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A cow elk has one calf in the early summer and it's able to stand by the time it's 20 minutes old. Unlike the bulls, cows bark when they sense danger and they mew to keep track of one another.
I spent a lot of time last week trying to find and photograph bulls. But I really like this picture of a lone cow, and I thought you might appreciate it too.
Job 5:23 - Wild animals will become your good friends.
Ever heard of a Yellow Bellied Marmot? Of course you have, but have you ever seen one? Neither had we, until - over 12,000 feet above sea level - Sheila and I saw several of them scurrying around on top of the Rocky Mountains. And, for those concerned about the survival of the species, it appears to be mating season.
Proverbs 30:24-28
There are four small creatures,
wisest of the wise they are—
ants—frail as they are,
get plenty of food in for the winter;
marmots—vulnerable as they are,
manage to arrange for rock-solid homes;
locusts—leaderless insects,
yet they strip the field like an army regiment;
lizards—easy enough to catch,
but they sneak past vigilant palace guards.
We got great news about Lydia this week.
When her parents returned from our family's "re-connection time" in the wilderness, they took Lydia to her routine 8-month doctor's check-up. The pediatrician confirmed what we suspected, that Lydia is doing really well, growing strong and maturing right on schedule. Born at 2 pounds, 11 ounces, she now weighs 16 pounds, 12 ounces.
Look at her. She is the beneficiary of great parents, great medical care and great prayer support from all of you! And, no slave to fashion, she's already setting new "baby-trends" with cool-looking hats. (Watch for them, coming soon to baby stores near you.)
Luke 1:80a - The child grew up, healthy and spirited.
Psalm 18:30-32
As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
Maybe you'e seen a bull elk; maybe not. If you have, you may have wondered how they get their hair to look like that. It's so "wet" looking. It flows and shimmers. It appears to have been treated in such a way that it has remarkable "hold," as if a product was applied that'll make it stay in place no matter how much the wind blows.
This morning I found out how you can get hair to lay down, stay in place and look "wet" all day long.
You know those little bottles of shampoo you get in a hotel? One is shampoo. One is conditioner. Well, this morning I had a third bottle; it was lotion. For reasons unknown to me the housekeeping team at our hotel had placed the lotion bottle in the shower, so I put it on my hair.
It made me look like this elk, and it elicited a similar response from me.
Song of Solomon 4:1 - Your hair as it flows and shimmers, is like a flock of goats in the distance streaming down a hillside in the sunshine.
Job 39:6-8
I gave him the whole wilderness to roam in,
the rolling plains and wide-open places.
He laughs at his city cousins, who are harnessed and harried.
He's oblivious to the cries of teamsters.
He grazes freely through the hills,
nibbling anything that's green.
You know how you're beginning a trip and your kids ask, "How long before we get there?" Well, I've always believed you take your fun with you, and if you're not having fun when you leave, you won't have fun when you "get there." The "when and then" syndrome ("when" we get there, "then" we'll have fun) has ruined more family trips than you'd imagine.
So, I told my kids, every time we went on a trip, "We're having fun now, and we'll be having fun later. Don't ask when we get there, because we are there. This is as good as it gets."
We take our fun with us when we travel. And, as you can see, Sheila is delighting in each moment with her family. This is as good as it gets.
Proverbs 13:22a - A good life gets passed on to the grandchildren.
If you get to Lake Tahoe, and want to hike, take the Rubicon Trail around the south shore of Emerald Bay. From the road to Vikingsholm and back it's about 7 miles. As you can see, my family has a little trouble resisting the urge to leave the trail and walk the shoreline, where we can share moments like this.
We're reconnecting, at the deepest levels, in one of the most beautiful places I've seen.
Thanks for praying for us.
Jeremiah 18:15 - They've gotten off the track, the old, well-worn trail, and now bushwhack through underbrush in a tangle of roots and vines.
- Photo by Aaron Beeson -
I checked the calendar this morning. I'm glad I did. I was up late "burning the midnight oil" well after 9:00 last night. Yup. Today marks 57 years for me. Words like "by-cracky" are creeping into my vocabulary. I seem to be aging, which is better than the alternative.At 57, I'm so old I can remember when a naughty child was taken to the woodshed instead of the psychiatrist. I'm improving with age, but when I finally got my head together, but body fell apart. Since I felt like my body was totally out of shape, I got my doctor's permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I joined an aerobics class for seniors. I twisted, jumped up and down, bent and gyrated for nearly an hour. But, by the time I got my sweat suit on, the class was over.
