If someone calls you a sloth you should be offended! Make no mistake--it is not a complement.
The word sloth is almost an onomatopoeia. If you get lazy with your diction you hardly even have to move your tongue. “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit.” Romans 12:11 To stay in tune to the Voice of God takes a fervent and disciplined spirit. Guitarists discipline themselves to continually tune their instrument as soon as they hear the slightest imperfection so that they can stay in harmony with the band. If the atmosphere changes, the guitar has to be retuned. If the acoustics change, the guitar has to be retuned. Even if the guitar is transported in a case, potholes and bumps in the road will cause it to be out of tune the next time it is played so it has to be retuned. The same is true for our lives—we must be tuned and retuned to the Spirit of God often if we want to live in harmony with one other. Throughout the day as we work and play we need to train our ear to hear when our spirit is out of tune with the Spirit. When the atmosphere of the work place, class room, or sports field changes; or when the acoustics of relationships are altered we need to be retuned. We will need to constantly tune our hearts to the vibrations of the perfect pitch found in the Truth of the Person of Jesus. “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit.” Romans 12:11
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I will neither shrink in fear nor strut with arrogance, instead I will seek to live in the Truth that is Jesus.
Last week's Supreme Court ruling on Marriage Equality may very well be pulling the thread that unravels the moral fabric of our nation. There will certainly be implications and consequences for our communities, for our churches, and for our individual lives. But our hope has never been and will never be in the government—humanity's only hope is Jesus, who is alive and is Sovereign over all things, and holds all things together. Can this be, should it be our wake-up call as believers - as a church—as The Church? Could it be that God will use this as a catalyst for repentance and revival? It is often what happened in the history of his people Israel and it could certainly be the case for his people the Church today. 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Romans 12:9-18 Let us neither shrink in fear nor strut in arrogance, but live in the Truth that is Jesus. Sawyer with Hunter 2013 and Harrisen with Ms. Betsy 2008 This past week we had to deal with one of the harder disappointments of moving from Coweta County. We had to accept the fact that unlike Harrisen, our oldest, Sawyer, our three-year old, would not learn to swim from the world's best swim instructor, Betsy Willis. It was a devastating realization. How can anyone learn to swim from anyone other than Ms. Betsy?! Is it even possible?
Reluctantly we registered both boys for a two-week session of swim lessons lasting an hour a day. Sawyer was in the class that required a parent to participate so Tracie and I shared the responsibility. Our instructor was a dude named Hunter. As he introduced himself on the first day I wondered how is this bearded, senior engineer student at Southern Poly going to handle a couple of 18 month olds, an 8 month old and Sawyer? I had my doubts, but I was wrong! Hunter was incredible with each one of his students. Here are a few things I learned from my time in Swim Class: Teaching anything begins with relationship. Hunter came to the class on the first day with the names of each kid written on his hand. Pretty good practice when you're working in water. He called each one by his or her name. He looked them in the eye and built a rapport with them within a couple of days. He was like a lion tamer working without a whip or a chair. Not only did Hunter know Sawyer's name, Sawyer knew his. Every day Sawyer came home talking about Hunter and got up the next day ready to see Hunter. Learn what motivates different people. DAY ONE Hunter: "Kick the water with your feet, Sawyer." Sawyer: "No." Hunter: "Splash daddy with your hands, Sawyer." Sawyer: "No." Hunter: "Make bubbles with your mouth, Sawyer." Sawyer: "No." And as soon as Hunter would turn away Sawyer would do exactly what he was being asked to do. He just wasn't going to perform on command. DAY TWO Hunter: "Sawyer, I bet you can't kick the water with your feet." Hunter: "Sawyer, don't splash daddy with your hands." Hunter: "Sawyer, I'm not going to watch you make bubbles with your mouth." Almost every time Sawyer responded with the desired behavior but not the requested behavior. Hunter took the time to find the key to motivating and engaging a difficult student and he didn't give up. Bring Your Best Energy Every day Hunter brought a positive attitude, a smile, and kind words to the pool. The kids weren't scared of him and instead followed him wherever he went. He never got outwardly frustrated, encouraged even the slightest improvement, and challenged them to do more. Since Hunter earned Sawyer's trust he was able to take him and push him to do more than he was initially willing to attempt. Hunter is no Ms. Betsy yet but maybe one day they'll be telling stories of Mr. Hunter being a world-class swim instructor. I know this: Hunter's a good dude and he taught me how to make a motor boat sound while blowing bubbles. That may set him apart from Ms. Betsy. A few days ago I heard a quote from my friend Norm McCarren who leads Operation Mobilization New Zealand's Off the Grid discipleship and mentoring programme. Norm is a world-class leader with a heart for developing disciples of Jesus and challenging college-aged students to fully engage the world with the gospel of Jesus through adventure experiences that stretch them physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
