January 29, 2008
Goal Accomplished
Once a year, for about 15 minutes, Jeopardy opens the contestant search test online. I’ve watched it for over twenty years and do well each day playing. I am “the king of useless information,” as Maxine calls me. Well, I just took the test. I told Josh it would really come down to the categories - 50 questions, 50 categories, 15 seconds to type your answer. If the categories leaned toward subjects I’m strong in, I would do well. If not, I’d probably bomb. Well…
I didn’t totally bomb but I did not do very well. There was a lot of literary questions and that’s one of my weaker areas. I did my best but it was not good enough to go on the show and win enough money for us to retire to Virginia and raise llamas. O well, one can only dream…
But It was one of my goals for this year:
Lose 20 lbs - check! (that took about four months)
Try out for Jeopardy - check!
Jump out of an airplane - in July
Finish my book - in progress.
If you aim at nothing you’ll hit it every time.
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January 29, 2008
Galatians Remix: People-pleaser (Part 10)
Scribus and Paul walked a well-worn path from the market back to the small village they currently called home. As they came around a bend in the road, they noticed a group of children playing in a field. Truth be known, they heard the children before they ever saw them. A group of about ten pre-teens were kicking a ball in what looked like a game of soccer. They were yelling and laughing and aruging - typical for their age. Paul abruptly stopped and watched them intently.
“Scribus, look at those children and tell me what’s going on,” Paul voice was steady.
Scribus had grown accostumed to these teaching sessions. Everywhere they went, in every situation, Paul saw opportunties to direct his attention toward a lesson to be learned. Scribus also knew that the easy answer was usually not the right answer.
“A group of kids playing?” He knew that would be wrong so he added a shrug at the end.
Paul stared at the children and then at Scribus.
“Each of those children need love. They want it. They crave it as much as they crave air or a drink. They don’t know that though. It is right underneath the surface. It is the hidden economy of social interaction. Each of them wants the group to like them so they do whatever it takes to make that happen, even if means lying, hurting others, or selling their soul for a moment of popularity. They want to please others and, in the process, they lose the ability to think independently. They base their identities on how many people like them. If they are liked by others then they feel good about themselves. If they are not liked by others, it is becaus there is something intrinsically wrong with them.”
Scribus added thoughtfully, “I’m not sure that only applies to children, Paul.”
Paul continued, “It doesn’t. As adults we grow more sophisticated with this game. When I was your age, I was a professional people-pleaser. As part of the formula fellowship, I wanted my peers to respect me, to love me. I became very proficient at being religious. I could pray louder and with more passion than all my friends. While we all memorized the Torah and Misnah, I was the only one in my class who could tell you all the different rabbinical interpretations for each text. I was smarter, worked harder, and was, by far, the most promising student in Gamilel’s class. [His parents had a horse that had “My son’s a honor student” branded on it’s rear-end]. Even when I began to persecute the members of the Way, I was doing much of it for the applause of my fellow Pharisees instead of the pleasure of heaven.”
Scribus interupted, “I think we are all like that to some degree. I want people to like me. I say and do things all the time that seem just a little less than sincere because I don’t have the guts to really say what needs to be said or do what really needs to be done. That’s why I like hanging out with you. You seem to have gotten over this problem.”
Paul rubbed his chin as he spoke, “It’s not that the desire to be liked has been removed from my heart. Don’t think of it that way. I now understand that God likes me. More than that God loves me! I am completely, totally, and extravengently loved by my heavenly Father. That need to be liked is satisfied in Him. I am free to say what needs to be said and do what needs to be done because, in the end, God is the only One I’m trying the please.
That’s why it’s so absurd that the formula fellowship is accusing me of being a people-pleaser. They say that I made the Gospel easy so that the Galatians would like me. How crazy is that?! If they had called me a people-pleaser twenty years ago, they would have been right. But to say that now?”
Paul stopped speaking when a ball rolled their way. A boy of about ten ran over to the two to retrieve the ball. Paul handed the ball to him, mused his dark, curly hair, and gave him a big smile.
