May 31, 2008
Follow me…
After working in the yard all day, the boys and I finally went to see “Prince Caspian” this afternoon. Although the screen writer took some liberties with the book, I thought it remained true to the Spirit of Narnia. The acting was superb, especially Lucy. The CGI was magnificent and the backdrop was beautiful. The score that plays throughout the movie is haunting. The only thing that would keep the whole family from enjoying this movie is the battle scenes that do get a little violent.
There are so many lessons in the movie. The main one is obvious - Lucy saw Aslan and knew He wanted her to follow Him. No one believed her so she went along with the others, even though she knew they were wrong. Aslan reminds her that she is to follow Him no matter what the others think.
Peter struggles with his anger. In Narnia, he is a king. In England, he’s just a kid. He makes decisions based on his anger, and people die. Caspian makes decisions based on revenge, and people die. Decisions should be based on wisdom, and Aslan should always be consulted.
In the end, Lucy stands alone against an entire army, armed only with a small knife. But, with Aslan by her side, victory is assured! I embarrassed the boys by clapping when Aslan roared!
If I could meet anyone born within the last 250 years, I would chose C.S. Lewis. To sit with the man who is widely recognized as one of the greatest theological thinkers of the past 500 years would be amazing. I wonder what he would think of the movie I just saw. I know he was not in favor of making the Chronicles into movies but he couldn’t have ever imagined the computer capabilities we have now. Aslan is a real as Lucy.
If you have not read “Mere Christianity,” please do so by the end of the summer. It is a classic among classics. Then read “The Screwtape Letters.” Then pick up my favorite of the Chronicles, “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” and get ready for the next movie in 2010.
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May 27, 2008
Are you Jesus?
This was sent to me by Sarah J, one of the deep thinking students in our student ministry. Thanks!
A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in
Chicago They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of
time for Friday night’s dinner. In their rush, with tickets and
briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a
display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they
all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding.*
ALL BUT ONE!!! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his
feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple
stand had been overturned.
He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one
of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and
explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where
the apples were all over the terminal floor.
He was glad he did.*
The 16-year-old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying,
tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time
helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her,
no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples,
put them back on the table and helped organize her display As he did this, he
noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set
aside in another basket.
When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl,
‘Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?’ She
nodded through her tears. He continued on with, ‘I hope we didn’t spoil your day
too badly.’
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl
called out to him, ‘Mister….’ He paused and turned to look back into those
blind eyes. She continued, ‘Are you Jesus?’
He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his
way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in
his soul: ‘Are you Jesus?’ Do people mistake you for Jesus?
That’s our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the
difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love,
life and grace.
If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would.
Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church.
It’s actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.
You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised
by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill
called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.
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May 27, 2008
Let’s not exasperate our kids
Brian has posted some follow-up thoughts to his sermon on his blog today concerning honoring your parents.
One of the things that our student ministry team constantly emphasizes is that we are all called to “honor our mother and father.” We want to support parents and help students to understand the law of sowing and reaping (see Galatians 6). If they sow honor, they will reap trust. We want to support students as well as they grow and learn how to come under their parent’s authority. If they can learn to obey mom and dad, they are more prepared to be in the work world and generally do better in life as a young adult.
During the sermon, one of our student leaders noticed a student texting and leaned over to tell her to put the phone away. Then he saw what she was texting. It was to her mother and read something like, “Mom, I love you and I’m sorry I don’t honor and obey like I should.” That’s good stuff. I know this family and they are committed to loving and serving their children and do a great job.
But, what about those students who live in homes that are less than ideal? The students still have a responsibility to honor. I’ve often reminded students that you honor their position not necessarily their personalities.
But, we have a responsibility too.
While it is essential for students to honor their parents, we also want to remind parents not to “exasperate” their children. I’m sure Brian will touch on this verse when he teaches on “Disciple-making Dads” on Father’s Day. But I just want to remind us parents that we have a responsibility to be “honorable.”
How do we “exasperate” (or anger, frustrate) our children? [I say “we” because I’m guilty of this as well]
In their book, “The Father Book,” Minirth, Newman, and Warren, wrote an appendix called, “A Handy Pocket Guide to Exasperating Your Children.”
* Abuse them verbally, physically, and emotionally.
Over the last 15 years I’ve heard students tell horror stories of abuse. All the way from parents calling the student’s names and belittling them, to the most vile forms of abuse. I heard of of mother who told her child, “I wish you had never been born.” I’ve heard students say, through tears, how their parents called them stupid and worthless and words I can’t write on my blog.
