As a society, we like to think about all the options and
possibilities to a problem or question. We like to dissect it and look at the
angles. We want shades of gray, not just black and white, because black and
white is just too concrete. We want to include everyone, so we often refuse to
draw a line. A hard decision on either side means there will be those on the other
side. And for whatever reason, we’re just not comfortable with that. We want to
open our arms and say, “Sure. Your point of view makes sense. I can see how you
think that. And in fact, I think our different stances can coexist."
But there are times when that doesn’t work. Christmas is one
of those times.
“What?! Christmas…a time of division? I thought it was all
about family and carols and presents and peace on earth?"
But if you think about it, Christmas is one of the most
divisive times ever. It should be. How can I say that? I can’t. I’m simply
echoing what Jesus himself said.
“Do
you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”
Luke 12:52
When Jesus came to the earth (which, as much as our world
likes to try to forget it, is what Christmas is all about), his mission was
simple: Usher people into a relationship with the Almighty God of the universe.
That’s not an easy mission, because too many people (for a multitude
of reasons) don’t want to hear it. They feel unworthy. They don’t believe. They
are angry. They are apathetic. The list is endless. But the truth is that there
are no shades of gray with this one.
There’s a reality about this time of year that we often
forget. Jesus—our savior, our redeemer, our forgiver, our priest, our king, our
Lord—is the most divisive person to ever walk the earth. Our job is not to make
him less divisive. Our job is to show people the reality of who he is. Our job
is to tell people how he changed our lives; how he brought us from one side of
the dividing line to the other. Our job is to tell people how Jesus brought us
from pathetically dying to truly living.
This weekend, right now, you have a choice to make. You can
look at the birth of Jesus through one of two lenses. Either you look at it as the moment God came to earth to save you, and that you now have
a responsibility to tell others. Or you think, “That’s a nice story,” and go on
watching your ‘holiday’ specials.
Don’t mistake the message of Christmas this year. Instead,
show people how strong the dividing line is…and how much God wants them to be
on the side with him!
December 22, 2012
November 6, 2012
My Prayer for America
Dear Heavenly Father,
As our nation prepares to elect our next President, I come to you with humility. I pray that over the course of today, you would guide us with your wisdom and direction. We know, God, that no political party holds the key to our future and that no presidential candidate is our savior. Our future, our slavation, our hope is found only in your son, Jesus Christ. I pray earnestly that this great nation returns to that truth.
As you have done so many times before, I pray that you grant America favor to illuminate your truth in the world. Lead us into our future with your hand. Use us as the example of a nation that is surrendered to your will. Instill us with the humility it takes to make a difference. As you say in your word, nations will rise and fall, but your kingdom will reign forever. Help us to fall in line with your will so that we will not fall out of favor in your eyes.
I believe in the greatness of the United States of America. I believe that you have set us apart to be an example in the world of humility before you, trust in you, and reliance upon you. And I believe that if we submit to your will, then you will honor us as we honor you.
Today, God, let us remember who it is that holds our future. Let us rely on you more than any one thing. I thank you for the blessing of living in this country. And I thank you for the grace that you have granted us these 236 years. Lord, grant us your favor once again as we return to relying on you.
In Jesus Christ's name,
Amen
As our nation prepares to elect our next President, I come to you with humility. I pray that over the course of today, you would guide us with your wisdom and direction. We know, God, that no political party holds the key to our future and that no presidential candidate is our savior. Our future, our slavation, our hope is found only in your son, Jesus Christ. I pray earnestly that this great nation returns to that truth.
As you have done so many times before, I pray that you grant America favor to illuminate your truth in the world. Lead us into our future with your hand. Use us as the example of a nation that is surrendered to your will. Instill us with the humility it takes to make a difference. As you say in your word, nations will rise and fall, but your kingdom will reign forever. Help us to fall in line with your will so that we will not fall out of favor in your eyes.
I believe in the greatness of the United States of America. I believe that you have set us apart to be an example in the world of humility before you, trust in you, and reliance upon you. And I believe that if we submit to your will, then you will honor us as we honor you.
Today, God, let us remember who it is that holds our future. Let us rely on you more than any one thing. I thank you for the blessing of living in this country. And I thank you for the grace that you have granted us these 236 years. Lord, grant us your favor once again as we return to relying on you.
