DeGarmo and Key: "I'm Accepted"

 I've been listening to some contemporary Christian music from my youth, and the song by DeGarmo and Key entitled "I'm Accepted" has been especially important to me. The tune is simple, and the lyrics are pretty straightforward. Nonetheless, the reminder that I am accepted by God because of what Jesus has accomplished for fallen humanity is encouraging. 

Jesus always seemed to find himself in the presence of those who the world found "unacceptable." The downtrodden, the oppressed, the overlooked, the marginalized people of the first century were often the very individuals that Jesus engaged. Yes, he also hung out with sinners and what others may consider "the worst of society." 

He wasn't there to judge them, nor was he there to endorse their particular sins or wayward lifestyles. He was there to show them God's love and to point them to the life God desires for all of us. That life is a life of faithful loyalty to a God who has constantly been faithful and loyal to humanity. It is a life of love, compassion, grace, while also encompassing holiness, righteousness, and mercy. Jesus is the example of what God wants humans to be. 

John 1:12-13 says: "But to all who received him, he gave them the authority to become the children of God, to those who trust in his name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of human will, but of God." 

When Jesus is accepted into our lives, we find him giving us the authority to be accepted by God. God loved the world enough to give his one and only Son for our sins (i.e., for our very rebellion against the God who loved us in this manner), so that by trusting in Jesus and by being loyal to follow him we can receive the life God intended for humanity. Jesus loves sinners enough to die for them; Jesus loves the "unacceptable" enough to mingle with them; and Jesus loves us. In that sense we are accepted. 

God's ultimate desire is that we turn away from sin to trust in Jesus' gift to us and then to live loyally as a follower of Jesus. We need to leave a life of rebellion to become faithful followers of Jesus in order to live what God intends for humanity. Will that life always be upbeat, positive, and problem free? No, but it will always be accompanied with the presence of God in Jesus. 

Here is the song that has blessed me recently: 

I may not be rich
Don't wear fashion clothes
Don't live in a mansion
Don't have much that shows
Never won a contest in popularity
Don't have much to offer
But Jesus still loves me

I'm accepted, accepted
I'm accepted by the One who matters most

Never set a record in sports agility
Never was magnetic in personality
That don't really matter
I'll do the best I can
'Cause there's a God above me
Who loves me like I am

I'm accepted, accepted
I'm accepted by the One who matters most

If you think you're a loser
When you fail it seems at everything you do
Just remember there's a Savior
And you are worth enough
He gave His life for you

I'm accepted, accepted
I'm accepted by the One who matters most
I'm accepted, accepted
I'm accepted by the One who matters most
I'm accepted, I'm accepted
I'm accepted by the One who matters most

Thanks for reading! 

Outside Looking In

It wasn’t always this way, at one time you were accepted. You were the “go to” person that people called on for a variety of issues. Party? You were invited. Ministry? You were on the list. People needed help or counseling? You got the call. You were in demand. You were needed, even wanted.

Now, here you stand. Was it raining when you got here, or did it just start? The people inside look so warm and welcome. They seem happy, almost content. They are included.

And here you stand—outside, looking in.

You understand that you aren’t always going to fit. You recognize that you are not every person's “cup of tea.” That really isn’t the issue, is it? The issue is that you seem “left out” or “overlooked” or that you don’t belong.

Outside, looking in.

Are those tears mingling with the rain running down your face?

Where did it go wrong? When did you end up on the no fly list? How did it come to this?

The rain begins to slow down, but now your tears return in earnest. The dreams you had, the sense of a call to something bigger, something better, something more than . . . yet here you stand . . . outside, looking in.

Wiping your face, you turn to go. Loneliness overwhelms you for a moment. Then you see a familiar face.

Is that Jesus? Is He crying too? Why would He cry? Then you notice that His arms are open, reaching for you. Is He reaching to hug you or to receive a hug?

It doesn’t seem to matter as you embrace. You are home. Jesus is outside, looking in with you. No, the problems didn’t all fade away into oblivion, but all of a sudden they don’t seem to overwhelm. You have a friend, and for now that is sufficient.

Yes, sometimes life is hard. Sometimes we are really lonely. We could all get t-shirts that say “Been there, done that.” Finding out you are on the outside, looking in when you thought you were accepted and on the inside can be devastating. Regardless, Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. He is there, and he cares.

May His presence bring you joy even in turmoil. May His embrace remind you that you belong to Him.

I also want you to know that there are others that care. I am one of them. If I can help, please let me know. One step at a time, weary pilgrim, one step at a time. You really are not alone.

Thanks for reading! 

Missing my friend . . . Steve Huisman . . . again

 Hello friends:

Today (June 11) marks the day John Wayne passed away in 1979. As much as I like his movies, there is another man I'd like to honor today. You see, tomorrow will mark 16 years since one of my best friends passed away. Let me explain. My friend's name is Steve Huisman. I thank God for Steve and his memory, but I still miss him. Here is a little post about one of the best friends God ever allowed me to have. I hope it blesses you! 

Sixteen years ago on June 12, Steve Huisman went to be with his Lord. I don't know why his death is heavy on my heart this year, but it just is. I have so many things I want to share with him, so much to ask, and I need his honesty and I miss his advice. I miss Steve more than I can say. Many years ago (shortly after his death), I wrote the following note in memory of Steve. I read it again today and it brought tears to my eyes. I want to share it with you all again as a reminder of how important good friends are. If you have a friend like Steve, call that person today and thank them. If you don't, I pray that God will send you one soon. Here's the post in honor of my friend (written in 2006):

Steve Huisman.

Most of my readers will not recognize that name, although a few may think they know it. 

Steve was a very good friend of mine. In fact, he was one of the best friends I ever had. 

Steve died on June 12, 2006 in a plane crash. He was flying a plane in Florida that encountered some mechanical problems and crash landed on Davis Island. Steve died when the plane hit a home and caught fire. His co-pilot and the one person in the home survived. 

I don't want to dwell on how Steve died. I want to describe how he lived. 

Steve was a man that seemed at times to operate on an almost visceral level of honesty. He was unafraid to admit exactly how he was feeling and what he thought, especially when those thoughts and feelings pertained to his own spiritual status. 

Don't misunderstand me, he was not a negative person. He was just quick to recognize his own fallenness and struggles. And by his honest admission of his fallenness, he elicited from others a confession that often bordered on sacramental. 

Steve was my hero. 

I would never have completed my PhD if not for Steve Huisman. He was working on a correspondence course when he called me one day. He asked how the dissertation was going, and I confessed that I was struggling and didn't think I'd finished. Oh, my lovely wife was gently prodding me, the members of the dissertation committee were doing their part to help me out, but I just was not motivated. 