They write, “There is no faster road to really messing up your kids.”
* Refuse to spend time with them
Students really do want to spend time with their parents and are exasperated when we work or play without them. Cat’s in the Craddle isn’t just a nice song - it’s many of our students lives.
They write, “If you really want to warp them, replace time and affection with purchased things.”
* Compete with them.
Kids want to compete anyway, just let them know that you are bigger and stronger and that they will “never amount to anything.”
* Keep an iron fist on those reins
Control everything and you’ll soon have out-of-control kids.
* Complete the task.
“Get it done! Having fun doing it is strictly for sissies.”
* Make sure your expectations are “way up there.”
Dads, this is often our problem. Listen to what Paul Warren writes, “Females tend to be more in touch with kids…they usually have more realistic expectations because they’re with children more, thus understanding them better….they have a more moment-to-moment kid of love that doesn’t require that certain preconceived expectations be met.” Ouch! How true is that? I have often frustrated my boys more by expecting more out of them than they were capable of at the stage they were in.
* Don’t bother loving your wife. Don’t even bother showing affection.
Minirth writes, “The most important thing in a child’s life is for you to love your wife and raise the kids as a team.” Students are scared of parents breaking up and showing that affection provides security for them.
* Keep your lips shut about sex.
Listen to this quote: Most people with sexual disorders “can almost always trace the problem back to their dad. [Dads] you hold the key to your kid’s sexuality. Mom doesn’t. So use that power!’
To this list I would add a couple more:
* Be inconsistent.
When they bring home the bad grade in November, ground them for 6 months. Give up on this after two weeks. When they get a detention in April, don’t punish them at all.
* When you punish them, do it right.
Grounding students for at least three months at a time is very helpful for exasperating students and parents as well.
* Do as I say, not as I do.
I once had a mother point to her daughter and yelled, “I don’t ever want to catch you smoking again!” You know what she was pointing with? A lit cigarette!
* Let them run wild. No rules make for wild children! And don’t we all love to deal with wild children?
* Be their friend. Give in to them anytime they push back. It helps them to know who is really in charge.
* Give in to your addictions.
Drink heavily. Use drugs. Surf for porn on the net. Three sure fire ways to exasperate your children to the point of tears.
* Abandon them.
Students will get over it. You deserve to be happy, right?
Parents, it’s so easy to mess up our children. Brian reported that less than 20% of parents feel like they are doing a good job. Maxine and I often feel like we are the poster children for that 20% group. We owe it to our kids to be intentional in our attempt to raise them in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Students, what if your parents follow every one of these guidelines for exasperating you? You are still called to honor their position as parents.
How can you do that if they are being very honorable?
* Walk away.
* Limit your answers to a sincere “yes ma’am or sir.”
* Have a safe place to go to.
* Enlist the student ministry team to meet with you and your parents. Our goal is to minister to the whole family, not just the students.
* Pray for your parents every day.
* Take responsibility for your responses and own, and ask forgiveness for, any disrespect quickly.
Students, honor the command to honor your parents. Parents, let’s honor the command not to exasperate our children. If both sides seek to honor the Lord, things will go much smoother for all of us.
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May 26, 2008
Up, up, and away
Today we went to 6 Flags and had a great time. We rode all the roller coasters, saw a three-D movie, and got wet on the Log Flume. It was a spectacular day weather-wise. The one down-side to the day was the two hour wait for the new Batman “Dark Night” ride. It was an absolute disappointment. It’s basically a kiddie roller coaster in the dark. Don’t waste your time.
Another frustrating thing was that one of the rides stole my phone! We are hoping they find it tonight. Would you pray for that please?
We loved all the rides but the Superman was by far the best. It’s really cool to fly!
Here’s the crew with the Man of Steel. (This one’s for you Marty!)
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May 26, 2008
Bought with a price
How much are you worth?
Minor league pitcher John Odom found out this week that he was traded for ten baseball bats! That’s got to do something to your self-esteem.
On this Memorial Day, a day to remember the sacrifices of past heroes, let’s not forget the ultimate sacrifice and the price that was paid for us. Paul, when talking about avoiding sexual immorality, reminds us that we “are not our own; you were bought at a price.” (I Cor 6:19-20). The price that Jesus paid was His life. That makes you much more valuable than this world would understand. Once you understand your worth, you are free to be who God created you to be.
