“What’s Happened To Christianity?”
Last week, I was in Springfield, Illinois, teaching “Leadership Lessons from Ted Lasso." After my presentation, a woman approached me and asked if she could ask a question.
“Sure,” I said.
She told me she was Jewish and from New York, then added, “I know you’re a Christian. Can you explain what has happened to Christianity? I don’t see any of the qualities you mentioned from Ted Lasso—compassion, empathy, forgiveness, serving—in modern-day Christianity anymore.”
I paused for a moment. In another phase of my life, I might have felt defensive. I could have countered her argument. But on this day, I genuinely had to agree with her. I admitted she was right and that I don’t often see those qualities displayed these days either.
I’m not making a blanket statement about all Christians. I believe, as she might, that we are specifically discussing the loudest among them. These are the individuals we see on the news, claiming to follow Christ one moment and dehumanizing others the next. They might have a microphone, hold a position, display a few yard signs, or even preach from a pulpit.
They appear to have one thing in common: a “me first” or “us first” attitude.
How did we get this “me first” attitude? I’d suggest that Christians have been promoted somewhere along the way. Allow me to explain.
When I was in junior high, each year in either our social studies or English class, we had two days set aside to watch the movie “Brian’s Song.”
Even today, I’m not quite sure why we watched this movie every year, but it was a significant event. You would get out of class for two days and head down to the Cafetorium (I love that word... cafeteria and auditorium combined. Genius!). There, they set up a real movie projector at the back of the room to show the film. This was long before the wonders of Betamaxes and VCRs.
Brian’s Song is a 1971 film featuring Billy Dee Williams as Gale Sayers and James Caan as Brian Piccolo. It delves into their friendship as teammates on the Chicago Bears. Despite their racial differences and competing for the same position, their bond deepens when Piccolo is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Late in the movie, as Piccolo lies in a hospital bed, Gayle Sayers receives an award at the year-end banquet.
Sayers states, “Now, you're flattering me by giving me this award. But I want to tell you right now—Brian Piccolo is the man of courage who truly deserves the George S. Halas Award. It is mine tonight, and it will be Brian Piccolo's tomorrow. I love Brian Piccolo, and I hope all of you will love him too. So tonight, I urge you to get on your knees and ask God to love him as well."
That's when I, a junior high kid weighing only 40 pounds, started sniffling. As I glanced around the room, I noticed that every kid was doing the same. We were all trying to hold back our tears. Even the biggest, toughest football player in school, Randy Wylie, was sniffling too. This mountain of an eighth grader had shoulders shaking just like mine! But unlike me, Randy’s shoulders were supporting his girlfriend, Kyron Kearly. She had hair just like Farrah Fawcett, but I digress.
Spoiler alert! Brian Piccolo dies at the end of the movie, and when that moment comes, the tears start flowing for all of us. No one felt ashamed to cry when Brian Piccolo passed away.
I mention this because not only do I love Junior High stories, but Gayle Sayers also authored a book about his experiences called “I Am Third.” Sayers embodied the "I Am Third” philosophy—putting God first, others second, and himself third—throughout his time with Piccolo and during his playing days in Chicago.
So, for many years, we Christians were in third place, and we liked it.
Then, my friends, we were promoted. On December 2, 2008, the “I Am Second” movement was established and quickly spread globally. Eye-catching billboards and celebrities in grainy black-and-white videos reminded me that I was second. Somehow, I suppose, I ended up ahead of the “others.” (Now, I realize this wasn't their intention, but it did sound funny to those of us raised on “I Am Third.")
Do you see where we're headed? To the top, baby!
Maybe it all started with selfies. I remember a time when we took pictures of others, with us behind the camera while our friends and family posed in front of the lens. Not anymore! Now, it’s all about the selfie. How many pictures can I take of myself and share on social media? Remember when we thought it was creepy to walk into a friend's house or apartment and see only pictures of them?
Unfortunately, the movement didn’t end with selfies. Turn on the news, and it seems that a “me first” and “us first” mentality dominates among some who claim to follow Christ, pushing aside anyone who stands in their way.
I don’t believe I’m the only one who has noticed this. If that were the case, I don’t think my Jewish friend would have asked the question. Remember? The one where she said, “What has happened to Christianity?”
Here is the troublesome progression:
I Am Third.
I Am Second.
Me First and the Heck with Everyone Else
It’s a dangerous, slippery slope.
Maybe it’s time to recalibrate and find true north again. Let Jesus weigh in on this.
Jesus’ teachings often emphasize humility, selflessness, and service to others, sharply contrasting with the “me first” and “us first” philosophy advocated by many today.
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12
“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.” Mark 10:43-44
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”Matthew 5:43-45
The teachings of Jesus emphasize the values of humility, service, and love, which contrast with the “me, me, me” mentality prevalent in our world today.
I don’t know about you, but I think I need a demotion. I’d like to return to my junior high “Brian’s Song” days of being third.
Can I suggest a practical way for you to start demoting yourself?
Author and Speaker Donald Miller explains how easy it is to fall into our default mode of “me first,” and to counter this, he strives to make the statement “after you” a daily priority.
For example, pause and hold the door for those behind you. Let everyone enter or exit the elevator first while you keep the door open. Traffic? Now we're really getting personal. Let that car merge ahead of you when no one else will. After you!
Will letting someone exit an elevator or cut in your lane in traffic change the world? Probably not. But over time, if we allow “after you" to become ingrained in our habits and hearts. Who knows, maybe we will gradually move from first to second to third.
If I speak in Springfield, Illinois, in a year or so, maybe that same woman will approach me again and ask, “What has happened to Christianity?” This time, however, I hope she will ask in a positive light, as we believers have once again prioritized Christ and His teachings.
Is anyone willing to give it a try?
After you.
Garden Hose or the Fire Department?
Recently, a group of guys I’ve known for decades asked me to start leading their Young Life Campaigners (Bible Study) group again. Understand that these guys are now in their 50’s! The last time I led their Bible Study, they were seniors in high school, and I was driving an 1986 Nissan 200sx.
Even though they’re scattered all over the country, we now meet once a month on Zoom to discuss scripture, just like we did back in the day—the scripture part, that is, not the Zoom. Back then, Zoom was a very strange kid's show on PBS. And this time around, one of their moms does not make brownies for us.
As we were going through the book of Ephesians, a question came up.
“We’ve got this Bible study, and we’ve got each other. Why do we need to be involved in a local church?"
I stopped and considered for a minute. I knew why I believed we all needed the local church, but how could I communicate this to them?
Then it hit me. Our Bible Study meets on Sunday evenings at 7:30. Michele and I had just finished watching 60 Minutes. (I once made the mistake of telling my young neighbor Jake that I watched 60 Minutes, and he responded, “Tell me you are old without telling me you are old,” Ouch.)
In spite of Jake, that evening, 60 Minutes was focused on the California wildfires. An image from all of the wildfire stories came to mind in response to the church question.
Victor Shaw, a 66-year-old man from Altadena, California, lost his life recently trying to save his home from a wildfire. When the flames came barreling toward his house, Victor stood in his yard, holding nothing but a garden hose. He fought as best he could, but it wasn’t enough. The fire overwhelmed him, and he didn’t survive. His body was found the next day, still clutching to that hose.
It’s heartbreaking. And it’s also a powerful picture of how we often try to handle life. When challenges come—whether it’s grief, temptation, doubt, or overwhelming stress—we grab our “garden hose” of personal strength, maybe even a small group of supportive friends, and try to put out the flames ourselves.
But here’s the hard truth: a garden hose isn’t enough to fight a wildfire. And trying to live out your faith—or navigate life’s biggest challenges—without the church is like standing alone against a firestorm with nothing but a trickle of water.
When a wildfire hits, people don’t call their neighbors and hope for the best—they call the fire department. Why? Because firefighters show up with more than just garden hoses.
I did a little research, and here is a small list of what the California Fire Department has at its disposal to fight wildfires.
Fire Engines & Trucks
Helicopters & Planes: For water drops and fire retardant dispersal.
Drones: Used for aerial surveillance and mapping fire behavior.
Ground Crews: Trained firefighters skilled in containing and extinguishing wildfires.
Smokejumpers: Parachute into remote areas to fight fires in hard-to-reach places.
Fire-resistant suits, helmets, gloves, and breathing apparatus.
Bulldozers & Heavy Machinery
Coordinated communication hubs for strategy, logistics, and safety oversight.
Fire Retardants & Foams
Evacuation & Emergency Support Teams
I’m going to pray I have access to all of the above if a fire comes my way. I’m not even sure if my garden hose is currently hooked up to our house.
Get the idea? The church is much like the fire department. It’s a community designed to equip, support, and stand with you in every season of life. Although it may not have a helicopter (if it does, you might consider another church… especially if the pastor's face is painted on the tail), it does have trained staff and a body of believers full of gifts ready to serve.
And the church is not just there for the fires of life; it is there for us through all stages. There were ups and downs, good times and bad. The body of Christ gives us the place where we can “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.” Romans 12:15
I also did a little research to see what the local church can offer in the different seasons of our lives. Here are just a few.
A Trained Pastoral Staff
Prayer and Worship
Great Teaching
Celebrations of Life’s Milestones
Opportunities to Serve and Make a Difference
Guidance in Navigating Life’s Transitions
A Place to Grow Spiritually
A Supportive Environment for Raising a Family
Support During Grief and Loss
Emotional and Mental Health Support
A Community That Stands With You in Sickness
Community During Seasons of Loneliness or Isolation
A Multigenerational Community
As much as I love it, my monthly Bible study with my friends can’t provide all of this. Neither can a great Christian podcast or watching a church service with our favorite preacher online. Only the full body of Christ, the church, can.
Here’s the deal: wildfires don’t give you a heads-up. They hit fast, and if you’re not prepared, the damage can be overwhelming. The time to get connected to a church isn’t after the flames start—it’s before. So when the fires of life come—and they will—you’re not standing there alone with just a garden hose. You’ve got a whole community behind you, ready to pray with you, support you, and walk through the fire together.
So, whether you’re part of a tight-knit Bible study like my friends or you’ve been flying solo in your faith for a while, I encourage you to find a local church. Get connected. And experience the fullness of the community God designed for you.
Because life’s wildfires will come. And when they do, you’ll be glad you’ve got more than just a garden hose.
Unlimited
On New Year’s Eve, a new friend I met at Bob Goff’s School of Whimsy at Disneyland, inspired our workshop group to develop a word for the new year.
