Legacy

Kentucky Defeats Louisville!

I usually don't gloat, but this is a special occasion!  Happy Labor Day, Kentucky fans!!!

Politics: Israel Wants a King

I have to admit I can easily revert to being a political junky.  I remember being in middle school and getting up extra early so I could get ready for school and then watch The Today Show .  As a high schooler I would faithfully watch Meet The Press on Sunday Mornings.  What high schooler watches Meet the Press?

                                                                                       As I grew older I learned that politics can simply make you mad.  If not careful you can lose your perspective, lose sleep, lose objectivity and eventually, lose your mind by following what is going on the arena of politics.  But each big election year, like a moth drawn to the flame, I am lured back to spending too much time paying attention to politics and politicians.  I have a feeling I’m not alone.

 The nation of Israel found itself in the same boat.  In 1 Samuel 8 we read that the elders came to Samuel the prophet demanding a king.  They wanted to be competitive with all the other nations who had a king.  Samuel, disappointed at their demands, took it to God.  God replied to Samuel, “…it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.”  1 Samuel 8:7

This year we have watched millions fall head over heels for Barack Obama, like a 12 year old girl for The Jonas Brothers.  Every step of the way he has been treated like a rock star.  Yesterday we observed conservatives swoon over super mom, Sarah Palin as the “dark horse” who will bring together pro-life and pro-choice, feminists and women who wear skirts past their knees, fundamentalists and post moderns, as well as tree choppers and tree huggers.

I have to admit, as soon as I heard that McCain made a VP choice, I was at work and quickly went into Internet-surf research mode, discovering exactly who this Sarah Palinwas: A mother of five, one in the military, one with a disability - Governor of Alaska, and former mayor of the sprawling metropolis, Wasilla.  This research took at least an hour of my time. 

But after all this time spent, I am reminded what King David said in the Psalms:

“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?”  Psalm 2:1

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.”  Psalm 20:7-8

Think of all the money, time and energy that has been used up just in this election alone.  Think of the time you have spent on watching, observing and researching what has been going on in this election. What if all of it was spent on what Paul speaks of in Hebrews 12?

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:2-3

The bottom line is this: Unless we keep our eyes fixed, our time consumed, and our energy spent on Christ, we will eventually “grow weary and lose heart” in this political madness and in every other area that is not heaven bound.

May we keep our eyes focused on “one thing.”

“I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet.”  Psalm 27:4

Overcoming Inadequacy

It's easy for me to go to the place of inadequacy.  The spot where I look around at others and don't think that I measure up.  I'm just a former teacher.  What do I have to offer in the ministry?  I'm sure David could have easily been there when King Saul insisted that David wear his battle gear to fight Goliath.  There could have been thoughts running through his mind that said, "I can't measure up to a great warrior if I can't wear his armor.  How can I defeat a giant?"

There's something about being "you" that is very powerful. You can kill giants with stones and a slingshot if that is what God has given you. Use what God has given you and don't worry about what He has given others - don't let fear keep you from being yourself. God knows exactly what you need, and all he asks is that you are in communion with Him.  He will take care of the rest.  

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” - Theodore Roosevelt 

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

World’s Largest Water Balloon Fight (Almost)

One of my best friends in the whole world, Brian Marshall, is the campus minister at Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) at the University of Kentucky. They recently attempted to break the Guniness Book of World Record for the "World's Largest Water Balloon Fight."  

CSF was attempting to break the record set in 2006 by Microsoft, which had 51,000 water balloons and 2,854 people competing. There were 2,744 people and 58,000 water balloons at the Johnson Center field on the UK campus shortly after midnight Saturday.  So they had more water balloons, but fell short in the people category by only 115.

Here is a video link that you must watch.  It's truly amazing!

If Jesus Played Baseball

I ran across this article on ESPN this morning.  Nine year old, Jerrico Scott was asked by the league he's in not to pitch because he's "too good!"  Have you ever heard of such a thing?  The last team he faced packed up their things and forfeited the game because Scott was that good on the mound.  

