Busted!

While reading scripture I have found that when a passage pops out at you that God is trying to really say something. I got "busted" today by one of those "pop outs".

I am starting a new sermon series called Fearless. Over the next six weeks we will look at biblical people who face life with courage and confidence. This week I am launching this series, speaking on Gideon found in the book of Judges.

Gideon was the youngest son of a guy who was known for worshipping a false god so he was not what you might think of as a great godly leader. None the less, God used him to defeat the Midianites with only 300 men. This is a great account of how God can overcome any odds.

At the end of the account Gideon is getting props from a greatful nation declaring that he will rule over them. Gideon in turn makes an impressive speech in chapter 8 verse 23 about how the people will serve God alone. Wow! Gideon is the man. He gave glory to God alone.

Then in verse 24 there is the "howerever". This is where it hit me. Gideon say to serve God but you can throw alittle cash my way. That's me. I love to declare to folks "serve God alone" and then say "however" you can throw some cash, love, you are the greatest ever, stuff my way.
God is convicting me that if I am to serve Him then I need to get off the "however" gravy train.

Now, it is one thing to feel convicted and another thing to change. Gideon asked for an earring off every man they killed. He made an ephod which is a vest like thing and the people started worshipping it instead of God. In fact the King James version says that they"whored after it". That is bad!

What God is saying to me is that He is enough. If nobody ever notices or if I die in poverty it doesn't matter. I must serve Him and not be distracted by "earrings".

Date your wife

Most of us guys love to compete. If you are like me, then you will make anything a competition. This strange behavior holds true even when you are dating. Guys love a challenge and winning a woman's heart is a great one. But for most guys when we married we think "game over", we won and now it is time to move on to the next challenge.

Girls don't think that way. They think that this wonderful man who has taken them on lavish dates, whispered sweet nothings, shared long soulful talks will just get better in marriage. OK girls, most of the time that doesn't happen! But there is hope.

Guys we must keep the passion of our romance alive by dating our wives. Ask her "what is a date for you" then let her describe it. Ask of all the details because girls like the dreaming and planning part as much as the doing part. I don't know why, but they just do. Then ask her "how many times a month do you want to go out". She will tell you. Then do it. Have fun and let the romance fly.

Now girls, don't roll your eyes and think "he should know this stuff". We don't but we can learn! I learned this at about ten years into our marriage and just in time. I have been dating Tara and it has made a big difference.

One more thing, it is hard to get distracted by another woman when you are courting your wife.

Fear

My dad said "most the the stuff you worry about never happens, and if it does, it doesn't amount to much". He said this in his late 80's. My father had followed God long enough to know that nothing is beyond His reach.

As a leader I have learned that truth. Worry, which is rooted in fear, is a waste of time. You can't lead full of worry or full of fear. Don't get me wrong, there have been and will be plenty of times when worry and fear are a part of my leadership. One leader said that "courage is fear that has said it's prayers". Here are some things I think on during these times.

In the book of Philippians chapter 4 Paul says "don't worry about anything, but pray about everything". If I will take all that worry to God then He begins to sort out my thinking and brings His peace into my heart. Good stuff!

Jesus asked, "Can a man add an inch to his height by worry, NO!" Jesus said worry is a waste of time!

Let me go to the real issue. Last night I woke up yet once again in a cold sweat about ... what have I done leaving the comfort of an established church and starting over, we are going to starve, my kids will have to drop out of college, Tara will come to her senses and leave me, I am the biggest fool in the history of man.... All of this was a big lie. Speculation and worry are the seed bed of sin. I choose not to go down that road any further, asked God to help me, and went back to sleep. It is funny how everything is worse at night.

There are 366 verses in the bible about having no fear. That's one for everyday and an extra one for leap year. God knows we are worriers, fearful, crazy speculators, and He wants us to have His peace. I have to choose to accept that peace. I have to put my trust in the Lord. God's word is my source of truth, life, and peace. Through His word His spirit comforts me.

So, stop worrying, start trusting!

College students

I spoke at FSU last night to a great group of college students. I love speaking to this crowd because the promise of God building an army.

As I spoke about them making a difference I could not help but remember the emotions I felt at that stage of life. I thought about the question of "would I find a wife, or even a date". I was still shaky about my calling in life. I was having a great time but the Kingdom of God was far from my sight.

There were some men who dared me to begin to dream about what God could do in, for, and through me. They loved God and loved me. Their passion for community, connection, and not being a geek spoke to me. Men like Shuf Davis and Mitch Simpson made an impact on me that has shaped my view of God and view of church.

Shuf always saw something more in me than I saw. He would call me on bad behavior with out judgment and challenge me to "man up". He still speaks into my life.

Mitch began revealing to me what true biblical community could be. I am not sure he had it in full focus but he started a process in me that has become my life mission.

