little scared.

You see, I was speaking at a national conference of my peers in San Diego. Before the day was over I would fear and worry like never before, like the rest of the country.

It was Tuesday, September 11, 2001. 

Do you remember what happened that day? I hope so.

Do not get me wrong: It is not that I want us to suffer from the painful memories of that horrible day all over again—well, I kind of do—but so that we will not forget. As in ever.

You see, I am convinced it is incredibly important for us to remember the gut-wrenching memories of planes flying into buildings, people jumping to their deaths and buildings crumbling to dust before our very eyes.

Why? For the sake of those who perished that day. For the sake of those who were injured that day. For the sake of those who were heroes that day. And for the sake of us, our children and our grandchildren.

We simply must remember and pause to reflect.

Otherwise 9/11 may become like Pearl Harbor Day (December 7, 1941), a day of infamy that many Americans largely ignore here in the 21st century. Was it a horrible and historically-significant day in the history of our country? Absolutely—it was an attack on American soil that killed almost 2,400 people, gutted our Pacific fleet and precipitated a full-fledged war with Japan.

Even though it happened only 70 years ago, do Americans remember and reflect on it? Sadly, few of us do. I, for one, am ashamed because of my track record of indifference. I urge you to join with me and many others to make sure the same thing does not happen with 9/11.

Almost 3,000 people lost their lives that day, and scores more were injured. First-responders displayed unprecedented courage. We went to war in Afghanistan. The American way of life has not been the same since.

Like Pearl Harbor, September 11, 2001 was a day of infamy for this nation—future generations will surely examine it closely because of its significance.

Yet remembering what happened on a national scale is not good enough—I believe there is merit in our remembering more personal things from that day.

For instance, where were you when you heard? What were you doing? Do you remember how you felt? For many of us—perhaps even most of us—those details are still fresh in our minds.

I remember being scared, worried and even angry. How was my family back home? Will there be more attacks in the days and weeks to come? Is this the end of the United States as we know it?

Will remembering be painful? Absolutely, especially if it combines a recollection of both the events themselves and our personal circumstances as things unfolded. Personalizing the day can be both powerful and cathartic.

For the sake of those who perished that day. For the sake of those who were injured that day. For the sake of those who were heroes that day. And for the sake of us, our children and our grandchildren.

We simply must remember and pause to reflect.


Three ways to remember and reflect:

1. Read your local newspaper and/or watch television for 9/11 specials and news coverage.
2. Go to a local remembrance ceremony.
3. Go online to 911memorial.org and look at the day’s timeline of events.

endowed by their creator

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.--that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.1









Declaration of Independence, http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html.

day 4: words of wisdom from jethro

Editor’s note: This is the fourth of five articles written during a period of ministry burnout in July 2007.

“What you are doing is not good.”

As I wrestle with the question of, “How in the world did I end up like this?” (burned out), the answer is painfully obvious: I am working too much. Put another way: I am not getting enough rest.

Jethro is right when he tells his son-in-law, Moses, that “what he is “doing is not good…The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (Ex 18:17-18). A few verses earlier we find out the Moses is doing his best impersonation of a workaholic, going at it “morning till evening” (v 13).

And here I am, thousands of years later, making the same mistakes by ministering with little or no break. It is a good bet that Jethro would agree that only taking three vacation days in three and a half years of ministry are the actions of a madman. And working seven days a week, month after month will eventually end in a core meltdown.

Like the cliché says, it does not take a brain surgeon to figure this out. For goodness sakes, even Jethro Bodine knows that “What I am doing is not good.”

Oh how I wish I could say with a straight face, “Well, unlike Moses, no one warned me about what would happen.” First and foremost, there is my wife who, bless her heart, has refrained (thus far) from saying, “I told you so.” And there is an elder and good friend who has warned me several times about the dangerous path I have been pursuing.

As a result, the only reasonable defense is stupidity. Of course, one can also muster up the old reliable, “But there’s so much to do and too little time” argument. And let us not overlook perhaps the most overused defense of all: “It won’t happen to me.”

Well, guess what, it did happen to me.

Because of that, it is time to take a cue from the Apostle Paul: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13-14).

While these verses may be pulled out of context, the application for this 21^st century burnout is to figure out how to solve the problem, not dwell on it. Not surprisingly, this preacher thinks there are three key points. Frankly, each of them is a “Well, duh!” because of how obvious they are.