Steve had a great thought--"Leo, how about we call each other at 6:00 a.m. to update each other on our projects. It will be good for us and provide a source of accountability." 

Promptly at 6:00 the next morning, he called me. 

For about two years after that my early morning conversations with Steve were opportunities to admit my fears and my failures as well as times to rejoice in milestones and accomplishments. He never judged me when I had a bad day or week. He gently encouraged me to press on. He laughed with me when something funny happened, he celebrated with me when things got done. He walked with me, and by being there he pushed me to finish. 

When I graduated with my PhD, I neglected to tell him how much his encouragement had meant to me. Two weeks ago he called me here in VA. He was in FL and just wanted to talk. We talked about an hour about our families, our lives, our Lord. We laughed, we kidded each other, we prayed for each other. He told me that he wanted my wife to speak to his wife. As we were passing the phones, I cleared my throat and said, "Steve, I wanted to tell you how much your friendship means to me. You were God's instrument to help me finish my dissertation. I never adequately thanked you for that." I told him all the great things I loved about him--his acceptance, his honesty, his gentleness even when he corrected me or pushed me to discipline, his gut level love for other people that was evident in my life. I sang his praises, I think I embarrassed him. 

I told him I loved him. 

Little did I know it would be the last time we would talk on this earth. 

Steve went to be with the Lord in that plane crash, but he left an awful lot of good stuff behind. His life is still having an impact on others even though it has ended. His diligence to serve God and others has left the world a better place. His love for his wife and children have instituted a legacy that will no doubt bear great fruit. His ongoing desire to be the best he could be for God's sake continues to motivate those who knew him to a deeper intimacy with God through Christ. 

Steve was not a Bible scholar, but his life exemplified a clear understanding of the biblical call to follow Christ. He was a friend. He was a godly man. I miss him. 

God, how I miss him! 

I hate this fallen world of ours, but I know that it isn't home. Not completely. It is a way station. None of us are on this earth forever. 

I still miss Steve. 41 years is not enough. I only knew him about 13 or so of those years. 

He was a tall drink of water, a missionary kid with a love bigger than the world. He was the kind of guy you could trust to watch your most prized possessions. He had my back, he was my mighty and marvelous comrade. He helped me slay dragons and rescue the oppressed. Now I have to contemplate life without one of my wing men. Steve loved flying only slightly less than he loved God and his family. He loved to be in the air. Someday, I'll look up in the air and see him coming with Christ. It will be the ultimate flight, and it won't surprise me to see Steve enjoying every minute of the flight. 

Death invaded my life again. I can't imagine how his wife and children feel. I feel like I've been punched in the stomach, like I've lost something that cannot be replaced. I can almost hear Steve saying "I'll call you in the morning. You're going to make it! Hang in there!" 

Thanks Steve, for all you gave us. Thanks to God for sharing Steve with us for 41 years. I'm crying now and feeling like I'm rambling, so maybe I better stop. 

Live today like you have no tomorrow. Hug someone special and tell them you love them. Life is fragile, my friends, but God is strong. God is still in control, even though the world seems to spin crazily out of orbit. 

Hang in there! With God's help, we're all going to make it! 

Thanks for reading!

Annual Easter Post: What Did We Expect?

 A few years ago I wrote the note below as I contemplated the days leading up to Easter Sunday. As I read the note earlier this week, I thought it might be worth posting again. I hope it is a blessing to you!

The week before Easter is commonly called "Holy Week" by Christians. During this week we celebrate (is that the right word?) the last week of Jesus' life on earth. People sometimes make pilgrimages to Israel and retrace Jesus' final steps (the Via Dolorosa), they may pause at the "rock of agony" and cry where Jesus cried out to God in Gethsemane, they may go to the pit where Jesus was interrogated, they could pause where Jesus supposedly stumbled under the load of his cross, they could visit and contemplate Golgotha, they may visit the empty tomb, and they will most likely weep and cry and mourn.

Rightfully so . . . this was THE WEEK for which Jesus lived his entire human life, and it was a rough one for him. On Sunday before his crucifixion he entered Jerusalem with cheers ringing in his ears. The (usually fickle) populace embraced him for all the great miracles he performed, and they hailed his coming as though a conquering warrior had entered the city. Like paparazzi following a Hollywood star, they trailed behind this carpenter from Nazareth and looked for ways to become part of his entourage or to at least get a "piece of the action" as Jesus came to town.

Some of these same folks will probably yell "Crucify him!" in just a few days, by the way.

When Jesus offered them something tangible to grab, they wanted to be a team player, they wanted the fishes and loaves, the healings, the wonders, the mighty signs.

How soon their tune would change . . . how quickly they would turn on the one who was innocent of any sin except the failure to live up to THEIR expectations.

How like them we are today . . .

When things are going our way, we look to heaven and sing God's praises. We celebrate and sing and run to join the band as God rides triumphantly over all our "enemies." But as soon as Jesus fails to live up to OUR expectations, what do we do?

I know the spiritual answer--"though he slay me yet I will praise him."

Do we really? Will we? Will I?

I'm struck with how Jesus routinely challenged the popular expectations of the crowds who showed up hoping for another demonstration of heavenly power and flash. In John 12, just after the people have celebrated his "triumphal entry," Jesus tells them that the way to jump on his bandwagon is for his followers to hate their lives in this world. Just think how that must have sounded to the celebrants rejoicing in the coming of their conquering hero!

"You want to be a part of my movement, a part of my thing?" Jesus asks, "Then you will have to regard your life in this world as a dead man would. You have to become the least, the slave, the dead one, in order to get in on my movement."

Come and die.

What an invitation!

Of course, Jesus knew that in just a few days he would literally fulfill that invitation. The innocent would die for the unquestionably guilty . . . and he would die horribly.

I can just imagine how this conversation must have put a damper on the celebration in Jerusalem. Jesus took a party and turned it into a wake. The next thing we know he is engaged in theological discussions with the people and with the Jewish leaders. He created a controversy that caused folks to take sides. All he had to do was accept the adulation and promise to "win the war that must be won," but Jesus decided to go against expectations again. He decided to allow God to get the glory through humility and death.

Hasn't this happened to us? Just when we think we have God's agenda all spelled out like it ought to be, He throws us a curve ball that reminds us we aren't in charge! We have a hard time "boxing Jesus" into a neat package.

What's the point then? The point is that we should reverse the procedure. Instead of putting expectations on God, we should look for HIS expectations for us. What has He required of us? What does He want? How should we respond to His voice?

