Pumpkin Patch Kids

A couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity to go down to Moriarty to the McCall's Pumpkin Patch with Mik, Megan and our grandson Evan. There's something spectacular about seeing thousands of pumpkins on the ground ready to be purchased and subsequently carved. Once we arrived we got onto the hay wagon pulled by a tractor, which what boys (young and older) don't like? It was kind of breezy and cool out, perfect weather for selecting pumpkins, and the skies were NM blue. We walked around in the field for a while, Evan found his pumpkin, the girls found theirs, Mik finally found a big one and then I found a green oblong looking pumpkin. I turned it on its end and thought... this would make an awesome alien pumpkin - Roswell style!  So I held onto my pumpkin, proud and tall like it was the holy grail.

After purchasing our pumpkins, we put them into the car and walked around to the slide, bought hot chocolate, ate lunch, watched Evan ride the train. I'm not sure who had the most fun though... Rarely do we get the opportunity to just be a kid anymore. It seems that the worries of this world have a way of extinguishing the carefree fires that burn in us. Whether it's sequestration, government shutdown / slimdown / shakedown or paying for college... there's always something.

So when you have a chance - take a stroll into the pumpkin patch. Find something there of worth, treasure it for a few moments and give thanks for the life He has given us. I really do believe that deep inside each of us is a Pumpkin Patch Kid wanting to come out and play... say 'yes' today and find a joy worth living for...

In Christ!

Potomac River Turning to Blood?

Roughly 3500 years ago a small nation was enslaved by the world's most powerful leader - Pharaoh. The LORD raised up a prophet unlike any prophet before or after him - Moses. His one mission was to confront Pharaoh, demand the release of the Israelites, lead them out of captivity to the Promised Land (modern day Israel and surrounding regions). You'll recall the story of how Pharaoh's heart was hardened by the LORD and that he himself was "unresponsive" to the signs that things were going to go really south for the Egyptians and for Pharaoh. But for what purpose did they need to go free? - To insure the freedom of God's people to worship the one true God. Pharaoh refused to negotiate even a temporary reprieve because of his pride, iniquity and self-worship. What ensued would turn the known political, social and spiritual world upside down - miraculous plagues. Miraculous Plague #1 The waters of Egypt, particularly the Nile were turned to blood.

What God did in this first plague was to strike at the heart of the Egyptian economy. From space we can see the vast importance that the Nile River plays in the Egyptian economy - not much has changed over the centuries. When God struck the waters of Egypt (Nile River included), he struck at the heart of the Egyptian people. Everything was affected - from a transportation shutdown, food and water shortage, it was a financial disaster. But by the end of the first day of seven to come, this was a spiritual crisis - God had struck at their god of "personal prosperity" (aka: Hapi)  Even the wood and stone containers which held the now valuable water poured with blood (Ex. 7:19)

Obviously, this calls for some personal and national evaluation on our part:

1. Based on the recent news accounts, looking at our national leaders - do their attitudes reflect that of Pharaoh? Has the PotUS hardened his heart toward God, veterans, military, everyday Americans?  Has his heart and mind become so hard and dull that he is willing to see our military, veterans and families hurt to forward his personal and political agenda? And then there's the US Congress - there's not enough room to even comment there...
2. Is this the best group of men and women we can find to govern our nation? 
3. More importantly, what do we individually count on in life? What we work for, what we play at, what we dream about? Is our god any different from that of the 35th Century (BC) Egyptian? Have we bought into the creation myth of Darwinism or do we trust the Creator - Provider?

We live in a unique, uncommon place where in a republic we choose our leaders and can direct the affairs of government. Therefore we each have to take personal stock of our hearts and of the leaders we elect. For over three decades I wanted to believe that our governing leaders in Washington were inept, but no more. Empirical evidence would lead one to conclude they are not only inept - they are corrupt and lack the basic character to govern. 