He is known to say when his and his wife Christy's team members begin to complain about the weather: "There is no such thing as bad weather only different kinds of good weather." In our church this past week we had the opportunity to see if this is really true. I won't get into all of the details but on Sunday morning we had no air conditioning in our worship space (which is basically a triple-wide mobile unit) and our sound board was hit by lightning at some point during the week and was fried. Neither of these situations made for an ideal Father's Day. But I was reminded, "There is no such thing as bad weather only different kinds of good weather." If this "storm" had not blown we would have missed at least three things: 1. We would have missed seeing people raid their own houses of fans and portable air conditioning units to try and keep the space cool. 2. We would have missed seeing a team of people get creative as to how to provide sound for worship. 3. We would have missed seeing how people respond in crisis--(and I use that word loosely for I know that it is not a life-threatening issue since neither AC nor sound systems are required to worship.) Not a single person complained about the heat and only a few noticed any issues with the sound. Most people still stayed in the worship space talking as usual after the service. In short we would have missed a spiritual growth test and an evaluation of where we are as a church--a people called and created to be salt and light. I think we passed the test with an A+! You know what's exciting? It looks like we'll get to take a test in perseverance this week because neither the AC nor the mixer is repaired yet. (This is my imaginative account of Jairus from a compilation of the gospel accounts of this event.)
Weeping and wailing filled the house but Jairus was not one to give up easily. The sobs were maddening; his daughter lay there motionless, only her chest rising and falling ever so slightly. His wife knelt next to her, wiping her forehead with cool water drawn from the well. The doctors had given up—there was nothing that they could do. But Jairus knew there was still life and therefore there was still hope! “Jesus! I’ve got to find him now!” he shouted to those already gathered to mourn. “I saw a crowd on the hillside just outside of town an hour ago. I think they were following Jesus”, one of the women motioned to the city. He was despairing and in a hurry—no time to waste, not even a single second. He had to get to Jesus—all of his other options were exhausted. Without another word Jairus gathered up his robe and ran to the city. Jesus was known to heal people. Perhaps he could…Yes, he could heal his daughter, his only child. She had been their miracle child. They had tried to conceive for several years before their blessing came; and now they were on the verge of losing her. He couldn’t let that happen. His wife would be distraught. He couldn’t lose her too! He pushed all of those thoughts away and focused on one thing: Finding Jesus. Perspiration: “Where is he?” Desperation: “I’ve got to find him!” Anticipation: “There he is!” Jairus shoved his way through the crowd intent on getting to Jesus. The people recognized Jairus, he was the leader of the synagogue! What was he doing rushing to Jesus? The crowd parted in respect for Jairus. Was he there to confront the Rabbi? Would he assault him? But when he finally broke through he fell at the feet of Jesus—broken, weeping, and humble. “It’s my daughter. She is dying. Please, help. Please heal her. Would you come to her now?” Sure, some people had fallen at the feet of Jesus with false motives, pretending to honor him with their words, but their hearts betrayed them, but Jesus was clearly moved by this man’s heart and replied, “Arise, let us go.” Jairus knew that he would likely face criticism from the establishment and peer pressure from his colleagues, but he no longer cared. The only thing that mattered was his daughter; and the only hope he had was Jesus. Jesus and the crowd moved, but slowly. People were still pressing in to get close to the Rabbi. Couldn’t we go any more quickly? Didn’t they just hear that my daughter is dying? Then Jesus stopped dead in his tracks. Finally, he’s going to dismiss them so we can move on! This is good! “Who touched me?” Jesus queried the crowd. No one answered. Finally, one