I wanted to respond quickly as words like “mercy” and “grace” came to mind. But somehow, those words did not seem sufficient. They strangely seemed too limited.
Then, on New Year’s Day, it hit me. Michele and I went to see the movie Wicked the night before. We listened to the soundtrack on the way home. I listened to it as I walked the dog. Soon, I was dancing around the living room and kitchen singing “Popular” and “Loathing” to make Michele laugh (okay, and irritate her a bit). Feel free to picture this.
But one word kept coming back to me in the song. Unlimited.
In the musical Wicked, the word “unlimited” is featured prominently in two songs:
• “The Wizard and I”: Elphaba sings about her aspirations and the newfound possibilities she envisions, expressing, “Unlimited, my future is unlimited.”
• “Defying Gravity”: This pivotal number includes the line, “Unlimited, together we’re unlimited,” highlighting Elphaba’s determination to transcend boundaries.
Unlimited is the central theme within the narrative of Wicked, breaking free from constraints and embracing limitless potential.
As I thought of the new year and some of the difficult situations I encountered last year, these words from the song “Defying Gravity” rang true.
Defying Gravity
Think of what we could do… together
Unlimited
Together, we're unlimited
Together, we'll be the greatest team there's ever been
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap
It's time to try defying gravity
I think I'll try defying gravity
And you can't pull me down
I’M THROUGH ACCEPTING LIMITS
'Cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change, but 'til I try, I'll never know
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love, I guess I've lost
Well, if that's love, it comes at much too high a cost
I'd sooner buy defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down
So, my word for 2025 is “Unlimited.”
Unlimited grace, mercy, fun, playfulness, whimsy, giving, serving, and forgiveness. No more rationing. No more keeping score. No more fear of the disapproval of those who might preach grace, but then add a to-do list to the Gospel.
How? The key is the first line from the lyrics above… “Together.” Apart from Jesus, I am not capable of any of this. But through Christ? Unlimited.
The following scripture has been paraphrased to include the word unlimited, where it applies to each verse.
Unlimited Grace:
• Ephesians 2:8-9: “God’s grace is an UNLIMITED gift, saving you through faith—not because of anything you’ve done, but purely because of His generosity, so no one can boast about earning it.”
• 2 Corinthians 12:9: “God’s response is clear: ‘My grace is UNLIMITED for you. My strength shines brightest in your weaknesses.’”
Unlimited Mercy:
• Psalm 86:5: “Lord, you are always ready to forgive and overflow with UNLIMITED mercy and love for anyone who calls on You.”
• Lamentations 3:22-23: “The Lord’s love is endless, and His mercy knows no limits. Every morning brings a fresh reminder of His UNLIMITED faithfulness.”
Life to the Full:
• John 10:10: “The enemy aims to harm, but I came to give you UNLIMITED life—overflowing, abundant, and full of purpose.”
• Psalm 16:11: “You reveal the way to true living, filling me with UNLIMITED joy in Your presence and eternal pleasures at Your side.”
Unlimited Giving and Serving:
• 2 Corinthians 9:8: “God’s blessings are UNLIMITED, ensuring that in all situations you have more than enough to keep serving and giving generously.”
• 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you has received UNLIMITED gifts from God; use them to serve others, reflecting His endless grace in every act of kindness.”
Unlimited Forgiveness:
• Matthew 18:21-22: “When asked how often we should forgive, Jesus essentially said, ‘UNLIMITED times.’ There’s no cap on the forgiveness we should offer.”
• 1 John 1:9: “If we admit our mistakes, God, who is UNLIMITED in His faithfulness and justice, will forgive us without reservation and make us whole again.”
So who’s in? Who’s tired of keeping score? Who’s weary from seeking the approval of others? Who’s ready to let go of fear?
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear.” (1 John 4:18)
I encourage you to hop aboard this “unlimited” adventure with me. After all, the beauty of “unlimited” is there is always plenty of room on the train for everyone.
“This train
Carries saints and sinners
This train
Carries losers and winners
This train
Carries whores and gamblers
This train
Carries lost souls
This train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This train
Faith will be rewarded
This train
Hear the steel wheels singin'
This train
Bells of freedom ringin'
This train
Carries broken-hearted
This train
Thieves and sweet souls departed
This train
Carries fools and kings
This train
All aboard.”
Land of Hope and Dreams by Bruce Springsteen
All aboard, indeed.
Happy New Year.
When God Calls Us to Pivot: Life Lessons from *Friends* and a Wedding Dance Floor
Picture this (or take a second to watch the above video): Ross, Chandler, and Rachel crammed into a narrow stairwell, grappling with a too-large couch and a too-small space. Ross, with eyes wide and voice shrill, shouts, “Pivot! PIVOT!” as if sheer volume will move the couch itself. Chandler’s patience breaks, and his exasperated “SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UUUUUP!” echoes, sparking laughter in living rooms across the country.
But why does this moment resonate beyond the sitcom? It’s because we’ve all been there—straining under the weight of plans that we think are perfectly drawn out, only to find ourselves stuck, realizing that God is calling out, “Pivot!” The laughter fades when it’s real life, and we’re the ones trapped in the stairwell, pushing against what feels immovable.
When Our Plans Meet God’s “Pivot”
We map out our futures with meticulous care, like Ross sketching his stairwell diagram. Career paths, relationships, family—everything is planned out. Yet, just when we think we have the perfect plan, God clears His throat, and calls out His divine “Pivot!”
Joseph, from the Bible, is a perfect example. He probably envisioned an easy life, tending sheep and growing old with a simple, happy family. Instead, he found himself betrayed, enslaved, and imprisoned, each step seeming further from his dreams. Imagine him in that dark cell, feeling the echo of “Pivot!” off the stone walls. Every detour was a redirection, shaping him into the leader who would eventually save his people and reunite his family.
Moses faced a similar turn. Raised in privilege, he likely thought his story would continue with Egyptian luxury until rage led him to murder and exile. Years into his new life as a shepherd, God’s “Pivot!” appeared as a burning bush, sending him back to Egypt to free a nation. You can almost hear his internal voice, Chandler-like in disbelief: “Shut up, God. I can’t do this.” But God knew what Moses couldn’t yet see—that this pivot was precisely where he needed to be.
The Wedding Pivot
I was reminded of this divine course correction recently at a wedding I had the honor of officiating. My high school friend, Page, asked me to preside over her daughter Anna Kate’s big day. As we talked about the ceremony, it became clear that Anna Kate’s father wouldn’t be part of the traditional walk down the aisle. A major pivot was needed.
Instead of her father, Page walked her daughter down the aisle. The two were radiant! As Page led Anna Kate toward her future, we exchanged a look only longtime friends could share. Tears welled up—my tears! It was beautiful!!!
Brian and his high school friend, Page Patton.
But God had more in store. During the reception, instead of a Father-Daughter dance, there was a Mother-Daughter-Sister dance. Page reached out to another old friend, Nancy, who had been on the dance team with her in high school, to choreograph something special.
When the music began—“You Got the Best of My Love” by The Emotions—Page, Anna Kate, and her sister Sarah took to the dance floor with pure, unfiltered joy. The crowd erupted, and Nancy cheered from the sidelines, mimicking every move. Huge smiles all around. I have no doubt that God was smiling. Don't take my word for it, watch the dance below.
Trusting the Director of the Pivot
At the end of the Friends scene, the couch is damaged, stuck between floors. While Ross’s “Pivot!” ends in frustration, God’s doesn’t. The path He redirects us to might not be easier, but it’s infinitely better.
So, next time you find yourself on that narrow stairwell of life, frustrated and wanting to yell, “Shut up!” to the heavens, take a breath. Listen for the whisper or shout of “Pivot!” and trust it. You may just find that God’s plan holds more love, joy, and light than you ever dreamed.
A Tale of Two Yards
My son, David, moved into a house in Plano just a couple of weeks ago. After helping him move in one Saturday morning, I noticed two distinct neighboring front yards on his street. Each presented diametrically opposing views regarding the upcoming political election.
One side was pro-Trump, with a wide variety of signs including a full-sized cardboard cut-out of him. The yard next door was pro-Harris, with numerous signs as well.
Below are just a few that caught my eye -
“Haters Gonna Hate”
“You Can’t Fix Stupid, But You Can Vote it Out”
“My Dog is Smarter Than Harris”
“Trump for Prison”
“Sheep for Harris”
“Pro-America / Anti-Trump”
“Trump Was Right About Everything”
“Illegals for Harris”
“Grab Him By the Ballot”
Seeing the neighbor's animosity displayed so clearly and colorfully in opposing front yards, I could not help but remember a story told by one of my favorite singer/songwriters, David Wilcox.
Carpenter Story by David Wilcox (Click to listen along.)
I don't know how long it had been, since these neighbors had even talked to each other.
I think it had been about two years, maybe.
And it started over the dumbest thing. It was just that stray cat.
I mean, one of them thought it was theirs and then it went over to the other porch there, across the little field, the valley there.
And the other farmer took it in. Each of them thought it was their cat, and every time they'd start talking, they'd start arguing about it.
And then they just quit talking.
And so that when the traveler came through looking for work, one farmer said, "Well, yeah. You say you're a carpenter, I've got some work for you."
"You see that house across this field here? Well, that's my damn neighbor!"
"You see this little ditch here in the middle? Well, he calls that the creek!"
"He dug that with his plow! He went up on the hill and changed the way the spring comes down!"
"The creek! It's got a little trickle running through there."
"Well, if he's gonna try to divide us up with that thing, I'll jus' as soon finish the job. I want a fence - all the way across. I don't even want to have to look at him! Can you do that?”
And this carpenter says, "Well, yeah, I could do that. I would need a whole lot more wood. But I could get started with what you've got in the shed there, you'd have to go into town."
And by the time that farmer comes back, driving up that ole rutted road in his truck, full of that lumber. And he looks out into that field, where his new fence ought to be, and that carpenter has built… a... bridge!
Out of his wood! Onto his land! And here comes his neighbor! Walking across his bridge, walking onto his land, hand outstretched, big ol' stupid smile on his face.
Coming right up to his truck, and his neighbor says, "You're, you're a brave man, I didn't think you'd ever want to hear the sound of my voice again. I feel like such a damn fool, can you, can you forgive me?"
And this farmer finds himself saying, "Awww, hell, I knew that was your cat!"
And he looks over, and the carpenter is walking away, and he says, "Hey! Hey, I've got some more work for ya, if you want!"
The carpenter says, "You'll be fine... I'm needed elsewhere."
