Hot Springs

"Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life." Prov. 4:23

When our youngest child, Allyson, was a three year old she came to me one night with this theological trauma. "Daddy, I want to ask Jesus into my heart." Well, I was touched by her tender request, and immediately started gathering my thoughts to bring her to the point of conviction of sin, genuine repentance from it, and the justification offered to her in Christ for it. I would then lead her to an understanding of the process of sanctification on earth and her eventual glorification on Heaven. I was loaded for bear. Without taking another breath, she went on to say. "You know, He's so big, and I'm so little. How can He can get in me?" I was left in a stunned silence. If you know anything about little girls, you know they can be relentless, especially if they think they are being ignored. "Daddy. Daddy. Daddy. Daddy. Daddy. Daddy. Whaddayah think? Daddy? Daddy? Daddy?" I came up with the best answer I could think of at the time. "Go ask your mother." She left happy and I was relieved. Dana handled it...again.

For over twenty years I have played that scene over and over in my mind. What a great question! How does Jesus get in my heart? To a child, when they hear us talk about Jesus coming into their heart, they are concerned He will unzip them at the navel and put them on like an earth suit. The message from Proverbs 4:23 jumped out at me this morning. "Watch over your heart...from it flow the springs of life." Have you ever noticed how much the word "heart" is mentioned in the Bible? Must be important. Whaddayah think?

Dana and I are spending a few days of RnR at a BnB in Hot Springs, Arkansas. On the drive here we were reflecting how nice it was to be able to leave town for a reason other than chemo treatments, a doctor's appointment or surgery. The trip is a result of the generosity of our church family. This makes it an even more memorable event in our lives. This is my first time to visit Hot Springs. I had no idea of the beauty and the history of this area.

One of the the pieces of information I have picked up has intrigued me. There is a particularly famous, white columned water plant on the main drag of the city. The company produces water and sends it around the world in green bottles. The water has been determined to be over 3,000 years old, and some of the purest on the planet. The purity is a result of having all the sediment and corruption filtered by being forced through the many layers of rock under the springs. The source of heat is volcanic in nature, and purifies the water even further as it reaches the surface.

The word "heart" is used in the Bible to refer to our desire, our mind, our will or our emotions. Proverbs warns us that this vital life-giving source can be polluted. Matthew 5:8 records the words of Jesus, "Blessed are the pure in heart." Throughout Scripture we are told that God looks at a person's heart with more concern than their outward appearance. The heart can store evil intent. It can also be bank reserve that holds treasures that can be drawn on in time of need. The heart can be troubled, broken, cleansed, contrite, deceitful, gentle, humble, hard, slow, courageous, fearful, pierced, and sincere. What makes the difference in a person's heart? The answer is more about Who than about what.

Paul loved the idea of Jesus living in a believer's heart. He fervently prayed, " I bow my knees before the Father, ...that He would grant you...to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." (Ephesians 3:14-17)The full partnership of the Trinity is required to make the life-changing difference in a person's heart. God gives His Son. The Son gives His life. The Spirit gives His power. What begins with a child like prayer of faith, becomes a life time of trusting God with our mind, our will and our emotions until He transforms us into someone who believes, thinks, and lives like Jesus.

Jesus is the Rock. Through prayer we force our thoughts, our rights, our feelings through the crevices of His character. They become purified by the process. When we come into the warmth of His Presence on a daily basis, the fire from His word applied to our hearts cleanses us from impurities even more. When I let His Word become my way, and His companionship becomes my first priority, then my heart becomes a life-giving flow of His love to others. Come on everybody, let's Rock.

Single-Hearted

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

"That preacher ain't gonna say nuthin about obey in them vows is he?" I was conducting a wedding rehearsal for my pastor in church in a land far, far away across the Red Sea (River). The anxious bride was quizzing me on he content of the ceremony that was to be conducted the next day by the Senior Pastor. Oh, the joys of being the Associate Pastor. The first three letters of the title should have been my clue. Any given day you were either hauling it or getting kicked in it. This gal was packing a mighty big boot. I admitted to her, I had never attended a wedding performed by the pastor. I told her I was new to the church, and "that preacher" could clear up what he had in store for her when he got back. Then like a moth to a flame, I just had to ask, "What's your beef with the word obey?" She didn't flinch. She told me right in front of the groom. She gave a quick jerk of her head in the direction of the lucky guy, and said, "I don't want nuthin' about me obeyin' him, cuz if he hears me say that I will obey him, then he'll take it to the hilt." He was standin' there behind her grinnin' and noddin' his head. Sorry, I went native for a minute. She went on to say, "I'll marry 'im, but I ain't never gonna obey 'im cuz I don't trust 'im." I closed in prayer with something like, "Bless this mess, and the one they are going to make."

WOW! You can't make this stuff up. You can make up a lie, but you can't make up the truth. This blushing bride was telling me and anyone within the city limits (She had learned to whisper in a saw mill.) that she loved her man, but she just didn't trust him. It really is true that more marriages are made in haste than in Heaven. This was a train wreck wrapped in a veil.

Proverbs describes trust as a complete release of a person's heart into the hands of God. Trusting involves a release of our will to God until there is found a rest in God. Leaning suggests that a weary person can find someone stronger and wiser than they are to help them on life's journey.

The key word is "all." There must be no holding back of the heart - the mind, the will, the emotions. There must be an unwavering dependence on God no matter where the road may lead; peaks and valleys, night and day, cold or hot. Proverbs reminds us that a person who trusts in God will never doubt in the dark what he knew to be true in the Light. They will not descend into despair and decide that God's delay is God's desertion. Trust in one's own understanding must be released to God. Before a person can be filled with God, they must empty themselves of any delusion that they can make it on their own.

There are some great words that have helped me understand this process of releasing my self-centered life into the hands of God.