of his disciples said with somewhat quizzical look and tone? “There are a lot of people here, I’m sure several people touched you.” That had never seemed to bother the teacher before, but now he wants to know who touched him. “No. This was different. I felt power go out from me. Who touched me?” Jairus looked and saw a pale, fragile woman crawling on the ground—he’d seen her before but had never been close to her for she had been unclean for twelve years unable to enter the synagogue. She trembled as she spoke and she did not look Jesus in the face. “I thought if I could only touch the hem of your garment that I would be healed.” Jesus smiled broadly and spoke: “Daughter, take courage, your faith has made you well.” “Jairus!” Jairus heard his name from over his shoulder and he turned to see one of his servants running, with tears staining his face: “She’s dead. Don’t bother the Teacher.” Jairus turned back and looked into the eyes of Jesus. “Do not fear, only believe and she will be well.” Jairus looked into the eyes of the woman who had just been healed and then he looked back to Jesus. He believed. He had to believe. And they kept walking toward Jairus’ house. When they arrived the cacophony of mourning voices and the dissonance of the flute dirges filled the air. Discord. Despair. Death. Jesus spoke with confidence and authority. “Stop mourning. She is not dead, she is only asleep.” The hateful, derisive laughter of these professional mourners followed Jesus and his disciples into the house. Jairus, take me to your wife and daughter. Peter, James and John, come with us. The rest of you wait here. Walking in, full of compassion, Jesus took the girl’s cold hand and spoke: “Daughter, arise!” Never before had Jesus raised someone from the dead, but today, the love and faith of her father and the love and power of The Father had done something that had never been done before. Tears of joy replaced the tears of heartbreak. For those of you who know me, you know that God has used the story of Abraham and Sarah to guide and encourage my family on our journey the last few years. You also know that I've been known to say that old, dead guys whose books are still around have some deep wisdom. So as I was reading My Utmost For His Highest devotional the other morning I found this section describing a portion of Abram's journey intriguing.
"The story of Abram and Hagar in Genesis 16 is an excellent example of listening to so-called good advice during a time of darkness, rather than waiting for God to send the light. When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision he has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill his word. Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. He grew past the point of relying on his own common sense. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not a period of God's displeasure." I wonder how often using my common sense has prevented me from walking by faith? I’ve heard it said that what you do and say in the first 30 seconds of the day are the most important of the day because that half-minute will set the tone for the rest of the day. As a corollary, the first 30 seconds of your interactions with your spouse, kids, and even co-workers will often set the tone of those relationships for the day.
Have we disciplined our minds to immediately acknowledge God the moment we become conscious? Notice, I didn't say the moment we open our eyes, but the moment we are awake. What was your first thought today? Is your default thinking mode set to "tasks to complete", "people to manage", and "issues to resolve." Or, was your attention, adoration and ambition focused on Jesus. What were the first words you spoke to each of your family members this morning? What was the tone? What did your body language and facial expression communicate? Were you irritated, harried or distracted? Or, were you present in the moment, aware of the divine nature of the encounter? The wisdom of Brother Lawrence a Carmelite monk has often challenged me to a keen awareness of God's presence. The book Practicing the Presence would be worth your time to read. “He does not ask much of us, merely a thought of Him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, at other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present, He has bestowed on you, in the midst of your troubles to take solace in Him as often as you can. Lift up your heart to Him during your meals and in company; the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to Him. One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think.” ― Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God It seems as though that most every day there’s somebody trying to tell us how to make life more simple with little tips or “hacks”—A hack used to mean somebody who wasn’t very good at anything: For example, when somebody asks me, do you like to play golf, I say: “Sure, but I’m a hacker! My swing is ugly and inconsistent. I can hit a beautiful drive straight down the fairway on one swing and on the next I’m in the lake on the wrong hole! I’m a hack.