We the People have options:

1. Return to the Lord (2 Chronicles 7:12-22) or else eventually the waters of the Potomac will flow with blood... along with every manmade container of self-preservation and self-sufficiency - an economic disaster awaits us
2. Return as a nation to the core principles of justice, spiritual fidelity and humility before the holy God of the universe
3. Refuse to accept as 'norm' the professional incompetence and merciless attitudes of our elected leaders and if necessary, remove them from office and disallow them to return to office - ever
4. Return the governing of our nation back to the people, for which it was founded
5. Resist peacefully; without violence unless it becomes necessary to protect the honor of our families and neighbors should injustice, merciless rule and pride continue in Washington
6. Return as a nation to the holiness of Almighty God

Unlike the Israelites there exist no land promised us beyond a body of water. This is our land promised to those who desire freedom from tyranny and oppression. We have become a nation divided, apart from God, with liberty and justice for a few. Either we return soon to the Lord or I fear the waters of the Potomac will turn to blood.

Layers of Paint

A few years back our daughter asked if she could paint her bathroom. Of course my fatherly, default answer of "no" was already on my lips, but something in me said "so what?"  Now that might have been Abby's legal representative / advocate's (aka: mother's voice); so I can't take much credit I'm sure for this.

To my surprise, the color chosen was lime green (see photo). Honestly it was hard to walk in there very often because of the brilliant color scheme. Looking closely in the corners, around the ceiling, light fixture, door... there was lime green in places where one would not expect there to be lime green.

This week marked a new chapter in our lives as Abby is now a full-time student at UNM. We are now in the process of reclaiming 'normal' color schemes in that bathroom. Ahhhhh... brown tones! And of course in her room we began the long, hard process of cleaning and organizing the closet. Between the hairpins and air-soft BB's left over from when Mik occupied that room / closet, there are a lot of memories.

Underneath the new layer of paint are air-soft dents in the drywall, weird paint color schemes... Our lives are much like - layers. Beneath the exterior of our marriages and families' lives are layers of great memories (some not so great) and life experiences that are too often painted over without hesitation or consideration. As I began painting the bathroom I could only laugh and smile - it was a labor of love. I'm going to leave a few spots of lime green just to say to future generations and homeowners - "we were here!"

If your teenage daughter asks if she can paint her room or bathroom - say "yes" - you'll never regret it!

Pastor Paul

Trophies

   Those old boxes in the garage reveal a great deal about what we treasure. It's not until they are opened up and examined do we actually discover what we really cling to in life that's very important. I was reminded of this over and over this past week while working in Moore, OK.  

   As I picked through the debris in the front yard of this home, I came across what was left of a baseball trophy. The broken bat and right leg were harsh reminders that some things don't turn out the way we dream of them. Someone cherished the trophy enough to save it. I remember as a young man that I held onto my own trophies like they were the holy grail. After I married my wife, those same trophies I clung to as a boy found there way into boxes in the garage. Today, they are in some town's landfill. But as I've aged and (hopefully) matured, I've gathered new trophies; all of which need to find their proper place in my life.

   I think of the little 3rd grader who this trophy might have belonged to. Freckles, chili-bowl haircut, dreams of running out onto a major league field... are all part of the makeup of a little-leaguer. He probably learned a lesson a lot earlier in life than he should have about 'what to value in life' that fearful day the massive EF-5 tornado roared his home town. Whether he was literally clinging to the walls of his collapsing elementary school classroom closet or covered over by a protective father in the bathtub of his home - I would imagine the last thing on his mind was his little-league trophy. 

   It's in moments of loss, crisis, fear... where our faith is most needed. We cling to God in prayers of desperation that resonate in His ears as we are covered in the shadow of His wings. We can scream at the tops of our lungs pleading for the roaring storm around us to end, sometimes tragically our valuables  (and maybe even our lives) are whisked away by a gust of providence, leaving us to only cling to the cross of Jesus.  At the end of the day, the end of month's bills, the end of our lives - that's all we have - God's trophy - a cross emblematic of Christ's suffering and shame. 

   When I picked up that old trophy the words of George Bennard looped over and over through my mind:

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down; 

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it someday for a crown.

  I do hope the owner of that trophy never, ever has to endure a storm of such magnitude, but more importantly, I hope that he, like you and me cling to the cross of Jesus. There we find meaning for our lives...

In Christ!