Odom said that he really didn’t care about being traded for bats. He’s a better man than I am. It would have driven me completely batty!
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May 25, 2008
A Barefoot Wedding, Elvis hair, graduations, and two pyros
This weekend has been full of parties. I attended several yesterday and had the thrill of attending Jenna James wedding in Odell. We go back nearly 8 years with Jenna and have watched her grow into a wonderful woman of God. We are so proud of her. She married Keith Battleson and their entire wedding gave glory to Jesus. The whole wedding party, including the ministers, were barefoot to symbolize the wedding was on holy ground. Jenna and Keith washed each other’s feet after the pastor preached on Jesus washing His disciple’s feet (that seems to be a motif this week). She is a success story in every facet of the word.
Congrats to Jenna and Keith.
Because I’ve been getting so gray, and a little first grader thought I was a grandpa, we decided to try to “wash the gray right out of my hair.” Maxine tried to find a hair color that was natural. Maxine and Shiann had a great time with this. One of the students at church said, “I like it, you look like Elvis!” Not exactly the look I was going for. Maybe if I get some cool glasses I could look like Bono.
Here’s me half-way through. You can’t see Maxine laughing in this picture, but she was!
This afternoon, after attending Kristen’s party, I went to Kat Robson’s graduation in El Paso. Ken, Kara, Kaden, Stephanie, and Gideon joined me. We were so impressed with the grad ceremony. It began with a prayer, all three speeches had Scripture in them, and it ended with a prayer. The top student said, “My faith in Jesus Christ helped me through this year.” When Kat’s name was announced , Gideon and I “Meowed” loudly! It was good to see Kel and Kyle as well.
I forgot my camera so no pics of Kat. She’s headed to Mississippi State University in two weeks. I actually attended MSU for one class after seminary. Go Bulldogs!
Now, we are sitting in the back yard with a good fire and getting ready to do Smores. The boys love our fire pit and it’s a great night for a fire. Here’s my two little pyros!
Tomorrow, we are headed to 6 Flags in Gurnee. We are praying it doesn’t rain. Would you say a prayer for us?
Have a great Memorial Day. (13 days till Mexico!)
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May 24, 2008
Just for Men, here I come!
Wednesday, I paid a visit to Lincoln school for “play day.” The kids were all on teams and participating in all sorts of competitions. As I walked across the blacktop, I saw Sarah Albrecht and I said, “Hey Sarah-boo.” I remember when Sarah was born and she’s one of my favorite smaller people. A little boy was standing behind her and I heard him say, “Did he just call you Sarah-boo?” I told him, in no uncertain terms that he would not make fun of her for that. He looked at me and then looked at Sarah and said, “Who is this, you’re grandpa?!”
I’m checking out “Just for Men.” How do you think I’d look as a blonde?”
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May 24, 2008
Opportunity to Serve - Chairs, chairs, and more chairs
I spent the morning with a great group of students and parents cleaning chairs at the Vermillion Theater. I was so proud of them. We had a great time, it was a beautiful morning, and I loved seeing the Haleys serve together as a family.
Thank you for all of you who took the opportunity to serve this morning.
Here’s Sarah, Alli, and Jessi hard at work!
Families that serve together….the Haleys tackle some chairs!
Here’s most of the Chair OTS group. Great job everyone!
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May 23, 2008
Please Pray
Watch this video of SCC and Maria and then watch this video and then get on your knees and pray for the Chapman family as they bury Maria Sue Chapman Saturday at 11:00 AM.
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May 23, 2008
2008 PTHS Graduation
I attended the Pontiac graduation tonight. I sat in the same place I always sit, (upper left balcony, under the basketball goal, against the wall), with the peeps I always sit with - Ken and Kara Hinds. But this year K-dog (Kaden) joined us and so did Grant Armstrong. Because of the cool weather it wasn’t 1,000 degrees in the gym and it was actually quite comfortable. Mt. Kilgore and Mr. Johnson did a great job tonight and the three top student’s speeches were really good. One of the students did her whole speech on a “six letter disease that was an epidemic.” She did a great job building the suspense and finally revealed the epidemic was “change.” Sarah Schwerin gave the welcome and did a wonderful job. (You didn’t seem nervous…)
This year we had a small number of really involved seniors. The numbers have gone up and down in the past. Next year, we have a huge senior class and I’m looking forward to doing some leadership training with them.
I’ve been around a while. Several of the seniors who graduated tonight were part of the first batch of junior high students I worked with in my second year at PBC.