1.  Focus on priorities

Since preaching and teaching are my primary areas of giftedness, and since that is what the church needs the most, these are the “must-dos.” Any other duties above and beyond these essentials are “nice-to-haves” but cannot be allowed to negatively impact these priorities. “No” will have to become an important new word in my vocabulary.

2. Take time off

That is, use all vacation days allotted and take at least one—and sometimes, gasp, two—days off each week. Moses needed to have his workaholic ways challenged and so does this preacher. Ministry is a marathon, not a sprint, so only those who pace themselves will survive.

3. Educate the elders

The men responsible for oversight of the church need to know about these important decisions. If they are not supportive and in agreement, especially with the above priorities, there may be problems.

How in the world did I end up like this? By working too much and not getting enough rest.

How do I get myself out of this mess? By doing just as my fellow workaholic does, as recorded in Ex 18:24: “Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said."


When Jethro speaks, people listen, including this preacher.

we remember

“Courage is contagious.

When a brave man takes a stand,

the spines of others are often stiffened."

Billy Graham

the pond

It was a busy day at the pond.

A robin entertained me for several minutes by flying back and forth from the tree in front of me to the pond on my right. And when I say back and forth, I mean back and forth. As in over and over again.

It would fly a foot or two off the ground in a straight line to the pond. Then, a minute or two later, it would return the same way it came. Only now it would have a piece of grass or a twig in its beak.

Yep. It’s nest-building time.

Getting dizzy from all the back and forth, I walked over to the pond where I spotted a huge snapping turtle. Being the big kid that I am, I picked up a small branch and reached out and tapped it on the shell a few times.

I now had its full attention.

The snapper prepared to defend itself by raising its tail and backside in the air and crouching down in the front, its jaws preparing to snip my fingers off if I get too close.

Knowing that it would snap if provoked again, I gently waved the branch in front of it and, sure enough, the turtle lurched forward with its mouth wide open. An air ball all the way.

I knew it was coming—I mean, I knew it was coming, but I still nearly jumped out of my tennies. This guy meant business.

Now a little shaken up, I decided to back away and leave it alone. As I turned around to make my escape, a squirrel stood on its hind legs next to a tree.

Staring at me. I stared back.

We didn’t have to speak—I knew what the squirrel was thinking: “What kind of idiot are you, messing around with a snapping turtle?!”

Being the gentleman that I am, I decided not to respond and merely kept on walking.

Meanwhile, the robin diligently continued its construction project, the snapper stewed quietly as it returned to the safety of the pond, and the squirrel shook its head in disbelief at the dumb human.

That would be me.

day 3: do the math

Editor’s note: This is the third of five articles written during a period of ministry burnout in July 2007.

One million and six. That is how many times I figure I have asked God to take away the thorn in my flesh: migraines. It could be less, but is likely more. One million and six. 

The Apostle Paul was not nearly so persistent; he only asked the Lord for relief of his thorn in the flesh three times (2 Cor 12:8). According to my PC’s calculator, which is rarely wrong, that means I have pleaded with God one million and three more times than my esteemed colleague.

God’s response to Paul is short and sweet: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9).

Could it be that the Lord has responded in a similar way to my pleadings but it has fallen on deaf ears? Could it be that my persistence in this matter has been a waste of time?

Like a knight searching for the Holy Grail, I have sought relief from six physicians, including three headache specialists. Together, they have prescribed literally dozens of medications in order to somehow justify my deductible and co-pays.

The number of current meds taken is seven. The good news is that seven is God’s number. The bad news is the headaches have not stopped.

Is God’s “grace” “sufficient for” me as it was for the Apostle? Or did Paul sneak off for a physical and an old fashioned blood-letting from his good friend Dr. Luke? 

Not willing to accept responsibility for harassing the Creator of the universe on this topic of migraines, it is time to change the subject and evaluate Paul’s situation as described in 2 Corinthians. It turns out that his “thorn” was provided by none other than Satan (v 8). And why did God allow the Apostle to be tormented by whatever this “thorn” was? “To keep” him “from becoming conceited” (v 7).