As I spoke last night I realized that I could and should be one of those men in the lives of these students. I can not be that kind of leader from a distance. These "kids" need someone up close.
I truly believe that God's church is the hope of the world and the next generation of leaders needs us old guys to invest in them. I am compelled by the mercies of God and the example of leaders I have followed to be that man for this generation. I believe that God desires the North American church to experience a renewal that escapes the cultural bubble of "Church". I know that movement will need God honoring leaders. I also believe that when college students are exposed to the time honored biblical examples of leadership they will lead this renewal. They will not know unless those who are before them reach back an lead them.

To quote my Texas preacher friend "something is brewing in the Kingdom" and it is brewing on college campuses all over America. It is time to invest! God is launching a movement and I want to be a part!

The Power of God

When we started the church in Texas I was so young and inexperienced that I didn't realize fully how God was working out things for His glory. Let me share.

We started in the summer, which is a bad time to start a church, but none the less we started. By the fall we had serious space issues. We were meeting in the mall in a small store front and having around 140 people showing up. I knew we needed to move so we began to look for something bigger.

In 1992 a church meeting in the mall was considered a cult so folks in a small South Texas town were not really jumping to our aid. Everywhere we looked we were turned away. I was desperate. At the right time, (you know it is the right time because you are about to jump off something really high), The mall manager came to me and offered us a 10,000 sq. ft. store in the mall. She said it cost $10,000 a month but for us it would be free! Free!

Needless to say we took her offer and stayed in that spot for 5 years. While in that space we bought land and built a building, all the while watching the church grow to over 600 folks in attendance.

This is amazing story of how God works at the right time. I find myself once again in the same situation. The new church I am leading is growing rapidly and we need to move. Through the hindsight of obedience I am expecting God to once again provide in a great way. I can't wait to tell you all about it. I've got my eye on an out of business car dealership! Let's see what kind of deal God can work.

I have come to the conclusion that life on the edge with God is the best way to live. I don't know what you are facing right now but know that God can! He can do what is needed, heal what is hurting, untie what is binding, fix what is broken, strengthen what is weak. God can!

So often I hear people say that they handle the small stuff and let God take care of the big stuff. I have a theological word for that "stupid". God wants, can, and will take care of it all. He wants you in total dependence and will orchestrate the situations in your life to get you to depend on Him. He is not evil or bring temptation but He will leverage those natural parts of life for His glory and your good. He is not on a god sized ego trip but He is God and is the best one to lead your life. After all it is "He (God) who made us, not we ourselves".

You only have one life why waste it living any other way?! Today is the day to live life God's way! (sorry, the preacher in me just came out)

marraige

In the book of 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 7, Peter says "to live with your wife in an understanding way". Good luck with that one. The hardest thing a man can do is to understand his wife! I have been married for almost 27 years and Tara is still a mystery. I love mystery!
Let me push on this .... I know I can never understand her, I can't really understand me! So what can I do? I can become a student of Tara. I will be a Taraologist. OK, that's cheesy.
A lot of guys love to hunt so I will use a hunting analogy. When you hunt for wild game you study your prey. If you are deer hunting you know where they sleep, when they eat, the paths they travel and so on. Why do I know these things about deer? Because I am hunting them.
What if I put the same energy into being a student of my wife? What if I studied her to the point that I could lovingly anticipate her moods, thoughts, desires, and build security into her life. If I gave that kind of energy to Tara our relationship would be so rich.
Here is the rub, Tara is so much more complicated than a deer. She is made wonderfully complex and knowing her will take my whole life. Wow, I think I just discovered the key, it will take my whole life! Maybe Peter should have said "try to live with your wife ...". As I "try" to understand Tara God helps me!
Relationships make life rich, and my relationship with Tara is center to every other connection. Oh yea, Peter also says that if you don't get it right your prayers are hindered. That means when mama is not happy even God is not happy.
I got to go it is Tara time!

Dealing with doubt

I have had several conversations lately with leaders who are struggling with being down. It seems that depression is a common struggle with anyone who leads anything. It also seems that wintertime makes things worse.
In a conversation I had today I suggested to a friend to discover the path to finding balance. Let me explain. You must know yourself well enough to know how to pick your self up. I know that the work of the Holy Spirit is to encourage and inspire you but you must intentionally join God in this task.
God wants you full of hope not discouraged. Discouragement is not from God.
Let me cut to the chase, when I get discouraged I know I need time away with Tara. My behavior is to just work harder and longer thus driving me more into being down, but when I retreat, spend time with God, and my most trusted friend I find God's release.
Knowing yourself is the first law of leadership!

pastors

I am in Austin Texas. I have been meeting with a group of pastors that are starting new churches. I love these guys and the adventure. I find their courage and faith refreshing.
We were discussing the fear factor of starting new church. It is very scary! You are putting your whole life and the life of your family on the line following the call of God. As we talked I said "you are not willing to take great risk for God until He is your only option".
What I mean is that if we have any other plan than the plan of trusting and hoping in God then we will fail. God wants to be our first and only choice. I know that even if I fail at starting this new church God will not fail. My life is not about me.
This all sounds crazy but it is so sound. When I surrender my life to God and His control my life will matter.
I am starting a new church in Tallahassee. Tara and I have risked it all for this call of God. If he doesn't come through we are doomed. I can't think of a better way to live.