The week of Easter we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. In the process maybe we should participate in a funeral of our own. Maybe we should let die our selfish expectations about how God "ought" to act towards us. Bury them, and let God resurrect them in His image.

As we contemplate the price of our salvation, let us willingly become slaves to the one who has paid such a price to purchase our freedom. Like Jesus, let our prayer be "Father glorify your name." Remember, if a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it will yield much fruit. It is, however, pretty useless in a bag with other seeds. Let's allow God to plant us where he wants so that our service can produce fruit for his glory. Let's follow our crucified Lord by living cruciform lives.

What would the world look like if we did?

I'd really like to find out!

Thanks for reading!

A Meditation for the Week of the Resurrection: The Sacrament of Life

 I don't have a lot to say today, and I'd rather let two authors whose writings I respect speak for me. I want to say, however, that I have been thinking a bit today about how life is sacramental--how all that we experience can be full of the holy awesomeness that is God. Remember, Jeremiah said that God's mercies were new every morning, just like the morning dew. Today can be full of the sort of radical presence of God as to overwhelm us. In 1999, Ray Bradbury gave the following view of life:

"It is neither all beautiful nor all terrible, but a wash of multitudinous despairs and exhilarations about which we know nothing. Our history is so small, our experience so limited, our science so inadequate, our theologies so crammed in mere matchboxes, that we know we stand on the outer edge of a beginning and our greatest history lies before us, frightening and lovely, much darkness and much life."

This description of life sees our existence as awe inspiring and frightening, and such it is on many occasions. Storms come and blow and bluster against us, threatening to undo not only our homes, but our very lives. As Bradbury said, life can be frightening and lovely at the same time. For the child of God, however, life has a more sacramental flavor. Oh, we may not "feel" it every day, but the truth is (as some Christians have said) Jesus' very life has in some sense sanctified the mundane daily experiences of human life. His birth sanctified the birth process, his childhood sanctified childhood, yes, even his teen years consecrated those experiences in our own lives. As Frederick Buechner said:

"[C]hurch isn’t the only place where the holy happens. Sacramental moments can occur at any moment, any place, to anybody. Watching something getting born. A high school graduation. Somebody coming to see you when you’re sick. A meal with people you love. Looking into a stranger’s eyes and finding out he’s not really a stranger. If we weren’t blind as bats, we might see that life itself is sacramental." From Wishful Thinking.

I like that last part--"if we weren't blind as bats, we might see that life itself is sacramental." Recently God spoke to me in a silent moment, and today I seem to hear his voice in the mundane. As Paul reminds us in Romans, God's very nature and character are obvious to us in nature, but of course we must take the time to look and listen. We ignore the very evidence that surrounds us, we brush it aside and pretend it isn't there. We make an idol of that which is natural and wonder why it doesn't save us in our time of weakness and great need.

God often speaks in the simple things of life--celebrating a birthday, playing with children, caring for our animal friends, petting a cat and hearing his gentle purring, watching mindless cartoons and hearing the voice of God in laughter.

God is here, and he is not silent. He speaks, sometimes in whispers, sometimes in screams, but as he speaks he changes our lives; no, that's not right, he changes us. We become a type of living embodiment of the grace of God. Our lives become (in a sense) sacramental. As Messiah invades our existence, his sanctifying grace creates holy places in our simple lives. Our lives become his, and by being intertwined with him we find something beyond ourselves.

Life is sacramental and sacred. Don't take it for granted.

Enjoy the sacramental wine of your life, drink deeply from the grace of God in the everyday.

You won't be sorry.

Thanks for reading!

Going Sane in a Crazy World: Finding Rest when things Fall Apart

 Recently I preached a sermon at Forest Community Church in Virginia that was a repeat of a similar sermon from almost 10 years ago. I thought some of the ideas needed to be repeated, and I know that I needed to hear them. If you'd like a recording of the sermon, go here: Going Sane in a Crazy World. I hope this message blesses you! The notes for the sermon are below. 

Going Sane in a Crazy World—Finding Rest When Things Fall Apart

Psalm 46, Matthew 11:28-30

 

The Tick and Arthur: “You aren’t going crazy chum, you’re going sane in a crazy world!”

We live in a crazy world--Economic issues, Crazy political situations, Wars and rumors of wars, Personal Loss

 

Stress is everywhere! And it shows. It shows in our bodies — in our relationships — including our relationship with God.

It's hard to find time for intimacy, because intimacy takes time.

Time is a commodity you wish you could buy, and if you could, you would use it simply to buy peace, quiet, leisure—to do some things you long to do and not have to do them in such a rush. Just having time to think and to have the right atmosphere for thinking would be nice, wouldn't it?

There will always be tension to life. But it needs to be a healthy, creative tension, not life-sapping stress. Marriages, families, and personal lives are falling apart as stressed-out people run away, withdraw, explode, crash, burn out—and eventually find themselves so very much alone. I believe a major cause for our stress is that we react rather than act. We're all moving so quickly that we don't stop and consider our future. What will it demand of us? What will it cost? Are we willing to pay the price?

We simply move. We react to the immediate. I know it's an area where I really do battle. I want to do everything. I have so many ideas and I love the excitement and challenge of a new venture — the potential — the "project." So I react in the moment. I say "yes" when I should probably say "no"— forgetting that my time is already allotted to other things. We react in the flesh instead of acting under the Holy Spirit's control. You see, God knows our situations, he knows our issues and pressures. He knows our conflicts. And He has made provision for each and every one of them. And that provision is God himself in the person and presence of the Holy Spirit, indwelling us and empowering us to respond rightly.

This liberating response is wrapped up in the gift of a person--Jesus our Messiah. We need his promised rest. This idea is found explicitly discussed in Psalm 46. Today I want to consider this Psalm with you in thinking through how we can go sane in a crazy world. 

 

Going Sane in a Crazy World—Psalm 46:  The Frame is God’s Presence (v. 1) and our Position (v. 10): When God seems silent, be still and know his presence (Jesus says, “Come to Me”); When the world turns against us, be still and know his power (Jesus says, “Take my yoke, learn from me”); When things get hectic, be still and know him  (His yoke is easy and his burden is light); Going Sane means to Rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

 

When God Seems Silent: Be Still and Know His Presence (Be With Him) 

Psalm 46:1-3:  When life goes crazy, where is sanity?  Where is rest?  Where is God? In what way is God a refuge when life is in tatters?