Then a hack was a verb used to describe what digital criminals to computer servers—they hack—cut into illegally—to gain access to information that doesn’t belong to them. Now, we use the term to tell somebody how to solve little irritations in life—like how to get sand off your feet using baby powder or how to use duct tape to make a prom dress. But the one that got my attention a few months ago was how to perfectly fold a T-shirt in less than 2 seconds. I thought wow, I can have a department store fold of my T-shirt in so little time. This may change my life! My closet will look immaculate with all my T-shirts folded so neatly. I’ve got to try this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJEuEpj5Iqk I tried it! I was inept. What is this- T-shirt origami?! But this week I want to share a couple of “Life Hacks” aren't so trivial or frustrating but instead life-giving and freeing! A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine took Harrisen and I fishing down the Euharlee Creek. We took his flat bottom raft so there was very little risk of me tipping us into the cold water. Going downstream was no problem. It didn't even seem like we had floated that far as we talked and fished and unsnagged my line from unseen rocks and branches.
However, going upstream..difficult! Do you know what happens if you try to paddle with someone with whom you are not unified? My buddy Jimmy will tell you that you may go in circles and you certainly don't go where you want to go. Howeva if you follow the leader stroke for stroke you can get to places you didn’t think possible! This isn't only true in a canoe, kayak, or raft it's true of a family, business or church. If a woman wants to find out if she's pregnant she takes a Pregnancy Test. If a man wants to find out if his car is filtering toxins properly he takes an Emissions Test. If a church wants to know if it's healthy it takes the Unity Test. Ephesians 4:1-7 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Unity takes you to places you didn’t think possible! Flat tires leave me feeling deflated.
This past weekend my friend, Bryce, and his bride Hailee were married at the idyllic Mackey House. The rehearsal went smoothly and the Low-Country Boil dinner at Vic's on the River was exceptional. One of the benefits of officiating a late spring wedding in Savannah is that you can visit Tybee Island for a little beach time! Perfect way to start the summer break! Tracie, the boys and I were a little over a mile from our hotel after spending the morning on Tybee when it happened. Blam, Bloom, Farfignuggen! "What was that!" "I have no idea! I didn't see anything but it sounded like somebody hit us with a crowbar!" The Tahoe seemed to be OK, so I kept driving thinking I could make it to the service station across from the hotel. Instead we were forced to pull into the corporate driveway of Gulfstream located directly across the street from the Savannah Airport. I had never changed a tire on this vehicle because I had never had the need. Here I was out of town, too far from the hotel with two exhausted kids, and my wife flipping through the Table of Contents of the Owner's Manual. "Where is the jack? What is this thing for? How do you lower the spare tire?" As I lay under the rear of the vehicle and Tracie tried to entertain two beach-weary boys I prayed. "Lord, I need some help. Could you send somebody?" I didn't know that Harrisen, our ten-year old was praying the same at the same time! I was still laying there trying to figure things out when Harrisen exclaimed: "Somebody's here to help!" Thank Goodness (You)! It wasn't just anybody--it was the Plant Operations Manager with ABM Building Maintenance for that Gulfstream location, Terry Whitfield. He informed me that he had already called a couple of his men to bring a commercial jack and they would take care of everything. No worries. Relief. But when they got there the socket wrenches that they had did not fit our custom lug nuts. Custom lug nuts? What? I didn't even know that they made that sort of thing. There was no getting the flat tire off and replacing it with the spare. So do you want to know what these three guys did? Terry, off duty for the day, drove to Wal-Mart, purchased an air compressor and a plug kit, returned to our vehicle and those three guys repaired our tire and sent us on our way. Terry ended up spending nearly two hours helping us--total strangers on his property. It wasn't his job and he had nothing to gain from helping a family on vacation. We were so grateful! I asked Terry: "You love Jesus, don't you?" He smiled. I said, " Well you are an answer to prayer. I was laying under that spare tire in despair and praying God would send somebody." He said "i drove right by you on my way home. I turned out of the driveway and got to the first light pole and God said i needed to come back here and help you." He asked himself: "What if that was my family?" "Good thing you got a direct line then!", he laughed. As a result we met three great dudes: Terry Whitfield, Stephen Beard, and Kevin Green. And the next time I see a stranded family I'm going to be inclined to stop and help no matter how inconvenient it is. |
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