In Jesus Christ's name,
Amen
October 11, 2012
The Call That Joe Made
Say what you want to about the Yankees, but you can’t deny
it…last night’s come-from-behind, bottom-of-the-twelfth-inning win is the stuff
dreams are made of.
It doesn’t matter what “they” think or say.
Joe Girardi made a call based on leadership. Flat out. If that call hadn’t worked, he would have been blasted by the media, fans, everyone. But he didn’t care about what might happen. He only focused on what he knew COULD happen. There’s a massive difference. As he said in his post-game press conference, "You have to make some decisions sometimes that are tough decisions." And leaders make them, despite what the crowd thinks or says.
In the heat of battle, the most important thing is focus.
The Yankees won last night (and will hopefully go on to win it all) because their leader kept the focus and did what needed to be done to move forward. It’s something I have an opportunity to witness every day with my Pastor. And last night, it was played out on the baseball diamond in front of millions. Focus on the greater goal is more crucial than pandering to someone’s (or millions of someone's) feelings.
When you lead the right way, even the greats will follow.
When Girardi made the call to bench A-Rod, he didn’t give a dissertation. He simply said, “This is what we’re doing.” Most athletes of A-Rod’s stature would have responded differently than #13 did. But when Joe made the call, there wasn’t any pouting or yelling or temper tantrums. It was, quite literally, “You've got to do exactly what you've got to do.” And when that ball sailed over the wall to win the game, no one cheered louder than the man who had to take a back seat. Why? Because he trusts the leadership of his manager. And because Joe Girardi has crystal clear focus for where the organization needs to go.
The Yankees were down 2-1 entering
the bottom of the ninth in a pivotal ALDS Game 3. Win and they go up 2-1 in the
series, on the verge of moving on. Lose and they’re on the brink of post-season
disaster.
In that moment, Joe Girardi made what
history books will call one of the greatest, certainly one of the gustiest, calls
any manager has made. He benched his DH (a perennial all-star, a gold glove winner,
a man who’s hit 647 career homers and 1,950 career RBIs) and went with a 40-year-old
useable player who “they” said should never have been on the roster in the first place.
But today, Girardi’s call is being
praised. Now, “they” say it was genius. It was baseball wizardry. But I think
it was something much deeper…and it reaffirmed some realities that apply to so
much more than the baseball diamond.
It doesn’t matter what “they” think or say.
Joe Girardi made a call based on leadership. Flat out. If that call hadn’t worked, he would have been blasted by the media, fans, everyone. But he didn’t care about what might happen. He only focused on what he knew COULD happen. There’s a massive difference. As he said in his post-game press conference, "You have to make some decisions sometimes that are tough decisions." And leaders make them, despite what the crowd thinks or says.
In the heat of battle, the most important thing is focus.
The Yankees won last night (and will hopefully go on to win it all) because their leader kept the focus and did what needed to be done to move forward. It’s something I have an opportunity to witness every day with my Pastor. And last night, it was played out on the baseball diamond in front of millions. Focus on the greater goal is more crucial than pandering to someone’s (or millions of someone's) feelings.
When you lead the right way, even the greats will follow.
When Girardi made the call to bench A-Rod, he didn’t give a dissertation. He simply said, “This is what we’re doing.” Most athletes of A-Rod’s stature would have responded differently than #13 did. But when Joe made the call, there wasn’t any pouting or yelling or temper tantrums. It was, quite literally, “You've got to do exactly what you've got to do.” And when that ball sailed over the wall to win the game, no one cheered louder than the man who had to take a back seat. Why? Because he trusts the leadership of his manager. And because Joe Girardi has crystal clear focus for where the organization needs to go.
Let me say this: I don’t know Joe Girardi. As a lifelong
Yankees fan, I watched him play ball when I was a kid (I remember the perfect
game he caught for Doc Gooden.) I’ve cheered through every World Series he’s
won (both as a player and a manager). And I would love the chance to meet him.
But I don’t know him. I don’t know what was really going on in his head. But
what I do know is that we can all learn from that call and from that man…Joe.
August 10, 2012
Beyond the battlefield...