• "Single-hearted"- marked by sincerity and unity of purpose. This was a word that I selected to define a ministry to single adults in the early 1980's. This was the era of the "Me Generation," "The Urban Cowboy," and "Luv Ya Blue" in the city of Houston. It was the epicenter of the oil boom and a mecca for young singles looking for good jobs and a new life. Everybody was from somewhere else. People had left the small towns of Texas for the bright lights of the city, but were still lost in the dark. We began to focus on telling people about Jesus rather than focusing on our own navels. God used those young people to make a difference in the city and it pleases me to day to hear where they are and what God is up to in their lives. While I was preparing this blog, I received an IM from a man who is missionary in Malawi who came to know Christ during that period of time. He commented on how our focus on Jesus pointed in the right direction for the rest of his life. Like I said, you can't make this stuff up.
• "Whole-hearted" -the highest devotion to a cause or greatest love for a person. This is simple. You will never go to a Hallmark Card Shop and find a section for Half-hearted Lovers. On Valentine's Day, there are no cards for those stupid enough to admit, "Honey, I love you will half-my heart." or "You almost complete me!" If you do find these cards, step away from the rack, turn and run. Remember luvin' ain't always trustin'.
• "Brave-hearted" -the courage to live by one's conviction regardless of the cost. The birth, life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus show how much God can be trusted to look out for our best interests. Too often we get intimidated by immediate circumstances that shift us away from our confidence in God, and we become focused on our self-interest. When we think God is holding out on us, we are prone to wander from the path He has selected for us. That is why it is crucial to acknowledge Him "in all our ways." Good times, bad times, happy or sad times, highs and lows are opportunities to practice His presence or as Lloyd John Ogilvie would say maintain "consistent companionship."

Today I will trust God that He has my best interests at heart. Always has, always will. Tired of it or just tired in it, no matter what, I will lean on Him when I am weary of the journey. I will ask Him for directions when I get lot in he twists and turns of a confusing climb through the fog. God, thank you for believing in me, even when I have doubts about You. In Jesus Name, Amen. It's going to be a great day!

What A Great Idea

"For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." Prov. 2:6

News shows regularly expose foolish behavior of respected pastors, powerful politicians, and successful athletes. It is the tip of the iceberg. What the leader does in moderation the people do in excess. When you think you have a great idea, run it by God first. He is the source of wisdom.

God answers prayer. Always. Not sometimes. Every time someone prays they get an answer from God. It may be: YES. NO. WAIT, or my personal favorite, YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! WHEN DID THAT START SOUNDING LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO YOU?!" There I was screaming at the TV. This is becoming a regular habit the older I get. I was reacting to the comments of a highly respected leader of another state government. He was holding an excruciatingly painful press conference. "WHEN YOU'RE IN THAT DEEP, STOP DIGGING! THROW OUT THE SHOVEL!" I was yelling at the screen again. He was going on and on about how he had found his soul-mate in South America, but he was going to sacrifice that great love and try to work things out with his wife in the states. Note: This does not make a wife feel special to be told in public that she came in second to your first love. And no, he did not think this disqualified him from continuing to guide the affairs of state. "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" See I told you I had heard this before.

I meet with a man in our church on a regular basis for prayer and Proverbs. He is a business man and a friend. When we met the day after this conference, I processed with him what I had been yelling at the day before. Some of the thoughts that came to mind were, "When did this start sounding like a good idea?

1. While praying to God to see if He thought this was a good idea? (See answers listed above)
2. While praying with his wife to discern if this was a good idea?
3. While talking with his pastor about his good idea?
4. While reading "Discretion will guard you...to deliver you from the the strange (foreign) woman." Proverbs 2:11-16?
5. While talking with his accountability group or prayer partner?
6. While packing for the trip?
7. While making the travel plans?
8. While paying for the tickets?
9. While loading the trunk?
10. While driving to the airport?
11. While standing in line to check in at the airport?
12. While going through security?
13. While waiting in the gate area for the flight to leave?
14. While waiting in the plane at the gate for the flight to leave?
15. While waiting in the plane on the runway to get permission from the tower to leave?
16. While flying in the plane and thinking about this idea for hours?
17. While talking with fellow passengers about the purpose of his trip to South America.
18. While going through passport control and being asked the purpose his trip: "Business/Pleasure." Multiple choice question: pause think about it.
19. While walking thru the airport to meet his soul-mate?
20. While riding in the cab from the airport to the hotel to meet his soul-mate?

I will have to leave it there. Are you getting the picture? His public scandal was not just a thing that happened. "Fail to plan. Plan to fail." has been a principle for go-getters for years. In this case. "Fail to pray. Plan to fail." This man had been exposed in public for the fool that he was in private. Don't get noble on me. It can happen to anyone, but it doesn't just happen. Foolish behavior is the result of a willful walk in the wrong direction for a very long time.

"I didn't plan for this to happen. It just happened. It is what it is." This has become the new mantra for the morally challenged. With a look at the Top Twenty Steps of a Fool listed above, it becomes clear that there are a number of ways that stinking thinking can be stopped before it becomes rotten living. The wisest choice for right living is right at the top of the list. Ask God first. Why? "So you will walk in the way of good men, and keep to the paths of the righteous." Prov. 2:20

Had any good ideas lately? Run 'em by God. He always loves to hear from you. Now that's a great idea!

How's That Working For You?

"A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel." Proverbs. 1:5

Dr. Phil, host of the popular, "Dr. Phil Show," has introduced into American TV one of the greatest of lines. People will pour out their dilemma to him. He exposes in most cases it has been self-induced. He will give sage advice wrapped in homespun witticisms and offer them professional help from a wide range of experts. Then the recipient will start with well practiced excuses for why they are in a crisis, and just can't apply the wise counsel they have been given. Then, Dr. Phil will gently place his hand on their knee, lean in from his seat, get in their face, and with a splash of verbal ice water say in his best Texas accent, "How's that workin' for ya?"