My memory isn't as sharp as it used to be; that's good, because I can hide my own Easter eggs. Also, my memory isn't quite as sharp as it used to be.
I'm going to go watch The Weather Channel.
Proverbs 20:29 - Youth may be admired for vigor, but gray hair gives prestige to old age.
- Photo by Mr. Tiny Tripod -
The men have returned from the summit of Mt. Tallac with photographic proof of their ascent.
Here they are, at the top of the mountain, standing 9,735 feet above sea level, half-way through their eleven mile climb. (I'm tired just thinking about it.)
Exodus 34:2b - Present yourself to me on the top of the mountain.
I know this looks like a picture of my son and his bride. Aaron and Tracy would be the focus of the photo if you were judging the picture by the normal "Rule of Thirds," but in this particular instance you'd be mistaken to do so. In fact, it's a picture of Mt. Tallac, the 9,735 foot peak to the left of Aaron's head. And the reason I'm posting this picture of Mt. Tallac is because Aaron, John and Ryan just sent us a text to let us know they've reached the summit. They're up there, on that mountain top, right now!
Awesome.
And...I really like this moment with Aaron and Tracy too...
Exodus 34:2 - Be ready in the morning to climb...
You've heard the expression, "Even a blind pig sometimes finds a truffle."
I don't know a lot about blind pigs, but I do know I'm occasionally surprised by a serendipitous moment of opportunity and wonder.
That's how this picture came to be.
We were looking for big animals, elk or moose or bear or something exotic and impressive, when we saw this coyote "mousing." He was working his way through the tall grasses, using that remarkable nose to unravel a myriad of scents and locate a mouse. As he hunted, we watched....and I took his picture.
There is a great delight in stumbling across such a God-made-moment.
We weren't looking for coyotes, but this opportunity to observe so primal a scene was providential and we were privileged to see it.
Isaiah 13:22b - The howling of coyotes will give you the shivers.
- Photo by Amber Cox -
Maybe you've heard the expression, "90% of success is just showing up." I'm not sure that's all wrong, but I've been reading the Bible and I've noticed something disturbing. Jesus didn't hand out rewards for "just showing up."
Kind of shocking, isn't it.
Rewards, praise and promotions were given to those who diligently used what they'd been given to accomplish the mission they were assigned. Those who were effective were rewarded, but Jesus didn't even offer words of praise for people who used their talents to "just get by" on their mission.
The truth is, Jesus had utter disdain for such wasted potential.
Jesus praised mission achievement, not words or effort. He said a person should be judged like a tree, by the "fruit" their life actually produces. So there's no reward for giving supreme effort to have a pretty green lawn if you're neglecting your family. You're working hard, but you're off-mission, and Jesus doesn't reward people for doing what they're not supposed to do. Jesus rewards mission achievement.
When I look at my wife, and see the "fruit" of her life in her family, her ministry and her relationships, I know I'm looking at mission achievement. Sheila doesn't "just show up" for her mission assignment; she creatively engages it and successfully completes it.
Sheila never "just shows up" for her mission. She accomplishes it.
I'm honored to travel this life beside her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Matthew 25:19-30 - "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
His
master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful
with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your
master's happiness!'
The man
with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two
talents; see, I have gained two more.'
His master
replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a
few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your
master's happiness!'
Then the man who
had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a
hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not
scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid
your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
His master
replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not
sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should
have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would
have received it back with interest.
'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the
ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an
abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And
throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"
Live in Michiana?
Got some room?
Feel like your house has some wide open spaces?
Read this, and see if you can help us with a couple of our fantastic new interns.
Romans 12:13 - Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Our kids are grown and they have families of their own. Though they're scattered across the country, the sabbatical grant makes it possible for us to re-connect. I've looked forward to this day for many months.
We celebrated our first "family day" on board the MS Dixie Paddlewheeler. Our family is thankful for the time together. Sheila is happy.
This is a very good day.
