New Resolutions

Gotta get back to writing regularly. I know how my fan base is devastated by having nothing to read....... uh, yeah. right....

We travelled this holiday season to visit family in Kentucky and Tennessee. It was a journey through six states, but it was a wonderful time. It is a good thing that I have unusually good mechanic skills....

As we were prepared to leave the garage on Monday, December 22, the car wouldn't start. The battery, my wife said. No, I said, drawing on my vast knowledge of automotive detail, function, and diagnostic skills. It is the alternator. We'll jump it off, take 'er to Auto Zone, test it, and I'll prove that I'm right.

So, we finally got the car started; drove to Auto Zone and put it on the tester. Of course, I was right- the battery was nearly completely dead. So, after spending $105 which included a battery and some other odds and ends, we headed for Kentucky.

The rest of the trip was uneventful.

However; I must tell you of Jane's parents- they are the best! Jane's mom Frances is so careful to take care of all our needs- she works in the kitchen to make sure our favorite dishes are served (really that our favorite foods are served- I could not care less what dishes they are served in). She makes sure we are warm and comfortable when we sleep, and would do just about anything we ask. She is gettin on in years, but still lets us know how much she loves and misses us. Well, really she loves and misses Jane and the kids; but she's nice to me....

And Jane's father George is a beautiful man. He served during the great War, and is as patriotic and tender a person as I have ever known. George has many health issues and problems related to a motorcyle accident when he was in his 60s (go, Grandpa!) He gets around quite well with a walker and is a music lover. He also loves his children and grandkids, and after 22 years of my being married to his youngest daughter, he has developed a tolerance for me that looks alot like friendship.

Really, we are so blessed! Jane's parents are so loving and kind. And the more people I meet, the more I cherish Godly parents. We are blessed- and indeed, life is good.



I was blessed to spend some time with my sisters and their husbands as well. We had our family Christmas at my OLDER sister's home (dang these computer malfunctions) and we had a wonderful time! I cannot remember laughing that much! I long for that. We spent the next day together at our Ponderosa, 65 acres of timber and food plots with a cabin and an outhouse. We rode 4-wheelers, shot multiple caliber firearms, and reminisced about Pops, our Dad who died from that evil disease cancer on Easter Sunday of this year.

The next day, we worshipped with my younger sister and her hubby at their church, then lunch with my beautiful stepmom! God has been good to all of us- better than we deserve.

It is easy to lose sight of what is really meaningful in times of frenzied busyness and frenetic pace. In 26 years of serving churches, I have never taken more than a week of vacation at a time. However, this season, I took 2 weeks off from church. And they had worship without me; everything carried on as planned. Those two weeks were such a blessing to me- to get to visit family I haven't seen in months (some in over a year); to have the opportunity to slow down, to live a litte, to laugh a lot, and to be reunited with people and places and things that really matter.

I'd encourage you to do the same....

After all, Life is Good....

Labor Day

I love this time of year!

Mid-August is when we begin preparing for one of the greatest of all holidays- Labor Day. Millions around this great nation celebrate the national work force by- ahem- not working! And sportsmen appreciate this glorious day more than most- Labor Day is the opening day of dove season!

Ah, dove season! Where grizzled old sportsmen are reminded what poor shooters they are. Where standing half-hidden amongst the bug-infested stalks of an un-harvested row of corn in 90 degree heat for a chance to shoot at the sky where a bird was is seen as a beautiful thing. We’ll spend $25 bucks on shotgun shells, $20 on licenses, $10 bucks for entry into a hunt, $15 on snacks and drinks, all for a chance to shoot and eat a bird that weighs less than 5 ounces!

Dove hunting is a raucous social activity; that is why most hunters like it. Unlike deer hunting where you must sit motionless in total silence in a swaying treetop wearing bright orange and hope a deer gets comes close enough to shoot but not close enough to smell you. Honestly, it is no fun to dove hunt alone- a dove hunter will become distracted by thinking about what to do if a dove flies within range of his shotgun; and when it does, he usually is too slow to shoot because he was busy thinking. No, it takes a pack of people with stories to tell to keep watching the skies. While one hunter is spooning the dirt from his beanie-weenies, and another is lying about past hunts, his hunting buddies can keep watch. And when someone yells, “DOVE!” everyone jumps to their feet hoping for a chance to watch their buddies unload their shotguns into clean air and miss the bird. It resembles a bearded meerkat colony wearing clashing camo or shorts and adult beverage t-shirts.

People brag a lot at dove hunts. A lot. Some hunters will tell stories that never happened. Not that they are liars, but, lets just say their DNA will stimulate their brains to over-embellish a memory to the point that it is unrecognizable, even to others who experienced it. Like the time the doves were so thick that you could kill your limit with one well-placed shot. Or the time when the ground was littered by lead shot from so many hunters shooting so many doves. Or my personal favorite, the hunter who ran out of shells and shot a dove out of the air with his bow and arrow. He had serious DNA issues.