What about you? Built any walls lately where you might need to think about building a bridge instead? I can think of a few walls I’ve built over the years where Jesus is most likely to prefer I put a bridge. I’d bet he’d even help me build it if I would just ask.
Michele and I have been attending a new church as of late. Our pastor is in the middle of a series on the fruits of the spirit. He says this was planned well in advance and “just happened” to take place during the election season. God has a funny way of working those things out.
Anyway, Sunday’s fruit was peace, something I have been in desperate need of these past many months. The children’s choir performed a song during the service called “Seeds.”
The kids sang…
“If you want a world of peace, plant peace
In our hands we hold the seeds
To sow what our world needs.
If you want a world of peace, plant peace.”
The song took me back to the two neighbors and their yard signs. What exactly do we plant with our political yard signs, bumper stickers, and social media posts full of rhetoric?
I admit, as an 8 on the Enneagram, I'm a challenger and tend to run into a fight. I want to make my point and sometimes not so kindly. But next time I go to plant a stake in the ground on a particular position I may hold, I’ll have to ask myself, “Is this a seed of peace that I am planting?”
Let’s strive for bridges, not walls, my friends. A pretty good carpenter taught us that over 2000 years ago.
After all, the song does not say, “They will know we are Christians by our political yard signs.” Nor does it mention how loud we yell, our protests, bumper stickers, or social media posts.
“And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love.”
A Thin Place
There is a scene in the movie “The Sound of Music” that always puzzled me. The Von Trapp children do a musical number in front of the staircase of their expansive Austrian mansion to say goodnight to all the guests attending their father’s party. In various groupings, they sing the song “So Long, Farewell” along with some light choreography as they each leave the party and climb the stairs.
Now the children’s performance was quite impressive, but that is to be expected being that Sister Maria (Julie Andrews) probably had them rehearsing the number day and night for the past many weeks. You never know when you might need a well-rehearsed musical number to escape your father’s dull party or to perform when the Nazis are taking over your country and you need a quick escape from the Salzburg Music Festival. (Either way, you can never be too prepared.)
Children’s performance aside, it’s the performance of the guests at the party that baffles me. For the last verse, Gretl, the littlest Von Trapp, takes her place alone on the steps and sings…
[Gretel]: The sun has gone
To bed and so must I
[All Children]: So long, farewell
Auf Wiederseh'n, goodbye
Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye
[Guests - in perfect harmony & unison while simultaneously raising their arms to wave goodbye in perfectly choreographed movement): Goodbye!!!
How did the guests know their part? Now, I know it was only one word, but it was sung in the right key, in flawless harmony! Their hands all raised with the precision of a synchronized swim team. The choreographed wave was worthy of the Queen on the balcony greeting her subjects.
Did these people attend a rehearsal? Had they done this before? Do they tour around to different parties with these kids doing the same number each night? These are questions I want answered.
I bring all of this up because I was witness to a similar scene the other weekend. Michele and I attended a lovely wedding in Waco, Texas. A Young Life staff person and friend, Jordan Mocek, was getting married to a young man, Case Kooy, whom she met at Young Life’s Crooked Creek Ranch in Colorado.
It was a beautiful wedding, simple yet elegant. The bride and the groom could not stop smiling at each other. The groomsmen and bridesmaids must have numbered 20+ as they stood together at the small front of the venue, smiles on their faces as well.
When it came time for the couple to celebrate communion together, a young man with an acoustic guitar and a young woman with a violin played a worship song, “The Goodness of God.”
“… I love You, Lord
Oh, Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God”
That’s when it happened. The congregation started singing. I began to look around and there were no words on a screen, no programs with lyrics, and no hymnals to be found. Somehow they all knew the words. And this was not an easy lyric like the Von Trapp guests singing, “Goodbye.” This song had 332 words! (I counted.)
The singing started faintly, but soon gained strength from the crowd.
“… And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God”
Slowly each of the groomsmen and bridesmaids were singing. The bride and groom joined in. Finally, the officiant’s lips began to slowly move. He was singing too!
“… 'Cause Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
With my life laid down, I'm surrendered now
I give You everything…”
I immediately thought, “Did I miss a rehearsal?” Was there homework I had missed to learn this song before the ceremony? How does everyone know this song?
And then I, from my chair, with no lights shining bright,
Sat wondering and wondering, "Is this really right?"
The song came without fog, without booming or flash,
No screens filled with lyrics, no drum set to crash.
And I puzzled and puzzled 'till my puzzler was sore,
Then I thought of something I had not before:
What if worship, I thought, doesn’t need all the show?
What if worship, perhaps, is where hearts freely flow?
(Sorry, I read a lot of Dr. Seuss as a kid.)
And then I came to my senses and soaked in the moment. I soaked in the words.
“Your goodness is running after, it's running after me”
These family and friends who had gathered were singing truth over this young couple and they were soaking it in. It was contagious. You could not help but smile.
In my eyes, God’s goodness needs to run no more. Time stood still. God’s goodness covered and surrounded the bride and groom. You could not miss it. I did not want it to end.
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness;
He will quiet you by his love;
He will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)
As I described this moment to my friend and counselor, Bill Bush, he said, “That’s what we call a thin place.”
I had to look it up.
'The Celtic saints often referred to somewhere as a “thin place”. This referred to when the spiritual atmosphere of a location made it easy to connect with God, almost as though there is no barrier between heaven and earth…” (celticglory.com)
It was a “thin place” indeed.
Why do I share this story? Well, the more weddings I attend the more I find myself asking the question, “Are we really wedding guests or are we just movie extras?”
The “thin place” that could be at each wedding ceremony and that we all long for seems overly thick with multiple photographers and an entire film crew eager to capture the social media perfect moment. The bride and groom are hard to see through the media entourage and multiple wedding coordinators.
I wonder how often in our daily lives we miss what God has for us in the present moment while trying to capture it for viewing in the future or sharing on the internet?
This was a moment we all leaned into. Two young people, who met while giving their lives away so that others might know Jesus, were becoming one. It was sacred and holy, not spoiled by the trappings of this world.
I know I am guilty of missing these “thin places” and holy moments again and again. My life is overly saturated with meetings, deadlines, anxiety, stress, social media, and too much noise creating an insurmountable barrier between Heaven and Earth. The weight of it all can crush your soul and muffle God’s voice to below a whisper.
I need the “thin places” and I need to do whatever it takes not to miss them. Schedules need to be cleared, and excessive cargo needs to be jettisoned.
If I had proclaimed myself too busy to make the 3-hour round trip drive to Waco to attend this wedding, I would have missed the holy moment. I’m glad I didn’t.
How many holy moments have you missed lately because you were too burdened, busy, or distracted?
That’s got to change.
Maybe God’s goodness would not have to run after us like the song says if we would just slow down or just stop.
While Michele and I may have given Jordan and Case a wedding gift (a lovely cutting board), they were the ones who gave the true gift that day. They provided a thin place to all their guests.
So thank you, Jordon and Case Kooy for the gift. And it’s good to know that’s not the first miracle Jesus performed at a wedding and it certainly won’t be His last.
Have You Become a Spectator in Your Worship Experience?
“Do you hear the people sing?”
It’s a line from from a “Les Mis” song, but recently it came into my head during a worship service I attended.
Why? Quite simply, I could not hear the people sing. At least all of the people around me. Even though most of their mouths were moving, they could not be heard. Don’t get me wrong, I did hear singing, but it was coming from the stage. Well, actually, it was also coming from the numerous speakers all around the sanctuary.
As I stood there in that worship service, I began to wonder if I was even necessary. If I left, would anyone on stage leading the worship even notice? Although I was only a few rows back in the sanctuary, I was covered in darkness. That combined with the numerous spotlights on the worship team must have blinded them to seeing anyone in the crowd. Besides, I think they were looking over me towards the teleprompters on the back wall as the lyrics scrolled by.
Back to the hearing part. I realized that it was not just the fact that the congregation was being overpowered by the worship team that kept our voices from being heard or needed. Those who were leading us had in-ear monitors plugging their ears and could only hear the band and their own voices singing.
They were all caught in a fog. I mean that literally. From somewhere of the stage, fog was rolling in. Someone must have left the door open… in London.
As I began to think about the darkened sanctuary, blinding stage spotlights, the large speakers, the ear monitors, and the fog billowing in, a bigger escape plan came to mind. What if we all left? Would they notice, or just keep going?
Prisoners have successfully escaped jail with fewer diversions on their side than all the ones I’ve listed above. I bet they dream of a foggy night, the cover of darkness, guards blinded by bright spotlights with their ears plugged, and a noisy diversion to keep them from being heard.
Why would I want to leave? Because I want to join in the chorus, not be drowned out by it. I want to be necessary. I want the congregation to be necessary. I want to be able to hear the people around me sing. I don’t want to feel like I am in the studio audience of American Worship Idol waiting to cast my vote for my favorite worship leader to advance to the next round.
I can hear you now. You are too old, Summerall. You sound like those two cranky old guys up in the balcony on the Muppet Show. (…and let’s be honest, I’m also starting to look like them too… both of them).
That may be true, but please know that I have attended some type of contemporary worship service for the past 40 years at various churches. Over time, it seems the singers have gotten louder, the fog thicker, the spotlights brighter and the rest of the room darker.
Elements of worship that I once welcomed have now become worrisome for me. I’m not saying the bright stage lighting, loud volume, and style are in the least bit unbiblical or theologically wrong at all. Many people obviously find it helpful to their worship experience. I am just speaking for where I find myself today. Who knows? Maybe some of you can relate.
Maybe in my old age, I long for something I once knew.
Before I began following Jesus, growing up I attended an Episcopal Church near my childhood home. Now the fact that I was not following Jesus was not any fault of this church. That part was all on me. I do remember, though, that in this particular sanctuary, the singers and the musical instruments were in the choir loft BEHIND the congregation. Nothing stood between the congregation and the cross. Even with the musicians not in the spotlight, we still knew when and how to sing.
Michele and I visited a new church on Easter this year. Simply based on the time of the services, we wound up at this church’s traditional service. It was eye-opening. Literally. The lights stayed on the entire service and you could see the people around you. Not only that, I could hear them sing! And sadly for them... they could hear me sing as well.
I could not wipe the smile off of my face as we all sang together.
“Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia…”
I got chills.
As this particular church was in the middle of a sermon series on Exodus, the music reminded me of how just after the Israelites passed safely through the Red Sea and God destroyed the army of Egypt it says…
“Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD.”