Marriage

It is hard to connect with someone at the soul level. Yesterday when I wrote about Tara and being best friends it sounded so easy, but it is far from easy. I can be a pain and so can she. The biggest problem with her is that she is sinful and so am I.
Our sinfulness compels us to be self centered and controlling. We want what we want when we want it. It is hard to think of someone else when all you can think of is yourself.
That is why we need God in the middle of our marriage. His transforming power allows me to focus on what I should be for Tara. When I love and honor her I do so with the help of God's spirit. My faith and dependence on Jesus makes me a better husband.
What doses that mean on a practical level? I must pursue a vital relationship with God. I do so through my personal time of reading the Bible, praying, and reflecting and I pursue a vital connection with other believers through the church. I also serve people thus serving God, and I openly share the love of God with people. This is all a life of devotion.
What does that have to do with being married? Everything!
Jesus said it this way "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." When Jesus said "all things' marriage was included.

Being married

I just read an article that "ticked" me off. This learned person said that your spouse should not be your best friend. They said for relational balance there should be people in your life who you share you deepest thought, spend time with, and hold you to account that are not your spouse! WHAT? That is the dumbest thing I can think of!! I will admit that I need other people who keep me in balance but Tara is my best friend.
I will push on this further, when I let her into the dark area of my soul her accountability make me want to do better. I can confess stuff to another friend and it has far less impact on me than when I confide in her. I need her as my best and most trusted friend.
I know guys who struggle with really tough stuff and they keep their wives out of it. I also know women who do the same. I think this is a big mistake. When there is a security in our marriages of commitment and accountability then we can handle the hard things as a team and find healing. Sin grows best in the dark and when it is brought to light in the power of love, forgiveness, and God's grace healing takes place. If I am not best friends with my spouse then there is no security and connectedness that weathers the storms of life.
Tara and I have been married for 26 plus years and we have a commitment to be together our whole lives. When I asked her to marry me it was forever that included being my best and most trusted friend. The thought of having someone closer to me than her is, well, stupid!
I believe that we share a connection that is physical, relational, and spiritual that marks us with a closeness that is beyond any other bond I can imagine.
This expert is so out of bounds. God has asked me to "cleve" to Tara and that means no one is closer!!! To those who follow the advice of this "expert" good luck. Until we line our lives with God's desire we will struggle.
I know that I was to write on the power of God but I had to get that off my chest!

God is in Control

The word foreknowledge means to sit at a place where you can see from horizon to horizon. I have sat in those places. I sat in a spot where I could look over the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan. I have looked over the city of Bombay, India. I have even looked over Tallahassee! I guess you could say I have foreknowledge. Not really.
My problem is that even when I sit in such places I don't know what I am seeing. I might pick out landmarks, spires of chruch buildings, distant lakes, or other such obvious stuff, but I don't see what matters. I don't see the the hurts and challenges of life.
That is God's foreknowledge. He sees what we can't see. He knows you and loves you. He sits at a place with your full life in view. He also sees your eternity and He longs for that existence to be with Him.
I can trust the God who sees it all and has the power to control it as well. Remember, God is good!

New week

I must remember that nothing catches God off guard. Nothing! What ever my life hurts, habits, or hang ups God has them in full view and He is the solution. No matter the twist and turns of my life the God who loves me is in control. Even when my life is filled with hurt, doubt and disappointment He is working it together for good. I can count on God. He is good.
Let this thought fill your week. I will write more this week on this subject!

New Year

Day two of 2008 is unfolding before us like a mighty mystery. I am fully optimistic about what lies ahead of me, of us. I think that every day is a gift and a test. A gift from God to live for His glory and a test of what I really believe about Him. 2008 will be a very exciting year.
Have you ever wondered if you will amount to anything? Have you ever looked into the face of a child and pondered where their life would lead? I have.
I have a picture of my Brother Stan and me when we were 5 and 9. It is Christmas and we both received "costumes" as gifts. Stan was a football player and I was a cowboy.
Looking at this photo one would never believe that the too skinny football player would grow up to be a great athlete and a great preacher, and the cross eyed cowboy would become a pastor/church planter. You never know what God has planned!
I don't know what is going on in your life right now but I do know that God has great plans for you. (Jer. 29:11) His plan is always hinged on obedience not perfection, on faith and not performance, and on His purpose not your comfort. Your life will not be as it could be or should be until you surrender your life to God's purposes.
Start 2008 by praying the most challenging and dangerous prayer you can pray, "Jesus, I am yours". You never know the great adventure God has for you. I believe there is more to you than meets the eye!