Some hunters like to consume vast amounts of adult beverages from tall cans while carrying loaded firearms. Let me state for the record that is a horrible and dangerous activity. However, most become so attached to those interesting cans that they forget they are hunting. They’ll spend hours in the shade on their truck tailgates talking about what good shooters they are. They’ll throw their dead soldiers in the air and show off by hitting them one out of three shots. That’s what I hear, anyway; I don’t drink and I don’t hunt with those who are drinking. My DNA stimulates an extra measure of self-preservation.

Me? I like to take those dark dove breasts, wrap them in a thin slice of bacon and grill them on the bar-b-q just a few minutes until hot and tender; crack open a big-ole’ baked potato and slather it in butter; and spoon up a few dips of baked beans. Top it off with corn on the cob and the heel of a loaf of wheat bread and you have a veritable feast of mouth-watering pleasure!

Well, that’s what I’d do if I could hit ‘em…... come Labor Day...

Life is ..... hard.....

Today I mourn the loss of a special young man. Justin Magers is a church member and friend of our church staff. Saturday Justin was killed in an auto-motorcycle accident while serving as a special language instructor in India.

Justin was driving the motorcycle when he was forced, by another vehicle, into oncoming traffic. Justin was killed instantly. A close friend of Justin's, Jon Miller, was critically injured and is at this moment fighting for his life. Jon's parents live in Cabot, Arkansas, where some of our church staff have relatives on that staff.

God's word teaches that there is a time to live, a time to die (Ecclesiastes 3). I understand that. I get the fact that we all must experience our lives until we are called home. I know there is a beginning and an end of our time here. I get it.

What I don't get is how God determines the schedule. In my extremely myopic vision, it seems to me that it is to the benefit of the Kingdom for Justin to serve in India. He had a passion for the people there, and a great love for those with whom he worked. Justin wanted to see the world come to Christ, and was willing to cross it to make it happen. Surely, God could have allowed his life and ministry to continue. Surely, Justin's guardian angel should have been able to protect him and save him. And surely, the Kingdom work done in India has been set back due to Justin's loss.

As my mind wanders through the possible purposes, I wonder if this is another event that is part of God's permissive will; not necessarily His preference, but something He allows to happen due to a set of circumstances He deems important. Maybe God allowed this to happen in order to bring attention to the lack of people willing to give it all away to serve another. Maybe this has happened to protect Justin or to prevent something even more horrible at a later time.

I cannot allow the thought that the enemy sneaks into my thought process- that God really didn't care what happened at all to Justin. That is the voice of the enemy, who thrives on sadness, grief, and frustration.

Because I am who I am and because God is Who He is, I will not know the answer to the questions surrounding the death of Justin Magers. Because of the love letter God sent to us, I do, however, know some things....

1) God is not surprised by things that happen.

2) God has a plan. And that plan offers hope and life.

3) We'll see Justin again.

As I continue to think thru the "why" of this, I'll suppose I'll have to add this to the growing list of questions I want to ask when I see Jesus, face-to-face.

My guess?

My guess is that we'll see people across the world moved and motivated by the life of one young man willing to go. People will be changed because one man said "I will go; I will follow where you lead".

Justin was willing to give up his life here in the states to serve the lost people of India. And I believe that Justin's death will somehow introduce someone to faith in Jesus Christ.

Justin would be pleased. Justin, you are the man. Blessings, my brother.

Fireproof

Last night, my sweet wife and I had the opportunity to preview a movie by Sherwood Films entitled "FireProof". Wow.

The nature of entertainment being what it is, and the varied tastes of the media consumer- even within the church- I seldom recommend a book or movie. I must, however, insist that you see this movie.

First, some background. Sherwood Films is the media arm of Sherwood Baptist Church of Albany, GA. This church is in the movie business! "FireProof" is their third feature-length film, following on the heels of "Flywheel" and the widely-acclaimed "Facing the Giants". The first two films are made up entirely of members of their church. Shot and edited by church staff members and writers Alex and Stephen Kendrick. A colossal undertaking performed with excellence and fascinating special effects from a Southern Baptist Church.... Unbelievable!

The film is about marriage; growing apart; divorce; doing the right things; reconciliation. That is it in a few words; however, the 2-hour journey from opening credits to closing song is a funny, serious look at real life between millions of couples. I laughed out loud; cried out loud, too. I think it is a fabulous look at how our Father can restore what He put together. See it.

CCR as a Ministry Tool

I am sitting at my desk in downtown Tulsa, working late, trying to catch up from last week's hectic schedule. I am listening to our Pastor's iTunes account; a little Credence Clearwater Revival is good for the soul every now and then. In moderation. I can only listen when the maintenance staff has left for the evening- even they frown upon my chicken-wing and limp-legged dancing style.

I also am wondering about the scope of ministry of the church. The big "C" Church, not our family of faith in downtown Tulsa. I confess that I don't understand all the dynamics of ministry, nor the appropriate parameters for ministry, nor the cost evolved in a lack of ministry. We focus so much time and energy on what we purport to be ministry, and I have to ask myself the same question asked at the conclusion of Jim and Casper Go to Church, where the atheist asks the minister "is this what Jesus asked you guys to do?"