As he ran away, Paul continued his thought,
“The Galatians are like chidren to me, Scribus. They are my spiritual children. I did not water down the Gospel. I preached the true gospel - salvation comes through grace alone, by faith alone, through Jesus Christ alone. I don’t care if they like me. I care if they love Jesus! Before I was a sIave to other people’s opinions about me. Now I have become a servant of Christ, a slave for the King.”
Paul’s voice quivered and Scribus could tell he was physically shaking.
Scribus had never been comfortable with such strong emotions and learned early on that his humor could always rescue him,
“Well it it is kind of hard to call you a people-pleaser when you are calling down curses on them!”
Paul laughed, “Not a good way to win friends and influence people, eh?”
Scribus took out his quill,
“Am I now trying to win the apporval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
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January 28, 2008
Dare you to Move
Gideon Yeager used this video to end his talk at the “student-led NEXT” on 2 Corinthains 1:3-7. The song is “I Dare you to Move” by Switchfoot. God has showered us with compassion so that we may be comassionate toward others. Now are you going to move? I dare you!
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January 28, 2008
What a Trip!
The last few days feel like a blur. A very cold blur!
Thursday night, I took Joshua and Austin to “Winter Jam 2008” in Bloomington. We got there early and tried to stand in line but it was below zero and my toes were rebeling against me. What a blessing Bill Stevenson (Rachel’s dad) was to let me and the boys sit in his truck until the doors open. He may have saved me from losing my little piggies.
We did not get to see the whole show. Joshua got sick and we left before Barlow Girls and Mercy Me. But what we saw was great: BMX bikers and skaters doing all kinds of cool students, Pure Energy (A preteen/Disney channel group that sang a “brand new song” Footlose - I had to laugh), Group One Crew (a cool blend of R&B, rap, and rock), Mandissa (of American Idol fame), New Song (with Nate Sally singing lead on many of their songs and an incredible guitar/cello duel), and, of course Skillet! Because there were so many bands, Skillet only played five songs. When we saw them at Cornerstone the played for over an hour and Jon taught. Even though the set was short, they still ROCKED my FACE off!
On Friday afternoon, I left with 30 junior high students and three brave adults for Cedar Lake Winter Bible Conference. Special thanks to Jeanne Moore, Julie Rayburn, and Marty Cotter for helping with this event. It was a great weekend of worship, teaching, ping pong, DDR, snow football, tubing hill, broom-ball, small groups, and many things that I can not tell anyone. What’s done at Winter Camp stays at Winter Camp! One stupid highlight for me was the climbing wall. For seven years I have not been able to reach the top of the climbing wall. But this time, with seven junior high girls cheering me on, I finally rang the bell. It’s a lot easier to climb without the 20 lbs around my waist I used to have!
I got back around 4:00 and watched as our high school students prepared for their “student-led” NEXT. The adults were just there to encourage and to pray. Students set up, did announcements, did the powerpoint, ran sound (way to go Josh), led worship, prayed for the offering, taught, and led the small groups. Gideon Yeager’s message was right on. It was Biblically solid and he used videos to drive home the point. Great job student team and Gideon!
Now I sit here on Monday afternoon getting ready for my small group. Every Monday afternoon, a group of students meet at my house to study the Bible together. We are currently joing verse-by-verse through the book of James.
Thanks for praying for us. It was a great weekend.
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January 22, 2008
Galatians Remix: What’d he just say?! (Part 9)
On the way out of the market, Paul and Scribus encountered Favorlus. Scribus stopped to listen to the charismatic speaker who had drawn a small crowd around him. Scribus thought that if anyone had the “whole package” it was this guy. Perfect hair, a winning smile, and a mastery of words that would impress even the finest of Athen’s poets.
He felt a tug on the back of his outer cloak and suddenly found himself being pulled away from the crowd and into an open air cafe. Paul physically sat him down which was amazing given the apostle’s age and physical condition. Paul knelt on one knee and stared a hole in Favorlus working his magic from across the street.
