Thoughts from Wednesday Worship...August 27, 2008

Jesus told stories about lost sheep fairly often (Matthew 18, Luke 15, John 10). Jesus' point is that he, the shepherd, is always looking out for his sheep and is always looking for any that are lost. It's a beautiful image...but it begs a question. If Jesus is such a good shepherd, how do the sheep (we) get separated from him anyway?

Sheep do not get separated by being mysteriously or instantly transported to somewhere else. No, they become separated one step at a time. They nibble. Always chasing the "greener grass" that is just a step or two away. So it is with us. We begin to mis-prioritize...just a little. We skip a day or two of time alone with God...then three...then a week. We compromise our ethics just a little...just this once we tell ourselves. Before we realize it, we've nibbled our way into separation.

Sheep become separated by another means as well. Some sheep just keep their heads down and follow the "grazer" in front of them. (Thus the Volkswagen commercial of not long ago..."just another pathetic sheep following the herd.") This is what worries me. When folks see us "nibble", when they see us compromise, when they see the priorities in our lives...they follow. At times, we lead them straight into separation.

So what do we do about it? Don't nibble. At the slightest hint of compromise, at the slightest hint of lack of devotion, at the slightest hint of misplaced priorities...fix it. Right away. Immediate attention may very well keep us from winding up lost, but will that influence others? Will it positively impact our circles? I think so.

Don Caskey, Upper School Director of Lakeview Academy, sent me this article. In 1980 social scientists James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling published an article in the Atlantic called “Broken Windows” in which they postulated that repairing the first broken window in an abandoned building would prevent more from being broken, and failing to repair it would encourage more windows to be broken. (They turned out to be correct.) In 1985 the New York City Transit Authority tested the theory on vandalism (in particular, graffiti) against the subways, repairing vandalized equipment and cleaning graffiti from subway cars immediately. The project was so successful that in 1990, William Bratton, head of NYC Transit Police, expanded the program to fare-dodging and other petty crimes, and in 1993 Mayor Giuliani adopted the policy more widely throughout the city. The 10-year period following the inception of this strategy saw a precipitous and unprecedented drop in not only petty crimes, but major crimes in NYC. It is generally agreed that immediate attention to the small incidents, not only reduced the number of like small incidents, but of related small crimes -- and may well have played a role in the reduction of major crimes.

Let's try to cut down on the nibbling. Let's fix things as soon as we realize they need fixing. Let's make sure we keep those who may be following us within earshot of the Shepherd.

A Neck To Throw Our Arms Around

(Photo by OceanRudy from Flickr)

I have prayed boldly for them both...with as much faith as I can muster. I have prayed, without hesitation or embarrassment, for the healing of their bodies. "He" tells me this week that the remaining spot is so small that the Doctor suggests no surgical biopsy, to remove his port, and to forget about the stem cell transplant. "We'll just watch it", he says. "She", on the other hand, might not live any longer than the time it takes me to write this post.

I encounter it all the time.

The fact is...we pray. We pray a lot. We try to believe what the bible says about prayer. We try to do it right. We pray with faith and humility and thanksgiving. We pray, "if it be Your will." We pray in Jesus' name. But...at the end of the day...WE WANT OUR PRAYERS ANSWERED!

A few years ago, my family vacationed at the coast. I was on the beach with Katie...not much more than a toddler at the time. As we played in the surf, she grew braver and braver and began to venture further and further out into the water. The current was fairly strong and the tide was going out. All at once, she realized that her little feet could no longer feel the bottom. The water was over her head. Her eyes grew wide with fear and panic. She called out to me, "Daddy! Daddy!" I moved over to her...the water was not over my head. Neither the current nor the tide were too strong for me. She flung her arms around my neck. I could feel her little body tremble. In a while, however, her fear subsided and the panic left her.

What Katie didn't know was that her circumstances had not changed. I did not alter the depth of the ocean. The water was still over her head. I did not weaken the current or reverse the tide. The only difference was that she had my neck to throw her arms around.

We pray. We pray a lot. We come, at times, with fear and panic and worry. We tremble. We cry out, "Father! Father!" Our circumstances may not change, but in our need we find the neck of God to throw our arms around.

Perhaps, THAT is answered prayer.