   

Letting Go - On Occasion

   Sometimes in life you just need to 'let go!'  I don't know whether I've become too antiquated (not necessarily wiser or more mature), domesticated, or sophisticated - I have found that I am less apt to just 'let go'.  

   If it's true that an antique is something of at least 100 years of age, I'm halfway there. This morning I feel more than halfway there after last night. At the last minute, I was invited to 'see' Righteous Vendetta in concert. After the event was moved from the skatepark to New Beginnings Fellowship, things got kicked off around 8PM which is an hour before my bedtime! I looked around the 'Upper Room' where the concert would be held, I saw a few people my age at the back and then a lot of people much younger than me. I do know that at some point skinny jeans are inappropriate, I am glad they are hard to find in my size - and so is the rest of humanity for that matter. That aside, the music starts and we are off to the races. 

   Growing up going to hear 'The Clash, Ramones, Blondie, or Devo on Cedar Springs Rd. in Highland Park, TX -  I am quite familiar with the crowd, even if they are more than half my age. I knew to move my head up and down to the rhythm, jump up and down at appropriate times. Something in me though said 'beware blowing out a knee at your age'... so I opted to keep it calm.

   As the concert blossomed the activity in the middle of the room was almost as appealing as the music. Being a pastor there are these 'unsaid' expectations on you - one of them is to at least 'appear' in control of ones mental and physical capacities; even if you are not. I really wanted to join in the banging about (mosh) going on, but something in me said 'you are a pastor, what would those gray haired people in back think, what would those purple hair people in front think, what would the people with no hair think, what would Brian's little children who attend our church think?

   The urge to be transformed back to a time of carefree,  organized violence in a mosh pit overwhelmed me - so there I went with Mik (our youngest son, age 26). I banged around a little. I realized quickly that my sheer mass provides a distinct advantage in such occasions - I came out alive! I had 'let go' and am living to tell about it; even if I am a little stiff this morning.

  So many times in life we fear letting go and just living life wide open. I'm not advocating one to throw off 'all' restraints, sensibilities and morality but I am saying that living for and with God requires us to 'let go' and be free. There is nothing better in life than that:

I lay my life down at the foot of the cross

As humble as I know how to be

Take this life and make a new creation out of me 

(Righteous Vendetta: For the Skeptic)

Lesson learned: let go and and experience freedom...

In Christ!

20 $1 Gold Coins vs. 30 Pieces of Silver

   Given the choice, anyday of the week, I will choose 20 $1, gold coins over 30 pieces of silver. We are probably all familiar with Judas and how he shanked (fig.) Jesus in the back. It's amazing how 3rd person betrayals take on a new light when they come to us in 1st person. But like the 30 pieces of silver, the 20 gold coins impact our lives... but in a positive way.
   A couple of weeks ago, someone in our church handed me a ziploc bag filled with twenty U.S. gold $1 coins. At the conclusion of a worship service, I was pretty drained, readying myself for a meeting, hungry... but really energized spiritually from the 'united' worship service. I laid the coins on my desk before I left the office, I gave thanks, not only for the $20 but really for the friendship expressed to me. Their monetary value (while fluctuating with the value of the U.S. currency rates) pales in comparison to the value they have for me personally.
   The things we treasure in life are pretty interesting. We throw things out while hanging onto others like they are the holy grail. It's those personal things that have the greatest worth. The complimentary house cleaning, the help putting up a fence, trimming someones' trees, writing a card, giving a hug, helping them understand Pangea... all of these things speak of relationship - these things we treasure. These things outshine the 30 pieces of silver we may have received during the course of our lives. The lesson here - count your blessings, number your days aright... You'll find plenty of gold coins and eventually you too will give them out to others as the need arises...

In Christ

Inventory

   In my early adult years I had the privilege of being in the retail business. For twelve years I worked

for a fine men's wear store in Texas. On the last Sunday in February we would take our annual

inventory. We would prepare for the inventory a couple of weeks in advance. 'Big Ed' insisted that every sock, tie, belt, pant, suit, shirt... be counted - by hand. Now mind you, this was during an age when computers were first being installed that could track inventories, but did you think a store with a crank handle cash register would modernize to that - no!  Welcome to the days of the Big Chief writing tablet and a #2 pencil!