Intrigued by the potential positive effects of trouble and hardship brought about by Satan, here are some observations made from other parts of Scripture:

• In 1 Cor 5:5 Paul instructs the Corinthian believers to hand an immoral man “over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.”
• In 1 Tim 1:20, the Apostle says that he has “handed” two men “over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.”
• In Job 1:10-12 it appears as if Satan is allowed to mess with Job in order to prove that the latter will not “curse” the Lord when tragedy strikes him and his family.
• In Job 42:5 the result of all of Job’s troubles is a better relationship with God.

Thus, day three of my “vacation” brings seven nagging questions. Here they are, as well as my best effort at answers:

1. “Is God’s grace sufficient for me as it was for Paul?”
Answer: I believe that it is, although I am not convinced that it prevents me from seeking medical help.

2. “Has God already answered my plea for migraine relief after one million and six requests and am I guilty of not listening?"

Answer: After one million and six requests, it appears as if the Lord has no intention of removing headaches from my life. Because of that, my ongoing prayer should probably change to asking for help to persevere vs. taking the headaches away.

3. “Are my headaches due to some kind of satanic attack?”

Answer: I have no idea and have no way of knowing.

4. “Are my headaches meant to keep me from becoming conceited?”

Answer: Perhaps.

5. “Are my headaches meant to destroy my sinful nature?”

Answer: Perhaps, but let’s speed it up, okay?

6. “Are my headaches meant to prove that I will not blame God for my troubles?”

Answer: Perhaps, and praise God that it has not happened yet, nor do I intend to let it happen in the future.

7. “Are my headaches meant to draw me closer to God?”

Answer: Perhaps. While their purpose (if they even have a purpose) is unknown, they do have the effect of driving me to my knees in prayer. And that’s a good thing.

As I reflect on day three and do the math, maybe I do hear the voice of God on this subject: “Somebody call a whambulance because Chris has a headache.”

Translated, it is time to quit whining. 

day 2: lessons from a sugar maple

Editor’s note: This is the second of five articles written during a period of ministry burnout in July 2007.

Day two of my forced vacation begins just like the first. Coffee, a little breakfast, a headache and a long nap to let the migraine medicine kick in.

Around noon, now headache-free, I drive to a nearby park. Since I am an outdoors kind of guy, seeking God’s face and spiritual renewal seems most likely to occur in the midst of nature.

Unfortunately, time-tested spiritual rituals of long walks in the woods and sitting beside a creek reading Scripture are of little value today. Not only does the Spirit of God not descend upon me like a dove, spiders and mosquitoes do. Discouraged, I leave the woods with all its critters and eventually come across a picnic table.

On a whim, I climb on top of the table and lay on my back, staring up at the branches of a nearby sugar maple. Does the sight of a fat, middle-aged man lying on a picnic table look silly? You bet it does. But do I care if someone is watching? Heck no.

“Laugh all you want, pal. I’m depressed and seeking God’s face. Now bug off.”

A tree is a tree, right? Maybe, maybe not. The bark on this sugar maple is as gnarly and scarred as I have ever seen. It is covered with deep gashes and grooves that zigzag back and forth and every which way.

“What a mess,” I think. “What a hard life it must have had.”

It is at that precise moment that God’s Word comes bubbling to the surface: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3).

This sugar maple has obviously faced many trials. Not only does its bark look like a pock-marked battlefield, but there are dead branches everywhere. This thing has led a hard life. It is a miracle it has lasted as long as it has.

Yet despite the trials that it has endured, it is enormous, one of the largest trees in the area. And based on my brief observation, it serves as a refuge for squirrels, birds and locusts. The fact that there are three picnic tables—three—under it is a testament to the abundance of shade that it provides.

In short, despite its difficult past this sugar maple tree has more than survived: It is of great value. Despite its many scars, it has somehow persevered. And maybe, just maybe, it is of more value because of what it has endured over its lifetime.

Could it be that my current trial of headaches and depression, while causing a great deal of pain and suffering now, will make me sturdier for the future? Could it be that something good will come of the scars that are tearing me apart right now?

My prayer for today is a simple one, Lord: I want to be like this tree. I want to pass this test and persevere.

day 1: bird droppings

Editor’s note: This is the first of five articles written during a period of ministry burnout in July 2007.

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”

That is it. Nothing more, nothing less. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”

And so day one of my week-long vacation begins. Desperately needing rest and spiritual renewal, the backyard is an inviting place to start. Getting reacquainted with my Creator seems more likely in a lawn chair next to a cornfield rather than a Lazy Boy with a remote control within reach.