C. S. Lewis—A Grief Observed

“Where is God?  When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing Him, so happy that you are tempted to feel His claims upon you as an interruption, if you remember yourself and turn to Him with gratitude and praise, you will be -- or so it feels -- welcomed with open arms.  But to go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find?  A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside.  After that, silence.  You may as well turn away.  The longer you wait, the more emphatic the silence will become. . . . What can this mean? Why is God so present a commander in our time of prosperity and so very absent a help in times of trouble?”

God’s presence has not changed, yet we seem to be unable to access it. God seems distant, or at least a bit unconcerned. Our world is shattered, where is the glue to hold us together? Why are we experiencing the apparent Absence of God?

Be still and know his presence.

 

When God Seems Silent

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus commands us to come to him. Who should come?  All who are weary or heavy burdened; All who think that their lives are over; All who think God has turned his back on them; All who face the awful silence of others and even God.

His promise is to give rest. He doesn’t promise results. He doesn’t even promise a “word from God.”

He promises “rest.”

Rest is a relief from hardship, pain, distress, and turmoil. It is the presence of Messiah in our hard times. 

Come to him and find rest.

 

Col. 1:15-17:  Jesus is the glue that holds reality together. 

The Psalmist calls us to put our trust in God who holds all things together. The words “refuge” and “strength” speak of God’s security and power. Our security is not in the ground beneath our feet; God is our ultimate unshakeable reality and the greatest power of all. Just because I don’t see the sun that doesn’t mean it ceases to exist.

When life gets hard, we need to stand still, to desist, to stop striving and to dwell on his presence. We need Jesus’ rest. God is omnipresent, he has gone nowhere.

Be quiet and listen

Psalm 91:7

Be still and know his presence.

 

When the World Turns Against Us: Be Still and Take His Yoke (Be His--He gives Power)

Psalm 46:4-7:  God is with his beloved Jerusalem

2 Corinthians 4:7-10—Jars of Clay

We are not exempt from hardships, difficulties, and bad emotions, but we are more than survivors (Romans 8:31-39; especially v. 37). We may be shaken, but we cannot be destroyed. The power by which we live and by which Jerusalem is sustained is the power of God. When things go south, we must learn NOT to rely on our abilities. Our power MUST come from a higher source.

God is There, and He is Able.

Be still and know his power.

 

In Matthew 11:29-30, Jesus gives two more commands:  “Take my yoke” and “learn from me”. Jesus doesn’t think that rest is sitting still necessarily. This is a work in progress, it is still work. Yoke is what oxen wore. You often put an untrained ox with an older ox in order to help it learn. The yokes were specifically fit to the oxen. So it is with us, Jesus prepares us for the work he has in this world by fitting our yoke just to us, joining us in the yoke, and teaching us how to work—That is Rest!

Jesus’ humility and gentleness in teaching us gives us rest. As we learn to rely on the humble Messiah, we find rest.

Rest in his yoke, learn of his power.

 

When Things Get Hectic: Be Still and Know Him (Position--Be Still) 

Psalm 46:8-11

God's Word to us when we're on the ragged edge of reality:  Be Still, Desist, Cease striving, Stop Struggling, Rest. Psalm 46:10 says to "Be still," which may mean “rest.” It means to "let your arms down to your side"—to be vulnerable to God. God also says to "know that I am God." He calls for a cognitive and a personal response. We cease striving not because we know how it's going to work out, but because we know the God who will work it out.

C. S. Lewis, A Grief Observed (continued)

"I have gradually been coming to feel that the door is no longer shut and bolted. Was it my own frantic need that slammed it in my face? The time when nothing at all in your soul except a cry for help may be just the time when God can’t give it; you are like the drowning man who can’t be helped because he clutches and grabs. Perhaps your own reiterated cries deafen you to the voice you hoped to hear." 

 

Come to the Jesus, whose humility led him to die for you. Wear his yoke, do only his work. Do not look around at what everyone else is doing (This is Peter’s at the end of John). Keep his easy yoke and light burden as your protection. Only do those things God has placed on the yoke you share with Jesus.

Remember, he gives rest while he helps bear our load.

All kinds of things may be going wrong, but God remains unmoved and unchanged. He is constant, he is there, he is not silent, he has not moved. To know him is to know security even in the most hectic time. To know him requires time and stillness. We must sit with him, spend time with him, learn from him. We need lap time with our Father. We need to unravel, to experience Selah. His presence is ours, our position is to be still with him.

Be still and know him.

 

Now What?

So, life is going crazy.

How do we go sane in a crazy world?

How can we find firmness when things seem unsound?

We must begin with a proper focus. Whatever consumes our attention soon overwhelms our senses and colors our perspective. Instead of being consumed by the problem, we should turn our face to the Lord

This week we must schedule time with God. We must stand still on God’s firmness and stability. We must learn to quit striving, to cease kicking, to be still and to be vulnerable to what God may be doing. We must embrace God as our sole refuge, as our primary source of satisfaction.

This week find ways to create a space of peace in your hectic schedule. Take time to sit still.

This week, when the bottom falls out, when God seems silent, when the world turns against you, when things get hectic.

Be still, and know God’s power, presence, and person.

And you’ll find that he is a genuine refuge in time of trouble.

A Meditation on Psalm 30:5--God is There

 Psalm 30:5b “Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.”

We want God to fit the narrow confines of our personal preferences for him, we want him to sit in the corner until we need him (cf. Mark 4:38). But that is not the God of the Bible: He hears the oppressed cry out and sends an amazing deliverance that ruins Egypt (Exodus 2:23-25); he sees a woman struggling with life and relationships and sits by a well to talk theology with her (John 4:7-26); he sees an educated man curious about God's ways and astounds him with ideas from above (John 3:1-15); he meets a shepherd in a bush that burns but isn't destroyed (Exodus 3:1-6); he meets a persecutor/oppressor on the road with a brilliant light and vision (Acts 9:1-6); he comes to scared people at dinner and speaks peace to them (John 20:19-23); he naps on a boat assailed by a storm and when awakened cares for the needs of the alarmed sailors (Mark 4:35-41).

Jesus had a knack for seeing what others often ignored. The overlooked and often dispossessed were the very people with whom Jesus regularly visited and for whom Jesus still cares. Are we feeling invisible? Are we feeling ignored? There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. . . and we are called to imitate him.

He is the God who suffers . . . he is not so aloof as to fail to understand our suffering. No matter how dark our Gethsemane, the Light of the world is there. He suffered outside the city, alone, forgotten, with a sense of utter abandonment . . . and he knows. He knows we are weary, he knows we are "fed up," he knows we are lower than we have ever been . . . and he cares. Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning. May the God of peace soon crush Satan beneath our feet . . . (Romans 16:20)

Thanks for reading! 