   What was out on the shelves and racks was easy, it was the back stock rooms that really made the process of inventory a real challenge. We opened every box, looked through the stacks of double-knit polyester LaJolla pants, laughed our way through the leisure suits, and rummaged through the Touch of Class polyester embroidered shirts. It was a searching and fearless inventory...

   I thought about 'inventory' this week and the fourth step in a recovery program: 

"Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves."

Why is it so difficult for us to open up and search through the taped up boxes full of yesteryear's hurts and hangups? Why is a moral inventory that reveals our true character so fear invoking?  What is it about exposing the strengths and weaknesses of our character that drives us further away from the very people who can help us most?

   As I've thought about this this week, I've come up with a couple of things:

1. Nostalgia: At times it's easier to take hurts out of the box, hang onto them, re-tape the box, set it back on the shelf of our hearts and minds. Somehow we think that over time they will increase in value.  All the while those hurts and hangups do increase in cost, but not in value. It costs us more and more to hang onto our stuff.
2. Fear: This can paralyze even the best of men or women. Fear keeps us from exposing and disposing of sins, hurts and habits; while at the same time helping us maintain our posing in front of our family and friends. Fear tells us that 'if they really knew me, they would reject me!'

Making the inventory does require searching through the stuff (rubbish) and a fearless attitude, that no matter what you find, you deal with it. However, instead of taping up the box and keeping it, you discard it. If you are having a hard time sitting down to take the inventory, start here:

"Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life." (Psalm 139:23, 24 MSG)

The Holy Spirit knows us better than we know ourselves. Take a couple of hours with God, take out that Big Chief tablet and #2 pencil, draw a line down the middle of the page creating two columns (strengths / weaknesses), break it down into periods in your life, list the hurts, sins, habits... victories, successes, blessings... once you've done that - sit down and talk it through with someone. Ask for prayer, seek counsel if need be, reflect and trust (both in God and a trusted friend) to unpack the stuff so you dispose of it. 

What's in the stock room in back that needs to be disposed of? What is keeping you from opening up to The Lord and your friends? What sins have captivated your imagination?  It's that time of year - time for inventory!

In Christ

Tight Focus

A few years ago I purchased a rifle that came with flip up iron sights, which was great. I soon wanted to purchase "necessary" accessories (i.e. bipod, laser / light combo, heat shield, adjustable grip) One of the purchases I made was for a stealth tactical, multi-color-dot scope.

I decided to leave the iron sights on however. This sighting combination really helps me zero in on a target (and I need all the help I can get...) With this sighting combination, I can obtain a target, place a colored dot on it and fire. At first I had a very difficult time acquiring and hitting my target with a high degree of accuracy. Finally, after getting it all sighted in accurately, I began to really enjoy target practice. However, if i really want to be accurate, I flip up the iron sights to bring the target into a tight focus. If I want to put an even tighter focus, I flip up the pin-dot sight, aim and fire. It's amazing what a tight focus can do. Question: Does your vision for life have a similar focus?

I do believe we must approach our life's vision in a similar, tactical fashion. We obtain a target using our natural sight, but too often we fail to tighten the focus in order to hit the target with maximum impact and result. Frustration mounts as we routinely miss our target. Or we may hit the target but we are missing the center of our focus. So pause for a moment, take a deep breath - people can get hurt at this point. (breathing, breathing, breathing, heart rate decreasing...)

Here are a few questions:
1) Are you using all of the assets available to you? (Is the Holy Spirit in control and engaged as a weapon? Are you using the Bible for shaping your vision? Is your focus distorted by the movement of the world around you...?)
2) Is your vision sighted-in? Are there any necessary adjustments for windage or elevation?
3) Have you tightened your focus onto your target?

A transformed vision for life, church, business... begins with an exacting inventory of our assets and liabilities. Then you begin the process of sighting in those assets and dealing with the liabilities, often by making only slight adjustments (sometimes significant adjustments...) At this point you are ready to tighten your focus (breath in and out lightly) pull back slowly (breathing light still), maintaining focus and steady aim, slowwwwwly pulling back to when you are surprised at the discharge. You look, you've hit your target with a high degree of accuracy.