Above the noise of the crowd, they could both hear his impromptu sermon:
“God loves you. In fact, He is for you. No, wait there’s more. He wants to give you things. Yes, you. He wants you to be happy. (turning to a startled young man standing near him) Are you happy, friend? He wants you to be healthy. (putting his hand on the shoulder of an obviously crippled woman) How long have you been sick, my dear? Some would tell you (looking directly at Paul) that the Christian life is about surrender and sacrifice. But I tell you that’s not true. It’s not about what you can do for God but what God can do for you! He wants you to feel good about yourself because you deserve it, don’t you? (The question was directed at a man in his mid forties). It is God’s will that you receive favor. That’s why Jesus died on the cross. What is favor? Let me tell you a story…”
Paul’s dark eyes wear burning now.
“What do you hear, Scribus?”
“I hear someone who knows what the people’s itching ears desire.”
“You are right! The crowds eat this up, Scribus. Inside of every human heart there is a evil desire to create God in our own image. To use Him for our own advantages and purposes. It’s easy to believe in a god who wants to give you a gold chariot instead of a old donkey.”
Favorlus had just finished telling the crowd a story about how his donkey was getting old and he needed a new one. He was a wonderful story teller and every head in the crowd was leaned slightly forward, feasting on every word.
“I decided that I would sow a seed so I gave some money to the poor. I don’t mean to brag, but I do have some amazing faith. (Everyone nodded enthusiastically) The next day, a man knocked on the door of my mansion and asked me if I had a donkey. When I said yes he told me that my donkey had wandered off and ended up in his pasture. There was a bobcat about to attack his sheep and the donkey used the last of his strength to fend off the hungry feline before the owner could get there. The donkey had died in his arms. A hero, I say, a hero! (Everyone clapped loudly)
This gentleman said he would like to repay me for the donkey and asked me to step outside. Do you know what I saw? Do you? (One young man couldn’t stand it and yelled for Favorlus to tell them). I saw a brand new six wheel chariot. It had custom rims and was plated with gold. Attached to the chariot were six of the finest looking horses I had ever seen.
See God didn’t want me to have an old donkey. I’m his child and He exists to make me happy. My Father wants to give me favor! That’s why I drive the big chariot parked at the edge of town. Would you like favor too? Just sow a seed. Put you money in this hat and see if God doesn’t make all of your wildest dreams come true.”
The crowd nearly trampled each other trying to get up near their favorite preacher to put a little money in the hat.
Paul bowed his head and Scribus quietly asked if he was praying.
Paul looked up slowly and said, “No, I think I’m about to be sick!”
Paul muttered something under his breath that Scribus didn’t understand.
After asking several times what Paul was saying, Paul finally blurted out,
“If I was a wizard, I’d put a curse on him. As it is, Favorlus can go to…”
“Paul!” Scribus interrupted at the last minute. “Do you really mean that? Isn’t that a bit harsh?!”
“It is harsh, but the true message of the cross must be protected. I don’t cared who the messenger is. I’m not exempt. Even if an angel from heaven should start preaching the nonsense that Favorlus is preaching he should be cursed to destruction.”
Scribus could tell that Paul deadly serious and started to wonder if Favorlus should be afraid of Paul.
But Paul’s mind was not on Favorlus or the ignorant sheep that followed him to his new Hummer chariot from God. He was thinking of the Galatians. He had told them the very same thing when he was with them. Now it needed to be said again.
There is only one Gospel. Paul didn’t care who it was that preached, or how eloquent they were, if their words didn’t line up with the Word, they deserved to be strung up.
“Salvation is through faith alone, by grace alone, in Christ Alone!,” Paul yelled at the crowd as they filed past the cafe.
Favorlus looked back at Paul and shook his head slowly. He held the hat up, now overflowing with “seed” money, and gave Paul a wink.
Scribus thought he may have to restrain his aging partner but instead he retrieved his quill from his bag and Paul began:
“But even if we or and angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a Gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!”
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January 21, 2008
Eye of the Tigers!
I was 15 years old when Memphis was last ranked #1 in the nation in college basketball. Jan 10, 1983. That Monday morning, the AP crowned us kings of the polls. That Monday night we went into Blacksburg and received a butt-whupping at the hands of future NBA stand-out Bimbo Coles and the Virginia Tech Hookies. There was great mourning in Memphis that night.