Over the past week, I had the honor of helping to host several
families of fallen Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen. And as cliché as it
sounds, it is a week I will never forget as long as I live—I know the same is
true for those who helped this week as well.
My church, Fellowship Church, and America’s Mighty Warriors teamed up to give these men, women and children a week of rest and comfort at Allaso Ranch.
“Gold Star families” is what we categorize them as. But the reality is that “Gold Star” sounds like some kind of prize. Teachers give gold stars to little children when they color inside the lines or do all their math problems without mistakes. These families didn’t win a prize. And what they have done deserves so much more than a gold star. They made a great—scratch that—THE greatest sacrifice anyone can make.
In John 15:13 Jesus says, “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
I think when we read that, we immediately picture the young man running boldly into the line of fire in order to save those he knows and loves. And that’s true. If you know me, you know my heart for those who serve in our military. There are no words to explain my love, honor, and respect for them. But the reality is that the sacrifice made on the battlefield extends far beyond the battlefield.
When that military man or woman is sacrificed in the name of something greater than themselves, when they breathe their last in defense of the freedom you and I enjoy every day, their loved ones left behind are only beginning to make their sacrifices.
They have to wake up each day missing someone they loved dearly. Sons and daughters—some so young they can’t remember mom or dad—have to go through life without those shoulders to lean or arms to hide in. Wives go to bed and wake up, longing to hold the one man they had in their lives who gave them security and a sense of belonging. Husbands have to wonder what might have been 10, 20 years from now if she just would have made it home. So sacrifice? Yes, the families know all too well what that is like.
Cliché or not—that’s something that should never be forgotten. Wipe politics aside. Put your stance on war on the backburner. Because in the face of such a sacrifice, nothing matters but supporting these families, letting them know we appreciate what they have done (in tangible ways), and assuring them that they will never, ever be forgotten. I saw that happen this week.
One of the highlights was when Texas Governor Rick Perry made a visit to these families. It wasn’t a political move. I know that because his team didn’t actively pursue press to cover the event (they didn’t even care if there was any press). I know that because I watched him interact with them. I know that because I saw the tears in his eyes as he spoke with these families and spent time with these kids. Governor Rick Perry simply wanted to personally thank these people. And it wasn’t a quick stop either. As he sat down to breakfast, he called his aide over and said, “Clear my morning. I’m staying here.”
It’s hard to put into words what this past week meant. The people I met, the conversations I had, the hands I grasped, the smiles I saw, the stories and laughs I heard, and the hugs I had on the last day—everything pointed to the reality that God has these people firmly in His arms.
My pastors and my church have a heart not only to say we follow Jesus, but also to put that into action. This week was no different in that respect than any other day at Fellowship. We are constantly reaching, moving, doing things to show the love of Christ. This week simply provided another opportunity to shine the light and love of Christ on people who desperately need to know it is there.
So I want to say thank you. Not just to the families who allowed us to serve them, but to the people who made it all happen. Thank you, Ed and Lisa. Thank you, Fellowship Church and Allaso Ranch. Thank you Debbie Lee and America’s Mighty Warriors. Thank you Governor Perry for showing us what a true patriot is. And thank you to each volunteer who took time out of their week to serve these families.
To each of you…your heart, your passion, your drive and your love go beyond anything I could ever fathom. I am honored to know you. I’m blessed to serve with you. And I cannot wait to see what is next in the journey!
My church, Fellowship Church, and America’s Mighty Warriors teamed up to give these men, women and children a week of rest and comfort at Allaso Ranch.
“Gold Star families” is what we categorize them as. But the reality is that “Gold Star” sounds like some kind of prize. Teachers give gold stars to little children when they color inside the lines or do all their math problems without mistakes. These families didn’t win a prize. And what they have done deserves so much more than a gold star. They made a great—scratch that—THE greatest sacrifice anyone can make.
In John 15:13 Jesus says, “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
I think when we read that, we immediately picture the young man running boldly into the line of fire in order to save those he knows and loves. And that’s true. If you know me, you know my heart for those who serve in our military. There are no words to explain my love, honor, and respect for them. But the reality is that the sacrifice made on the battlefield extends far beyond the battlefield.