In fact, given that it's the God of the universe we're holding on to (or who is holding on to us)...perhaps it's the ultimate answer. I mean...really...what more could we ask for?

Thoughts from Wednesday Worship...August 20, 2008

Paul wrote to Timothy, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." This scripture has found its way to me several times in the past weeks. Finishing the race has led me to think a great deal about eternity. Or, more accurately, heaven.

I have not been spending any time thinking about the "theology" of heaven. Not what it is or where it is. I have not been breaking down the promise of a "new heaven and new earth." I am not concerned with what the streets are paved with, whether or not the gates are pearly, who is singing what or who is playing what.

The bottom line for me is that, ultimately, it is quite sufficient for me to be in the presence of the Living God of the Universe. Wherever and whatever and however. The thought is exciting to me.

I do not, however, prefer to "go" now. I'm having a good bit of fun here with Connie and the kids, my friends and my congregation.

When I do "get there" though, I hope for a "gold medal moment." One like Nastia Liukin - the American gold medal winning gymnast.

As I watched her be awarded her medal in Beijing, I couldn't help but think about what it must have taken for her to arrive at that moment. It would have taken thousands of hours in the gym preparing and practicing. She would have won thousands of medals along the way at hundreds of gym meets. She would have lost some times too. She had to fight through distractions and injury and personal defeats. And yet, there she was...receiving her gold medal. You could see it on her face as she listened to the National Anthem being played. She sighed a sigh of relief as if to say to herself, "There. I've done it. I fought the fight. I finished the race. I kept the faith."

When this life is over and I am ultimately in the presence of God, I hope I have a moment like that. Standing there will be my reward. The music will not be the National Anthem but will be indescribable I imagine. The lyrics will not be "Oh say can you see..." but rather, "well done, good and faithful servant."

Fight the fight. Finish the race. Keep the faith.

International Intrigue and a Dirty Old Truck

This past Saturday was one of those days that just leave me basking in the glory of God. You know what I'm talking about? It was one of those days that God chose to put person after person in front of me that pointed to His grace and love and impact and sheer power.

After starting the day at a men's ministry breakfast (which featured Kenny Thorne - Georgia Tech Men's Tennis coach who was incredible!), I met with a friend of mine. I baptized him a year or so ago at the age of 81. I have often remembered him weeping as we came up out of the water together. The experience was so moving for him - and thus for me as well. On Saturday, he told me his story.

The man is the most accomplished and trusted consultant in the area of International Security in the United States - if not the entire world. He told me (a little) of lives saved and catastrophes averted. He told me (again, a little) of high stakes negotiations. He is trusted by men, companies, and governments all over the planet. His has been a life lived, more or less, undercover. Just as I was awash in a sea of intrigue, he told me this story.

He said, "I was in my car one day, trying to maneuver around a large, dirty truck in front of me. I couldn't get around it. Every time I would try to pass, the truck would move into a spot directly in front of me." "After awhile," he said, "I noticed something written in the dirt and grime on the back of that truck. In perfect letters were the words Jesus Loves You." My friend began to sob, openly and uncontrollably, as he said, "David, I have witnessed and been involved in things that most men can only imagine. However, in all my life and in all my exploits, I have never encountered anything that stopped me in my tracks like the truth of those words...Jesus Loves You." "My life changed forever."

That was some 15 years ago. Still today, he sobs...without shame...as he too basks in the glory of God...and His grace, and love, and impact and sheer power.

Wow.

Thoughts from Wednesday Worship...August 13, 2008

Jacob walked off the football field. He took off his helmet and shoulder pads. He was sweaty and stinky and smiling from ear to ear. He hugged me and said, "Mr. White...I can't wait til Thursday night."

I had spent the summer leading a bible study for the Lakeview Academy football team on Thursday mornings. We focused our attention on the apostle Paul's great words found in II Timothy, "I have fought the fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." We talked about just what it might take in a faith life to arrive at the end of the road and be able to speak those words. We met in the weight room, before workouts, and early. I knew Jacob was there, but was completely unaware that God was working in his life in a major way.