Stinking thinking has been around for a long time. The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, King of Israel, were given as a source of wisdom to be applied to life in order to avoid self-induced crises. Doing the right thing begins with thinking the right way.The choice provided in this reservoir of wisdom literature is a simple one. Door number one: WISE. Door number two: FOOL. For thirty-one chapters Solomon draws from the wisdom of the age to build obstacles, place warning signs, plant security hedges and a host of other preventative measures in front of the entrance to door number two. It is very clear to even the most skeptical reader that only a fool chooses door number two. It is harder to do and it is harder on someone who ignores wise counsel and walks into a fool's paradise.

One of the first preacher jokes I picked up in seminary had to do with change. There were a series of questions asked and answered by the consecrated comedian. I'll use only two.

• "How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb?" The answer was, "One, providing the light bulb wants to be changed." Not a bad joke, but even better insight.
• In all fairness, another question was, "How many Baptists does it take to change a light bulb?" The answer was funny 35 years ago, "Change?! Change?! Nobody said anything to me about change. I'm sick and tired of all these changes!" Not so funny now, but that's another story for another blog.

The point is, wisdom must be accepted and applied before it has any life changing power. The word picture provided in Proverbs 1:5 is that of someone who has great hearing, not big excuses. Leonard Sweet says that God must have intended for people to listen more and talk less. He created them with two ears and one tongue. Has anyone noticed that as you grow older your ears get bigger? Maybe this is God's humorous way of reminding us...."You're not listening!" If it's true, at this rate I'll be all ears in ten years. Can you hear me now?

The choice today for the reader of Proverbs is the same as it has always been. Choose wisely. You're either Wise or a Fool. No gray areas to worry about, just plain, simple truth The wise have enough faith in God to trust Him the first time He speaks. The fool finds the need and the time for a second opinion. Anyone who disagrees with God's word is a fool. It just doesn't matter how smart they sound or how many people applaud what they say. Choose wisely.

Okay, gotta wrap this up. It's Sunday and everybody needs to get ready for church. Even if it is Time Change Sunday, we need to get going. Note: Turn clocks back one hour!

In conclusion, hearing wisdom and increasing in learning takes place when a person in search of understanding accepts and applies wise counsel. The fool will attend seminars, read books, pursue degrees, take notes, and even pray in order to postpone applying the truth that will make them into a wise person. Acquiring wisdom does not come from just hearing wise counsel. Knowing the right thing to do is not enough. People in poor physical condition often have a wealth of knowledge about nutrition and exercise. They just don't apply what they know long enough for it to have an impact on them. Spiritual wisdom is similar. Wisdom is the result of knowing the right thing, and doing the right thing at the right time until right thinking becomes right living.

I know I said, in conclusion, but I could hear someone gasp when I made the comment about prayer. Here's what I meant. There are people who will pray about something that God has specifically told them in His word that it is wrong for them to do at any time in their lives. Time after time I have sat across the desk from people who tell me things like, "We're living together. We've prayed about it and we believe God gave us permission." I've heard this from gay and straight couples, and from teens to senior adults. Get the picture. They feel good about the steps they are climbing, but they can't see that they have placed their ladder on the wrong wall. It may feel right at the moment, but in time there will be future consequences.

The wise man trusts God with the truth that He gives him each day. If you can't hear what God says, there may be wax in your ears. Fix the problem, not the blame. Change is painful, and changing foolish behavior into wise is especially so. Anybody got a Q-tip?

"So faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ." Romans 10:17

Just the Facts

"Strength and dignity are her clothing and she smiles at the future."
Prov. 31: 25

"Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." Prov. 31: 29-30

I became a fan of "No Fear" gear in the mid 90's. I loved their take no prisoners attitude and slogans on their t-shirts. I think the Proverbs 31 woman would have liked the message. Although the chapter primarily deals with a husband's praise for his "excellent wife," the remarks found in v. 30 include all women young and old, single or married. I love the picture I see of a strong woman, standing tall in the middle of the storm and never losing sight of her destiny. She smiles at the future, not because it is easy to stay on course, but because it is a challenge that brings the best out in her. She is not seeking a safe harbor, but sailing her ship into the gale. She has the rain in her face, the wind in her hair, and an air of excitement about the undiscovered adventure that lies ahead.

When the old, black and white "Drag Net" series was popular in the fifties, I always enjoyed hearing Jack Webb's detective character say, "The facts ma'am. Nothing but the facts." He was a man on a mission and would not digress to the inconsequential. I will try to do the same as I introduce you to a Proverbs 31 woman that you may not know. She is my excellent wife, Dana Walker Miller, and today she shall be praised." So here are the facts about Dana:

• Dana has been the love of my life for over 35 years. I was 24 when I met her in a friend's home on Monday night, Sept 9, 1974. I was newly arrived from two years in East Africa, and a first semester student in seminary. I attended classes in the morning and worked all afternoon running a jack hammer. When I saw her walk through the door, she rocked my world. What a Gospel Fox! I made sure I sat across from her at the card table to get better acquainted. For me it was love at first sight. For her, not so much. She thought I had Parkinson's. Remember the jack hammer. When I rested my hands on the table it would visibly shake. The ordeal of getting food to my mouth and keeping tea from spilling out of my glass was not pretty. Not a great start, but the chase was on.
• Dana and I were engaged Sept 24, 1976. I will never forget her words, "I'm allergic to inexpensive jewelry." I knew what she meant, but it just came out wrong. The truth is she wasn't kidding. She wanted to pick out the ring. Not alot of trust in those days. I was working for the church and she knew my pay so it was probably a wise move. Still, I wanted to surprise her. When I picked up the ring, I called and told her our credit had been denied. She was very disappointed. When I "surprised" her that night with the good news, it was not a Hallmark moment. Note to self: Never lie to Dana. She just looks little.
• Dana married me on January 1, 1977. The church flooded after a severe freeze burst a pipe in the Bride's Room. Missed the Joe Montana comeback in the Cotton Bowl. Spent the whole day with 50 men and two fire companies pumping the water out in time for the wedding. Found her wedding dress floating in a plastic bag in the Bride's Room. Never told her, but didn't lie. Progress being made in that area. At the appointed hour a severe ice storm hit. After the ceremony the kitchen in the fellowship hall caught on fire. DFW was closed down. When we arrived to spend the night. The lobby looked like the fall of Saigon. Couch space was going for $100.00 a person. Things were off to a rocky start. After 32 years and ten months, we can safely say that we have celebrated at least 1o years of happy marriage. In MLB those numbers will get you in the Hall of Fame.
• Dana has made 17 moves and decorated seven homes and assorted parsonages, apartments, patio homes and guest houses. Hence the batting average listed above.
• Dana has been an invaluable partner and team mate in ministry in the nine churches we have served in four different states. Three of those churches have been in the oil patch during the flip side of prosperity. Retirement is as remote as the next boom.
• Dana has helped me pick out and drive 22 cars over a 1,000,000 miles in 45 states.
• Dana has borne two beautiful children. They are now accomplished, strong Christian women. We have an empty nest. They emptied the nest, but filled the garage.
• Dana talked me into one cat. It left. Never came back. My story. Sticking to it.
• Dana interceded for our girls to get a puppy. They had been praying for a dog and she didn't want them to lose faith in God. I resisted. I told her disappointments build character or something like that. I was on thin ice. She said I ought to be glad they weren't praying for a pony. PTL! God gave them a puppy. When it died of natural causes, I almost died of grief. I buried "Duchess" in my golf bag. My heart and my golf game have never been the same. No more puppies Dana!
• Dana has no grandchildren to report, but she does have terminal grand baby fever. Pray for the antidote.
• Dana has been my best friend and personal prayer partner for 29 years. I had the toughest time praying with her in those early years of marriage. She coached me into being a better husband and a stronger Christian by helping me understand the mind of a woman. She said, "I am not looking for perfection from you, but I am looking for you to get direction from God."
• Dana is a pastor's wife or "The First Lady"as one congregation loved to call her. She has had no peer. She walks slowly among the people. She touches their lives with a winsome word and a gentle touch that is a perfect balance of my "chihuahua on a hot plate" personality. When she walks into a room she still rocks my world and lights up the place.
• Dana will always be the beautiful high school cheerleader from Mansfield, Texas. For me she has been an amazing cheerleader and team mate rolled into one. She encouraged me to pursue three seminary degrees, survive middle school ministry, disciple students, take numerous ski trips, organize countless camps and retreats. She had her home open for small groups four nights a week before small groups were cool.
• Dana has a wry and potent sense of humor. One night when the members of our singles ministry were saying some kind words, she came on stage to make the final response. Several had said they appreciated the way Dana was so patient when I was helping them, and not able to be home to her. She took the mike, turned sideways and with a deadpan look and sarcastic voice said "Obviously he found his way home at least one night." She was nine months pregnant with our second child. She brought the house down! I was speechless. What a woman!
• Dana has developed creative women's ministries, birthed a radio ministry, and launched a television ministry. She has helped start and guide a crisis pregnancy center. When a huge hail storm ravaged the community around our church she climbed up on dozens of roofs to assist with our disaster relief ministry. One day we were spreading plastic on a roof across the street from the church. I was instructing her, "If the wind gets under the plastic let go....let go....LET GOOOOOOOOOO!" She was up in the air about three feet. She calmly let go of the wind filled plastic, and landed with the grace of a ballerina. She stuck the landing and moved on with the job. She was wearing her leather tool belt, work boots, gloves and earrings. She had her game face on, make up and all.
• Dana has accompanied me to mission trips to Hong Kong, Japan, Switzerland, Tanzania, Germany, and Kenya. While we held a bush crusade for a small church in Kenya, we slept in a tent next to the church. When she found out how far women were carrying water for her to bathe, she limited herself to one cup of water a day for 10 days. This won the hearts of the women in the village. She carried on women's ministry all day long, and we held services at night. She still laughs about finally getting to the hotel in Nairobi, and shampooing her hair six times before all the red clay dust was washed out.
• Dana has provided compassion for 500 funerals and direction for 300 weddings. She has been a conference speaker, retreat leader, and a hostess renowned for her hospitality. She has held open houses over the past 30 years that have earned her the title, "The Czarina of Christmas.
• Dana has nursed me through several relapses of malaria, and three major car crashes in three different states. I couldn't remember my name in the first wreck. I had been a passenger in a '57 Chevy hit broadside by a car going 60 miles an hour. The impact spun the car around and into an auto parts store. I tore out an eight-track tape deck with my right knee. When she arrived at the site, she climbed into the wreckage, and was weeping and calling out "Gary! Gary!" I remember thinking Gary was one lucky guy. I wasn't blind! I just had a brain concussion. The girl was really pretty and she seemed to know me. This wasn't a bad a deal at all. She rode with me in the ambulance to the hospital. Good times.
• Dana is fearless. She fears God but does not fear man. The closest I have ever seen of fear in her life came on the drive to the hospital for the birth of our first child. She said,"I've finally gotten myself into something I can't back out of." It didn't last long. She was a real champ. When we were driving home with our newborn the fear hit me. I blurted out, "We don't know what we're doing. We have a license to get married, but we never got a license to have a kid." I ranted and vented about how unprepared we were. She said in a calm, steady voice, "I know exactly what I'm doing. I've been preparing for this my whole life." She is made of velvet steel. After our second child was born, I returned home with our first born for the evening. Dana called before the lines went dead. "Can you come back to see me, I'm bored." Even during Hurricane Alicia '83, she was up for a party.
• Dana is a promise keeper. During those early days of tight money, and expanding family she became an accomplished seamstress. She was true to her word. Standing by me looking at a new sewing machine she said, "If you will buy that I will save you a ton of money." I did and she did. People have always asked where she got her beautiful clothes. The Proverbs 31 woman would have smiled at this too.
• Dana has worn many hats to make ends meet: licensed hair stylist, accomplished chef, challenging cheerleader coach, unmatched special events coordinator, and successful sales rep just to name a few.
• Dana is a warrior. For the past two years she has suited up with the Armor of God in her battle with breast cancer. I have watched her fight for her life with six months of chemo, complete loss of hair, and radical surgery. She has turned a struggle for survival into a call for revival. She has never lost sight of our destiny together. She has always wanted to be part of something only God can get credit for. One of her favorite lines during the months of chemo was, "Nothing goes with chemo better than a new pair of shoes." After each treatment, we would go to Brighton's. She inspired everyone there with her fighting spirit and her great taste in scarves and footwear.
• Dana is faithful. During the past two years she has never missed a Sunday. She said she didn't want cancer to rob her of her favorite day of the week. She is the greatest cheerleader and most faithful prayer warrior a preacher husband could ever have.

