One Good Hour

No I'm not talking about church, we all know I preach too long to keep us down to an hour anyway. I'm talking about an hour I spent not very long ago.

Rachelle had some time so she and I went and ran a few errands and gulped down some Chik-fil-a. I am reminded of the blessing of my marriage. I am a fortunate guy to have married such an incredible woman.

What I enjoyed was just talking about nothing. With the demands of ministry and parenting, it seems like so much of our talk is directed at some type of need to have a directed conversation. But at least today for one hour, we just enjoyed each other's company not for any other reason than we wanted to.

My Grandpa always talked about the "want to" of marriage. For my grandparents, marriage was a big want to. After 40 plus years of marriage they wanted to hold hands, they wanted to spend every moment they could together. I know they couldn't think of not having that desire in their lives. I have seen that same passion played in the lives of many over the years, and I have seen the other side.

How few of those broken marriages took time to enjoy one good hour with one another? If I had a challenge for any of you blog readers out there, it would be to take one good hour for no real reason and enjoy it with your spouse.

One man + one woman + one God + one hour is a perfect, can't miss recipe.

Turkey on the mind

I have been thinking about turkeys a lot the last couple of days. Yesterday, we made plans to get our turkeys for our church dinner. This morning, we put a new bulletin cover for our mini-sermon series for Thanksgiving: No Jive Turkeys Allowed. Rachelle and I have to decide between turkey or ham for the holliday. Personally, we both prefer ham but turkey can be really good as well.

My first turkey experience as an adult is a fond memory of not knowing what to do with the frozen bird. (Where was the food network when I needed it?) So I did all I knew to do and chased my young bride around the house with the turkey neck. Why do they even bother to give you the neck in the first place?

The first wedding I officiated was done for a young lady who grew up on a turkey farm. I've seen wild turkeys in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and California which isn't bad for a guy who doesn't hunt. When I bowl three consecutive strikes on Wii bowling, I get a turkey. We know that Ben Franklin wanted to make the turkey the national bird, and I guess by the way we act sometimes that would have been more than appropriate.

So turkey is on the mind...any point to this? Let me stretch my neck out for one...I often hear people ask why we don't eat turkey more often...it has been relegated to a Thanksgiving and Christmas meal. How often have I been guilty of relegating God to a "special occasion only Lord" in my life. I have tasted and I have enjoyed the goodness of God only to forget about for seasons of my life. In my mind, that makes me the turkey. Don't be a turkey, let God do His great work in your life this day and every day.

A Win

Hey the ads won't be all over television anymore for a while. Sadness and joy fill this day for most Americans. 62 million or so are happy; 55 million or so are sad. Some in the world rejoice, others are concerned about the possibility in a radical change of foreign policy.

I have read blogs today from friends about not over-reacting if it did not go the way most people of faith had hoped. I have had conversations with people who are certain this is the beginning of the end.

I know this...I spent time on Tuesday night watching Rocky II...the inspiring story of an underdog. If you have seen the movie as many times as I have, you remember that Rocky doesn't seem to want to fight the rematch because he doesn't have the support of his wife. Its only when she comes out of her coma and utters that word "win" that his heart gets into the fight.

I wonder how many times we want someone else to fight for us...a pastor, a teacher, a lawyer, a parent, a politician. We don't seem personally interested in a fight, and I don't mean a political fight unless you know you are called to such a task. I mean the fight spoken of in Ephesians 6...the fight against the unseen.

Jesus has drawn us close to himself and whispered to us, "WIN!" I am inspired to do just that. Winning begins with one person reaching one person. No president can help that or hinder that. No law can stand against the Spirit of God at work in a person' life. So no matter how you feel, remember to do one thing...win.

More on the Rabbit I Chased

Yesterday's sermon on the life of Samson led me to chase a rabbit ever so briefly: Samson is in Timnah, a Philistine stronghold checking out the ladies when one catches his eye and he decides she is going to marry him. He heads home to tell his parents who are less than thrilled.

Judges 14:3-4 (NLT) 3 His father and mother objected strenuously, "Isn't there
one woman in our tribe or among all the Israelites you could marry? Why must you
go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?" But Samson told his father, "Get
her for me. She is the one I want." 4 His father and mother didn't realize the
LORD was at work in this, creating an opportunity to disrupt the Philistines,
who ruled over Israel at that time.

Verse 4 is so curious. Was Samson merely following God's will, and are we even right in talking about his poor decision-making process. I pointed out that there are 2 portions of God's will; one part is what God has pre-determined and the other part is what God permits. There are times I don't like either of the two because they don't go the way I had hoped. At other times, I find great encouragement in knowing that it is in God's hands I rest.

What we hate to acknowledge is that God permits certain things to happen in this world. We must face the consequences of a fallen world. We must face the problems associated with our decision-making. Samson is quite possibly history's worst example of how to live your life. His calloused approach to allowing God to direct his path led him down a difficult path and only through the grace of God did he finish well and complete his pre-ordained task.