Exodus 15:1 ESV
The leader and the people sang TOGETHER.
I think what I have been missing is the “together” part of worship. Not being able to be seen or heard did not make me feel like I was worshiping together with anyone.
Then it hit me. I had become a spectator in my own worship experience. Over time I felt completely unnecessary and I just gave up. The darkness seemed isolating.
How about you? Have you become a spectator in your own worship experience?
This experience can certainly happen to someone in a more traditional style of service. Whether it be volume, lighting, and fog, or choirs, organs, and liturgy, we can all fall into passivity and wind up as spectators.
I don’t think that’s what God has in mind for us when it comes to worship.
It’s a slippery slope when moving from participant to spectator.
We leave the worship to the professionals and stay quiet in the dark like we are watching a concert or movie.
Next thing you know we are a spectator when it comes to God’s Word. The Pastor will study it for me and I’ll just listen to him.
Service? Well, that’s for missionaries. I’ll just give money, send them, and watch the slide show or video they bring on “Outreach Sunday.”
That’s how you go from participant to spectator no matter what style of service you attend.
I’m afraid we’ve got it flipped. We should be moving people from spectator to participant.
That’s what I learned in my 35 years on staff with Young Life. It may be hard for you to imagine, but I played guitar and led music during my Young Life days in well over 1,000 gatherings. In those meetings, music was always used to move kids from spectator to participant. If you can move a disinterested kid spectating from the back wall of the room to a participant clapping (in or out of rhythm) and singing (on or off key) to a Taylor Swift song or Sweet Home Alabama, then you are beginning to move them from spectator to participant in the Gospel as well.
In every Young Life club I’ve ever led in Waco, Richardson, or at summer camp, the last couple of songs were more worshipful and full of Truth. For each of these songs, we would back off the microphones. The guitars would be turned down. The room lights are on. The last chorus would be sung acapella.
Why? Because people need to hear themselves sing. In community. In unison. They need to look to their left and right and see their friends singing Truth. They need words of Truth and the Gospel washing over them. Whether they know Jesus or not, their faces change. The room changes. And soon, lives change. I’ve seen it.
In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, we read that Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn after establishing the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26).
I picture it much like I just described the last couple of songs of a Young Life club. Acapella. They can see each other’s faces. They can hear each other sing. Truth washes over the disciples. Truth also sings with them. The room changes. And soon, the world will change.
Bottom Line: Spotlights, ear monitors, giant video screens, fog machines, choir robes, organs, and electric guitars can all have a place in our worship. They just can’t take our place in worship.
Check yourself this Sunday morning.
Are you a spectator or a participant?
Did you lean into the worship and the Word or did you lean back and watch?
Did you actively engage with others before, during, and after the service or did you head straight to your car and head home as if you just finished watching a movie?
I’ll be checking myself as well this Sunday. I no longer want to watch from the sidelines whether it be worship, God’s Word, or service.
To quote John Fogerty in the song “Centerfield” - “Put me in Coach! I’m ready to play today.”
I hope you are too.
When the Coast is Clear
“That's when it always happens
Same time every year
I come down to talk to me
When the coast is clear.”
- Jimmy Buffet
The ocean has always been a place of reflection and renewal for me. For some, it is the mountains. For me, it has always been the water.
Recently, Michele and I headed out to Hilton Head Island for the week. Our oldest, David, joined us to celebrate his 24th birthday. Our youngest, Daniel, was on Spring Break and joined us as well.
Hilton Head is not a big spring break destination, so the island was not the least bit crowded. My morning walk on the beach is reflected in the picture above and Jimmy Buffett’s lyrics from the song, “When the Coast is Clear.” The coast truly was clear each morning, offering only an occasional walker who would exchange a knowing nod with me.
Buffett’s song goes on to say…
Hello mister other me
It's been a long time
We hardly get to have these chats
That in itself's a crime
So tell me all your troubles
I'll surely tell you mine
I find the “other me” at the ocean. My guard comes down. My schedule stops. My constantly racing mind slows down. I am reminded of who I am.
The ocean reminds me of the vastness of God and the depths of His love for me. Whenever I stand at the foot of the relentless waves and unknown depths where I can no longer hold onto any illusion of control, I recall God’s words from Job 38 of the Old Testament.
Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?
Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,
when I fixed limits for it
and set its doors and bars in place,
when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
here is where your proud waves halt?
Have you ever given orders to the morning,
or shown the dawn its place,
Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
or walked in the recesses of the deep?
Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all this.
Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
and a path for the thunderstorm,
to satisfy a desolate wasteland
and make it sprout with grass?
Can you raise your voice to the clouds
and cover yourself with a flood of water?
Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?
Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens…
The ocean reminds me of who is really in control, who is truly worthy of our worship, and of the one who can be trusted.
The ocean humbles me before the Creator.
It also reminds me of the One who washes me clean.
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me …” Psalm 51:1-2
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool." Isaiah 1:18
I need a regular trip to the ocean. Not to improve my tan or work on my golf game but for humility and healing.
These past few months, I have been in desperate need of both. God delivered at just the right time.
Always remember…
"Who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name." Jeremiah 31:34-35
I am thankful (and so should you be) that it does not read, “Brian Summerall is his name.”
I think we all need that reminder on a regular basis.
See you at the shore.
Happy Birthday, Dad
This past weekend, on January 27th, was my Dad's birthday. He would have been 93. We lost Dad at age 88 in 2019 after a long battle with Alzheimer's.
On his birthday, I can't help but look back and remember my Dad and the fact that he was the giver of good gifts.
One of my earliest memories of my Father is from the early 70s. It was early evening, and we were running errands. I was in the back seat of his Chevrolet Caprice Classic company car. The radio was on KVIL 103.7. Glenn Campbell's song, "Rhinestone Cowboy," was playing, and an early elementary school Brian Summerall was quietly singing along.
Picture 7-year-old me singing, "…and I'll dream of the things I'll do, with a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my shoe."
Strangely, even though our errands were finished, Dad pulled into the parking lot of a K-Mart. He parked, looked back at me, and said, "I'll be right back." In the 70s, leaving your child in a locked car in a dark parking lot at night was okay.
About 15 minutes later, Dad returned to the car. He reached into the backseat and handed me a record. It was the 45th single of "Rhinestone Cowboy."
I can't hear that song today without thinking of that moment and the spontaneous gift.
Dad was like that. Occasionally, he would have to pick me up from Junior High when mom had a conflict. He always had a bottled Dr. Pepper (glass… the best!) and a bag of "Lance" peanuts from the bank break room vending machine waiting for me as I got in his car.
Years later, when I became an adult, he'd show up at my front door with a jacket from Costco, Alaskan salmon he'd picked up from Central Market, or a bag of fresh peaches from East Texas. He'd buy me lunch every Friday with golf buddies from Preston Trail. His gift-giving went from Rhinestone Cowboy to college tuition for my kids.
Dad, like any father, had his faults, but when it came to gifts to his children, he modeled out what our heavenly Father is like.
"For God so love the world that he GAVE." John 3:16
"If you then, being imperfect parents, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:11
Not only does the giving of good gifts come to mind when I think of Dad, but I also think of our home at the corner of Cliffbrook Drive and Briar Cove.
Dad's last year was spent in a hospital bed in the middle of the living room of that home. When I would visit, I would remind him we had been in that house for 48 years.
"This is kind of a nice place where you kids grew up," he would smile and say, often with his eyes still closed. He was right.
I remember the day we first went to look at that home when I was 7. Dad had gone ahead of us to see it, and my sisters and I met him later with Mom.
We gleefully ran from room to room, claiming our spaces, and imaged what it would be like to live there. On the way home with Mom in the station wagon, we pleaded with her, begging, "Can we get it? Can we get it?"
She replied, "Your father will do his best."
And he did. Soon came the 1970 September day when I left for school from our old house at 6518 LBJ Freeway (yes, we lived on the freeway) and then walked home after school to the new house.
Flash forward to a November Sunday night in 2018, when I locked up the house for the last time, alone… just after the funeral home people took Dad away.
As I stood by his empty hospital bed in our living room of 48 years…
Just five feet from where we decorated the Christmas tree as kids
Right where we played on the floor with the dogs
Beside the chair where he read the morning news, and we listened to KRLD Sports Central and the Tex Schramm and Tom Landry shows together
A few feet from where I took my prom picture with Lindsey Zavitz by the front door…
The Wonder Years theme music began to play in my head… then I heard the narration from the show.
"There was a time when the world was enormous, spanning the vast, almost infinite boundaries of your neighborhood. The place where you grew up, where you didn't think twice about playing on someone else's lawn. The street was your territory that occasionally got invaded by a passing car. It was where you didn't get called home until after it was dark. And all the people and all the houses that surrounded you were as familiar as the things in your own room."
"Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day, you're in diapers; the next day, you're gone. But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul. I remember a place… a neighborhood… a house… like a lot of other houses, a yard like a lot of other yards, on a street like many other streets. There were moments that made us cry with laughter. And there were moments, like this one, of sorrow… And the thing is... after all these years, I still look back… with wonder."
It dawned on me as I stood in the quiet, in the now empty living room, in the house I grew up in.
Alzheimer's did not get the final word in Dad's life. Jesus did.
Because… just like my Father prepared a place for us in Northwood Hills, our Heavenly Father does the same.
"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'" John 14:1-3,6
Just like in 1971, I woke up in one home, left, and then walked home to the new Summerall home my Dad prepared for us.
Dad woke up that 2019 November Sunday morning in our earthly home on the corner of Cliffbrook and Briar Cove. That evening, Jesus walked him home to his eternal home.
For you see, love prepares a place.
One day, we will all wake up in our earthly homes, but as believers, we will be walked to the eternal home our Heavenly Father prepared for us.
It won't be long. I'll see you soon, Dad. And if you could have a bottled Dr. Pepper waiting with a bag of Lance peanuts from heaven's break room, you won't hear any complaints from me.
Kicking Christmas To The Curb?
The joke's on the Christmas tree, New Year's is here
The king of the living room's out on his ear
You take back the gifts that you laid at his feet
And you drag the old tannenbaum out to the street
We took back the star that he thought was his crown
We packed up in papers his bright-colored gown
The lights and the ornaments back on the shelf
His majesty now can take of himself
In a ditch by the roadside he dies like a dog
What once was the Christmas tree now is a log
Broken brown branches half-buried in snow
Are bones of a hero one Christmas ago
But if you look closely, it's easy to see
A tangle of tinsel is caught in the tree
That one badge of honor is all that remains
Of those glorious Christmas tree evergreen days
Evergreen No More by David Wilcox
Okay, the above lyrics by David Wilcox might be a bit extreme, but they do ring true. And if the much anticipated and celebrated Christmas tree does not wind up on the curb, it winds up disassembled and packed up in a box in the dark attic for the next 11 months.