So here I am in the great outdoors, ready to seek the Lord and find out where oh where has my energy and positive attitude gone? What is the deal with the almost daily headaches? And then there is the depression, the straw that broke the camel’s back. Are the headaches causing the depression or is the depression causing the headaches?

While the amateur doctor in me really wants to know the root cause of these health problems, the bottom line is it does not really matter. Only one thing matters this week, and one thing only: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”

It is surprisingly cool in the shade and everything I need is in the grass at my side: My favorite Bible, a glass of ice, a bottle of water and sunglasses. Oh, and then there is the Sudoku book in case Scripture and the presence of the Lord are not enough.

It becomes clear early on that the theme of day one is that of birds: Just a few minutes into seeking God’s face a bird poops on my arm. Looking up, the culprit is nowhere to be found. When healthy, this dastardly act would spark anger (righteous anger, of course). However, being mentally, physically and spiritually exhausted, the only emotion that comes is amusement.

Determined not to be sidetracked, I wipe the stuff off my arm and begin looking up all the cross references for Matt 6:33, the key verse of the week. While many verses and passages are encouraging, none seem to meet the cry of my heart.

Then bird number two enters the picture: A hawk soars effortlessly overhead, not once flapping its wings. Like a sailboat on a windy day it uses the wind and uses it well. Who needs to flap when God provides all the energy that is needed?

At that moment I instantly know what God wants to communicate to me. Hawks make me think of eagles and eagles make me think of a passage in Isaiah 40.

Isa 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

Isa 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Isa 40:30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

Isa 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (v 29). There it is in a nutshell: I am currently “weary” and “weak” and desperately in need of “strength.” Now, more than ever, my mission is to “hope in the LORD” (v 31).

It is clear that in terms of ministry I need to be more like that hawk. Yes, he flaps his wings in order to become airborne, but once there he relies on the wind that God provides to propel him. By relying on the wind vs. his wing power the hawk can fly for great distances. I, too, want to fly great distances for the Lord in terms of ministry.

Perhaps I have been guilty of doing too much flapping and not enough soaring. Maybe that is why I find myself in this position of weariness and weakness. Maybe that is why I am in such urgent need of spiritual renewal.

While reflecting on this insight, I am reminded of my three areas of God’s giftedness: Preaching, teaching and writing. In order to soar more and flap less, it is important to focus primarily on these areas at the expense of others. While ministry in a small church like mine requires a diverse skill set, using one’s spiritual gifts is of utmost importance.

But then there is the challenge of flapping less and soaring more when doing these three activities. How, exactly, does that work? While it almost certainly means more quiet time with the Lord vs. sitting in front of a computer screen, does it not also logically mean that less ministry is done? Could it be that while quantity may suffer quality and effectiveness actually goes up? Is that what it means to soar like a hawk in ministry?

In addition to much-needed strengthening, there is also much to learn over the next several days. The key to success in both areas is the same as before: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness."

Fornately, the rest of the verse goes like this: "And all these things will be given to you as well.”

be wary of bible teachers who...

Claim to have the power to heal and/or miraculous powers.

While the Lord can certainly empower humans to do miraculous things as He did in Bible times, it wasn’t prevalent back then and we shouldn’t expect it to be here in the 21^st century either. I’m of the opinion that it’s wise to have a healthy skepticism of such claims.

Talk a lot about donating money to their ministries and use phrases like “sow a seed.”

There’s nothing wrong with ministries asking for money, but if it’s a frequent topic our spiritual antennas should go up. The sad reality is there are people who are in ministry for the primary purpose of financial gain. Be discerning and use the Lord’s money wisely.

Frequently use phrases like, “God told me.”

While this may be a harmless phrase (i.e., “God told me, using such-and-such verse, to do such-and-such thing” or “God told me via a prompting of the Holy Spirit”), it could be an effort to convince hearers that the communicator has some kind of special connection with God. The result can be undeserved attention and credibility.

Never talk about sin.

While not every sermon or teaching time needs to mention sin, if it’s a rarity we should be cautious. After all, the basis of the Christian faith is that Christ died on a cross for our sins. Oops: There’s that word. The good news of Jesus Christ is only good news if sin is a reality. And it is. Therefore, it needs to be mentioned from the pulpit at least time-to-time. If not, well, I’m thinking it’s time to find yourself another Bible teacher.