During the four years I was at Memphis State University (now known as University of Memphis), we stunk and our coach was driven out of town on multiple violations. Of course, my brother got to enjoy the resurgence of Tiger dominance with the addition of Anferney (Penny) Hardaway in the early 1990s.
That was then and this is now.
I watched in amazement as Psycho T took the last shot for North Carolina on Sunday afternoon. He missed and Maryland had themselves an enormous upset. More than that though. I turned to Maxine and said, “That does it. We’re finally number one!” And this morning, the AP poll agreed with me!
[This does not negate my rabid obsession with all things Illinois, (except of course the Chief). But your alma mater is from whence you came and it feels good to say, “We’re number 1!”]
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January 21, 2008
It’s a small, small, small world!
Last night, at NEXT, the boys from Salem Ranch came out to join us. They usually go to Salem Church with Pastor Mark but said they wanted a change of routine. After I finished my talk, (how to focus on Jesus from Hebrews 12:2), I went back and starting talking to a group of them. As many of you know, I worked at Salem and Maxine and I worked at two other child care facitilies in North Carolina before we went to seminary. I asked one of the guys where he was from and he said Tennessee. I told I was from Tennessee too and asked where he called home. He said Hendersonville. I told him my brother was a pastor in Hendersonville. He then asked me if my brother was the pastor at Community Church. I said yes and he said, “Your brother is Mark, right?”
At that point I thought I might be getting “pun’ked. He continued, “Mark is my youth pastor!”
What?! This kid, standing in PBC’s auditorium, is a part of my brother’s student ministry?! How wierd is that?
He said, “You look like Mark, talk like Mark, but when I saw you walk, I knew you were his brother.” [The rumor is we both waddle. I’m not sure about that, though]
I called my brother and he ended up talking to this student for a while. He said he was a great kid with a good heart.
It truly is a small, small, small world!
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January 19, 2008
Sunday Songs
Nicole Nordaman is an amazing song writer and expresses the spirit of Psalm 139 beautifully in her haunting “I Am”
This is not a Christian song but this Suzanne Vaga song has been a favorite of mine for years. Being “pro-life” means protecting and standing up for those who can’t stand up for themselves, especially children like “Luka.”
And this is for my country readers. Being prolife means to live LIFE to the full!
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January 19, 2008
Galatians Remix: 100% Egyptian rugs? (Part 8)
Scribus walked slowly through the bustling market, stopping briefly to chat with an elderly man who was selling fruit. When he turned around Paul was nowhere to be found. Scribus nervously scanned the growing crowd for his mentor and spotted him talking to a group of men who were obviously selling brightly colored rugs. Scribus couldn’t hear Paul yet but could tell by his animated hand gestures that the conversation was a lively one.
When Paul noticed Scribus approaching he motioned for him to join the group, and then turned his head and winked. Paul seemed to enjoy when things got lively.
Paul was talking loud and the men seemed to be taken aback. It seems that the group was advertising their rugs as “100% Egyptian tapestries.” As Scribus looked at the display more closely, it became apparent very quickly that these rugs were not from Egypt at all. In fact, Paul told the men that he knew a group of local artisans that made rugs exactly like the ones that hung on the racks behind them.
Several of them blushed and one even started packing up his merchandise.
Paul hurried over and,much to the merchant’s surprise, grabbed a box and started helping him. Paul shared the Gospel with this young man and he listened intently. At the end of the conversation, the young man thanked Paul profusely and Paul promised to follow up with a visit.
The other group of men stood there, their faces as hard as their hearts, and waited for Paul and Scribus to walk away.
Paul walked fast and Scribus tried to keep up. He shook his head when he heard one of the vendors raise his voice above the crowd,
“Get your rugs, straight from Egypt. Fit for a Pharaoh!”
Paul abruptly stopped at a small counter and turned to Scribus and asked a strange question,
“How is the “gospel” that the formula fellowship is sharing in Galatia like those “Egyptian” rugs?”
Scribus thought for a moment. Paul had taught him to not answer quickly but to think through the possibilities and then to answer. He finally said,
“They’re both fake?” Scribus smiled.