This year, I’m finding that I’m not that anxious to take our Christmas tree down.
Now, I admit that initially, I was not that anxious to put it up, either. Getting up in the attic to get the decorations down, now that the kids are out of the house, takes some extra motivation.
But now that the tree is up and the lights are shining brightly each evening, I wonder if we can keep it up to Valentine's Day.
Why? The tree and its lights bring hope. That’s what they were initially intended for.
Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope that spring would soon come.
According to Scandinavian and Norse traditions, fir trees commemorated the life that stirs even in the most frigid grips of winter.
Evergreens were once brought into the home as symbols of protection. These evergreens were alight with candles. The idea was to “light up” the darkest, coldest conditions.
Saint Boniface, an English Benedictine monk, declared that the evergreen, with its branches pointing to heaven, was a holy tree - the tree of the Christ child and a symbol of His promise of eternal life.
I don’t know about you, but I could always use a bright reminder of hope.
Without hope, it might as well be winter - dark and dreary all year round.
Reminds me of the White Witch in the Chronicles of Narnia.
"The White Witch?" said Edmund; "who's she?"
"She is a perfectly terrible person," said Lucy. "She calls herself the Queen of Narnia though she has no right to be queen at all… And she has made a magic so that it is always winter in Narnia—always winter, but it never gets to Christmas.”
No Christmas! No Spring! No hope!
So, I might just leave that tree up a little longer. You see, as I watch the evening news filled with stories of the war in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, the border crisis, another mass shooting, and grown adults bickering like children in the name of a “Presidential” election… I need to glance over and see those lights.
I need to see those beautiful branches pointing towards heaven. I need the “tree of the Christ child” and the promise of eternal life. I need to be reminded that these troubles of the world won't last forever.
Why would I stuff those things in a box in the attic? Who throws hope to the curb?
We need the hope of Christ all year long.
The song “We Need a Little Christmas” originated in the 1966 Broadway hit Mame and was sung by Angela Landsberry (Yes, Murder She Wrote). After the stock market crash of 1929, Auntie Mame tries to hurry up the Christmas preparations, even though it’s still November, hoping it will help take her mind off her lost fortune.
”For I've grown a little leaner, grown a little colder
Grown a little sadder, grown a little older
And I need a little angel sitting on my shoulder
Need a little Christmas now”
Like Auntie Mame, we could all use a bit of light and hope no matter the month or season.
Can’t muster up the gumption to pull the tree off the curb? (I get it). Maybe try one of these four tips to keep hope alive even when things seem their darkest.
1. Gratitude Journaling: Take a few minutes each day to write down things you are grateful for.
"Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Ephesians 5:20
2. Connect with Friends and Loved Ones: Reach out! Grab lunch! Find those people who love you. Encourage one another. Laugh hard together!
“And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone…” Genesis 2:18
“Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
3. Scripture Post-it Notes: Remember when mom would leave you an encouraging note on the napkin in your sack lunch? Leave yourself a few encouraging notes from scripture on post-it notes on your dashboard, mirror, or desk.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path." Psalm 119:105
4. Volunteer: Take the focus off of yourself. Find a way to serve others.
"If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it." Luke 17:33
The Summerall Christmas Tree
Remember, everyone's journey is unique, so finding what works best for you is important. But for me? That tree is going to avoid that attic till at least February.
“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1
Oh Holy Night
Written December 25, 2016
I spent Christmas Eve, not in the way I expected last night. My friend, Tod Bush, passed away a couple of days ago. While his brain showed no activity, his body was kept alive on a respirator for the last two days. So yesterday evening, I went up to the hospital for one last earthly goodbye and to try to find some closure.
What I found instead was hope.
You see, Tod was an organ donor, and his body was kept alive so he could serve as a gift to many with no hope. After a tearful “I love you, and I’ll see you in Heaven,” and a final prayer, I sat with his family in the waiting room as this friend I love became the ultimate gift on Christmas.
In the midst of pain and heartbreak, hope entered in right about 8:00 pm in the form of a blue cooler that rolled into the room.
It was accompanied by an EMT and two heart surgeons (one in scrubs and one in golf pants and hat) from North Carolina. They had just landed at Addison Airport and arrived by ambulance. One of the surgeons told us Tod’s heart was going to a man who desperately needed it in North Carolina. While the surgeons were rushed to the operating room with their cooler, we sat with the EMT for two hours and told her about Tod.
Next thing we knew, the EMT got up, the surgeons rushed by, thanked us and told us everything went perfectly, and Tod’s heart rolled out the door in that blue cooler and boarded a private plane to North Carolina.
Jesus gave Tod a new heart when he accepted him at Frontier Ranch 30 years ago. On Christmas Eve, Tod gave that heart to a man in North Carolina to save his life.
“Love so amazing. Love so divine.”
Within minutes, the next EMT rushed in with the lung team. We told her about Tod and his love of the Dallas Mavericks. We told her about the man in North Carolina who would get Tod’s heart and would soon be wondering why he has a strange desire to watch Mavericks games.
After about an hour, his lungs rushed out the door to save a man in Florida.
“Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7
The same lungs that God breathed life into for Tod would now give life to a man in Florida. The lungs that climbed mountains so countless kids could hear about Jesus would now give life at sea level.
“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices.”
It went on all night. They took his eyes so a blind man could see.
“Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?”
He gave everything… heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, eyes, skin, bones, tissue. Coolers rolled out, and planes took off one after another, filled with gifts of hope.
Tod gave everything so that people who had no hope on Christmas Eve would receive the gift of life on Christmas morning.
What’s truly amazing about all of this and the reason it truly stirs our hearts is that Tod’s story is really God’s story. What Tod did for so many last night, God did for all of us on Christmas.
Like the man in North Carolina, God’s word says our heart is defective.
“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9
We are in desperate need of a transplant. Without a donor, we have no hope… no life.
On Christmas Eve, God entered the story. But instead of hope in a rolling cooler, we find it in a manger. Hope entered the world in a baby. Jesus. God with us.
A world with no hope on Christmas Eve, was given the gift of life on Christmas day.
“He came that we might have life and life to the full.” - John 10:10
And just like Tod, God gave everything.
“For God so loved the world, that he GAVE his only son…” John 3:16
“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering… and by his wounds, we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5
The ultimate gift.
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” John 1:12
Those who received Tod’s gifts last night got a new life. Those who receive God’s gift today get eternal life.
New heart, new breath, new sight, new life.
So in the midst of heartache and loss last night, I saw God’s story.
I saw what God did for me. I saw hope.
I saw Jesus in Tod when he lived. I experienced Jesus in Tod when he died.
“A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born.”
Alabama, Advent & Hope
Hope. It’s what the first candle of Advent represents. Advent is a time of waiting and anticipation. We celebrate the birth of Jesus and wait with hope for His return.
But what about the other things we hope for and are waiting for in the meantime? What about the places in our lives where we find it hard to have hope?
Our circumstances can sometimes feel insurmountable. Not to trivialize, but I was reminded of that impossible feeling as I watched the end of the recent Alabama/Auburn game.
There were 43 seconds left on the clock.
Alabama trailed their in-state rival Auburn by four points.
It was the 4th down and they had 31 yards to go to score. This would be Alabama’s last play.
A conference championship was on the line. A College Football Playoff spot lay in the balance.
One play.
Realize that teams struggle to convert a 4th and 2, let alone a 4th and 31. Most teams punt on a 4th and 2, but that was not an option here.
Anything short of a touchdown, and the game and season were over.
4th and 31 is pretty much the definition of hopelessness.
Even if you have seen what happened, look again at the video below. Pay close attention to what the commentators, players, and coaches say.
What they say might give us all a roadmap to hope.
Now, let’s look at the quotes in order and see where they lead us.
1. “It was over.”
In other words, it seemed there was no hope. There was no way out of this one. We all have situations like that in our lives. That place where it seems all hope is gone. Maybe it’s a relationship, a prodigal child, an addiction, a financial issue, or a work issue.
2. “There aren’t many plays in the book for 4th and 31.”
You’ve come to the end of your playbook. You’ve tried everything on earth and are at a loss.
Perhaps you can relate to Job when he said, “Where then is my hope— who can see any hope for me?” (Job 17:15)
3. "I pretty much had the losing story already written.”
Oh, how I am guilty of this so many times. I grab the pen from God and write the end of the story. And when I see no hope, the scripts I write in my head are always losing endings. The negative self-talk (or “monkey chatter," as my wife would call it) gets louder and louder in my mind.
4. “I decided to look up and watch and see.”
In the midst of our 4th and 31, we may have exhausted our playbook here on earth and gone as far as we can on our own strength, but maybe it’s time we drop our playbook and look up.
“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)
“Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!" (1 Samuel 12:16)
5. "Believe it or not, we actually practice that play.”
Alabama did not suddenly come up with that winning play or accidentally stumble upon it. No! They practiced it each day at the end of every practice! In a way, you could say that they “practiced hope.”
We need to practice hope as well. It is a muscle that needs exercising; otherwise, it will atrophy and weaken. We are too weak to sustain our personal 4th and 31.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
6. “Alabama found a way to climb out of that grave.”
Thankfully, God does not leave us to find a way out of our circumstances under our own power. If that were the case, we really would have no hope.
“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.” (Romans 6:10)
“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead…” (Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT)
7. “Thank you!!! Thank you very much!!!”
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Overcoming your 4th and 31 situation may not play out like Alabama’s. There might not be as clear of a victory with a marching band and screaming fans. Even so, Paul instructs us to give thanks in ALL circumstances.
No matter what the final play is, we give thanks.
I know how Alabama’s 4th and 31 turned out. But the one I am personally struggling with right now? I have no clue how this one will turn out. But I am thankful for hope. Hope in the Lord.
You see, earthly hope depends on how hard you wish or how many fingers you cross. Heavenly hope is dependent on the strength of the one you hope in. God.
I’m thankful He is much more potent than my wishes and crossed fingers.
Your story is not entirely written, and neither is mine.
God’s book has no shortage of plays for your 4th and 31.
We would all do well to remember that this first week of Advent.