As we go through this week, let us all consider the decisions we make in light of God's calling in our lives. Let us understand that God's plans for us are greater than we can see and let us draw to Him in utmost obedience. Catch the sermon:

We should do this more

How many times have I uttered or heard uttered the phrase "we should do this more often." Yesterday was one of those occasions. We joined with two other churches from our area for a joint service and festival. The attendance was fantastic, each church had a strong showing. Our worship was incredible. The chili and pie contests were tons of fun to judge, and the festival booths turned out to be a lot of fun for everyone.

The only comment uttered was why don't we do this more often? It's the same comment I say after hanging out with friends or going to do something I really enjoyed. How great it was to see our church people sitting with friends and acquaintances from other churches. We shared one common interest and goal yesterday...to celebrate Christ.

Last night, my wife asked me if we were planning to keep our "budget date" this Thursday where we plan our spending for November. Her thoughts on the matter, "we should do this more often." It is a a one purpose meeting...to make sure we are on the same page financially which is even more important given the state of the economy. It ensures we are on the same page and our relationship is better for it.

It is a good reminder that when we come together with one clear purpose, we have one heartbeat and we are always left saying, "why don't we do this more."

Have a great week.

Tough Sermon

Sunday was a hard Sunday, the message for the week weighed heavily upon me and it proved to be a grueling task. When I was finished, my feet and back hurt in a way they never have before. The honest confession is that 3 months ago, I penciled in the story of Jepthah, but wasn't sure I wanted to do the story.

Last Monday, I began working on Samson and planned to skip Jepthah. There are sevral challenging stories in the Bible, but this one is between a father and daughter.

Judges 11:29-40 (NASB) 29 Now the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, so that he passed through Gilead and Manasseh; then he passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he went on to the sons of Ammon. 30 Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, "If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand, 31 then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering." ... 34 When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. Now she was his one and only child; besides her he had no son or daughter. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, "Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are among those who trouble me; for I have given my word to the LORD, and I cannot take it back." 36 So she said to him, "My father, you have given your word to the LORD; do to me as you have said, since the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the sons of Ammon." 37 She said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me; let me alone two months, that I may go to the mountains and weep because of my virginity, I and my companions." 38 Then he said, "Go." So he sent her away for two months; and she left with her companions, and wept on the mountains because of her virginity. 39 At the end of two months she returned to her father, who did to her according to the vow which he had made; and she had no relations with a man. Thus it became a custom in Israel, 40 that the daughters of Israel went yearly to commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.

There is just so much wrong in this story...to go from having the Spirit of the Lord upon himself to sacrificing his daughter to the pagan god of the very enemy he had just defeated. After travelling for years on a job, I know who was always the first to greet me when I came home...two girls running to the door and gripping me as tight as they could. Certainly, as a wandering rebel, he had been greeted at the door on numerous occasions by a loving daughter. He knew exactly what kind of deal he was making when he made his vow. Add to that Leviticus 27 shows how he could have paid 10 pieces of silver to redeem her, and my hot head gets the best of me.

So there is my dilemma, in one way, I want to sing the praises of God's chosen deliverer, in another, I want to render him as an obsolete foolish jerk. It's hard to deny the Bible touches our human emotions, and I can honestly say mine were touched. Over the course of 40 or so years, I have seen many sacrifice their family for something. I have seen people with the hand of God on their life turn away from God. The sad relaity I have seen is that there is nothing good from such things, so what do we do?

Our best response is to stay near the cross of Christ. Take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23), crucify the sinful nature, (Romans 6:6), and allow Christ to live through us (Galatians 2:20). Tough message, tough words, but what a gracious God.

Creativity Counts

The scared little kid in the picture is one of my two wonderful daughters. Cori recently won an award at our local Red Robin restaurant for creating their winning burger in a contest. She called her burger the "Super Fresh Salad Burger" and the poster behind her is on the door of the Red Robin praising her victory.

I remember the night my two creative chefs put their minds to creating the absolute best burger possible. It was exciting to watch their minds churn and listen to their questions as they settled in on their ingredients. Both did an excellent job, and Cori was fortunate to win a gift certificate and get some recognition. We are proud of both girls and happy for Cor's award.

I was thinking about rewards and awards the other day as I prepared a memorial message for a dear saint. I referenced in her message the parable of the talents. The story where two of three took their resources and on behalf of the owner managed to double his take. The two of them received those wonderful words of praise: "Well done good and faithful servant." One thing about doubling anything is that it takes creativity. We often reflect only upon those words in relationship to our faithful use of the gifts God has given us, and many times fail to reflect on the creativity needed to accomplish that task.

In a world where there seems to be so few lines of distinctions and a clear voice of reason and faith is so desperately needed, the creative are the hope of our future. I hope people of faith will filter into the more creative elements of our culture in the movies and media. I pray that we will continue to see a new generation of songwriters with a heart for the Lord. I hope and pray that God will help tap into what creative juices I have. How great it would be to have a double impact on the world around me.

Creativity is not always received without criticism, but nothing new ever comes without someone with a creative desire to blaze a new trail. So if you ever think that you are stuck in a box, get outside of it a do something creative. Create a new small group or a new friendship with a neighbor. Create a pictore slide show to go along with your favorite song of worship. Rewrite Psalm 23, to say "the Lord is my ___________" share it with your friends. Let the juices flow because creativity counts.