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!
August 10, 2012
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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