Someday I hope to meet the husband of the woman outlined in Proverbs 31. I believe he would agree with me that most men are part of a Band of Brothers who married way over their heads. I know I did. For that reason, I offer praise to God for allowing me the privilege of being the unworthy husband of an excellent wife. His grace is so amazing to me. I praise God for Dana.

Word Up!

"Every word of God is tested. He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him." Prov. 30:5

For eight years I pastored in a community on the edge of "The Hood." It was a war zone, and earned its rep as one of the highest crime areas of the city for more years than I care to remember. Running battles between The Crips, The Bloods and The Latin Kings shifted the boundaries of their turf every day. One of my more exhilarating moments of ministry was a drive by shooting. It resulted in two men crashing their car into a telephone pole near the front steps of the worship center. Did I mention that this was on a Saturday morning right after I had conducted a wedding? You just have to admire that kind of initiative. While other gang members slept in, they were on the job. This event provided alot of excitement for the out-of-town wedding guests. Locals pretty much knew the drill. I walked outside to meet with the police and to assess the damage. One of our visitors from Oklahoma kindly warned me that it could be dangerous out there. I responded with, "Welcome to my world."

Ministry there was a baptism of fire in more ways than one. I was constantly introduced to new vocabulary words. Many of the young people in this area came to know Christ as a result of some great student ministers who invested their lives in them. Mike Kinser, Ben Bush, and Rusty Wirt come to my mind. I learned a great deal from these "young guns." Today one of them is a respected Christian counselor and the two others are seasoned pastors. Challenging work no doubt, but easier than what they dealt with on "The Hill."

I would sometimes ask these student ministers to take me to school on the urban lingo I was encountering. One of my favorite expressions was, "Word up!" I was unclear on what this meant when these new believers said it to me. I learned it was at times meant for, "Yeah, that's right." It could also mean acknowledgement, approval, or an indication of enthusiasm. My favorite, erudite explanation was, "I comprehend what you are saying and I verify that your statement is true, my brother." In other words, "word up" was a good thing to hear someone say. They were in agreement with what they had just heard you say. Kind of an urban, inner-city "Amen."

Proverbs 30: 5 takes us to school to learn God is not a remote Creator. He is a speaking God who delivers protection to His people. His powerful Word is trustworthy. He can be trusted to be present to provide refuge and to supply courage to those dealing with an intimidating enemy.

One of my favorite Bible stories, David and Goliath, has all the great themes. Good versus evil. Small man battles huge giant. The crown of victory snatched from the claws of defeat. You can't make this stuff up. This is great drama delivering even greater truth. From my "Beamer" status "back in the day" in Miss Bennett's Sunbeam Class to my present status as a "Baptist Boomer," this story has inspired me. Little is much when God is in it.

Don't overlook David's statement made when trying on King Saul's armor: " 'I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.' And David took them off." (1 Samuel 17:39) After David took off the borrowed armor, he picked up his shepherd's staff and bagged five smooth stones. Goliath approached and began to intimidate him with ridicule and disdain. David responded with the Hebrew equivalent of , "Bring it on!" Boldly, he took refuge in God. "I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel...This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands...that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by the sword or by the spear; for the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hands." (1 Sam. 17:45-47)

The story line turns on these words, "Then it happened...". David appealed to God and revealed his strategy. He ran towards the enemy. He took the offensive, and attacked with the unexpected. The giant had seen the stick in his hand, but didn't know the bag on his shoulder held the secret weapons. Before his shield bearer could provide Goliath any cover, David released a small, smooth stone from a leather sling and killed a great, big giant. (I Sam. 17:48-49)

The summarizing verse is a classic understatement, "Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone." (1 Sam. 17:50) No brag. Just Fact. Nothing brassy, just classy. One giant. One stone. For Texans, this reminds me of the legendary words, "One riot. One Ranger."

You can't convince me David never sat down and shared this story with his sons. Solomon was the wisest of them all, and he compiled what he learned in the Proverbs. His goal was to equip his sons to study and apply this wisdom literature when they became princes and judges of the realm. It was one of the first leadership seminars. Although Prov. 30:5 was apparently contributed by a little known oracle named Agur. The truth is no less powerful. provides God's wisdom for us today.

The New Testament echoes this Old Testament truth with a resounding "Word up!." "In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one." (Ephesians 6:16) The earth and the Christ followers of your local assembly still need to know that the battle is the Lord's. This is a battle we can win through prayerfully taking our refuge behind God's protective shield. Security is not found by hiding in the tall grass. It comes from trusting God's Word, taking up our personal shield of faith and taking out the enemy. Don't run from the fight. Pray in it! Run to it. Face forward! Shields up!

Word Up!

The Vision Center

"Where there is no vision the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law." Proverbs 29:18

This time last year, I was preaching from a large print Bible and wondering if the next step was going to be a family Bible with a wheel barrow attachment. I was gradually losing my sight. Reading, one of my favorite things to do, was a daily struggle and a constant reminder that something was wrong. Driving at night was a blur of confusing lights and narrowed vision. What was wrong needed to be made right.