I don't really care for the book or its premise. Nonetheless, I seem to be haunted by this theme in my own life and "ministry". Eric- what you are doing- is that what Jesus asked you to do?

I sit in a comfortable chair at a high-quality workstation with cool computer hardware and software, plenty of music equipment, and the freedom to use it all in ministry. And I stay very busy with it all.

As for my call, I do feel this is what Jesus would have me do right now. I use the gifts He gave, in the position I am in, to serve this church family. I get that. I'm all over that.

As for ministry... now there's the rub.

We as a church constantly evaluate ourselves in service, ministry, education, worship, fellowship, finances- you name it, we measure it. We invest resources in measuring program effectiveness, program potential, and return on investment (now that is a sore subject for another post...). However, I continue to look downtown and around town and see unchurched people. Lots of them. They play golf at courses I pass on my way home from church. They are at pools and sports fields early on Sundays so they will have their Saturdays free. And I wonder to myself, what lengths should we go to try to reach those families?

And what about the intelligentsia of the area- those who consider themselves too intellectual to consider the necessity of a Savior even a remote possibility? They can be found at any time of the day at Starbucks and Panera Bread and Barnes and Noble and other hang-outs for smart people. (I am smart enough for the drive-through,that is about it.....). Not to mention our friends and acquaintances who wear black all day long in 100-degree heat; those for whom goth has given a unique persona. Those who give no consideration to the hereafter or to a Creator who passionately wants to Love them face to face.

But in thinking through all this muddle, these two questions battle for my attention:

How far should we (as a church) go to gain the attention of the lost and unchurched?

Once we have their attention, when and where does the ministry occur?

I'd ask for your input (the three humans who read this blog) to these questions. I am not taking a poll, and will not use your answers in research. I am curious for other people's opinions.

They directly relate to my first question... Eric, is this what Jesus asked you to do?

We'll delve further into these questions in a later post. Now I need to go- "Bad Moon Rising" is next on the playlist.

Life is good!

Friendship

I have been thinking.

Specifically, I have been thinking about our friends. We are blessed to have friends all over the southern states, some in foreign places like Wisconsin and New Jersey. What has forced my delightful consideration of our friends? A few things...

One, the list of friends to contact when my Dad died. I realized there were friends who would come at the drop of a hat, with no consideration of time or distance. Those friends are a beautiful and valuable part of our lives.

Another was born from joining cyberlife on Facebook. As of this writing, I have 78 friends on Facebook, and I don't even go to it every day. However, I have found and been found by people I have not seen in 20 years, but through this social networking site, I suddenly realized the scope of our friendships over the past 22 years of our married life.

We have discovered old college friends, work acquaintances, choir members, and girlfriends (We don't dwell too much on that...). But we (I do most of the surfing) thoroughly enjoy becoming reacquainted with folks who come complete with fond and beautiful memories.

Another source of this chain of thought comes from planning my sweet wife's birthday event. This is a big milestone, and I have considered how to include friends and family from the depth and breadth of our marriage in the celebration. I began a mental list of friends I would like to include, and the problem soon made itself known. I called to mind friends from former churches; friends from college and seminary; friends from home, friends from here. As I mentally tallied the list, I thought that it must be nice to live in one place all your lives, and only have to manage a small set of life-long friends.

It didn't take long to realize what a mis-directed thought that is....

While thinking, the reality of this blessing dawned on me- the blessing of having many friends in many places. And it is a unique blessing, for I believe in every church we've served, in college and seminary, there is at least one family who would respond to our crisis in a moment's notice. As the song says, "you find out who your friends are...."

Some of our oldest (I mean people with whom we have been friends the longest) are coming to Tulsa this weekend. Our beautiful friends have been friends for 20 years now. These are the kind of friends you can vacation with, and not wear makeup. These are the friends who are friends, even when you haven't seen each other for a year- you just pick up where you left off. The McBrides are a priceless part of our friendship family, and we are better because of their friendship.

I admit that managing friendships across several states and two decades is a daunting task. However, I am discovering the joy of warm memories while counting our blessings... one friendship at a time.

Life is indeed, good.....

Life's Been Good to Me (So Far.....)

Well, ok. Now you've done it.

I hope my recent hiatus has served to offer some fresh perspectives on life in general, and writing, specifically. I hope to regain my writing momentum and offer my simple nuggets of wisdom on a more regular basis. Now that I think about it, nuggets are really just small bits of something larger. A nugget is just larger than a flake..... better to be a nugget than a flake....

Anyway..... Life is Good.

It was announced just yesterday that the world-renown recording group known as the "Eagles" will play the opening concert in our not-quite completed Bank of Oklahoma Center. That concert is in September, and I know where they will sell at least 3 seats.

My family plays their DVD from the Melbourne tour quite regularly, and quite loudly. And so, to honor the lyrics from that wonderful Joe Walsh song....

Life's Been Good to Me (So Far.....)