When that military man or woman is sacrificed in the name of something greater than themselves, when they breathe their last in defense of the freedom you and I enjoy every day, their loved ones left behind are only beginning to make their sacrifices.
They have to wake up each day missing someone they loved dearly. Sons and daughters—some so young they can’t remember mom or dad—have to go through life without those shoulders to lean or arms to hide in. Wives go to bed and wake up, longing to hold the one man they had in their lives who gave them security and a sense of belonging. Husbands have to wonder what might have been 10, 20 years from now if she just would have made it home. So sacrifice? Yes, the families know all too well what that is like.
Cliché or not—that’s something that should never be forgotten. Wipe politics aside. Put your stance on war on the backburner. Because in the face of such a sacrifice, nothing matters but supporting these families, letting them know we appreciate what they have done (in tangible ways), and assuring them that they will never, ever be forgotten. I saw that happen this week.
One of the highlights was when Texas Governor Rick Perry made a visit to these families. It wasn’t a political move. I know that because his team didn’t actively pursue press to cover the event (they didn’t even care if there was any press). I know that because I watched him interact with them. I know that because I saw the tears in his eyes as he spoke with these families and spent time with these kids. Governor Rick Perry simply wanted to personally thank these people. And it wasn’t a quick stop either. As he sat down to breakfast, he called his aide over and said, “Clear my morning. I’m staying here.”
It’s hard to put into words what this past week meant. The people I met, the conversations I had, the hands I grasped, the smiles I saw, the stories and laughs I heard, and the hugs I had on the last day—everything pointed to the reality that God has these people firmly in His arms.
My pastors and my church have a heart not only to say we follow Jesus, but also to put that into action. This week was no different in that respect than any other day at Fellowship. We are constantly reaching, moving, doing things to show the love of Christ. This week simply provided another opportunity to shine the light and love of Christ on people who desperately need to know it is there.
So I want to say thank you. Not just to the families who allowed us to serve them, but to the people who made it all happen. Thank you, Ed and Lisa. Thank you, Fellowship Church and Allaso Ranch. Thank you Debbie Lee and America’s Mighty Warriors. Thank you Governor Perry for showing us what a true patriot is. And thank you to each volunteer who took time out of their week to serve these families.
To each of you…your heart, your passion, your drive and your love go beyond anything I could ever fathom. I am honored to know you. I’m blessed to serve with you. And I cannot wait to see what is next in the journey!
May 25, 2012
April 7, 2012
The Silence of the Empty Tomb
In the silence of the empty tomb the wind rushes past an opening that leads to a place where where my Savior once lay, torn and tattered, bruised and beaten—dead.
His blood clotted and pooled on the ground that He once strode boldly over, carrying a message that was born in a lowly shepherd’s village and established in a humble barnyard manger.
But that message eventually erupted in shouts of joy and praise before the crowds of Jerusalem and ultimately threatened an entire religious system by bringing a new hope, not only for the righteous but for all mankind.
He claimed they could be saved from death, healed from brokenness, freed from the pit and forgiven of the sins, the very sins that forced Him to the cross to be nailed to the beam.
The soldiers knew no better, for they were simply doing the job they were called to do. And while He called out to God, some stood by and laughed and mocked. But others of them knew...
Though this man was suspended in the air and cried out in terror and pain and would soon be dead, the story wasn't over. They knew...they believed...He would soon burst forth from the grave and then all that would be left behind would be the silence of the empty tomb...
His blood clotted and pooled on the ground that He once strode boldly over, carrying a message that was born in a lowly shepherd’s village and established in a humble barnyard manger.
But that message eventually erupted in shouts of joy and praise before the crowds of Jerusalem and ultimately threatened an entire religious system by bringing a new hope, not only for the righteous but for all mankind.
He claimed they could be saved from death, healed from brokenness, freed from the pit and forgiven of the sins, the very sins that forced Him to the cross to be nailed to the beam.
The soldiers knew no better, for they were simply doing the job they were called to do. And while He called out to God, some stood by and laughed and mocked. But others of them knew...
Though this man was suspended in the air and cried out in terror and pain and would soon be dead, the story wasn't over. They knew...they believed...He would soon burst forth from the grave and then all that would be left behind would be the silence of the empty tomb...