Dana scheduled me for an exam at a local opthamologist/optometrist (Not sure which. Don't judge me. Remember I couldn't see very well.), and find out if he could help me. After a thorough look at both eyes, he informed me I had cataracts. I responded that I was too young to have them. He responded with a cheerful, "Happy Birthday!"

The next step was to find a surgeon who could remove the cataracts and restore my vision. I met with a highly respected doctor in Dallas, who had a soft spot in his heart for preachers and world class athletes. His waiting room walls were covered from testimonials from a wide variety of sports heros, broadcasters and musicians. I began to search for place to put mine. When he looked at the reports provided to him by his associates, he remarked that I had some very serious cataracts. I told him I was having tough time reading my Bible. He wryly commented on how that isn't a good thing for a preacher. Someone had blown my cover.

During our 45 minute conversation, he revealed that he had been memorizing the Book of James. I was impressed. He admitted it was easier to memorize than it was to exercize. I was beginning to like this guy. He revealed his wife pointed out on occasion that he was a better Christian at home than he was at work. He confessed he had alot of trouble with the part about, "Consider it all joy, my brethren when you encounter various trials." In an effort to be transparent without being invisible, I agreed.

Have you ever thought of something clever to say after a conversation had ended? I wish I had said, "Although James delivered a tough word, it was not an impossible assignment. If it couldn't be done, we wouldn't have been told to do it. God does the impossible in us. He doesn't expect the impossible from us." Anway, I just said to him, "It is easier to preach it than to live it."

When I asked him what causes cataracts he told me to blame my dad. Something from the gene pool gets passed on from one generation to the other. It is gradual, and subtle. It is usually revealed by the mid-to-late fifties. My father later confirmed that he had the same issue with his eyes about the same age. His dad, my grandfather, had the same health history. What a legacy.

The result of the good doctor's analysis was the scheduling of two operations, one in December and the other in January. This resulted in a restoration of sight and a clarity of vision in each eye. The successful surgery allowed me to have the restriction of corrective lenses removed from my driver's license. I could see colors clearly for the first time in years. I had not been aware of how much I was missing. It was a transformation of biblical proportions. "I once was blind, but now I see ;" held a new meaning for me.

Proverbs equates vision with a "revelation." God revealed The Law was to Moses and he brought it to the people. God did not give The Law to squeeze the joy out of His people, but to give them what they need for a happy life. Good news. Good times.

When Moses brought the tablets down from the mountain, I am pretty sure some cynic mumbled in the crowd, "Not another vision statement!" Vision statements became fashionable among churches in the late 20th Century. Every church had to have one. They were easier to form than they were to keep. They rarely turned death-defying mausolems into life-giving movements of God.

What Moses saw when he gave the people the law was an unrestrained people. Sheep without a shepherd to help them see where they are going are prone to wander. God released The Law and the people unleashed their lawlessness. What God meant to help them, they considered a hindrance to them. Receiving the law of God, and keeping the law of God are too different things. My surgeon discovered that to be true in memorizing the Book of James.

Jesus had a two word Vision Statment: "Make Disciples." This vision is essential for a Christ follower. The church is meant to be a Vision Center for people who want to see God at work in their lives and in the lives of others. It is not a haven for the blind leading the blind, or the bland excusing the bland. Vision comes from God. Proverbs reminds us that it is a revelation, and that His vision for us, is the only way to a happy life.

Examining ourselves based on the two word eye chart Jesus uses is the only way to know if we are losing our sight of what is important to Him. Even those of us who have been around a while need to have our vision checked on a regular basis. Christ's chart is found in His Word. When we lose sight of His Word in our lives we start losing our sense of direction and our awareness of what He is up to in His World. We begin to lower our standards to fit what we have made of life rather than the receive the life He offers to us. When begin to compromise, we lose the clear distinctions between right and wrong. Black and white becomes a hazy gray when our vision is clouded.

The church is God's Vision Center. It is not valuable to God for its death-defying survival, but for life-giving transparency. The church was meant to equip people to take the log out of their own eye before trying to take a speck out of a brother's eye. Christ followers look on others with a generous eye, not an evil eye. Green-eyed jealousy, envy and covetousness are marks of person who has a vision problem. Instead of passing on to the next generation a blurry vision of what you may have received from the gene pool of the past, cover your bad eye and please read the following chart.

M
AK
EDIS
CIPLES
  FORMENOW!

The Heart of A Lion

"The wicked flee when no one is pursuing. But the righteous are bold as a lion." Pr. 28:1

When I enrolled in seminary in Ft. Worth in the fall of 1974, I didn't have a great track record of lionhearted living. I have to admit, I spent the first semester sitting in classes looking over my shoulder. I just knew someone was going to walk into class, ask me to step outside, and tell me the admissions office had made a terrible mistake. No one ever came, so I stuck it out. I was more afraid to quit than anything else. If I had anywhere else to go, I might have run there.

My first staff position was another stretch. I was given some on the job training by another member of the staff who had a worse background than mine. His professional pedigree included some gang activity that had interrupted his education. When God got hold of his life he went back and graduated from high school at 21. We were both amazed at where we were compared to where we had been.

One day while visiting the hospitals we entered one man's room, but found him in a deep sleep. We prayed silently, and in order to get credit for the visit, we decided to leave a note. You preachers know what I'm talking about. The Lone Ranger left a silver bullet, and preachers leave cards. We were in the process of writing a note on the back of our freshly printed business cards when he suddenly sat up in bed and shouted. We threw our cards in the air, ran from the room and raced down the hall to the elevator. When we finally stopped we were breathless and heaving for air. We laughed at each other and between gasps for air screamed, "Why did we run? We didn't do anything wrong." We marked it down as unconfessed sin in our lives. No, we didn't' go back...ever!

Once a month for the past 20 years I have read Proverbs 28:1 and I still think about that hospital visit. Since that day I have become more and more convinced that my friend and I were probably closer to the truth than we knew.