God sees the Invisible

 

Matthew 6:6b, 18b “And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Here is an encouragement for those who think that they are invisible. You think others are advancing as you seem to move to the back. You also feel like your best efforts result in little real impact for the benefit of others (much less yourself!). The question is simple: do you really see the whole picture, or are you looking at a very narrow part of a larger panoramic scene?

Your focus may be too narrow. Sure, you don't get the spotlight or the accolades; that may be true. Yes, it may seem like no one notices when you actually accomplish something that helps. Here's the truth: "Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." God sees, and God knows.

Some of us see it too, and we are encouraged by your willingness to be faithful in spite of the lack of acknowledgment or applause. You are an encouragement to us. God is using you, sometimes in ways you can't quite see. The picture is bigger than you imagine, and your often unacknowledged actions play a larger role than you can see.

Continue to seek first God's kingdom, to remain faithful to his call, and it will be enough. God sees you. Thank you for being an encouragement today, faithful (but often weary) pilgrim! Faithfulness matters. 

Thank you for reading! 

Advent 2021: My Annual Christmas Post--The Mystery of Christmas

 Hello everyone:

I started this blog many years ago, and every year since I have posted a piece I wrote around Christmas in 2003. It kind of sums up for me what is the "Mystery of Christmas" as I meditate on the Incarnation and its implications for humanity (and perhaps for God as well!). The very idea of God becoming "one of us among us" (Immanuel) still fascinates and overwhelms me. 

God, the creator of all things, humbled himself, became of no reputation, and entered his own creation so as to renew and to redeem and to rescue us (and, ultimately, to do these things for all of creation as well). God, the Creator of all things, became flesh so that he might accomplish the plan to make his grace and glory known in humans and in all of creation. 

The One who had no beginning would now have a birthday. The creator would now be like the creature. The One who never knew death would die for sinners. The God who never knew sin would become sin for us. He would break the power of sin, condemn sin in his own flesh, and provide for all of us the rescue we need to become the people God always intended us to be. 

What amazing love! Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! As you celebrate the advent of our King, Jesus the Messiah, I hope you enjoy this rerun. Feel free to make comments if you'd like.

A little over 2000 years ago, a tiny child was born in some pretty bleak conditions. Oh, he wasn’t the only one born in less than optimal conditions. In fact, in some ways, he was one of the lucky ones. He and his mother actually survived childbirth. Still, this story is unique and amazing on several levels.

First, the life of this child would literally change the way time is reckoned in the world. His life and abilities would have such an impact on generations of others that a brand new movement would be created, one that would radically change the very face of the earth (sometimes for good, sometimes not so much). His name would become recognized among the names of the greatest of humans, yet he never forgot his own humble beginnings or lost a sense of who he was.

The second thing about this child is tied to the first in that this baby, this helpless lad full of spittle and mush, was born as the very Son of God. When Mary held his little head to her breast, he drank human milk. Yet, he was (and is) the God of the universe. Can you picture this simply ridiculous yet somehow poetic scene? God, who calls the stars by name, pressed to the human breast for sustenance. Humble yet awesome, this is how some folks would no doubt recall this child.

A little over 2000 years ago, God proposed that the only remedy for the human condition of sin would be if he humbled himself, stepped out of eternity and into human flesh, and suckled at Mary’s breast in preparation for the greatest, most impressive conversion of all. God, in Mary’s arms, toddling around Joseph’s home, learning to talk, learning to walk, tasting food, and touching things with human hands! As the Psalmist says in Psalm 139, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for us, we cannot attain to it!”

God knew that the only way to redeem us was if he did it himself. Haven’t you ever had that thought? You know, the one where you say, “If I want something done right, I’ll just have to do it myself?” Imagine God having that thought about bringing us to proper relationship with him. Imagine again that the only way he knew he could do that is if he came to earth as a baby. Think of it—-how vulnerable the almighty God was at that moment, how paradoxical that the God of all creation had to learn to walk! And why did he put himself in this situation? Out of his divine sense of justice and righteousness and mercy, out of his incredible love for humanity he acted in this manner.

God humbled himself, even to the point of death on a cross! The living God, incarnate as the Word, would know what it means to die. In one sense, he took on our insanity so that we may be sane. He became flesh so that we might walk in his Spirit. He took our sin so that we might be righteous. He became poor so that we might be rich. He who had the reputation of Creator became a humble servant with no reputation. He became a toddling, dribbling, helpless babe so that we could become mature humans in the image of the almighty Son of God. What wondrous love! What humility and service! How then can anything he asks of us be too difficult?

Father, during this Christmas season, remind us of your sacrifice and love so that we might be a light shining in darkness to others. Teach us to live a life of humble service like your Son did on our behalf so many years ago. As we celebrate the babe in the manger, may the glory he revealed in his life shine through us towards others that they may know God. May the grace of God and the peace of Christ rule in our families and our lives. Amen. 

Thanks for reading! Remember, God became one of us to reach us. He served humbly, what more can he ask of us? To love one another calls for humble service. It is enough.

Merry Christmas!  May you know the blessings of the God who humbled himself and served! 

Advent 2021: No Reputation--A Christmas Gift

 A few years ago I posted this little meditation on Christmas, and as I read through it today I realized that I needed to hear it again.  It is easy in our society today to be a bit too full of ourselves, to think a bit more highly of ourselves than we ought,  . . . but I am quickly coming to the conclusion that that is not the Spirit of Christmas, and it certainly was NOT the Spirit of Christ.  Bear with me, if you will, while I contemplate what it means to have no reputation as a follower of Christ.  

Philippians 2:5-8 HCSB

"Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.  Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-- even to death on a cross."

This passage may not usually be associated with Christmas, but it describes in a straightforward manner the Incarnation of God in Jesus the Messiah. Look closely at the passage above, then read the quote from The Jesus Style by Gayle D. Erwin below.

“Christ Jesus . . . made himself nothing.

 “He made himself nothing, he emptied himself—-the great kenosis. He made himself no reputation, no image.

 “I can recall my father shaking his head and repeating over and over to himself, ‘If only I knew what this meant. There is something powerful here. If I only understood it.’ Maybe that is why this Scripture has glued itself to my mind and equally disturbs me. Reputation is so important to me. I want to be seen with the right people, remembered in the right light, advertised with my name spelled right, live in the right neighborhood, drive the right kind of car, wear the right kind of clothing. But Jesus made himself of no reputation.”

Christmas means lots of things to lots of different people.

For some it becomes a political event that pits “the true meaning of Christmas” against a bias against religion. For others Christmas is just another time to visit families and to pretend to get along with each other. For others Christmas is a season that involves incredible profits (or expenses) and lots of activities. For still others Christmas is simply a winter break, a time to regroup for a new year.