After graduation, we went to Ken’s house and had a birthday cookie ready for Tim Thomas, who turned 17 today. Here’s a picture of Ken and Tim playing Wii tennis…
Here are a few more pictures of the night…
I will really miss Nathan and Gideon!
Becca’s off to boot camp soon!
As of tonight, Stormie is now one of our seniors!
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May 23, 2008
What do I look like? A toaster?! A graduation address
I just finished reading another commentary on Galatians. I’ve enjoyed this one immensely. It’s written by a pastor in simple to read chapters with lots of great stories. Here’s one that inspired me as I gave the graduation talk at Pontiac Christian School last night.
Luke Short, aged 103, was sitting under a hedge when he happened to remember a sermon he once heard preached by the famous Puritan John Flavel. As he recalled the sermon, he asked God right then and there to forgive his sins through Jesus Christ. Short lived for three more years, and when he died, this inscription was put on his tombstone:
“Here lies a babe in grace, aged three years, who died according to nature, aged 106.”
But here’s the remarkable part of the story: The sermon short remembered had been preached by Flavel back in England 85 years before! Nearly a century had passed between the sowing of the Word and the reaping.
With this story in my mind, here’s what I said to the 8th grade students last night:
8th Grade Graduation 2008
Pastor Jeff Williams
Recently, I’v enjoyed telling this joke, or variations of it, to Mr. Marley’s class:
Two penguins are sitting in a bath tub. One says to the other one, “Could you please pass the marmalaide jelly.” The other one replies, “What do I look like, a toaster?!”
This joke has confounded the class. Several students are convinced it’s a geo-political metaphor. Others just think I’m a little weird.
Students, do you want to know the truth? The meaning of the joke is…
There is no meaning! It’s complete random nonsense!
There are many people who would tell you that this joke is very much like life.
I’m here to tell you differently.
I’m honored to be here to help you celebrate your next step in life. I have enjoyed spending Tuesdays eating lunch and playing basketball. The girls were undefeated again this year. I’d like to give you some advice and I’m going to encourage your parents, families, friends, and teachers to eavesdrop.
The Apostle John records an event that doesn’t seem to have much to do with 8th grade graduation. The Passover meal had been prepared, and Jesus and the disciples sat down to eat what would be their last meal together. It was time for a living parable:
I will begin reading in the book of John.
“ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Jesus knew His purpose so He could take up the towel
You are living in what the philosophers are calling a “post-modern” world. Truth is relative, integrity out-dated, and the notion of the purposefulness of life is relegated to the “foolish, out-of-touch” theologians. I make no apologies for being such a believer. We live in a day where “reality” has become little more that an edited television show that seeks ratings based on outrageous stunts or lifestyles. Let me share with you what is real.
You were born on purpose, with a purpose, and for a purpose.
You are not the result of random chaos, a big bang, time +chance, or the mutation of primordial ooze.
You are a masterpiece created by Almighty God to change the world!
He had you be born at just the right time, in just the right place…for such a time as this. You are not a mistake, you are not expendable.
You were fashioned by a Master Artist for His good pleasure. Listen to how David puts it in Psalm 139:13-16:
Ps 139:13-16: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
God ordained your days before you were ever born. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2:9 that God has plans and purposes for you that are far beyond your wildest imaginations. Jeremiah, writing to people far away from home and losing hope, writes,
Jer 29:11: “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. “
Jesus could take up the towel because He understood who He was and what His ultimate purpose was. The Savior of the world washed dirty feet. While his disciples argued over who of them were the greatest, Jesus gave them a stunning word-picture of what it means to be a servant-leader. Less than twenty-four hours later, these same hands would be nailed to a wooden cross beam on a hill outside the city in the ultimate act of servant hood and sacrifice.
What is God’s main purpose for you? Is it to make you happy, healthy, and self-confident? Is it to make you rich, popular, or famous? No! God’s main purpose in your lives is for you to radiate the love of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.
The Apostle Paul said it this way:
Rom 8:29: For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son…”
God is working on you even now to make you more and more into the image of His Son. He chisels, sands, breaks, and chops off anything in your life that does not look like the Servant-Savior. Submit yourself to this process.
As you go to high school, there will be those who will seek to define you. Do not let anyone define except for Jesus. There will be those who will tell you that you are not enough - pretty, thin, smart enough. That is a lie straight from the pit of hell. If you are a Christian, then you are more than enough. You are a child of the King. So act like the princes and princesses you are.