I know this is a "guy" type of article and there are all sorts of analogies I could use, but the question remains, 'does your vision for life have a tight focus...'

In Christ?!

$161,684 Tithe Check!

Standing at the back of the worship center our Finance Ministry Assistant (Linda) came up to me and one of the members I was speaking to. She was beaming but at the same time cautiously inquisitive. She asked this member in front of me - "did you mean to make out your tithe check for $161,684 dollars?"  His response was a simple 'yes, I did' and he explained he had received some royalty on something...  She responded; "praise God! I was almost afraid the decimal point was moved to the right too far...!"  Elated and joyful my heart leapt and then - I woke up from my dream.

Waking up, my heart was pounding and really regretted waking up. I checked to see what time it was (5:38AM), reminded myself I was at the Holiday Inn Express in Albuquerque. I went in to brush my teeth and started wondering about the dream. I came up with a few of interpretations:

1. The dream was prophetical in nature. I rationalized briefly that because the amount was so specific, the dream was in color, the responses of everyone in the dream would have been expected. That business background rationale quickly faded.
2. The dream was culinary in nature. I quickly remembered the 'Cookie Doughn't You Want Some?' from Cold Stone before I went to bed. That then seemed probable cause to me. I kept brushing...
3. The dream was financial in nature. While I know the news is filled with 'sequestration' (which honestly sounds more like a 3-legged horse running in the Kentucky Derby), I know the economic reality in our nation is anything but 'good'. I also know that the Lord is in control of the financial situation in each and every church...
4. (Finally) The dream was doctrinal in nature. One of the previous night's messages by Dr. Greg Frizzell was about powerful prayers resulting in powerful miracles (James 5:15 stuff!)

Oh yeah, #4, that was it! As the Holy Spirit began to unwind that message in my heart while I finished brushing my teeth, I was deeply inspired but also convicted. While I know it's always a good thing to pray for Aunt Susie's infected, in-grown toe nail so she doesn't die and go to heaven and walk the golden paved streets with an eternal limp, the clear realization that deep-seated cleansing prayer on my own part and prayer for the lost in our community is really at the heart of God.

Prayers that transform the heart of mankind come from clean, confident and desperate hearts before God. I was reminded last night that this type of prayer requires my time, attention and devotion in solitude. I will still look for prophetical, culinary, and financial answers to my own whacked out dreams... but when the Lord is speaking Transformationally - I need to put my tooth brush away and pray... With God all things are possible - even handling my morning breath before I hit the bathroom...

In Christ!

A Winning Culture

This morning I listened to an interview with Coach Mike Krezyzewski (Coach K) in which he stated; "It's not about having a winning team but about having a winning culture."  As those words bounced around in my heart and mind, my thoughts turned from basketball (sports in general...) to life.  A great deal of people live and work in a losing culture, which helps produce a culture of blame, suspicion and selfishness. 

There will always be losses and even seasons where our hopes and dreams fail to mirror expectations. While loss is an inevitable human reality, I believe that creating and maintaining a culture of winning is more important than winning itself. When we seek to create and maintain a winning culture - winning becomes an inevitable reality. So how do you create a 'winning culture'?

Spirited cheerleaders, great band, happy fans and pep rallies - while fun and inspiring at times, do little to inspire at the middle of the second half when you are trailing by 6.  A hated opponent can really fire you up for retaliation but that will only inspire us a few times up and down the court. A good butt-chewing from our coach can help correct bad execution or habits but at the core of a winning culture is a transformed life. 

A winning culture (be it a team sport, family, church, business, organization...) is filled with enough people committed to personal and team transformation that creates and maintains a culture of winning. The winning culture is created when there is a collective commitment to:

• An objective operational standard that serves as the foundation
• Authenticity
• Time spent together (eating, celebrating, reviewing, living...)
• Honoring others above themselves

I challenge you today to make the personal and cultural changes necessary to creating and maintaining a winning culture...

In Christ!

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayers."  (A2:42)