At the end of summer workouts, the team goes on a team building retreat for a weekend. The weekend ended at a homeless shelter where the team was to do some volunteer work after worshiping with shelter residents. The preacher, I'm told, started at 10:30 and didn't finish til 1:30. His assistant coach said it was...well...just long. But, after it all, in the corner was Jacob clutching his head coach. He was in tears. His assistant coaches opened their bibles. They prayed together. Jacob gave his life to Christ. He gave his testimony to his teammates on the team bus.

I was talking with Austin, my son, about it all. We talked about the bible study and I admitted that during some of the days there I was just fulfilling a promise I had made. I didn't mail it in...but close to it a couple of times. We talked about the weight room setting, the early morning hour. We talked about a homeless shelter worship service with a long-winded preacher. We talked about coaches who primarily coach football. We talked about a hot, stuffy school bus.

Austin commented something like, "Dad, it just goes to show you. God can do something with anything."

Jacob was baptized following an FCA meeting this past Thursday in a backyard swimming pool with dozens of his teammates and classmates watching. He was still smiling from ear to ear.

God can do something with anything.

Ain't it the truth.

All Too Familiar...

(Photo by Monire Askari)

She began by saying, "He would have been 89 next month and in January we would have been married 62 years." Never mind that "he" was in the room at Peachtree Christian Hospice with us. As soon as I heard those words, spoken in the past tense, I knew that she had already begun the process of grieving and adjusting. I also knew that she was preparing me, with or without intention, to "preach his funeral."

She told me the story of their lives together. I heard how they met and the stories of them growing toward each other. I heard about his years in Germany and Austria as an Infantryman during WWII. I heard all about his career. She sparkled as she spoke of his accomplishments and how respected he was by important people. I heard about the joys and tragedies of their time together. I learned about their children and their careers. Then about the grandchildren and their careers. I learned about the extended family. Houses bought and sold. Churches attended and left. I heard the story of a life. From time to time, as she remembered, her chin would quiver. It was interesting and captivating. I kept hearing myself say, "I didn't know that!"

It was all too familiar. I've been through this conversation dozens and dozens of times with dozens and dozens of people.

As I left, I couldn't help but be reminded that I had plenty of opportunities to know their story. There was no need for me to learn it in a hospice care facility...preparing for a funeral...speaking in past tense.

I'm gonna stop and listen more. I'm gonna ask more questions.

Thoughts From Wednesday Worship - August 6, 2008

Of all the things I do, participating in and leading (in that order) our mid-week worship is among my favorites. I treasure the time spent with our people. Tonight, we focused on the word "opportunity." Admittedly, it is a much used word. It can become rather trite. We considered the opportunities that come our way in our secular lives. We also considered the opportunities that come our way in our faith lives. Opportunities to grow, learn, fellowship, love, serve, minister, and be formed abound. Jesus Himself presented folks with opportunities. He said, "throw down your nets and follow me" to a couple of fishermen who became disciples. He said, "Zaccheus, come down out of that tree. I'm going home with you", to an unsuspecting tax collector. Jesus was always presenting people with opportunity. Jesus presents us with opportunity still today.

We also considered missed opportunities.

I met him a couple of weeks ago as I was leading a bible study at No Longer Bound. NLB is a ministry and program for male addicts located in Cumming, Georgia. It is an extensive, intense 10 month program. They do incredible work. He said, "I went to church when I was a kid. I was so excited at first. The church bus would come around and pick us up. The driver always had some little treats for us. After awhile, however, I became more afraid than excited. You see, I'm a bit of a rounder. You might have guessed that, considering where I am now. I started to be afraid of breaking something or scratching the pews. I was afraid of breaking the rules. I was afraid they wouldn't let me get on the bus anymore. One day in Sunday School, a big woman wagged her finger in my face and told me I was trouble. I'm sure I deserved it. She told me that if I couldn't behave that I should never come back. I was so afraid of her...I never did go back. So, I just started moving toward people who didn't wag their finger in my face and who accepted me no matter what I did."

He went on to tell more of the story. I wasn't listening. I couldn't help but wonder how different his life may have been if only she hadn't wagged her finger in his face. She had an opportunity to be the presence of Christ in this boy's life...and she missed it...and he went away...and his life spun out of control. I don't mean to suggest that if we miss opportunities to share the love of Christ with someone that their life will be ruined. But...

Opportunities. Let's take advantage of them. More than that, let's not miss them. Most of all, let's not do any finger wagging.