Claim that God wants us to be healthy and wealthy.

While God does want the best for us, the reality is we live in a sin-stained world that includes pain, suffering and financial hardship. The Bible never promises believers in the one-true God health and wealth. Those who claim it does are either misinformed or not being honest with the text. Remember Jesus’ words? “Pick up your cross and follow me.” That doesn’t exactly sound like the easy life.

Advocate the worship or exaltation of anyone other than God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

This is a clear indication that you should plug up your ears and run for the hills. Only the triune God of the Bible is worthy of our worship and adoration. And that includes Mary, the mother of Jesus, who, despite being a godly woman, was nonetheless still a woman. Thus, she was a sinner—and unworthy of worship—like everyone else. Let’s save our adoration for the only one who is worthy of it: The Lord our God. 

Consider anything other than the Protestant Bible as authoritative.

Only the Christian Bible is God-breathed and thus reliable. Whatever is not from God’s Word may indeed be valid and of benefit, but there’s no guarantee. If a communicator believes that something other than the Bible is spiritually-authoritative, my advice is to get out of town.  

Say that rule-keeping and severe bodily discipline is necessary for the Christian life.

Legalism and treating our physical bodies in harsh ways have no place in Christendom. We’re saved and kept saved by the grace of God, not through following a list of do’s and don’ts. Likewise, self-abasement is of no value in the spiritual realm. Once we choose to follow the Lord our obligation is to love Him and other people. There’s no mention of harsh treatment of the body. Find another Bible teacher and fast.

Claim to have secret knowledge and/or had a vision.

There is no secret knowledge when it comes to the Christian faith. The Lord has revealed what He wanted to reveal to us in the pages of Scripture. And while God can certainly appear to people via a vision, it was rare in Bible times and it should be considered equally rare here in the 21^st century. Personally, I’d steer well clear of people like this.

Live extravagant lives with an abundance of wealth and possessions.

While the Lord has certainly blessed some Christians with wealth and many possessions, those who spend an inordinate amount of money on themselves vs. sharing it with others in need should expect to have some doubters. Count me among them, especially if those communicators are described elsewhere in this list.

Are personally immoral and/or teach no moral restraints.

Immorality in one’s personal life is a sure sign that the communicator has a sin problem, and a destructive one at that. If that’s the case, use extreme caution since the person’s relationship with God is impeded. And if the person actually teaches that believers can sin because our sins are forgiven, well, do you really need to be convinced to move on?

Are obsessed with end-time prophecy.

This one may surprise you or make you question whether you should be wary of me. The fact is there are many godly men and women who “specialize” in the area of prophecy and are worth listening to. That said, in my experience people who are obsessed with it are often out of balance when it comes to the Christian life. That is, in their fervent pursuit of their particular viewpoint they sometimes neglect other important parts of the Christian life (i.e., personal holiness, evangelism, discipleship). Worse still, I’ve met a few who have adopted bizarre and borderline heretical viewpoints, and crashed and burned when it comes to the faith. All I’m saying is be very cautious with so-called “experts” on prophecy. And please don’t send me hate mail.

divine leaf blower

Pneuma: Greek word used in the New Testament 350 times.
Depending upon the context, it can mean Holy Spirit or wind.  [1]

Some hang on for dear life and then, finally letting go, drop like rocks. Others float, soar or spin like tops until they reach their destinations.

Such is the life of a leaf when autumn winds come. Such is also the life of a minister of Jesus Christ when the Holy Spirit blows through his congregation.

Following the Spirit of God’s leading is not always easy, especially when it means significant changes for a local church. Yet, our divine leaf blower is trying to get our attention whether we like it or not. How we react to the inevitable breath of God determines the length and effectiveness of our spiritual flights.

There are three possible options when faced with God’s will for us and our congregations:

1. We follow the Spirit’s leading and go with it.
2. We resist the Spirit’s leading and go our own way.
3. We waffle and do a little of both, a little following and a little resisting.

Most of us would agree that the first option is the only feasible one in which to pursue. It makes no sense to do the latter two—spiritual success is only achieved by following God’s leading. Yet, some of us in ministry are guilty of dabbling with the latter two options.

As leaves blow off a tree, they suffer significantly different fates. Some hold on for dear life, as if they do not want to leave the safety of their branch, the only branch they have ever known.