A wicked person is a crooked person. The word for a wayward person in our culture is...crook. They do not walk a straight path, but willfully and regularly choose to wander off the right path. Their "fight or flight" survival instincts kick in when they even suspect someone may be about to catch them in the act. They flee further away from the light whenever they hear a twig snap in the dark.

The righteous person is "confident" or as "bold as a lion." Their confidence is not in themselves, but in the knowledge that what has been wrong in their lives has been declared right by a Sovereign God. They are not victims of imaginary fears, but they are victors over a real adversary.

"Your adversary the devil prowls about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour...but resist him firm in your faith." I Peter 5:8-9

Look carefully at Proverbs and I Peter. They say, "the righteous are as bold as a lion," and "the devil prowls about like a roaring lion." Who has the heart of a lion here?

The devil is a transliteration of the Greek word "diabolos." The word is a combination of, "dia," a preposition and therefore a moving target that I could never really hit in Greek class. The other is "bolos" rooted in the verb "to throw." It literally means to throw across or to mark through. It has come to mean "the slanderer" or "the accuser." The enemy is always trying to throw an accusation against the character and confidence of a Christ follower to see if it will stick.

The righteous are confident in the grace of God. They know that whatever Sovereign God has declared right cannot be made wrong. They have nothing to fear from an accusation made by a someone parading around in a lion suit.

One night in East Africa, I was invited to dinner by some friends. After the meal we went out in the garden of the restaurant and sat in the dark enjoying the cool of the evening and the magnificent display of stars. Suddenly, from behind the hedge a lion's roar erupted and tore through the still of the night like the roar of a jet engine. I jumped up, and was prepared to bolt. I was like a man with one foot nailed to the floor. I was disoriented and didn't know which way to run. My two friends were on the ground laughing at me. I had been set up. They eventually calmed down enough to coax me to take a look behind the hedge. What I saw I have never forgotten. It was a huge male lion roaring at the moon from behind a cyclone fence. He was loud, but he was caged. He was real, but he was not free. He could intimidate me but he could not touch me. He was alive, but not so well. The more I stood my ground, the less I feared him. I could have foolishly climbed inside his prison, and paid for my waywardness, but if I stood my ground I not be harmed by his threatening roar.

Christ followers must resist the urge to run when they hear the "lion-like"roar in the night. Proverbs and I Peter are potent reminders that God's offspring possess the heart of The Lion of Judah. When Winston Churchill was complimented on his ability to rally the British people during the dark days of WW II, he responded by crediting the courage of the lionhearted people of his nation. He said, "I was not the lion, but it fell to me to give the lion's roar." That inspires me to keep...

Resisting and Roaring,

How Do Ya Like Me Now?

"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips." Prov. 27:2

Toby Keith's song by the same title as this blog is one of my favorites. It obviously struck the right chord in a lot of other people too. It remains one of his best sellers, and his music video is a scream. There's nothing quite as satisfying, and at the same time as deflating as having to praise your own accomplishments.

I had walked for six hours from a small church in Kenya to a clearing in the bush where a rustic school had been built. It was very impressive operation considering the remote location. Children were everywhere and they were excited. Many of them were frightened because they had never seen a white man. It was quite an experience for them and for me.

The headmaster invited me to speak to the older students. There were about 200 children roughly equivalent in age to American eighth graders. He called them to order and surprised me with the news that if I wanted, I could tell them about the love of Jesus. Did I mention this was in Kenya. Many people still think of it as deepest darkest Africa. As the children settled into the room and took their seats on the floor, I had a moment to reflect. I wondered how my visit would have been handled, and if I would have been permitted to speak freely of Jesus if I arrived unannounced in most schools in America.

Sharing the Gospel in a cross-cultural setting, I used two chairs and called for a couple of volunteers. I asked the students who was the smartest student in their school. There was no sound made, but all heads turned to a young man who was sitting with his head down and his hands on his face. He was hiding in the tall grass in a room full of young scholars. He knew and they knew, and every eye in the room was on him. He was busted. I asked him to step forward and take a seat in one of the chairs. I then asked who was the strongest athlete, fastest runner, and could jump farther than anyone in the school. Again all eyes turned towards another young man who was seated on the floor. This time there were some giggles from some of the young ladies who were obviously smitten with him. Some things defy cultural differences. When I called him forward he stood up with an easy grace, an unassuming confidence and walked towards me to take his seat in the other chair. All the children knew these young men were the best and the brightest. Neither of the two men had raised their hand, or sought recognition. Their culture rewarded personal humility with public respect.

I have used this same method of communication when speaking to children in America. The reaction I get from them is polar opposite to what I saw in Kenya. Most kids in a stateside room are wearing jerseys with the name and number of their favorite NFL or NBA star. On their feet they have state of the art footwear, Nikes,Air Jordans and such. Their parents have covered them in enough brand-name sports wear to stock a good sized sporting goods store. When asked who the smartest kid in the class is, all hands go up and everyone starts shouting and grunting, "ME! ME! OOH!OOH! ME! Their reaction to who is the best athlete is met with a similar sugar induced surge of enthusiasm. "PICK ME! PICK ME!" Somehow, somewhere along the way, they picked up and held on to the lie: buy a labeled product and this will make you someone special. Couch potatoes and wannabes wearing the latest fashions posing as world class athletes...so sad.

Proverbs 27:2 provides God's insight on our obsession to make a name for ourselves. He frowns on self -congratulatory behavior, but we live in a world that says, "If you don't toot your own horn, you can't play in the band." This creates a conflict in the soul of the Christ follower that must be reconciled.

"Do you want to make a name for yourself or do you want to make a difference?" I had just met a guest preacher at the airport. We shook hands and headed to baggage claim. The guy didn't waste time. He cut to the chase. I had invited him that week to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable in my church. He was good at it, but he was starting with me. That annoyed me. This was going to be a long week. I told him I knew the right answer to the question, but I still found myself tempted to take the short-cut to making a name for myself. The road was easier. It's all down hill.