Isaiah 49:18 - Look up and look around you. All your children are gathering to return to you." The Lord says, "As surely as I live, your children will be like jewels that a bride wears proudly.
We spent the first part of this trip looking for bears. Now, it appears they're looking for us. Sheila was standing at the window, sipping coffee, when she loudly whispered, "BEAR!" (I know that's impossible, but she did it. She whispered with so much volume it was almost as impressive as the bear.)
I grabbed my camera and snapped this picture.
I've named this huge bear, "Bubba."
Lamentations 4:18 - They tracked us down, those hunters. It wasn't safe to go out in the street.
If a culture is measured by what it preserves, this says a lot.
Genesis 6:19-20 - You are also to take two of each living creature, a male and a female, on board the ship, to preserve their lives with you: two of every species of bird, mammal, and reptile—two of everything so as to preserve their lives along with yours.
Sometimes I'm shocked by my ability to see right through something another person can't see past. It happens all the time.
I see Whitetail in the fields almost every time I drive my car, but unless there's a huge buck in the herd, my heart rate only increases a little. But if a visitor from a place without them sees one, it's the highlight of their whole vacation.
I never see Moose in my backyard, so when I photographed this bull I was ecstatic. But a Wyoming wildlife biologist I talked with has seen so many Moose he hardly even acknowledges them anymore. He's busy looking for wolves (a rare animal in Wyoming, wary and very sensitive to human intrusion). He's accustomed to Moose (because seeing them is so routine to him) and impressed by the sighting of an elusive wolf (because he rarely sees one).
My awareness of this ability - to become unimpressed by the "impressive," just because it's become common to me - gives me pause. My ability to see right through something another person can't see past, makes me wonder, "Can I become 'unimpressed' by the glorious, uplifting worship at GCC, just because I've grown accustomed to it? Does having wonderful and inspirational worship every weekend make me appreciate it less, or more?"
How about you? Are you still seeing how good God is, or has the Lord's daily blessing of mercy and loving-kindness numbed you to it?
Lamentations 3:22-23a - It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His tender compassions fail not. They are new every morning.
See? This is how you get all messed up. You go into the brush looking for stuff to photograph and come across this cute little moose calf. Awwww. Isn't she adorable? Then you raise your camera and notice the monster bull lying in the bushes behind her; 1200 pounds of rut-crazed enormity looking for a fight. "Oh, oh," you think. Then you wish you'd thought more quietly, for fear he might have heard you...
This authenticates the veracity of the old, old saying:
There are old photographers
And there are bold photographers,
But there are no old, bold photographers.
Proverbs 19:16 - Keep the rules and keep your life; careless living kills.
Apparently, I've become a fount of misinformation. Not that I was trying to mislead anyone, but I was mistaken when I declared the rutting bull moose to be the most dangerous animal. I admitted that error and issued a correction in a later post stating a momma bear with a cub is even more dangerous.
Well, I guess you could make the argument that I was wrong again.
See this bison? I learned he places deep value in his "personal space" and is not to be trifled with. I also learned they can run 35 miles per hour and jump over a six foot fence. Upon discovering this, I conferred with a Wildlife Officer (who was endowed with more power than any human being should be afforded by his contemporaries) to learn my precise level of peril. This upstanding incarnation of executive power told me bison are responsible for killing more people each year than either the bear or the moose.
Hey, why would he lie?
("In fact," he told me, "just a few months ago, a woman was irritated because a big bull bison wasn't facing her. She told her husband she wanted that bison to turn so she could take its picture, so he threw a bottle at it. In response to the unkind treatment, the bull whirled around, gored the woman, stomped her into dust and killed her, dead." Like I said, they like their 'personal space.")
So, in my quest for the truth, I'm passing along my increasing knowledge of ever-more-accurate "dangerous animal facts" so everyone can benefit.
The bottom line? Watch out for bison...and momma bears with cubs...and rutting bull moose.
That's my advice.
Psalm 2:11-12 - Your very lives are in danger, you know; his anger is about to explode, if you make a run for God—you won't regret it!
Early settlers in this valley were able to stake a claim on 160 acres of ground. It became their property if they made any "improvements" to at least five acres of that parcel and stayed five years. The winters were brutal, with 600 to 1000 inches of snow falling in the Tetons. Few survived it. The ground was too rocky and porous for crops. The climate too harsh for livestock.