“Exactly! Those hucksters would have you believe that those rugs were Egyptian in origin but they’re not. While it is true that they are rugs, it is absolutely false to call them ‘100% pure Egyptian rugs’. The formula fellowship’s ‘gospel’ is no gospel at all. They want the new believers in Galatia to believe that I somehow shared a watered-down, easy to swallow gospel. I ‘left out’ the requirements. I neglected the ‘rules of eligibility.’ But they are the one’s in error. If you add anything to Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross then you have negated the gift of God. They are confusing the churches, agitating my friends and perverting the gospel. They are not preaching a different ‘flavor’ of the same gospel, They are perverting the true Gospel and preaching something different. There is only one Gospel! They are actually trying to reverse the gospel - teaching that we can somehow be justified before God on the basis of our own works. You can put a tag on a rug and call it Egyptian but it doesn’t make it so. You can say you are preaching the true gospel but Jesus plus anything…” He emphasized this last word.
Scribus finished his sentence (he had heard it enough), “is no gospel at all!”
“You’ll make a fine preacher yet,” Paul said laughing out loud as he began walking again.
He stopped and turned toward Scribus his brow furrowed and suddenly serious again.
“Remember this, the church’s greatest enemies are not those who stand outside it’s walls and offer all sorts of alternate theories about salvation. The great enemies of the true Gospel are those who sell cheap rugs while standing in front of a costly cross.”
As Paul walked off, he began to dictate again:
” which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” .
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January 17, 2008
Galatians Remix: You’ve Got to Be Kidding Me! (Part 7)
It was too early in the morning for Scribus. He rubbed his eyes and squinted. The sun was just barely visable, peaking over the horizon. The house was quiet and cold. No one was stirring. No one but Paul.
Paul was pacing and wringing his hands. His hair was dishelved and it appeared he hadn’t slept much. He seemed deeply bothered and was muttering to himself.
“You’ve got to be kidding me! This just doesn’t make any sense. How could they?,” Paul volume increased with each phrase.
Finally Scribus screwed up his courage and said, “What are you so fired up about this morning?”
Paul leaned against the door frame and ran his hands through his thinning hair. After what seemed like an eternity, he blurted out,
“Get your quill. We need to keep working on the letter.”
Scribus took his position at the table and Paul begin to pace again.
The candle flickered as a slight breeze blew through the room.
Paul turned to Scribus and there was obviously something very wrong. It looked as if Paul could burst into tears.
“I was just there. How long as it been? Less than six months? The churches in Galatia were doing so well. They accepted the Gospel and understood that salvation was by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. They got it Scribus. You could tell. They stopped worrying so much about the formulas and their faith started to grow. Now, the formula fellowship shows up and they just forget everything I taught them? I just don’t get it.” Paul’s voice trailed off as he began to mumble to himself.
“I’m bewildered. No, confused. No, what’s the word I’m looking for?” Paul looked skyword as if asking God Himself to put words to his pain.
Suddenly, Paul’s eyes flashed.
“Astonished! That’s what I am. Astonished!”
Paul began pacing and Scribus began writing.
“I am astonished that you are so quickly abandoning the one who called you by the grace of Christ…”
Paul stopped mid-sentence. “Scratch abandon. Use the word deserting instead. It’s like they are desering the army they just joined.”
Scribus made the change and said, “You know what the Romans do to deserters, don’t you? They execute them. I bet you’re so mad at them…” Scribus stopped speaking when he noticed a tear roll down the old apostle’s cheek.
They were tears of frustration and concern.
“They are not abandoning me, dear Scribus. They are deserting the One who called them. By listening to the formula fellowship and by believing that they can somehow earn God’s love through human effort, they have essentially turned their back on Jesus and robbed the cross of its meaning and power.”
Paul wiped his eyes and sniffed loudly. His love for these believers was deep and his disdain for the formula fellowship was growing.
Scribus stood up and put his hand on Paul’s shoulder.
“Remember what you told me? In the end, the truth always wins.”
Paul smiled at his young friend. It was good to have him here to encourage and sustian him. He stood up, stretched, and sighed loudly.
The sun was now streaming through the lattice and the room was glowing soft orange.