I know I’ve left some groups out in that all-too-brief description! One group is comprised of those who see Christmas as the celebration of the birth of the world’s Savior and the Incarnation of God. I want to twist the prism a bit and look at Christmas from a slightly different angle.

Almost all of the views above look at Christmas from the perspective of what humans gain from the season. I wonder if we can look at the season as something we can offer to others, a "gift" of sorts. I wonder, can we make a gift of Christmas? Can we this year find a way to give the "spirit" of Christmas to those around us?

Hear me out . . .

This passage from Philippians reminds me that Christmas for Jesus wasn’t about what he would gain.  In fact, he lost just about everything! He left the comfort of his Father’s place; he became a tottering, dribbling little baby; he had to learn to talk, to walk, to eat; he left his riches behind for the starkness of a feeding trough; and ultimately he would even become sin and die for humanity even though he was innocent.  Remember, "dead" and "sin" were two things the Son of God had not experienced before in his eternal existence. 

As Paul says, he made himself of no reputation.

Imagine what Christmas would be like this year if those of us who follow Jesus would do as Paul admonishes here and have this approach to the season. Imagine if we actually attempted to have the same attitude towards others that Jesus has towards us! What would Christmas look like if we didn’t care about what we got out of it but became more concerned about what we could give to others? How would our world change if we laid down our lives . . . our reputations . . . our desires in order to bless others this Christmas? What if we even went further and did it anonymously, with no expectation of reward or recognition?

Ronald Reagan (among others) is credited with saying something like: “There is no telling what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.” We don’t like that approach though, do we? We kick against it! I mean, we deserve to be recognized, don’t we? All too often, we are full of "I" problems as we drone on and on about individual accomplishments or seek after individual acclaim for our actions. "I did this" and "I did that" and "Look at me" often occupy too much of our focus. Like toddlers, often we just want to be noticed, don't we?

We came up with the idea that made the company money, shouldn’t we be rewarded? Maybe we found a problem and fixed it, and that fix saved someone’s job. Shouldn’t we be shown gratitude? Maybe we did some kindness for someone we knew couldn’t pay us back, . . . shouldn’t we get credit for that? We gave that money to charity, shouldn't someone say "thank you"? We gave of your time to that charitable organization, shouldn't there be some "benefit" in it for us?

Don’t we all think that we should be center stage, center of the world, the most important person in the world? How many times have we heard “I quit going to that church because MY needs weren’t being met”?

No reputation.

Let that sink in.

NO Reputation!

No fame, no credit, no automatic acceptance, no celebrities, and no place where who you know or what you know earns you admittance or recognition.  That requires true humility!

Jesus made himself of no reputation; he humbled himself. The very God of the universe became nobody. He emptied himself, he became a servant. As Isaiah said, he was not handsome or attractive in such a way as to draw attention to himself. He lived to give attention only to God. Jesus was truly humble.  He had "no reputation."   

Ouch!

We love our awards, the acceptance of others, the glamour of being “somebody,” or the wonderful happiness of fame, don’t we? We like to be recognized, remembered, acknowledged, accepted, and celebrated.

“Don’t neglect me” or "It's all about me" could be the slogans of many in our world.

The motto of Christ followers should be “No reputation.” God chooses such people to further his agenda. Will we be involved, or do we like our perks too much?

In Job 1, Satan appears in God's court. God acknowledges the good job done by Job, and asks Satan if he has noticed what a righteous person Job has become. Satan's response is a tough challenge: "Does Job fear God for nothing?"

Think about what the evil one is implying here. He is asking, "Will a human serve God with no expectation of something in return?"

Will humans serve God for nothing?

That hurts, doesn't it? Even the mere thought of it as a possibility smarts a bit. Surely the mighty God of the universe wouldn't expect us to show him respect and serve his purposes without expectation of payment for services rendered, right?

Can we humble ourselves to the point where we realize that God owes us nothing? Quite literally, we have done nothing to merit a reward from him. Even our service is a response to his continued mercy.

Will we, like Christ, humble ourselves to the point of no reputation? Are we willing to be "nobodies" in God's service, among his people, even among those who ought to "recognize" us?

What would Christmas look like this year if we (all of us) decided to give with no expectation of return? What if we humbled ourselves and expected no acknowledgment? What if we chose to serve anonymously and to bless others without receiving a blessing in return? What would happen?

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer says in God is in the Manger: 

“Who among us will celebrate Christmas correctly? Whoever finally lays down all power, all honor, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism beside the manger; whoever remains lowly and lets God alone be high; whoever looks at the child in the manger and sees the glory of God precisely in his lowliness.”

Tish Harrison Warren reminds us further:

"Christ's ordinary years are part of our redemption story. Because of the incarnation and those long, unrecorded years of Jesus' life, our small, normal lives matter. If Christ was a carpenter, all of us who are in Christ find that our work is sanctified and made holy. If Christ spent time in obscurity, then there is infinite worth found in obscurity...There is no task too small or too routine to reflect God's glory and worth."

What can you do this Christmas season that will bless others and produce no reputation for you? Who can you serve that can't repay you? This year let's commit ourselves to serving, giving, and loving as Christ did. Let's look for opportunities to bless others in a way that does not give us recognition.  Instead of asking for things for ourselves, let's give to the needs of others. Instead of expecting gifts, let's give our lives away in blessing others.

How would that change Christmas in your neighborhood?

Thanks for reading!

Tone Deaf or Servant? A Contrast of Leaders

Some of this material was originally posted about 6 months ago, but I think it is time to revisit the issue. So, here we go! 

A while back, I wrote down some thoughts about leadership, but they were not necessarily thoughts about good leadership. I listed a few characteristics that might identify the "tone deaf" leader. You can find the list below. I then decided it might be a good idea to contrast the "negative" with a "positive" view of leadership. So, I jotted down a few ideas about what servant leadership entails. That list is also found below. Please feel free to add to these as needed.

Tone deaf leadership . . . 

1)  . . . thinks it knows the people it leads, when in reality it only knows a caricature of those people. 

2) . . . pretends to "belong" to the people while really keeping a safe "distance" from them.

3) . . . enjoys the perks and prestige of the position, enjoys acknowledgement and acclaim, but fails to identify with the lowest of the low or the humble people. This leader wants the "best" but refuses to identify with the "least."

4) . . . likes to enjoy the "best" things in life while thinking that others are "beneath" or "unworthy" of such things. The tone deaf leader is an elitist and arrogant. 

5) . . . offers a message that is "emotional" in content while lacking intellectual context or perspective.