February 21, 2012
Fiercely Loyal
At the end of our conversation, he looked at me dead in the eye and said, “One last thing that you must always remember…be fiercely loyal.”
Of everything spoken, shared and experienced during C3 2012, those last three words resonated the most within my soul. It was like God put this former army officer and current senior pastor in my path to remind me of what it means to be called to serve at Fellowship Church. It wasn't like I didn't already believe it or work to be it. It was just good to hear my call put so succinctly from another senior leader.
For all of us who are called to serve here, that is what we must be. The reality, as we learned this week at C3, is that our senior leaders, Ed and Lisa Young, have a heavy mantle to carry. They carry it willingly. They carry it boldly. But we must not allow them to carry it individually.
What does it mean to be fiercely loyal? Being fiercely demands action. Being fiercely loyal requires a willingness to do anything, everything or nothing. You want a picture of that? Read 2 Samuel 23:13-17. David’s men were willing to go anywhere and do anything.
As we take off on this amazing trajectory from C3 and look to advance the kingdom of God in the coming year, ask yourself a powerful question: How far am I willing to go?
If you were to walk up to a United States Marine and ask him what he is trained to do, the first answer you will get is, “I’m trained to kill.” It doesn’t matter if he’s a tank operator, radioman, cook, or sniper; a Marine is trained first to kill. Everything else is secondary.
If someone walks up to you and asks you what you do at Fellowship Church, your first answer should be, “I support and defend the vision of this church and my Pastors.” Everything else is secondary. Because they carry the vision. And without them; without that vision, the people (and the church) will perish.
I’m not saying that our Pastors are God. But they are placed here by God. And so are you. Your job is to be fiercely loyal to that.
That means when you have a chance to speak up and defend them, speak up and defend them. If you have a chance to contribute to the cause, contribute to the cause. If you have a chance to build up the church, build up the church. If you are called to go the extra mile, go the extra mile.
We are an army (well…we’re more like the Marine Corps). We stand side by side and defend what God has given us and advance to take what God has ahead for us. Never forget that. Never grow apathetic towards that, because what God is doing here is not normal. It's supernatural. And because of that, you must never allow yourself to be anything but fiercely loyal.
Of everything spoken, shared and experienced during C3 2012, those last three words resonated the most within my soul. It was like God put this former army officer and current senior pastor in my path to remind me of what it means to be called to serve at Fellowship Church. It wasn't like I didn't already believe it or work to be it. It was just good to hear my call put so succinctly from another senior leader.
Be fiercely loyal.
For all of us who are called to serve here, that is what we must be. The reality, as we learned this week at C3, is that our senior leaders, Ed and Lisa Young, have a heavy mantle to carry. They carry it willingly. They carry it boldly. But we must not allow them to carry it individually.
What does it mean to be fiercely loyal? Being fiercely demands action. Being fiercely loyal requires a willingness to do anything, everything or nothing. You want a picture of that? Read 2 Samuel 23:13-17. David’s men were willing to go anywhere and do anything.
As we take off on this amazing trajectory from C3 and look to advance the kingdom of God in the coming year, ask yourself a powerful question: How far am I willing to go?
If you were to walk up to a United States Marine and ask him what he is trained to do, the first answer you will get is, “I’m trained to kill.” It doesn’t matter if he’s a tank operator, radioman, cook, or sniper; a Marine is trained first to kill. Everything else is secondary.
If someone walks up to you and asks you what you do at Fellowship Church, your first answer should be, “I support and defend the vision of this church and my Pastors.” Everything else is secondary. Because they carry the vision. And without them; without that vision, the people (and the church) will perish.
I’m not saying that our Pastors are God. But they are placed here by God. And so are you. Your job is to be fiercely loyal to that.
That means when you have a chance to speak up and defend them, speak up and defend them. If you have a chance to contribute to the cause, contribute to the cause. If you have a chance to build up the church, build up the church. If you are called to go the extra mile, go the extra mile.
We are an army (well…we’re more like the Marine Corps). We stand side by side and defend what God has given us and advance to take what God has ahead for us. Never forget that. Never grow apathetic towards that, because what God is doing here is not normal. It's supernatural. And because of that, you must never allow yourself to be anything but fiercely loyal.
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