Paul spoke to Scribus while peering out the window, “Let’s take a walk. Bring your scroll and quill. There’s so much more to say.”
Scribus packed the tools of his trade into a soft leather bag and followed his mentor out of the house and into the street. He was glad to be a part of whatever Paul was doing. As they walked, he prayed silently that God would give him a burden for souls like Paul had.
They walked together, in slience, toward the market.
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January 16, 2008
The Cedar Lake gang
Check out the group picture from High School Cedar Lake 2008!
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January 15, 2008
Galatians Remix: Grace and Peace (Part 6)
Scribus put the quill down and rubbed his hands together. This wasn’t the first time he had acted as a scribe but it was the first time since he had become a Christ-Follower, thanks to Paul, that he had helped create such an important document.
Paul was so different than anyone he had ever known. He was obviously brilliant and a bit on the eccentric side. When it came to the Gospel, Paul was a pit-bull. Those dark eyes would open wide and that immense brain would come alive and this small, unassuming Jew from Tarsus would say some of the most remarkable things Scribus had ever heard. He hung on every word…
“Scribus? Are you listening to me?” Paul said, rapping on the table with a piece of wood.
Paul valued his young protegee. He was earnest and sincere. He had been a tremendous help with his ministry duties and Paul felt a sense of Godly fear developing within him. When Paul had shared the Gospel with him it was as if a light bulb immediately went on inside his soul. He said yes to Jesus and never looked back. Soon afterwards, his finance Dianna, surrendered her heart to Jesus. The two of them were somewhat of an oddity to their Zeus believing parents and partying friends. They didn’t care. Paul had brought a message of grace and peace that changes everything.
Paul’s tone changed. He looked directly at Scribus and asked a pointed question, “Do you love Jesus?”
Scribus was taken aback. Of course he did. Why was Paul asking?
“With all my heart!” Scribus answered with confidence.
Paul’s laughter lightened the sudden tension.
“I know you do. But why?” Paul’s face became soft and even tender as he asked.
Scribus answered in halting sentences, “Because He died for me…in my place…in my place…for my sins…on the cross…when I didn’t deserve it…He brought me peace and purpose when I was lost and hopeless.”
Paul nodded and boomed, “Sounds more like a preacher than a scribe to me!” He laughed a full belly laugh and slapped his friend on the back.
Scribus turned a slight shade of red and picked up his quill.
“I think I’ll stick to the writing for now, thank you!” he said with a grin.
Paul turned on his heels and launched back into his letter:
“Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…”
Suddenly the door opened to the small room they were working in and a robust woman stood in the doorway. It was the wife of the man who had opened his house to the duo several days before. She cleared her throat and said, in a big voice that matched her frame,
“You guys going to work all day and not eat? Look like it’s time for a break.”
In her left hand she carried a jug of water and said there were treats waiting for them on the roof.
Paul had been waiting for an opportunity and wasn’t about to let this one pass by. He knew from a conversation with her Christian husband that she was not a follower of Jesus…yet.
He thanked her for the hospitality and then asked, “Why did you make us snacks?’
The usually sure-worded woman stood quiet for a moment and finally said, “I guess because I wanted to?” It was more of question than a response and she looked at Paul expectantly.
Paul’s smile put her at ease.
“That’s right. We didn’t ask for a snack. In fact, we probably didn’t even deserve a snack. We haven’t been the most social guests you’ve ever had. But you, out of the goodness of your heart, made us treats.”
Paul’s tone was sugary sweet and she laughed out loud.
“I don’t know how much goodness I’ve got in my heart. I’m actually pretty hard to get along with, just ask my husband.” Prisca said just loud enough for Romas to hear downstairs. (If he did hear her, he didn’t respond)
Paul sensed the door opening and continued
“I just dictated a sentence to a group of friends that you might find interesting. Read it back to us Scribus,” Paul said looking at his young friend who was now beginning to understand what was happening.
Scribus adjusted his glasses and read out loud
“Grace and Peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…”
Both of them said nothing for several seconds to let the words hang in the air.
Paul then said,
“Prisca, do you know the meaning of these two words?”