I photographed this barn at sunrise. It's on one of the homestead sites a few miles north of Jackson Hole. I thought you'd like to see it.
Psalm 19:6 - God's Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.
During Ava's Memorial Service I felt God's mercy as Isaac spoke. I felt God's love when Josh, Lisa and Noah spoke. And I felt God's comfort when Ava's grandpa (Dr. Joel Hunter) spoke.
Here's what Dr. Hunter said at the end of his granddaughter's service. Amber transcribed his brief and powerful comments on her blog, so I've copied them for you.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"If Psalm 90:4 is true, if 'a thousand
years in thy sight are but as yesterday' she will no sooner get her eyes
open then all of us who follow Christ will be with her. There will be no time
in Heaven that she spends without us. We are on our way. Heaven is all of us
who believe in Christ, together.
So choose ye this day whom you will serve
- if it be the gods of the culture that seek to maximize pleasure and minimize
pain, so be it. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, the
Lord who brings good out of every circumstance and has brought good to us
today."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Matthew 5:4 - Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Sheila and I hadn't seen any bears (though we'd seen many other animals) since we arrived in Wyoming. So today we started early with one goal in mind; find and photograph a bear. In the early morning light we drove up Signal Mountain. By day's end we'd seen five bears: a momma with her cub, a HUGE cinnamon-phase black bear, and two other adult black bears. It was an amazing day.
This little cub was fun to watch. We followed him and his mom down half a mountain, never losing sight of the them. We watched them eating berries for more than an hour. (Apparently, I wrongly attributed "most dangerous" status to the noble Moose in an earlier post. The truth is, a mother bear protecting her cub is even more dangerous than a moose in rut. This is a lesson I learned today.)
Every time this little cub lost sight of his mother, he'd stand up and cry as he searched for her among the Huckleberry bushes. I took this picture while he was standing up and looking around. His antics made our day...and I lived to tell the tale.
Proverbs 17:12 - Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
Want to see what was lurking in the shadows behind the pretty plants in the last post? It was MOMMA BEAR! Yiiiiiiii!
2 Kings 2:24b - Two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.
Every once in a while I'm inclined to bend down and take a picture of plants. Sometimes, what's behind the plants can be alarming.
Proverbs 7:24 - Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention...
Who knew there were elk like this?
We saw this fellow displaying his prowess, and challenging all comers, in the midst of his harem of cows. I got close enough to get some photos. It was awesome.
Psalm 22:12 - Many bulls surround me.
Sheila and I have been thanking God all day long. Now I'm thanking you. Our sabbatical is in full swing and we are simply overwhelmed with gratitude. Thank you for making this time possible for us!
We drove hundreds of miles during the last few days. We talked for hours-and-hours as we logged mile-after-mile scanning the woods and grasslands for animals to photograph. As we traveled every back road and gravel path we laughed, and dreamed, and peered into the forests to see the critters we don't often see back home.
Since the Moose "rut" is in full swing, this bull was standing right out in the open. He was "grunting" continually, trying to locate a female. Since nothing is as dangerous as a bull Moose during the rut, it seemed like a good idea to get as close as possible and take a picture. Look closely at his eye and you can see that he's trying to decide if I'm worth killing. As it turns out, I'm not.
Thank you for praying for us as we journey through the adventures and renewal of our sabbatical. We've discovered the only thing more fun than this, is doing the ministry we love to do with you back at Granger.
1 Thessalonians 1:2 - We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers
So, I'm sitting on the shore of a stream. I look across and walking into the water from the opposite bank is this bull elk. If I didn't have the picture, I wouldn't believe it myself.
Maybe I should sit still more often...
Daniel 12:5 - ...Two figures appeared, one standing on this bank of the river and one on the other bank.
There is restoration for the soul. There is a peace that passes understanding. There is hope for all who seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Sheila and I are finding His mercies are new every morning. We watched the sunrise through the fog as we began this day about 10 miles from nowhere. It was frosty cold, eerily quiet and remarkably beautiful. God made this morning for us. The picture doesn't do it justice.
Isaiah 55:6 - Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Sheila and I began the sabbatical with deep grief and pain. My sister's granddaughter lost her battle with cancer. Exactly 10 weeks to the day, from her diagnosis of GBM, she left the dust of this earth and entered Glory.