Jimmy Buffett Wisdom
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" (Matthew 14:30)
That's where the young woman stopped the devotional she was giving to our Young Life camp team meeting. She closed her Bible and stopped reading, leaving Peter drowning and crying out for help.
"I'm not going any further," she said. "I feel like I'm drowning, and I need to know I'm not the only one. The rest of you seem like you have it all together, and I feel alone."
It's funny how we sometimes buy the "Facebook image" other people project. We believe the lie that everyone else's life is a luxurious all-you-can-eat cruise passing us by while we are sinking beneath the waves.
Do you ever feel that way? I know I do. And the holidays can have a tendency to make the waves seem higher and the water much deeper. Due to different circumstances these past few years, the holidays seem to bring that sinking feeling for me. Everyone else is cruising by, and I feel like I'm drowning.
Oh, I try my best to look like I have it together, but that does not change the sinking truth. The fact is that experts will tell you that actual drowning doesn't really look like drowning. In 10 percent of real drownings, adults are nearby but have no idea the victim needs help.
I feel like my life often portrays that same idea. How many people around me, looking at it from the outside, would have any idea I feel like i'm drowning? Probably very few. I attend the parties, lead the workshops, and continue through life, often with a sinking feeling on the inside.
The outward appearance betrays the truth beneath the surface.
If you are feeling that way during the upcoming holiday season, I found some wisdom that was encouraging to me in what might be considered the unlikely source of Jimmy Buffet. (And no, the solution is not a beach and a margarita… though I bet that couldn't hurt.)
Like so many, I was saddened by Jimmy Buffett's recent passing. It didn't come as a surprise, though. Strangely enough, we have a mutual friend who had informed me before his death that he only had months to live. A rare form of skin cancer had taken its toll.
Knowing this, I had listened to much of his older music again over the past many months. But recently, a new song released after his death took me by surprise.
The song is called "Bubbles Up." While it sounds like a new soft drink or a song about a champagne toast, it proves to be much deeper than that.
It turns out that "Bubbles up" was a term Buffet learned in a survival training course he took. In a boat that's capsized or a plane that's crashed into the water, following the bubbles as they always rise to the surface will lead you to safety. The same goes for disoriented scuba divers who are not sure which way is up.
So, for those of us who might feel like we are drowning this holiday season and are not sure which way is up, let me share this Buffett wisdom.
When this world starts a-reelin'
From that pressure drop feelin'
We're just treading water each day
There's a way to feel better
Be well set to weather
The storms 'til the sun shines again
When your compass is spinnin'
And you're lost on the way
Like a leaf in the wind, friend
Hear me when I say
Bubbles up
They will point you towards home
No matter how deep or how far you roam
They will show you the surface, the plot and the purpose
So, when the journеy gets long
Just know that you are loved
Thеre is light up above
And the joy is always enough
Bubbles up
Strangely it seems that this was Jimmy's final message to us all, these wise words from the "Son of a Son of a Sailor."
Feeling like you are just treading water this time of year? Or even worse, drowning? Maybe it's time we took Jimmy's advice and simply looked up.
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
Psalm 121 (1-4, 7-8)
God's survival training calls us to look to Him. Cry out to the Lord just like Peter, and say, "Lord, save me!" No matter how deep or dark your waters are, you're not out of reach.
"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear." (Isaiah 59:1)
When you cry out to him, I guarantee you will find out you are loved.
"...neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is
in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39)
That the surface is not so far away, and light awaits.
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not
overcome it." (John 1:5)
And the joy of the Lord is always enough.
"The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10)
Usually, I would feel inclined to say "Happy Thanksgiving" this time of year. But this year is different. I will simply leave you with…
Bubbles Up.
Better Than a World Series Walk-Off Home Run
I turned down an invitation to go to the World Series game one last Friday with friends. You know, the game where Adolis Garcia hit a walk-off home run in the 11th inning to take game one. The one where the crowd exploded with joy as they witnessed one of the greatest moments in Rangers history. Yeah, that one.
You see, it was in 1972 that my father took me up to Sears to join the Dr. Pepper Junior Rangers in their inaugural season. I got my club patch, identification card, and autograph picture of Ted Williams, the team's first manager.
I'm sure there were meetings we were supposed to attend where all of the Junior Rangers would make essential personnel decisions about starting line-ups, contract negotiations, and the pitching rotation. But, I could not drive and had plenty of work on my plate already trying to get through 2nd grade and finishing my latest "Encyclopedia Brown" book report. I must have missed the meetings.
Back to last Friday night. I said "no" to the invitation because Michele and I were flying to Savannah to take our youngest, Daniel, to dinner with their new friends from SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). Michele said I could have stayed in Dallas for the game and come out the next day, but I knew Daniel was a bit homesick and did not want to miss the dinner.
While I was looking forward to the time together, I was also equally nervous and slightly uncomfortable going into it. SCAD has a very diverse student body. Michele and I took a trolley tour of Savannah in the fall not long ago, and the tour guide commented on all the beautiful fall colors you see that particular time of year. "Green, orange, yellow, gold… and that's just the colors of the SCAD student's hair," he joked.
In case you have not noticed, I am a 59-year-old white male from suburbia. The kids we were about to eat dinner with did not fit into the nice, convenient black and white boxes that my college roommates seemed to fit so easily in 40 years ago. There are now so many more boxes, sub-boxes, and boxes that have been kicked off and fully rejected by this generation.
I was nervous. How would I fit in? Would I screw up and use the wrong pronoun, whether masculine, feminine, plural, or singular? Would I offend them? Would they even accept me and want to have dinner with an old, conservative, white man from Texas?
Then I got a text from my friend, Austin, who is on Young Life staff. I had shared with him about my upcoming dinner and my nervousness. Austin texted…
"Just had this thought… I'm pretty convinced that if Jesus was going out to dinner with some folks nowadays, his table might look really similar to what y'all's will look like tonight! You're in good company, my friend!"
Austin was right. I was about to be in for a night of great company, like Jesus so often was, and had nothing to be nervous about.
The evening was wonderful. Daniel's friends wanted to meet us at Java Burrito. (I offered to take them anywhere, and that's what they chose… I love that.) We laughed so hard. Those kids are incredibly talented and creative to be at SCAD. Erin and Taylor use they/them as their pronouns, and Megan uses she/her. All I know is that the four of them together are hilarious.
Erin has published their own children's book that teaches kids about dealing with mental illness. This summer, they will be speaking to different kid organizations (community center programs, education) about mental illness and their book.
Taylor does movie and comic book concept art. They love anything and everything Star Wars related. I got to geek out and quiz them on their favorites. (Andor the series on Disney Plus and the movie Rouge One took their top two spots) We both agree the movie "Solo" was never given a fair shake.
Megan creates "Cowboy Art" that is so good her paintings look like photographs. Apparently, she is pretty famous and has had different stories about her on the news. I googled her, and one of her paintings recently sold for more than I paid for our first house.
These kids could not believe we were paying for their meals. And I wonder if they were shocked that we genuinely wanted to hear their stories.
Is there someone Jesus is nudging you to simply listen to? It reminds me of the Walt Whitman quote, "Be curious, not judgmental." I think Jesus would have loads of curiosity and kindness to offer, and I seek to be the same way.
I'm sad and embarrassed to admit that these were kids that, if they showed up at most churches, they would not feel welcome. There would be pointing and whispers. I'm not sure they would make it past the lobby without feeling so uncomfortable and judged that they would leave. And to tell the truth, it's the church I am most sad and embarrassed for, not the kids.
Author Brennan Manning shares a story in his book, The Raggamuffin Gospel -
"The story goes that a public sinner was excommunicated and forbidden entry to the church. He took his woes to God. 'They won't let me in, Lord, because I am a sinner.
'What are you complaining about?' said God. 'They won't let Me in either."
Here is what stuck with me the most from the evening…
When it was time for them to leave, Michele gave each one of Daniel's friends a big "mom hug."
Taylor was a bit stunned and said quietly, "That was really nice. My mom does not hug me."
My heart broke.
Michele went back and gave Taylor a good long hug again.
That was our "walk-off World Series home run" of the evening. That hug. Shoot, it was the walk-off homer of the year, with fireworks blasting to celebrate.
As we walked back to the car, I knew we were exactly where God wanted us to be that evening. I could not help but smile.
Michele asked me later if I was sad I missed seeing one of the greatest moments in Rangers history in person. "Heck no," I answered.
And I'd bet my 1972 Dr. Pepper Junior Rangers membership card and autograph picture of Ted Williams on that, friends.
The Power Of A Cheer
The city of Philadelphia’s slogan is “The City of Brotherly Love.” Most people, however, think it more resembles “The City of Brotherly Shove.”
In 1994, a Gallup Poll named Philadelphia America’s most hostile place. Its citizens are known for their ruthless booing at athletic events. After all, these are the people who actually booed Santa Claus.
The Philadelphia Eagles Santa Claus incident, also referred to as The Santa Claus Game, occurred on December 15, 1968. It was the final week of the NFL season, and the Eagles had only won 2 games that year. Eagles fans in the stands, so upset by the poor season, booed the half-time Santa riding on a float with eight life-sized fiberglass reindeer while simultaneously pelting him with snowballs.
Not much has changed over the last 50 plus years on the Philadelphia sports scene. Most recently, Philadelphia Phillies fans ruthlessly booed their own shortstop, Trea Turner. He was not living up to the expectations of his paycheck. In fact, he sunk to one of the worst hitters in baseball, and the Phillies fans were less than forgiving.
Enter local Philadelphia producer Jack Fritz of SportsRadioWIP, who felt it was time for the fans to take a different approach to their shortstop. He tweeted the following…
Fritz got all the hosts on the station to promote the same idea. It began to go viral on Twitter.
When Trea Turner came up to bat at the next Phillies home game, things were different. The message was different. Instead of the boos of condemnation, Turner received cheers that said, “WE ARE FOR YOU… WE ARE WITH YOU!”
And it was in that moment of compassion and encouragement that things began to turn around for the beleaguered shortstop. While he only got one hit that night, the following day, he homered in a Phillies win and has been on fire ever since. A revitalized Turner has helped lead the Phillies to the playoffs this October, and they hope for a long run.
So thankful for the encouragement of the fans, Trea Turner put up 12 billboards around the city to say “Thank You” to the fans.
The difference between a jeer and a cheer is evident. In fact, it can make all the difference in the world.
Who is it in your world who could use a cheer? Who could benefit from a kind word or simple note of encouragement? Perhaps even a standing ovation when they walk into the office, classroom, or home. I’m serious! Think of the smile on their face when you communicate, “WE ARE FOR YOU… WE ARE WITH YOU!”