Why should I have to choose between making a difference in life or making a name for myself? The first can only be accomplished by a work of God, something only He can get credit for. The second can be accomplished by building a puff sheet resume or a self congratulatory website. In Proverbs, God tells us that He is not pleased when His people brag about what they have done with their lives. He considers it a higher form of praise when even strangers can tell He has made a difference in His children. The choice is yours, God reports and you decide which path to take in life.

During the Gilded Age of the 19th Century, D.L, Moody was challenged with the words, " The world has yet to see what God will do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully consecrated to him." His response was, "I will be that man." God used a meagerly educated salesman to straddle the Atlantic Ocean and shake America and England with Spiritual Awakening. The 21st Century could benefit from people who weren't so full of themselves. The strangers of this century and in this culture need to see people who give God elbow room in their lives. People who allow Him to do a work in them will be privileged to be a part of something only He can get credit for. God save us from self-made men and women.

"For I am confident of this very thing. That He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil. 1:6

BTW: God is doing a great work in you, and His handprints are all over your life.

Keeper of the Flame

"For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down." Proverbs 26:20

Last night, during our Pastor Appreciation Dinner, Dana and I were honored with gifts of letters, love offering and a trip to a beautiful mountain retreat. At the end of the presentation, I was handed a mug. It was a gift from a man who is not a member of our church, but I am his pastor. You preachers know how this works. We have become friends as a result of two hunting trips to Colorado. He had a mug made for me that had my name on it, and the inscription, "Keeper of the Flame." I loved it. He was making a good humored jab at my obsession with keeping a fire going in camp 24 hours a day. I have to admit I earned it. Believe me it takes alot of wood to keep Colorado warm. "Keeper of the Flame" was one of those left handed jabs men give to each other to let them know they are accepted into the circle of friendship. It was my favorite gift of the night, and I will use it for morning coffee. BTW: I was writing this blog on Pr.26:20 before the gift of the mug. God's timing is perfect when He delivers a line he wants me to get.

"I guess you're just another one of those preachers who believes if we don't like it then we should just leave." I was caught off guard by the remark. I had just finished preaching for a pastor friend who was out of town. The accusation was coming from a man with a red face and a v-shaped vein on his forehead. I responded with , "Whoa. You are going to have to take me to school on this." I admit I knew what was on his mind. There had been some mumblings and grumblings about a new worship format being introduced in the church. I was buying time trying to diffuse him with humor. I laughed and said, "Usually, my wife is the only one I can get this angry at me." He wasn't in a mood to be humored. With a stern voice he said, "With this new disco music in the church, we might as well require a cover charge." I told him it had been a while, but I was familiar with the disco, and doubted it would ever make a comeback. I was still trying to buy time with an another attempt at humor. Meanwhile a crowd had gathered around us in the foyer. This "keeper of the flame" had been active and people could smell the smoke. A personal grievance was building into a pubic hazard.

After a comment about my pastor friend that I just couldn't receive, I remembered the words of Oswald Chambers. "Discernment is given for intercession, never fault-finding." I asked him if God had given him discernment about this issue, and if he believed our pastor hears from God. He said he believed that he did. I shared the Chamber's quote with him and added "I believe he hears God too. So, who's going to pray for him first, you or me." He was a real man and said, "If you get us started I'll do my best to finish up." We bowed our heads, and stood side by side with our arms around each others shoulders. We had an unscheduled prayer meeting right there. We asked God to give our pastor strength and wisdom to guide us. We admitted our reaction had been worse than the offense we had with our pastor or with one another. We asked God to let us learn what we needed to learn through this. When I looked up no one was around. Prayer had bonded two men into friends, protected a pastor's back and dispersed a crowd. I sometimes get a note from this man, "Thanks for helping me get over the disco thing."

"I've come here to whip your @$$!" Standing on the other side of my desk was an older man who I had considered to be my friend. So much for the gift of discernment. He was hot, and I didn't have a clue what he was fightin' mad about. I told him to stop where he was before we did something both of us would regret. I warned him I had a gun in the desk drawer and I knew how to use it. I was bluffing. It was a staple gun, but he didn't know that. He calmed down a bit, and took a seat. In a short while we were able to talk and pray our way to a healthy appreciation for one another. He later put a tank of gas in my car. It wasn't unleaded so it burned up my engine, but his heart was in the right place.

Both of these good men had become "keepers of the flame" ignited by a tiny spark of resentment. One had found fault with a friend of mine. The other had become critical of me. Each had taken the log out of their eye and had placed it on the fire in their heart. What had once been small had increased in size as more and more oxygen was put to it. The more they shared their concerns with other people the bigger the flames of resentment grew. The wind of many whisperers fanned their resentment until it became a powerful force with momentum that could overrun the firebreaks of even the strongest relationship. Resentment had smouldered inside of them long enough for others to notice. They had begun to talk more and more about their irritation. The breath from their own mouths had caused the initial flare up, but fuel from the lips of others was keeping the flame alive.

It is not unusual for people to disagree. If three people get together they can usually form five differing opinons. What is the wisest way to handle this fact of life? Prayer is a great flame retardant. When applied to the initial flare up of resentment, it can restrict the whispers that add oxygen to fires of disagreement. Discernment is a gift from God. Fault-finding is not. Chamber's call for intercession is crucial to maintaining the right motive for prayer. The role of the Risen Christ is our best role model for life. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He intercedes for his followers. He does it because they are in need of it.

"Christ Jesus...is at the right hand of God...also interceds for us." Rom. 8:34

Most of the time women get a bad rep over the gossip thing. Whispering campaigns among men are just as relentless. Proverbs holds a dim view of gossip hiding under the thin gauze of senstive, whispered sharing. More fires have been started and stoked in "share groups" than anyone wants to admit. Sharing and caring are not synonyms. Jesus cares enough to pray. His followers should do the same. With your next breath be a "keeper of the flame" of prayer.

"Discernment is meant for intercession, never faultfinding." Oswald Chambers

Who's going to pray first? You or me?