Our family is in mourning.
Sheila and I arrived in Orlando a few hours ago. We'll be with my sister and her husband, and the rest of our family, at Ava's Memorial Service tomorrow morning. I know some of you have made this journey with us and you wish you could attend the service too. You can.
Ava's service will be streamed live on-line tomorrow, Thursday, September 9th at 11:00 AM EST. It'll be available to watch later as well. Go here, to Northland's homepage and follow the link.
I want you to know about this so you can watch if you want to. Maybe it'll help you grieve. Maybe it'll help you pray. Maybe it'll help you find your way.
Death has not had the last word in Ava's story.
1 Corinthians 15:50-55 - Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55"O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?".
Josh wrote on Facebook a few minutes ago, "Ava has gone to be with Jesus. Thank you for your prayers. We are heartbroken for us, but know she is whole again. We serve a mighty God and are blessed by all of you. Continue to pray for Lisa, Noah and me as we walk the days ahead."
This picture you see here is from Josh's last "Daddy / Daughter Dance" this side of heaven. I love this picture, though I've no idea who took it. I put it on my blog when Ava began her fight with cancer. I'm putting on again, now that her battle is over.
Several hours ago, as Ava was slipping her hand into the hand of her Father in heaven, I wrote her Daddy - he's the man who holds Ava's hand as she walks with him to their dance. I told Josh, "Your next "Daddy/Daughter Dance" is in heaven. I'll be there before you, so I'll have my camera set up to get good pictures for you Josh. You can count on it." I was weeping so deeply I couldn't see, so i finished my message, "I'm crying now...so I'll have to stop with that. But I mean it. I'll be there cheering when your next dance with Ava begins."
And I will.
Heaven's waiting....for all of us.
My heart is breaking. It's time to mourn. I'm going to go cry some more. The time to dance will come soon enough.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 4 - There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.
You're gonna want to see this.
Go here and sign up to watch THE NINES.
More than 100 speakers are giving there best stuff in six-minute-bursts. Each leader will briefly speak about one of the biggest "game changers" they've ever experienced.
This on-line conference, offered by the Leadership Network and Catalyst, will begin promptly at 11:30 AM on September 9th. It'll last about 9 hours. All that, and it's absolutely free!
I'll be speaking.
So will Tim Stevens.
So will Kem Meyer.
So will Rick Warren, Leonard Sweet, Ed Stetzer, Bob Roberts, Shannon O'Dell, Patrick Lencioni, Alan Hirsch, Gayle Haggard, Steven Furtick, Francis Chan, Jenni Catron, Matt Carter, Brian Bloye, Jorge Acevedo, Wayne Cordeiro, Bill Easum, Jonathan Falwell, Dave Gibbons, Scott Hodge, Reggie Joiner, Shawn Lovejoy, Perry Noble, Thom Rainer, Dino Rizzo, Michael Slaughter, Geoff Surratt, Jud Wilhite, Shawn Wood, Pete Wilson, Craig Groeschel, Jim Tomberlin, Mark Deymaz, John Bishop, Will Mancini and Darrin Patrick. So will many more.
Sign up. Tune in. Take your leadership to a new level...for FREE!
Proverbs 4:7 - Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
I was with my son when we saw this bull swimming across an Ontario lake. When it hit the shoreline it leaped from the water and bounded into the woods, sure-footed and unhampered, without stumbling.
So when I read the bible passage everyone at GCC is reading today (Proverbs 4), I decided to be more sure-footed in my faith. I resolved to walk along decent paths, not stumbling in the way of the wicked. I want to walk the path Proverbs describes as the path, "that becomes brighter and brighter," the path that's, "like the light of dawn."
Proverbs 4:10-16, 18-19
10My son,
listen and accept my words,
and they will multiply the years of your life.
11I have taught you the way of wisdom.
I have guided you along decent paths.
12When you walk, your stride will not be hampered.
Even if you run, you will not stumble.
13Cling to discipline.
Do not relax your grip on it.
Keep it because it is your life.
14Do not stray onto the path of wicked people.
Do not walk in the way of evil people.
15Avoid it.
Do not walk near it.