Prisca found herself in strange territory. You see, she was a teacher and she was used to asking the questions. Now, in this small room, with these two strange men, she was being quizzed about vocabulary. She decided to play along.
“Grace is from the Greek and means getting what you do not deserve. When my son Marcus knocked over the candle and nearly burned the house down, he deserved to be punished. Instead, we decided to give him grace. The loss of his art supplies was punishment enough.”
Paul and Scribus were both impressed and asked her to continue.
“Peace is from the Hebrew and means a state of wholeness. I believe the word the Jews use is Shalom. It means peace with yourself, others, and the gods.”
Prisca felt she had answer the question adequately and started to leave.
Paul stopped her in her tracks when he asked her, “Do you have peace?”
There was something remarkably tender about his tone. If the truth be known, she did not have peace and was tortured with fear and doubts.
She stared at the floor and whispered a gravely “No.”
Scribus was amazed. How many times had Paul done this? Too many to count.
Paul put his hand on her shoulder and spoke in an authoritative voice,
“You were right that grace is not getting what we deserve. And peace is a wholeness of relationship between you and others and God. Not the gods, but the one true God who made the heavens and the earth.”
Starting in Genesis, Paul laid out the story of God’s plan, man’s problem, and the choice given to us. Scribus was always in awe of how Scripture just seemed to flow out of Paul. As he shared the good news of the Gospel, he explained that God had made a way back into relationship with Him through the cross. This was an act of pure grace. He shared with her that we didn’t deserve it but God sent His Son Jesus to die for us, in our place, to pay for our sins, to give us peace with God.
Paul looked at Prisca and said quietly, “Jesus can give you peace, the choice is up to you.”
Prisca began to cry quietly.
Paul prayed for her. The prayer was too sacred to record in this account. Needless to say, there was another reason for the angels in heaven to whoop it up that day..
After she left, Paul lifted up his glass and proposed a toast.
“To extravagant grace.”
Scribus joined him by lifting his glass.
“To perfect peace.”
Paul thanked God for a re-newed soul and Scribus thanked God for Paul.
Before the prayer was over, Paul jumped out of his seat and bounded out of the room. As he headed up the stairs, Scribus heard him taunting,
“If you aren’t up here in thirty seconds, I’m eating your treat!”
“Where the grace in that?!” Scribus responded as he knocked over his chair trying to get out of the room.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/15 at 10:29 PM •
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January 14, 2008
An amazing, humbling offering
I didn’t include this in the Cedar Lake summary because I wanted to make sure everyone read it.
Usually, Cedar Lake takes an offering and I was confused when they didn’t take it Sunday night. It turns out they took the offering during the igloo times (small groups). The offering traditionally goes to help provide scholarships but this year they donated the entire offering to flood relief in Pontiac! They called our entire group forward and presented the offering to us and then all the other students laid hands on the group and Lee prayed. It was an amazing, humbling experience.
Students from other groups at Cedar Lake gave $460 to help us help others!
They are not the future of the church…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/14 at 02:36 PM •
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January 14, 2008
Avalanche!
Monday morning after Cedar Lake I always feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. But this Monday morning I only feel like I’ve been hit by a Mini Cooper. I actually got to lay down Sat afternoon for about an hour and I was asleep by 2:00 AM each night. For Cedar Lake, that’s great!
Audrey, the program director at Cedar Lake, took a big risk this year. She brought in a big name speaker, Duffy Robbins. She cut down the number of upfront games. The worship and teaching times were increased. The main sessions were moved down into basement instead of the main auditorium. And guess what?
It worked! Great job to Cedar Lake staff for taking a risk. (That’s where the fun is anyway.)
We headed out at 4:00 PM on Friday and Amy was our bus driver again. She was our driver for the fall retreat and is wonderful. She brought along her daughter, Shelby, who was turning 14 on Saturday so we sang and embarrassed her. Our ride up was fun and we arrived at Cedar Lake early. (That almost never happens). We had time to get our stuff in our rooms and meet other groups. There were 135 students altogether.
The Matthew Douglas Band led our worship time and, being a senior pastor, Matt really did a great job guiding our time. They are not a ten musically but they are a ten spiritually and that’s what’s important to us as leaders and the students.