Most leaves fall to the ground near the tree itself. While some spin like tops, others drop as if they have rocks tied to them, typically stem first. But some—not many—soar or float far from the tree itself.

Ministers who are sensitive to the Spirit’s leading in their lives and the lives of their congregations are like the latter. Knowing that the wind of God is coming, they are prepared to react to His leading when it happens. Once they recognize what the Spirit is doing and wants to do, they follow, no matter what the cost. Instead of staying close to the tree, they allow themselves to be divinely blown to new heights in ministry.

In Acts 16, the Apostle Paul and his companions provide a biblical example of what it means to set aside plans and ambitions to follow the Spirit’s leading.

Acts 16:6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
Acts 16:7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
Acts 16:8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
Acts 16:9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
Acts 16:10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

It is clear from verse seven that the men have plans to minister in “Asia," specifically “Bithynia.” But that is not God’s will. After discerning what His will is, they obey and instead minister in Macedonia.

Paul is willing to do God’s will, no matter where it takes him and no matter what it costs. That includes abandoning previous plans and personal ambitions.

The question, of course, is “Are we willing to do God’s will?” If so, we are like the leaves who allow God to blow us—and our congregations—in whatever direction He wants. His will be done. We go with it.

The alternative is our wills be done. We hang on to the branch, the familiar, as long as we can. When the inevitable gust of divine wind comes, we leave the safety of our branch but deliberately fall as close to the tree as possible. Instead of allowing God to blow us and our congregations in new, divinely ordained ways, we short-circuit His will and end up in a pile of rotting leaves at the bottom of a tree.

Metaphorically speaking, no one wants to suffer the latter fate. The trick, then, is to spiritually discern where God is working, where He is leading. Since “no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor 2:11), we need to pray fervently that the Lord will open our eyes and ears to His will.

For instance, a church’s leadership team may recognize that God has been bringing many unchurched adults to its worship services in the past few months. Recognizing what God is doing in its midst, the church makes a point of presenting the Gospel to these newcomers clearly and consistently. It also chooses to focus primarily on expository sermons and preaching through entire books in an effort to mature them. While these changes may not be embraced by everyone in the church, the leaders conclude that they are needed in order to accommodate what the Lord is doing among the people.

Ultimately, each of us must decide who is in charge of our ministries and how far we will go in doing God’s will. The reality is we do have a divine leaf blower who does want to lead us.

Some hang on for dear life and then, finally letting go, drop like rocks. Others float, soar or spin like tops until they reach their destinations.

Such is the life of a leaf when autumn winds come. Such is also the life of a minister of Jesus Christ when the Holy Spirit blows through his congregation.

________________________________________

[1][1] pneuma, Online Bible Greek Lexicon.

10 ideas to help kids grow spiritually

1. Be a good spiritual role model and encourage your spouse to do the same.
As we all know, our kids listen to us and watch us, so if the Lord’s important to us, then it’s much more likely that the Lord will be important to them as well. No hypocrisy allowed!

2. Attend church each Sunday.
This is so basic and yet can be elusive for busy families. Yes sporting events are important, and yes vacations and other extra-curricular events are important, but isn’t the spiritual health of our kids important? If it is, being at church each Sunday has to be a high priority for us as parents and grandparents.

3. Establish a daily routine of family Bible reading and prayer.
In my strong opinion this is a must-do. It’s absolutely critical that we make the Lord part of our everyday lives. The daily routine should include Bible reading, discussion and prayer. And it’s a good idea to do it the same time each day so it becomes a part of the daily routine.

4. Memorize one Bible verse each week and practice it daily.
This is a good one. Even little kids can get involved on this one. And the beauty of this suggestion is that you can pick and choose what to memorize. For instance, if a child has trouble telling the truth have him or her memorize a verse that says lying is sinful. And if the child’s a teenage boy who’s just discovered girls have him memorize a verse about sexual immorality.

5. Check out children’s Bibles from the library.
While our temptation might be to buy one or two to keep at home, don’t forget that the library has literally dozens of children’s bibles for all ages. Best of all, they’re free to anybody who has a library card! The readers in your family will have a blast reading them all.

6. Take advantage of teachable moments in everyday life.
This suggestion is huge, but it means we have to keep our eyes and ears open. For instance, let’s pretend the family’s eating out at McDonald’s and we witness an angry man complaining that he asked for a cheeseburger but got a hamburger instead. That would be a great time to ask your child what Jesus says about loving our neighbors. And we can follow that up by asking if the customer was treating the worker in a loving way, and then ask our child how the man could have made his point without being unkind or rude. Talk about practical application of biblical truths!