Turn away from it,
and keep on walking.
16Wicked people cannot sleep
unless they do wrong,
and they are robbed of their sleep
unless they make someone stumble.
18But the path of righteous people is like the light of dawn
that becomes brighter and brighter until it reaches midday.
19The way of wicked people is like deep darkness.
They do not know what makes them stumble.
Like everyone at GCC, I'm daily reading the chapter of Proverbs that corresponds with the day-of-the-month. The first and last verses of Proverbs 3 made me think of my friend John Ed Mathison today. He's the kind of guy I'd listen to if he said, "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”
John Ed Mathison said stuff like that all week long. I wasn’t surprised. He's saturated his mind with scripture. John Ed inspires me every time I’m with him.
He’s the visionary pastor who served Frazer Memorial UMC for 36 years, building the congregation to nearly 9,000 members – with 90% of them participating in at least one of the church’s ministries to the people of Montgomery. He rocked his community with the love of Jesus. The guy is one of my heroes.
Proverbs 3 concludes with this. "The wise inherit honor.”
I couldn’t agree more.
I honor you John Ed.
I honor you.
Romans 13:7 - If you owe someone honor, honor that person.
Sheila and I had dinner last night with the Hamiltons and the Slaughters. They're involved in this effort and we love 'em.
The meetings we've shared have been incredible - a gathering of remarkable leaders laying themselves before God and each other, to ask God's direction in revitalizing the United Methodist Church. I'm honored to witness this historic event. (it's never happened before. Never, anywhere, ever.)
I'm asking some simple questions.
1. What if we reward the outcomes we need and want?
When we see evidence of God's work, what if we pray, seed it, water it and labor for more of it? What if we reward growth, health, vibrant faith and evangelistic success?
When the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem heard about the God's work among the people of Antioch, they sent Barnabas to check it out. Barnabas went and found Paul so they could reward the growth with training for more growth. It's in Antioch Christ's followers were first called "Christians."
2. What if we don't ask each other to do things that don't produce the outcomes we're after?
Before we ask someone to give, serve, fund or attend, what if we consider: Will this make them perfect in love? Will this transform culture? Will this make disciples of Jesus Christ? Will this win the lost to Jesus? Will this give missional success?
Whether it's apportionments, relocation, global initiatives or construction projects, what if we don't ask others to give for something that doesn't more fully bring God's Kingdom?
3. What if we simply don't reward, affirm, fund, celebrate or praise the things that don't move us toward the right outcomes?
Bishop Schnase (a wonderful man who's searing brilliance is delivered through a winsome folksiness that often belies the profundity of his thought) said the practices of our movement were initially for the transformation and sanctification of the the people called "methodist." It wasn't about 'control' or manipulation,' it was about equipping the people of God. Every category and form of discipline and order was established to bring the right results. Nothing was required that Wesley didn't see as necessary for a sanctified missional life. Attending to class meetings, accounting for your giving, attending to the sacraments, prayer and missional service - these were all required of the early Methodists so they would become holy people - serving God with warm hearts, engaged minds and willing hands.
Are we rewarding the systems, people and strategies that fail to deliver right outcomes? What should be rewarded? Why?
What do you think?
Acts 11:19-23 - Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
We had time for a hike this afternoon. Sheila and I were heading up the hill when we bumped into Mike and Carolyn Slaughter as they were heading down the hill. Since Mike is one of my heroes, I gave Sheila the camera and she snapped this photo. Not bad, eh?
Several years ago Mike gathered a group of pastors for the innovative launch of a doctoral program. Mike searched America for the pastors he wanted to select for that group. I was one of those he invited, and the journey we shared over the next few years marked my life.
Thanks Mike. Lead on. Your example pulls us all to new levels of missional ministry and I'm grateful.
Titus 2:7a - In everything set them an example by doing what is good.
Sheila and I are in Utah.
The pastors of the 100 largest United Methodist Churches in America are meeting with nearly 3 dozen US bishops to see if we can do something to help the Church serve more effectively. Should be an interesting few days.
The UMC in America has been in decline for 46 years in a row, with worship attendance dropping another 55,000 people last year. Our average age is somewhere between 57-60 years old; that means we're not "making babies" and biological growth is unexpected.
We’ve a lot to talk about.
Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
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