6) . . . pretends to be a great communicator while utilizing simple catchphrases or pithy emotional slogans instead of topics of substance; prefers cliches to actual intellectual give-and-take. 

7) . . . talks in ambiguous terms and tries to make people think he is a "prophet" or a stellar intellect while simply saying what will gain the most attention or the largest audience. 

8) . . . desires attention and focuses on gaining an audience or attention without giving concerns to consistency or the needs of others. 

9) . . . tends to be idle--comfort and success are more important than anything else including the people he claims to "serve." 

I'm sure that there are more, but these are the characteristics I wrote down over a year ago. For comparison and contrast, look at Jesus' standard of leadership as revealed in Philippians 2 by Paul. The materials in verses 1-8 of this chapter reveal the actions and heart of a servant leader. 

The servant leader . . . 

1) . . . strives for unity and has the purpose of helping others be more like Jesus. 

2) . . . does not lead out of selfish ambition or conceit. 

3) . . . in humility considers others as more important than himself. 

4) . . . does not look out only for his own interests but is concerned for the benefit and success of others. 

5) . . . obeys God even if it is costly to him personally. In fact, the servant leader prefers to pay the price rather than forcing someone else to do it. 

6) . . . does not think too highly of his own gifts or abilities, but sees gifts as an opportunity to equip others to succeed. 

7) . . . does not see "power" or "prestige" as the goal of leadership, but rather sees service and humility as necessary. 

8) . . . desires to see the people he serves succeed even if no one notices him or his activities. 

9) . . . is not afraid to get his hands dirty while working with and for others. 

10) . . . does not consider others as "servants" to his cause, but rather sees himself as a "servant" to others so that they may become better equipped to succeed.

Matthew 20:25-28 is Jesus' personal statement on the issue and sets forth the principle that the one who desires to lead must first be humble and serve. 

Which leader would you rather follow? 

Thanks for reading! 

The Ministry of "Staying Put" Part 2

 Hello all:

I've been thinking a lot lately about the ministry of "staying put" and patiently waiting on the Lord's direction. People have a variety of opinions on how Christians should respond when a ministry or place of service turns difficult or veers off of its proper mission. Some people think that the best thing a Christian can do in that situation is to cut ties with the offending ministry and look for a "better" place of service. Others think that staying in place and being a "light shining in darkness" is the best option. Scripture seems to offer a variety of stories depicting both of these approaches. I want to share with you my personal experience. It is by no means intended to be the "measure" by which you should decide your course of action; rather, I would desire that you earnestly seek God's face and then obey his directions. That is the measure of a successful disciple--obedience to his Lord. So, dear reader, as you read my experience, take to heart these words: "Who are you to judge another's household servant? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand, because of the Lord who is able to make him stand." (Romans 14:4) Obey God and you will be successful in the eyes of the only one who matters.   

I remember living in Waco, TX when I encountered a bit of trouble and seriously considered leaving the church I attended at the time. As my wife and I prayed about our situation, I kept returning to Psalm 37. Verse 3 of that Psalm says, "Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness." As I read this Psalm from David, I was reminded that sometimes the best thing I can do is simply wait before the Lord. I have learned that sometimes I simply need to "be still, and know that God is Lord." 

We are often tempted to take what I call an "American" approach to ministry:  We "work" our way up the ladder and progress from a "smaller" ministry to a "larger" one. We try sometimes to "help" God out by making our own opportunities instead of working diligently at the work God has placed in front of us. I'm not saying it is wrong to leave one work from another, I am simply stating that sometimes we need to "stay put" until we know God wants us to move to the next thing. We are full of anxiety, and we want to "make our mark." We should be listening to our Shepherd's voice. Does he want us to stay or to go? Obedience is success. 

Sometimes, however, that requires patience and humble waiting on marching orders from God (an area in which I know my own deficiency!). Others may move on to "bigger" and "better" things, but God sees fit to keep us in the "small" thing or in the "unknown" or even "difficult" ministry. We are told to remain somewhere that is hard, while others are freed by God to pursue ministry in what appears to us to be less difficult pastures. It is a hard word, but one that we need to hear. Sometimes the ministry in front of us, the ministry of "today" is best for the moment. Being faithful in the little things sows seeds for faithfulness in the larger endeavors. The goal is to find where God wants you, then stay there until he releases you to a new opportunity. Remain faithful, and let God lead. 

If you are in a "waiting period" at the moment, I want to share a poem I found in Streams in the Desert with you.    I hope it is a blessing to you. It is entitled "Patience in the Routine." 

"Stay there until I tell you."  (Matthew 2:13)

"I'll stay where You've put me;
I will, dear Lord, Though I wanted so badly to go;
I was eager to march with the 'rank and file,'
Yes, I wanted to lead them, You know.
I planned to keep step to the music loud,
To cheer when the banner unfurled,
To stand in the midst of the fight straight and proud,
But I'll stay where You've put me. 

"I'll stay where You've put me; I'll work, dear Lord,
Though the field be narrow and small,
And the ground be fallow, and the stones lie thick,
And there seems to be no life at all.
The field is Thine own, only give me the seed,
I'll sow it with never a fear;
I'll till the dry soil while I wait for the rain,
And rejoice when the green blades appear;
I'll work where You've put me. 

"I'll stay where You've put me; I will, dear Lord;
I'll bear the day's burden and heat,
Always trusting Thee fully; when even has come
I'll lay heavy sheaves at Thy feet.
And then, when my earth work is ended and done,
In the light of eternity's glow,
Life's record all closed, I surely shall find
It was better to stay than to go;
I'll stay where You've put me." 

Oh restless heart, that beat against your prison bars of circumstances, yearning for a wider sphere of usefulness, leave God to order all your days. Patience and trust, in the dullness of the routine of life, will be the best preparation for a courageous bearing of the tug and strain of the larger opportunity which God may some time send you.

Last month I posted a note entitled "Others May You Cannot." It deals with a similar issue, and you can find it here if you'd like to consider it as well: Others May You Cannot. 

 Thanks for reading!  

"Others May, You Cannot" by G. D. Watson

 While in college (several decades ago), I came across a tract named "Others May, You Cannot." I read it over and over for years until the tract fell apart. Before that happened, I made a handwritten copy of the contents, and later I typed them into my computer. Periodically this little article comes back into my life, and recently it was posted by a friend. I share it here for others who may need to hear the message.

Others May, You Cannot

If God has called you to be really like Jesus, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.

Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful, may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it; and if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their success, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence on Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity, because He wants you to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade.