It got me thinking: What if Jesus had played baseball?  Is this what it would have been like?  We know what impact he had in the temple at 12 years old.  Luke 2 describes a boy sitting with the teachers of the law, and "everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers."  

Crazy Love: A Great Read!

I am currently reading a book that I want to pass along to you even before I am finished with it. It's called Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  I first saw Francis at a conference I went to a few years back.

Francis Chan is a thinker, a dreamer and pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California. A frequent speaker at Passion Events, he's a dynamic communicator committed to making the love of Jesus come alive in people's hearts. In his writing debut, CRAZY LOVE, Chan challenges readers to fall in love with God in a way that is truly transforming. 

Written for those who want more of God yet are frustrated with organized religion, Chan manages to avoid the pitfall of making pot shots at the church. Instead, he challenges followers of God to take risks in their spiritual journeys and consider their understanding of God. At its crux, Chan believes the issue of lukewarmness among Christians is because we have an inaccurate view of God. When we understand God for who He is --- in all of His majesty, holiness, beauty and honor --- then it will naturally transform the way we live and respond to those around us. 

Miracles with Fish are Still Occurring!!!

Do you remember the story of when Jesus told Peter to pull a fish out of the lake and pull a coin out the fish's mouth to pay their taxes (Matthew 17)?  

Or what about the times Jesus fed the multitudes with just a few loaves and fish (Matthew 14)?  

There is also the incident in Luke 5 where the disciples cast their nets and got more than a boatload of fish!

I read on Yahoo yesterday about another fish miracle! David Hayes, from Elkin, North Carolina, caught a state record 21 pound, 1 ounce channel catfish with his granddaughter's Barbie fishing rod.  Click here to read about the miracle.   Look at the picture.  Do you see the size of that fishing pole compared to the size of the fish?  Now tell me that is not a miracle!

Crickets

When I took our students to Detroit for War Week, Winkie Pratney played a cricket recording that I found very interesting.  I thought it was worth passing on to you.

The story behind GOD'S CRICKETS

This unusual recording contains two tracks: 

1. the natural sound of crickets chirping

2. the sound of the crickets slowed down to match and mirror the length of the average lifespan of a human being. 

The angelic chorus you hear accompanying the sound of the crickets is NOT a synthesizer or a chorus singing. It's the crickets themselves (slowed down) creating the effect. Really an amazing thing they've accomplished here. 

Click Here to Download the Cricket Recording

New Music: Check Them Out

There are three new worship CD's that I am really enjoying.  Two just came out today and two out of the three are also DVD's:

1.  Jesus Culture: Your Love Never Fails

This is the latest release from Jesus Culture Music. This CD/DVD was recorded in the February 2008 Jesus Culture Encounter conference. 

2. David Crowder Band: Remedy Club Tour Edition

David Crowder*Band’s first ever live DVD & CD. The REMEDY Club Tour Edition DVD & CD includes more than 85 minutes of live music shot in high definition from the “REMEDY Club Tour,”

3. Charlie Hall: The Bright Sadness

A collection of songs that reflect his spiritual journaling these last few years, the album, according to Hall, "comes from me understanding my ordinary human condition and my deep love for Jesus."

Car Pooling: The Ultimate Spiritual Test

My wife and I decided to car pool as much as we could, with the cost of gas as high as it is.

On Sunday Mornings for 4 1/2 years, I have always driven to church by myself, usually before Evie and the kids were even out of bed.  Now we are trying to all go together.  

I have learned a lot about my walk with God in the past few weeks on how I have reacted to the pressure of getting out the door with the whole family on the way to church.  I am an evil man to say the least!  If someone was recording the whole ordeal I would not be able to show my face in public for a long time.

Integrity is, “Who you are when nobody’s looking.”  I think our Christian walk can be defined by, “Who we are when we are around those closest to us.”   

 This has been a very good morning.  Not because I acted like a complete fool in front of my family.  Not because I have to repent before God and my family.  But simply because I am able to see how desperate I am for God, and what I need to do to allow God to change me from the inside out.