Duffy Robbins was our speaker and he’s an old dude like me! He’s the chair of the youth ministry department at Eastern University. I have been to Cedar Lake nearly 20 times and he is, by far, the best youth speaker I’ve ever seen.
For those of us who do retreats, we see the speakers come in every year and do the same stories and the same routines. Duffy was just real - down to earth, absolutely hilarious, and a consummate story teller. In the cafeteria, he interacted with the students with a genuineness that was refreshing. He even took the time to sit down with me and answer a few of my questions.
Here’s a outline of the four sessions:
*Session One:
1. God has a plan - John 10:10 - Jesus can give you a reason to get out of bed in the morning
2. Man has a problem - Romans 6:23 - sin is the mind set “I know God has a plan but I’m going to do it my way.”
3. The choice is up to you.
Jesus came to give us real freedom - the bar on a roller coaster is not there to hold you down but to hold you in.
* Session Two:
1. God asks you to “choose your own adventure.” - your decisions actually count
2. What would it look like to make a Pledge of Allegiance to God?
3. Gen 12:1 - God calls Abram Gen 12:4 - Abram makes his choice
4. A pledge always begins with a genuine yes, go for broke decision
5. With a genuine yes there are always genuine “nos”
6. Most of us are unwilling to say no to anything that is not Jesus - unwilling to protect the “yes”
7. Jesus calls us out of the safe places, into the arms of adventure
*** Igloo time: I had the students spend some quiet time writing down what “nos” they have to deal with to protect their yes - Symptoms.
* Session Three
1. John 1-12 - the word became flesh - the artist stepping into the painting, the cobbler becoming a shoe
2. There are certain truths that can not be communicated from a distance.
3. Many people see God as a cosmic life guard instead of a shepherd
4. This does not just effect who we love but how we live
5. Talk is cheap - where is God calling you to the EDGE?
- One thing I like about Duffy is that, traditionally, Sat night is “cry night.” The speaker and the band draws things out and gets all the kids crying. Duffy said he didn’t want to do that and just quietly dismissed us to our igloos.
*** Igloo time: I had the students diagnose their hearts. It was fascinating. Many of them said their hearts were “afraid, prideful, stubborn, hard, and broken.” We ended the time with one of those students who made the commitment to go on the edge to do a trust fall. (We did catch her!)
* Session Four
1. Life abundant doesn’t mean there will be no pain - or floods. Duffy worked the flood into every session.
2. We believe myths that make tough times worse:
- This happened because God is punishing me
- This is so bad you will never recover - God has a much bigger perspective
3. James 1:3-8, 12
- Count - put it in the plus column
- Know - we are headed for King territory and we will get jumped a few times (checkers story)
- Let - let God do His work
- Ask - it’s okay to ask “why” if you do it with an open hand.
Because two of our adult leaders couldn’t come, Cedar Lake called in two for us. Nick is a 21 year college student at Indiana Wesleyan….and Patrick Murphy’s second cousin! He’s a writer and a thinker. He did a great job hanging out with our guys. He laughed a lot and shared his story and gave them a listening ear. Rachel is a friend of Audrey’s and she hung out with our girls. She shared her story and it deeply impact our students. She grew up in youth group but at 16 decided to go her own way. At 21 God brought her back and she has been back and forth to Italy over the past four years setting up a program to teach English and share the Gospel. She spent a couple of hours talking to the girls about the “fear of God vs. the fear of man.”
It was a total God thing to have them both.
I got to talk to several of the college kids who were part of the staff the summer I was the speaker. Maxine and I both love college kids. I got to see old friends and enjoyed the Cedar Lake food again.
Thanks to Milt for hosting the fellowship Sunday night so we could collapse, I mean rest.
Thanks to Joe Myzia and Kara Hinds for sacrificing their weekend to minister to a great group of students!
It was a great trip. I’ve just got rest up for part two in two weeks with the junior high!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/14 at 01:25 PM •
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January 10, 2008
God is our Strong Tower - Flood 2008
This a slide show my son Josh put together after he took pictures yesterday. Thanks son.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/10 at 01:46 PM •
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