He may let others be great, but keep you small. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more precious, He may let others get the credit for the work which you have done, and thus make your reward ten times greater then Jesus comes.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over.

So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.

Settle it forever, then, that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others.

Now when you are so possessed with the loving God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of Heaven.

G. D. Watson, in Living Words

Thanks for reading! 

"Failed": A Word of Encouragement to those who think they are "Failures"

 “Failed.” Your greatest fear realized, you are certain you have failed. I mean, just look around at everyone else. They are succeeding. Their acclaim is clear. They are “living the dream,” and here you sit, failing again. I get it, you really tried. You had aspirations, dreams, you even put in some hard work to achieve what you thought was your “destiny.” You even experienced some early success—people seemed to clamor for your help, for your attention, for your advice. Now? Well, now you just sit wondering what happened. You went from helping hundreds (Is “thousands” too arrogant?) to basically being ignored. I understand. You hoped for more, longed for it, you even tried your best to obtain it.

“Failed.” It stings especially since no one wants to be second place (or, WORSE, “last” place)! How I hate failure, and yet how often I have felt like that is only thing at which I seem to succeed (there is an irony there, succeeding at failing). So, what do you do? Quit? That’s just more failure. No, here’s what you will do: you’ll get up tomorrow, brush your teeth, put on your clothes, and you’ll go out and live a life of service to others even if no one notices.

Here is the rub, though, people do notice. In fact, there are many (I am among them) who see your perseverance and stubborn obedience to Jesus and are encouraged. Your continued faithfulness to serve God and to serve others is evidence of a success. Right now it feels like “failure” is all you can see, but you need to understand that the story isn’t over yet. What seems like “failure” may result in amazing victory, only time will tell.

When you think you’ve failed, remember this: Jesus knows you and your heart. If you are heading towards him, you are no failure. There are also many of us who take courage from so-called “failures” like you. We see your faithfulness and your stubborn willingness to follow God no matter what, and we see HOPE and SUCCESS. I understand it doesn’t “feel” that way, but it is true nonetheless. Jesus is here for you, and so am I. I want to learn from and to bless you! Walk on, weary pilgrim, you aren’t home yet, and your witness/work here is not done. We need you!

Annual Father's Day Post

 With Fathers' Day right around the corner, I couldn't think of any better way to honor my Dad than to repost something I wrote years ago. You see, my Dad passed away in 2004, just before I had the privilege of coming to work for Liberty University. My Dad's dream was that I would get to go to Liberty, but you would not believe how excited he was to know that I would be teaching there!

My Dad was quite a man, and almost everyone who ever met him loved him. He could tell some of the funniest stories, but most of all he kept us connected to the history of his family. To be honest, I miss my dad, and I would love an opportunity just to hear his stories all over again. He was a man who loved Jesus and loved to introduce others to Jesus. Some of you never knew him, and I am genuinely sorry. He enriched the lives of so many with his infectious smile and easy generosity. I feel so much poorer without him, but I know he is with the Lord he loves so much. I love you, Dad. Here is the Father's Day note I wrote about him several years ago: 

I first wrote this in 2005, but it speaks volumes about my memories of my dad, Bobbie Eugene Percer, Sr. My dad was a hero to me in many ways, and I am terribly sorry that I never told him that to his face. At his funeral in 2004, literally hundreds of people stood in line for hours to tell us of the way my dad had blessed them. I heard stories of dad witnessing to people and leading them to the Lord, stories of dad giving money or clothes or time or work in order to help someone else find a better path in life, stories of my dad going out of his way to help others, etc. It humbled me. I had no idea how "big" a man my father was, how much of a blessing he was to many people. My dad left some mighty big shoes, and I hope I can be half the man he was. With that in mind, here is the first thing I wrote about my dad way back in 2005.

With Father's day coming up this weekend, I wanted to share some thoughts about my Father. You see, my father passed away in August 2004, and for many reasons thoughts of him have been central in my mind recently. I’m afraid I’m losing him.

Let me explain.

My dad wasn’t very active the last few years of life. Due to his own lack of proper care for his physical body and a host of problems with illness, the primary memory my children have of their grandfather is dad sitting in a big lounger watching TV and occasionally waking up long enough to tease them.

My children did not get to know my dad. Oh, my dad was never the most active guy in the world (I think I know where my own lack of activity comes from!), but he didn’t sit around a lot as I remember it. Dad coached baseball, football, basketball, if it had “ball” in the title, he learned it, played it, and probably coached it. My dad cared about folks that no one else wanted. He loved kids, especially his own. I once saw my dad kick a field goal from the 45 yard line (that’s a 55 yard kick, if you didn’t know!). I was in high school then, so dad was probably in his mid-40s. He could kick the ball further than the place kicker on our team.

I remember looking for dad’s vehicle to pull up at the football practice field. I don’t know if he knew that I saw him, but I looked for him to show up so I could perform for him. Dad didn’t get real excited about sports (that was mom’s job!), but you could tell when he was enjoying something. He had this infectious grin and mischievous smile that would literally light up his face. I heard that for years after my younger brother graduated high school, dad would make his way to the practice field and sit in his car and watch the players go through their paces. For me, his watching was a comforting presence that reminded me that he was there if I needed him. Oh, I’ll admit that I didn’t “need” him as much as he would like, but it made me feel real good to know dad was there.

I miss him.

Sometimes in my work here, I think that dad is sitting in heaven, in his heavenly lounger, watching his boy perform. Oh, I’m not blindsiding running backs and quarterbacks any more, but I can’t help but think that dad is silently cheering for me. He sits there, intently studying me as I pace a classroom or teach a class or grade a paper. When I make a particularly excellent play, he smiles that smile. Even when I don’t do so well, dad looks approvingly on his boy. I can see him, sitting there, a big glass of sweet tea on the table, a smile in his eyes, and joy in his heart. I want to make him proud, and I think he knows that.

My last words to my dad face-to-face were spoken around Easter of 2004. I don’t remember everything we discussed, but I remember putting my arm around his shoulders and looking into that face. His eyes were a bit dimmed by old age and sickness. But somewhere in those eyes I saw the place kicker kicking a field goal from the 45 yard line. I remember saying this to him, “Dad, I love you. I’ll see you later.” At his funeral in August 2004, the pastor asked me to pray at the grave site (actually, my mother asked me to do it). As I walked away from dad’s coffin, I touched the lid and said, “I love you, dad, see you later.”

I miss him, but thank God I will see him later. If your father is alive, call him up. Tell him you appreciate him and love him. Memories are great, but I’d love to have my dad here to hug again. He’s much better off, but I need his smile. Dad, I love you. See you later!

Thanks for reading!