7. Encourage your children to listen to "Christian music."
When they’re smaller you can have them listen to age-appropriate music about God such as "Jesus loves me." Then when they’re older, why not encourage them to listen to contemporary Christian music instead of secular rock or rap? Take it from a former father of teenagers, there’s lots of good music out there for kids to listen to without all the offensive and immoral lyrics.

8. Make sure your middle-school and high-school students are actively involved in a local youth group.
This is extremely important when your kids are teenagers. They need a fun alternative to some of the rotten choices that are out there. This way they can be with kids their own age, have fun and still learn about the Lord. Every parent worth his or her salt knows that kids can be influenced either in a positive way or a negative way. Being involved in a youth group can help prevent them from doing something foolish.

9. Enroll your child in Christian camp in the summer.
Spending one or more days at a Christian camp is great way to make sure your children have fun and learn about the Lord. In addition to swimming and doing all of the other fun activities, your child will be exposed to biblical teaching and worship experiences.

10. Go to http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting.aspx and check out all the free parenting resources at your disposal.
Take it from me, this is a goldmine of good stuff. I spent about a half-hour looking through what’s available. There’s everything from how-to articles to actual devotions and age-appropriate study materials. Really good stuff and it’s all free!
　

40 days--from resurrection to ascension

SUNDAY MORNING

1.       An angel rolled away the stone from Jesus’ tomb before sunrise (Matthew 28:2-4).

2.       Women who followed Jesus visited Jesus’ tomb and discovered Him missing (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-4; Luke 24:1-3; John 20:1).

3.       Mary Magdalene left to tell Peter and John (John 20:1-2).

4.       The other women, remaining at the tomb, saw two angels who told them about the Resurrection (Matthew 28:5-7; Mark 16:5-7; Luke 24:4-8).

5.       Peter and John visited Jesus’ tomb (Luke 24:12; John 20:3-10).

6.       Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb and Jesus appeared to her alone in the garden (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18): His first appearance.

7.       Jesus appeared to the other women (Mary, mother of James, Salome, and Joanna) (Matthew 28:8-10): His second appearance.

8.       Those who guarded Jesus’ tomb reported to the religious rulers how the angel rolled away the stone. They were then bribed (Matthew 28:11-15)

9.       Jesus appeared to Peter (1 Corinthians 15:5): His third appearance.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

10.   Jesus appeared to two men on the road to Emmaus (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-32): His fourth appearance

SUNDAY EVENING

11.   The two disciples from Emmaus told others they saw Jesus (Luke 24:33-35).

12.   Jesus appeared to 10 apostles, with Thomas absent, in the Upper Room (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25: His fifth appearance.

THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY

13.   Jesus appeared to the 11 Apostles, including Thomas, and Thomas believed (John 20:26-28): His sixth appearance.

THE FOLLOWING 32 DAYS

14.   Jesus appeared to seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee and performed a miracle of fish (John 21:1-14): His seventh appearance.

15.   Jesus appeared to 500 (including the Eleven) at a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18; 1 Corinthians 15:6): His eighth appearance.

16.   Jesus appeared to His half-brother James (1 Corinthians 15:7): His ninth appearance.

17.   At Jerusalem Jesus appeared again to His disciples (Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:3-8): His 10^th appearance.

18.   On the Mount of Olives Jesus ascended into heaven while the disciples watched (Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-12)

Source: The Bible Knowledge Commentary, John Walvoord & Roy Zuck, p 91.

my morning

simple pleasures

that are simply wonderful

horses grazing in a pasture

the roar of a swollen creek

a train whistle blows in the distance…

…be at rest, oh my soul, be at rest

a tree shaped like a pregnant woman

the cardinal calls for a mate

a squirrel eats corn on the cob in a tree…

…be at rest, oh my soul, be at rest

freshly mowed grass that’s greener than green

more horses grazing in a pasture

a symphony of praise in my head…

…be at rest, oh my soul, be at rest

a dilapidated barn full of surprises for the curious

dozens of newly-planted trees

songbirds singing their goodbyes…

…be at rest, oh my soul, be at rest

simple pleasures

that are simply wonderful