On a mission trip to New Orleans years ago, I was serving with a high school student in a soup kitchen line. As we greeted each of the people in line, one of the ladies grabbed this student’s hand and said, “O child, I’m so blessed. You came all the way from MS to give me a bowl of soup? I’m so blessed.”
Later that night, Bryant said through tears, “I have more than most of my friends and I’m not content. That lady has nothing and she’s blessed? I just don’t get that.”
I told him that she had figured out something he had yet to learn - when you have Jesus, that all you really need!
You are about to enter a brand new world of high school. You have an opportunity to change the world, one life at a time! You will have more opportunity to live out your faith in high school than any other time in your life.
Plant your flag. Remember who and whose you are. Show your friends what grace looks like lived out in a teenager’s life. Remember it’s not about what you don’t do (I don’t drink, don’t chew, don’t go with girl’s who do). It’s much about surrendering your heart to God’s plans and then watching Him work miracles through you.
Once you know that you have been put here on purpose, with a purpose, and for a purpose, we are free to serve people with humility and grace. Learn the law of servant hood: the more you pour your life into others the more God will pour into you. Jesus said “I have set you an example now go and do the same…you’ll be blessed if you do.”
For these past years, your parents, teachers, and your churches have washed your feet now we pass the towel to you. This is your time to take up the towel.
It is your choice.
There are actually two basins in the Gospel story. During the trial of Jesus, Pilate is confused by the Jewish ruler’s pleas to crucify Him. When Pilate told the leaders that he found no basis for execution, they plays their trump card. They threaten his political future if he does not give in to their demands. Pilate caves in does a very interesting thing.
Matt 27:24: “When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
Pilate literally washed his hands of Jesus. You can choose this route. Research shows that most of your classmates will completely check out of church once they graduate high school. Even those of you who have gone to PCS are not immune. You can chose to play it safe, not make waves, and live in fear of not being what everyone wants you to be. You can choose power, position, or popularity. Or you can choose to stand up for Jesus and change your world.
Small things done with great love can change hearts. I recently heard about one of our high school students who started praying every morning this prayer, “Lord, help me to see needs.” She was walking down the hall and saw
a guy drop all his books and papers. Some people laughed at him. Others ignored him. She stopped and helped him pick up everything. Because of her kindness, she was late for class. The teacher asked her why she was late, and as she explained, he began to smile. He said if you going to do things like that, you can be late every day!”
I forgot your age though. I need to record this talk and let you hear it ten years from now. Your obviously too young to really make a difference. Your just the future of the church…
We are the Church!
Then act like it in second period when that guy wants to cheat off you, and study hall when you see the girl crying, and on the baseball diamond when the call goes against you, and in the locker rooms when everyone is talking, and at lunch when you see that guy or that girl sitting alone, and and in the hall when everyone is gossiping, and in the halls when you notice that teacher who looks sad.
The local church is the hope of the world. And you are the church!
I beg you to make it your mission to love extravagantly, serve intentionally, and share the hope you have in Jesus without fear or shame. Teenagers are hungry for purpose and they’re tired of jokes that have no meaning. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young but set the believers an example in your life, love, faith, speech, and purity.
I want to end with a quote from a friend of Todd Beamer. Todd was part of the group of guys that foiled the hijacker’s plans of flying Flight 93 into the While House. His famous last words, “Let’s roll” now serve as a rallying point for America pride. One of his best friends said this about Todd: “It does not surprise me that Todd died a sacrificial death because he lived a sacrificial life.” May that be said of all of us who claim the name of Jesus Christ!
It really comes down to two things - Love God with al your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love others through service. That’s the mash potatoes, everything else is just gravy!
It is a choice that must be made. Tonight, chose the towel.
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May 22, 2008
Unspeakably Sad
Please stop right NOW and pray for Steven Curtis Chapman and his family. His youngest adopted daughter was run over yesterday by one of his sons in the family driveway. I recently watched a special on things like this. It is more common than you think and it is doubly devastating to the families. She was 5 year old, from China, and her name was Maria. She’s was one of SCC’s “Cinderallas.”
As one of his earlier songs, written when a family friend who was 9 years old was killed in a car wreck, reminds us:
“We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
Cause we know that goodbye is not the end…”
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May 21, 2008
Tangled
Yesterday I went home for lunch and let the dog out. After eating my turkey sandwich, I opened the back door to call Bucky back in. He was no where to be seen. Then I heard him whimpering right below me, under the deck. Bucky had wandered under the deck and wrapped his leash around the pylon closest to the house. He was trying to free himself but just kept making it worse. The more he tried, the more he got tangled. I crawled under the deck and freed him. He bounded around the backyard, enjoying his freedom.