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds..”
Hebrews 10:24
The greek word for “spur” in the above verse can be translated as “to stir up.” What would stir up someone in your life more than a standing ovation? Let’s stir it up, people! As believers, we should be first to cheer and encourage others on.
Jim Rayburn, the founder of Young Life, said, “There are thousands of people in this country that no Christian has ever said a kind word to.”
He was right.
Let’s make the decision today to be on the side of cheering and encouraging those God brings into our lives rather than landing on the side of jeering and condemnation. Let’s be the first to come alongside those who are struggling with a message of “WE ARE FOR YOU… WE ARE WITH YOU!”
And if you are the person most needing the encouragement and ovation today. Remember, the citizens of heaven and God himself do the same for you.
“Do you see what this means— all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit!"
Hebrews 12:1 (The Message)
"The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
God Himself is saying to you today, “I am for you… I am with you.” Now go up to the plate of life with confidence, and both enjoy and share the applause of heaven.
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Life Lessons From Barbie
I went to see the Barbie movie. There, I said it.
Now, I do admit that I did not want to go alone. A 59-year-old man going to see the Barbie movie alone in the middle of the day surely puts me on some local "watch list," so I made Michele go with me.
I was pleasantly surprised. I liked it.
Our church has just begun a study on the book of Genesis, and the similarities between Barbie and the first book of the Bible immediately struck me. (There is a sentence I never thought I would type.)
Like Adam and Eve, Barbie has a creator, Ruth Handler.
Much like the Garden of Eden, Barbie is placed by her creator in her version of paradise. Barbie Land.
Every day in Barbie Land "is the best day ever. So was yesterday, and so is tomorrow, and every day from now until forever."
It is not good for Barbie to be alone, so a companion is created for her named Ken.
Like Eve, Barbie wants to seek more knowledge, and thoughts of death enter the picture for the first time.
As a result of this new knowledge, Barbie must leave her perceived "Paradise" of Barbie Land.
Barbie's male companion, Ken, follows her actions and leaves Barbie Land, much like Adam followed Eve's actions.
Once outside their "garden," Barbie and Ken become self-conscious for the first time.
I found a quote from the movie's director, Greta Gerwig, which brings the contrast between life in Barbie Land and life in the "real world" to light.
"How Barbie operates in Barbie Land is she's entirely continuous with her environment. Even the houses have no walls because you never need to hide because there's nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed of. And suddenly finding yourself in the real world and wishing you could hide, that's the essence of being human."
The pink, perfect, plastic world of Barbie and the green, growing garden of Genesis do share parallels. (Okay, spoiler alert. We find out later that Barbie Land is not as perfect as it seems, but you need to see the movie for that part.) The thing that struck me the most in the film that communicated truth was the role of Ken.
The Barbie movie poster reads, "She's Everything. He's Just Ken."
Just Ken.
The movie states, "Barbie has a great day every day, but Ken only has a great day if Barbie looks at him."
Wow.
While Barbie shows that women can do anything and be anything, Ken is merely a sidekick, an accessory. He might as well be a new purse, hat, or pair of shoes for Barbie.
He tells Barbie, "I just don't know who I am without you."
While Ryan Gosling steals the show in his portrayal of the accessory Ken, I was a bit uncomfortable with how he was treated at the beginning of the movie. As a man, it made me uncomfortable to see him treated as less than, secondary, or even an afterthought.
Then I came to a realization. I'm feeling uncomfortable with this two-hour fictional portrayal of men, but women have been treated in the same way by the church for much longer than that.
Just a woman. A sidekick. Less than. Secondary. An accessory.
The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18
"Suitable Helper"
I think our view of those two words might be where we have gone wrong. At first glance, they seem to indicate someone who is secondary, less than, less knowledgeable, or educated.
Well, friends of mine who went for the more expensive seminary degree than I did will tell you this.
The word used for "suitable" in this verse is the Hebrew word "neged." It means in front of, in sight of, opposite to, conspicuous, vigorous, effective, and to stand boldly out.
The word used for "helper" in this verse is the Hebrew word "ezer."
The same word is used to describe God 66 times in the Bible. This "ezer" speaks of God's strength, power, protection, help, and being a rescuer.
A woman is a helper. But so is God. And if you think God is less than, or secondary, or just an accessory, you might want to go back and reread your Bible. (Or at least beware of lighting striking around you.)
"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27
Both are God's image bearers. Both are needed to reflect God's rich glory. Both reflect different characteristics of God. Neither is closer to God.
So when we are tempted to treat ANYONE as less than us, it would do us good to remember Paul's words to the Galatians.
"There is no longer Jew or Gentile, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28
No more "Just Ken."
Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going to watch "The Powder Puff Girls" and "My Little Pony" and see what truths I might find from the books of Habakkuk or Revelation for the next 3 from the TBLC.
Let God Finish The Story
WARNING: Serious Dad Bragging Ahead. Proceed With Caution. (… but if you do, you might also be encouraged.)
My youngest graduated from high school a week ago. I have to admit, there were days of doubt. He’s always been smart, but like his older brother (and probably his Dad), he has multiple learning differences (not learning disabilities): dyslexia and dysgraphia.
That’s why I was so surprised to see the words “Suma Cum Laude” under his name in the graduation program signifying Daniel graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
“Suma Cum Laude” were not words that crossed our minds often over the last few years. To be honest, we were more likely to think the reverse of that, “Lordy Come Soon-a,” as both boys struggled with their academics.
It was his sophomore year of high school when our oldest, David, hit a wall. We had shored him up with every tutor and reading program we could. For years I had told him he was a "Mac" in a "PC" world, which is true. Both David and Daniel’s brains process information differently than other people's. Teaching them the same way as every other kid is like trying to cram a Windows 95 floppy disk into a brand-new MacBook Pro. It doesn't work.
And who wants to be a PC anyway when you can be a shiny new Mac?
Years of being brilliant, creative, and witty, square pegs being hammered into a round hole had taken its toll on both David and Daniel. As David put it, "Eight hours a day is a long time to feel stupid.”
I thank God that David first came to us, eventually paving the way for Daniel as well. Some kids quit and believe the lie that they aren’t good enough. Others act out. Some will try to numb themselves through drugs and alcohol. Sadly, others consider bodily harm.
The boys had a choice to make. Continue to allow their current school to insist they conform to their way of teaching or leave all the friends they had gone to school with since kindergarten. To say it was difficult would be underselling it.
Enter a God who knew David and Daniel long before they were born and who placed Michele and me in the right house before we ever had kids. One of the best schools in the country for students with learning differences, The Shelton School, happens to be within walking distance of our home. People move from all over the country to attend.
The only problem for David was a waitlist of 5 kids hoping to enter the sophomore class. It was the middle of the year, and they said six kids would have to move for David to get in. The school told us that was not going to happen.
Even though there was no room for David, the school agreed to look over his testing and make recommendations for other programs in the area.
Then something completely unexpected happened during our meeting to go over our options.
The conversation went like this:
Shelton Advisor: "We want David to come here."
Us: "You said you have no room, and six people would have to move."
Shelton Advisor: "Yeah, but we think we can change his life, and that's what we get excited about."
Tears. Buckets of tears. That's what happens when someone believes in your child and throws a drowning family a lifeline.
One school says, "Our school is not for everyone." Another school says, "We'll move mountains to make this happen and change his life."
And they did, for both David and Daniel.
Cut to the chase. David went to the University of Oklahoma, earned an academic scholarship, graduated in 3 1/2 years with honors, now works for the #1 YouTuber in the world, and lives in North Carolina. (He’s worked for him since his senior year in high school.)
Daniel entered Shelton in middle school and was reading on an elementary school level at the time. In his junior year in high school, he scored one point short of perfect on the READING part of the ACT. As I mentioned earlier, he graduated Suma Cum Laude and received the highest academic scholarship SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) has to offer. He’ll start there this summer, and I can’t wait to see him fully develop his creative gifts.
Don’t get me wrong. Just like everyone else, we’ve got struggles. There are still sleepless nights of worry. We are NOT the Facebook perfect family and don’t want to even pretend to be.
But please do hear me on this. Whatever your struggle is right now, your story or your kid's story, God’s story is not fully written yet. When we were knee-deep in HOURS of homework and buckets of tears, that was not the ending. Michele and I wasted hours trying to write a future for our kids that was not ours to write. It was God’s pen we kept grabbing as we did not trust the author.
After all, drowning in the storm was not the end of the disciple's story.
“Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Mark 4:38
Jesus never promised clear skies. He just promised us His presence in the storm and that He will get us to the other side.
If I learned anything from David and Daniel’s academic journey, it’s to not race ahead to your perceived ending in the midst of the storm as the disciples did thinking that would drown.
Let God keep the pen. Let Him write the ending. He might just get you to the other side in a way you never imagined. You see, He’s a much better writer than you or me.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
I Miss The 1040EZ
“…Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left Him and went away.” Matthew 22:15-22 (ESV)
This week we all (hopefully) “rendered to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” In other words, we paid our taxes on April 18.
My accountant must not be fond of me. You see, I am one of those who wait till the last minute to get all of my information in. Seems like every year, my taxes (and life!), get a little more complicated. Each year there are more forms needed, paperwork, phone calls, questions, emails, meetings, and texts. Last Saturday, I found myself up at my office for 5 hours with papers spread across four tables, and I don’t even do my own taxes. This is just the prep work!
I long for the simpler days of my youth when I would, on the spur of the moment, grab the one-page 1040EZ form (how I miss the EZ!!!) and do my own taxes in less than a minute. (I timed it once!)
It used to be much easier to render to Caesar.
Notice the answer Jesus gives when the Pharisees ask Him about paying taxes.
And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Caeser’s likeness and image were imprinted on the coin, so it was to be returned to him.
But what about us? Whose likeness and image do we bare?
"So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created Him." Genesis 1:27
We bare the likeness and image of the living God. It is stamped on our souls. Therefore we are to render ourselves (our hearts, time, and talents…) to God.
But much like my taxes, sadly, that becomes more difficult the older I get. It seems my over-complicated life now requires more forms, paperwork, phone calls, emails, meetings, and texts in order to give back to God what is really His.
The church needs extra greeters at Easter? I’d love to do that! Oh wait, we are having people over for lunch, and I have to get home early to get the house ready.
Men’s retreat this weekend? Well, crud. We were out of town the last two weekends for weddings, and I can’t be gone another weekend.
A missionary is in town and needs a place to stay for two weeks? Great! We’ve got two extra bedrooms. But sadly, they are filled to the brim with “stuff,” and I have no idea what is in half of those boxes, but there is no room to move them to the garage.
You get the point. I miss the “1040EZ” days of ministry. When saying “yes” to God’s opportunities took less than a minute and way less “paperwork,” meetings, emails, and phone calls.
What happened to take me from the days of “EZ” to complicated?
As my life progressed, I went from being a speedboat to a cargo ship. I have taken on too much “cargo,” and these things weigh me down when it comes to saying yes to God.
Jesse Cole, owner of the Savannah Bananas, puts it this way...
“Everything is bigger, bigger, and bigger. I think the key for us… is how quick can you be? How quick can you pivot? How quick can you make decisions. How quick can you take action?”
A speedboat can turn on a dime. A cargo ship takes forever. In the words of Amy Grant, “It takes a little time sometimes, to get the Titanic turned back around.”
The simple yeses when nudged by the Spirit in the days of my youth don’t come as easy anymore. When the Savannah Bananas changed from regular baseball games to Banana Ball, Cole says the decision was easy because as a business, they were still a speedboat.
“We didn’t have to have any red tape. There wasn’t any bureaucracy. It didn’t take so long to turn course. We were able to see something and act on it.”
What about you? When you see an opportunity God brings your way, are you able to quickly act on it? Or is your life filled with so much red tape and bureaucracy that you are way more of a cargo ship than a speedboat?
Ask yourself, who put the red tape there that you are so tangled up in? Hint: It wasn’t God.
Perhaps it’s time to correct course and throw a few (or a lot) of things overboard. Miss those speedboat days? Miss the days of the 1040EZ?
It’s not too late.
You rendered to Caesar this week what bears his image. Let’s remember to do the same for God as well.
“… but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.” Romans 6:13
And unlike my taxes, let’s not file an extension with God. There’s no better day than today to shed some cargo and offer yourself to the Lord.
Watch this 1 minute 19 second video where Savannah Bananas owner, Jesse Cole, shares the benefits of being a speedboat, not a cargo ship.
A New Perspective On Holy Week
Above (second from the left) are my good friends Scott and Kelly Walker on a beach vacation we took last year.
I now know personally two who have come back from the dead. One of them is my Savior and the other is my lawyer.
Let me explain.
My lawyer and friend, Scott Walker, is my age (59). He played football at SMU, and plays tennis three times a week. A couple of months ago, his Apple watch told him he had atrial fibrillation (A-fib), an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm. The normal treatment for this condition is cardioversion, which involves giving the heart a controlled electric shock to restore a normal rhythm.
Having undergone this treatment twice but still winding back up in A-fib, Scott found himself in the hospital with extremely bad news.
He was experiencing systolic heart failure.
This was a shocking diagnosis for someone so young and in great shape. Something had to be done, and quickly, as his heart function was declining daily.
Soon, Scott's heart function was declining by the hour. I received a text one afternoon from Scott that read:
"FYI - Code Blue on me this morning. Ten people rushed into the room and kicked Kelly (Scott's wife) out. Chest compressions brought me back. Quite the adventure for me (I started laughing when I woke up), but Kelly's corresponding adventure was horrible."
Quite the adventure, indeed.
Unable to qualify quickly enough for a heart transplant, the only option besides the looming heart failure was major surgery to implant a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) into Scott's failing heart. The LVAD helps the heart pump oxygenated blood to the body when the heart isn't healthy enough to do so.
Prayers were lifted. A decision was made. Surgery happened the next morning.
Scott now wears a 7-pound battery pack to power his heart. It is connected to an electrical cord that comes out of his side. When he is at home, he is literally plugged into the wall.
Scott's heart, health, and life are tethered, for now, to that battery pack and wall outlet.
The LVAD, however, is only a temporary solution meant only to last a few years. It is a temporary bridge to the future, a permanent solution for Scott, a heart transplant.
That brings us to this week, Holy Week, when "Jesus turned his face towards Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51).
You see, before Jesus came, God's people were also tethered to a temporary solution when it came to the condition of their hearts. Because of their hard hearts turned against God, the Levite priests in the Old Testament were required by the Mosaic law to offer sacrifices to atone for the people's sins.
"This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites." Leviticus 16:34
This, however, was only a temporary solution meant as a bridge to the future, a permanent solution of Jesus's sacrifice for us.
Even today, we often "tether" ourselves to temporary solutions when it comes to our hearts and where we try to find life. Turning to things like money, pleasure, and status might work for a short time, but they will never satisfy or last.
I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 1:14
By turning his face towards Jerusalem, Jesus set the events in motion in order to become our heart donor.
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26
You see, when it comes to our spiritual heart transplant, not just any heart will do. It has to come from someone fully human so they can offer their heart, and someone fully God, so that their heart is sinless.
Thankfully, the only one who was both fully man and fully God voluntarily became our heart donor.
He was not a victim. He was a volunteer.
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8
This Holy Week, we commemorate the fact that just at the right time, while we were still tethered to temporary solutions, Christ provided our permanent solution to sin. We can finally "untether" from the temporary. "It is finished."
"Nor did he (Jesus) enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself." Hebrews 9:25-27
My friend Scott's current condition with his LVAD as he waits for a heart transplant makes Holy Week even more significant to me this year.
God promised. The world waited. Jesus came.
I'm so thankful he willingly "turned his face towards Jerusalem" that Palm Sunday.
P.S. Please join me in prayer for my friend Scott. We pray that God will soon remove his LVAD of titanium and give him a new heart of flesh.
With This Ring
Michele and I celebrated our 26th anniversary this month. A picture from our proposal popped up on FB memories that day. I posted it a few years back to celebrate an earlier anniversary. The picture (above) captures the exact moment I proposed to Michele. Her hand in mine, ring waiting to be given. It happened at a Friday Pearce High School football game night, where she was the dance team director, and I was the Young Life leader. Kids had set us up on a blind date a year and a half earlier, and it had all led to this moment.
Thankfully, she said “yes.” The ring was put on her finger and the Pearce Cheerleaders paraded across the field with a 50-yard-long banner that read, “She said yes… Thanks for Your Support… Registered at Dillard’s and Foley’s…. To Be Continued…”
I’m thankful to say that 26 years later, it still continues.
But I want to go back to the ring. During our wedding ceremony, our pastor, Dave Haney, said something I will never forget about our rings. The transcript is below. I’ve also attached 2 minute video if you are interested in seeing dark-haired, skinny Brian and, of course, Michele looking exactly as she does today.
Transcript:
“Now people say a lot about rings… they talk about how they are round, which seems kind of obvious, …. how your relationship is eternal and all of those things. But I’m not going to say that because it’s kind of goofy.
What I want you to remember as you wear these rings for the rest of your lives is this moment. This is a place where time is standing still. All worries are outside of these doors. Everything that it took to get here has faded in this moment. It’s captured in the beauty of this ring… the perfection of this moment.
So that when the times aren’t so perfect, and the things that go wrong out there start to wear you down, and you are tempted to raise a hand or give up, remember the ring. Remember the moment. Remember the beauty of your commitment to each other.
The ring is unique. There may be other rings like it, but there is no other ring that is yours… that you wear, that fits you, that is shaped for you, and most all that was given to you by each other.
So that when you are apart, when you’re stressed, when you’re frustrated, when you’re arguing, when the moments are not perfect, remember the perfection of this moment and remember the beauty that you wear on your hand that captures it. Remember the perfection of this commitment.” - Pastor Dave Haney, our wedding officiant.
I can’t look at my ring for very long today before I hear Dave’s words in my head. I’m transported back to the moment when time really did seem to stand still. I am reminded of our commitment to one another in the perfection of that moment.
My ring reminds me of what the Old Testament calls an “Ebenezer.” In Hebrew, it means “stone of help.” Samuel erected an Ebenezer in Samuel Chapter 7 so that every time they walked by it, the nation of Israel would remember how God had protected His people and led them to victory.
My Ebenezer, my wedding ring, may not be a stack of stones, but it is a reminder of God’s provision and blessing. It is a reminder of a holy commitment made to Michele and the Lord.
I have another Ebenezer in my life that takes me back to a holy commitment. It’s a die-cast exact model of my old 1981 Monte Carlo that sits on my desk in front of a picture of Michele and me. It was in that car very late one night that I drove down Cliffbrook Drive in the Fall of 1982, right in front of Northwood Hills Elementary, that I leaned out the window and said “yes” for the first time to Jesus. Each time I see that car on my desk or even drive by Northwood Hills Elementary, I am taken right back to that late night as I looked up at the stars and said, “I never knew you did all that for me.”
You see, Tonya Prince (now Tonya Riggle), who was a classmate and friend of mine from elementary school through our Baylor days, had just explained the Gospel to me as we sat on the curb of her apartment parking lot, just across Coit Road from Cliffbrook. We were flying standby to Lubbock that Friday evening to see Baylor play Texas Tech and did not make it on the plane.
I’m thankful we did not make the flight. I think that is the best trade I have ever made. I gave up Lubbock to get heaven. Not a bad trade.
So today, my Ebenezers of the Monte Carlo on my desk, Cliffbrook Drive, and Northwood Hills Elementary take me to a place where time also stood still and a holy commitment was made in the perfection of a moment.
I heard Amy Grant’s song, “Do You Remember the Time” not long ago, and it also took me back to Cliffbrook Drive.
“Do you remember the day you first let Jesus in?
How He gently and tenderly washed away your sin
Don't you know that He still cares the way He did back then?
Do you remember the day you first let Jesus in?”
How about you? Enough of my story. Do you remember the time you first said yes to Jesus? Do you have an Ebenezer of you own that takes you back to the moment? If so, maybe it’s time you got it out and put it somewhere that it can be seen on a regular basis. What do you think that would do for you? How could seeing it more often inspire you?
I see my ring daily, and that’s a good thing. I see the ’81 Monte Carlo almost daily. (I confess that I not only have one on my desk but also have one at home on a shelf by where my guitars and Eagles and Beach Boys album covers hang. You know, the important stuff.)
Maybe it's time for us all to "stack a few stones" in plain view and remember those holy moments.
And just in case you’ve never said “yes” to Jesus before, do yourself a favor. Take your ’81 Monte Carlo for a drive this evening, roll down the windows, and say “yes” to Jesus.*
*Monte Carlo, evening, and windows rolled down are all optional and not required. A simple “yes” will do.
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