Becky is soooo like me and you, isn’t he? We wander under the deck of sin and once we get there we get caught in the “sin that so easily entangles us” (Hebrews 12:1). We tried to escape but it just makes it worse.
What do we do?
First, don’t go under the deck in the first place. It’s dark and there is sharp rocks you can’t see.
But if you do end up tangled, just sit completely sit and whimper out to God. He will rescue you. He will not scold you.
He may even play ball with you afterwards.
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May 20, 2008
Voices
As I was getting ready to leave this morning, I heard a noise. It was barely discernible. I stood still in the living room and finally figured out it was voices. I couldn’t make out what they were saying. I immediately went to Josh’s room thinking he had left his CD player on. Every night he listens to CDs of preaching and has a habit of leaving his CD player on after he leaves for school. But his CD was off. Maybe it was the radio in the kitchen. Sometimes it gets really fuzzy and Maxine turns it down. I check it and it was off. I was starting worry about my mental health. I ran to the bathroom where we have a CD player but that was off too. The TV downstairs was off. I stood silently trying to find the voices. Everywhere I went the voices followed. They were soft, mumbling voices. I shook my head and they were still there. I concentrated really hard and the voices were coming from…
my pants! A thought occurred to me. I wasn’t going crazy. In my left pocket my iPod was on and a sermon had popped up! I took it out and turned it off and, thankfully, the voices stopped!
I had to laugh at myself. But then I thought, “Isn’t that how some people feel about God’s voice?” In talking to students, they often tell me that they have a hard time hearing God. They know He’s speaking but it seems “fuzzy” and they can’t quite figure out what He is saying. They desperately strain to listen but do not find the source.
God speaks in numerous ways. I’m not saying that God could not speak through the Ipod in your pants but His usual way of speaking is through His Word. His Word isn’t fuzzy and He doesn’t mumble.
You don’t have to wander around your house trying to find the source. Just sit down with your Bible and listen…
o yeah, and turn off your Ipod before you do!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 05/20 at 10:17 AM •
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May 19, 2008
Roller Derby and Church?
This morning on ESPN a story was featured that caught my attention. It was a feature about women’s roller derby. I don’t know much about this sport but it involves skating in circles, trying to pass the other team, and knocking each other down. It was popular in the 1970s and has made a resurgence within the last five years. They interviewed several players and it was amazing to find out their “day jobs.” There was a NASA space suit tester, an accounting, a journalist (her stage name was “Miss Print”), a stay at home mother of five, and a secretary. These normal looking women become something all together different on the track. With names like “Savage Animal” they allow their alter-egos to come out during the competition. Many of them said it was the most fun they have all week.
The more these women talked about their sport the more I thought of the church. They talked in terms of community and belonging. They were accepted and, even after a hard fought battle, both teams could go out and have a beer together.
One of the woman actually said what I was thinking. She said, “I really don’t go to church. This is my church. Two years ago I had one friend. Now I have 80.”
Friends, there is a reason why these women like roller derby. It’s the same reason why people go sit at the bar. It’s a place of community - where everybody knows your name (NORM!). It’s a place of acceptance and belonging.
Wait, am I talking about roller derby or the church? God created us to be in community. We seek it out and if we can’t find it, we invent it (chat rooms). We desire people to be with us as we skate furiously around our tracks. It makes it more fun, more of an adventure. It certainly helps when you get knocked on your behind. There’s someone to pick you up.
I was at a junior high student’s house this morning, just minutes after her grandfather passed away. She stood in the living room and thoughtfully said, “I don’t know how people do this without the church to help you.”
The church, with all it’s problems, is still the hope of the world. Many people would still rather play roller derby. They sense that’s safer. You can put on your alter ego and be someone you want to be. At church, many people do the same thing, hiding in plain sight in the midst of a smiling crowd. They walk through life without a “team” and wonder why it seems so hard.
I have told people for years that God did not create us to do life on our own, yet, many people still do.
Some of them see the church very much like roller derby. A place where you pretend to be something you’re not and get beat up as you skate in mindless circles.
How do we show people outside the church that Christian community is better than the bar and safer than roller derby? I’d love to hear your ideas…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 05/19 at 12:29 PM •
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