Again--the Tragedy of Senseless Violence

Once again, we have had a tragedy-filled week here in America. Lord have mercy.

We all have a certain feeling of helplessness whenever things like this occur. When I heard and read about the events in Louisiana and Minnesota, my heart sank. I felt for the families who had lost a person they loved. I felt for the police officers who respond to emergencies as a matter of course. I felt for our country as it seeks to navigate through the incredible challenges we are facing today. I felt for the many people in our nation who feel disenfranchised and under-represented in our "system" of life. I felt for all the people who have been victimized by those in authority.

Again. Lord have mercy.

And then, last night. Wow. Last night. In Dallas, Texas. My goodness. There are no words to describe the emotions we are all feeling here in the metroplex.

Peaceful protests are woven into the fabric of our nation. Historically, we have protected and blessed the rights of Americans to free speech and free expression. I certainly understand and support the right of our fellow Americans to protest injustice and express frustration. I grew up during the Civil Rights Era in Birmingham, Alabama. Trust me--I am very familiar with protests that emerge from just causes.

Unfortunately, the tragic turn in Dallas last night may affect all Americans. The acts of a handful of sinful people will have ramifications across our land today and in the days ahead. Police officers will be on edge today. Uniformed people will be on alert. And--for good reason. The overwhelming majority of police officers in this country are incredible people. I was reminded of that last night as I watched the events unfold on television. I watched courageous police officers do what police officers do--they RAN TOWARD an active shooter. They put their lives on the line to protect our community.

How many times today will police officers across the country do the very same thing? How many times will they step into a tense situation and diffuse it without event? How many Americans today will go about their business without even thinking about the acts of courage on display all around them by our police officers? Would you join me today in praying for the police officers across America today? Let's pray for their safety and their ability to intervene in the troubled places of our country today in ways that will diffuse anger and resolve conflict.

At the same time, we have to admit there are injustices in our society. People of color still face obstacles that are unfamiliar to others. People of color often are tested in ways that many of us do not understand. It is tragic. We are the land of the free ---- but there is so much work left to be done to make that freedom a reality for all Americans.

This morning in my daily Bible reading, I was reading Acts 5. I'm sure you know the passage. It begins with the judgment of Ananias and Sapphira. However, the text then goes on to recount the faithful disciples sharing Jesus with their community. They were arrested and persecuted but they continued to share the good news of Jesus.

As I have reflected this morning on all of the recent events, I have sensed the leadership of God in my own life to be more personally faithful to share the hope of Jesus with the people I encounter. I have also been impressed to do my part to help our society address injustice as I am able. I have been reminded of just how lost our society truly is.

I can't get the image out of my mind of those officers running toward the trouble. I just sense that we as believers must do the same thing. We can't shy away from the forces of evil in our world. We have got to engage injustice. We must bring the hope and love of Jesus to the broken people in our world. We are not called to be "safe" in this world. The world is too lost. The needs are too great.

We also have to run toward those who are hurting. We must stand at their side and mourn with them. We must let them know that their Father is grieving with them today. He is sickened by senseless violence and hurt. He loves them deeply and we need to be the messengers of that love.

So--I am praying for all concerned today. I am also praying for the Church of Jesus Christ today. I am praying that God will empower His people to be His messengers of love, hope, comfort, care. I am praying that we will engage our communities with the Gospel of Jesus. I am humbled by the concluding verse of Acts 5: "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah."

Lord, have mercy today on our nation. Lord, may Your church represent You well today.

A Week (or so) in the Life of This Pastor

As Ralph Kramden used to say, "How sweet it is!"

Today is Mother's Day. I find myself seated in my study at home--after a hectic day, all is quiet. In the quietness of these moments, I have been reflecting on the past 10 days or so in my life. It has been quite a whirlwind.

The week leading up to Celebration Sunday (May 1) at our church was a powerful time. I could just sense the momentum mounting as Sunday approached. Since I have been the pastor here at FBC Arlington, we have never attempted an outdoor morning worship service. And certainly -- never one like this one! It was the culmination of months of planning and praying through our Blessing the Generations Campaign.

On Wednesday of that week, I was in Fort Worth attending a ceremony as a Regent for Baylor University. That afternoon I attended a long meeting analyzing the potential renovation of our Sanctuary. That evening was somewhat usual--Wednesday evening Bible Study, a Quarterly Church Conference and two meetings afterward.

As the weekend approached--I found myself wandering over to the Levitt Pavilion to just pray over the grounds. I then had a Wedding Rehearsal in Dallas on Thursday night. On Friday night, I performed a wedding in Dallas. On Saturday morning, I was at the Levitt just observing all the setup for Sunday. I attended a prayer time that afternoon with the Worship Team, Media Team, Staff members and volunteers at the Levitt. I then headed to Ft. Worth to perform another wedding.

Sunday morning began with a good-bye to our son, Josiah and his wife, Adrienne. They left that morning for a vacation in Europe. I headed to the Levitt with a heart full of anticipation. And--I was not disappointed. It was an incredible day of worship, community, fellowship and celebration. As large as my expectations were--they were exceeded! Oh my!

I will never forget that day. It was an inspiring time at FBC Arlington. God worked among us in amazing ways. The spirit of our people was just contagious. At the end of the service, hundreds of people came forward to make commitments to our campaign. It was a moving time of prayer and sacrifice. We capped the day off with dinner on the ground courtesy of David's Barbeque. It was awesome. 

This past week has been filled with meetings. I have met with lay leaders, staff members and various combinations of the same. We have been assessing the campaign, praying for God's wisdom and celebrating the generosity of our people. After numerous meetings, we began to get a sense of further direction from God in our journey. We convened a meeting for Saturday morning with several leaders of the campaign and Master Planning Committee and the senior level staff members.

Prior to that meeting, I was able to visit with one of our church families who was preparing for a funeral. Cindy and I headed to Dallas to another funeral home to comfort Sarah Mitchell (Clint Dobson's sister) in the tragic death of her husband. We stood with the Dobson family at another casket and prayed and cried.

Saturday morning was an inspiring meeting. As leaders of FBC Arlington, we sensed God's hand on us as we reflected upon next steps in our campaign and in the overall direction of our church. We prayed and planned together. Then, I was off to Flower Mound for another wedding!

Then---today. Mother's Day. We baptized three new believers today. We had another child in our church profess her faith in Jesus today. We dedicated 11 babies to the Lord in our two morning worship services! We heard an incredible report from our the Chair of our Blessing the Generations Campaign. We have had pledges and gifts that exceed $10 million! Praise God!

So--these past 10-12 days have been jam-packed. Three weddings, two funerals, several counseling sessions, numerous meetings, two Bible Studies, two incredible mornings of worship and celebration, 3 baptisms, 11 baby dedications, multiple prayer walks, meaningful family events ----- and I managed to work in one golf tournament!

I guess the summary of it all is . . . I love being a pastor. In fact, I love being the pastor of this church at this time.

In fact . . .

How sweet it is!

The Ides of March

Thanks to William Shakespeare, this day is well-known to many. Most English Literature students are familiar with the phrase, "Beware the Ides of March." It comes from Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar. A soothsayer warned the Roman Emperor that something ominous had appeared on the horizon and this day would reveal it.

Well -- actually, Shakespeare's account was rooted in reality. Julius Caesar was actually warned by a Roman mystic that a period of darkness was in his future that would last until the Ides of March. Caesar dismissed this prophecy as faulty and continued his normal activities. In fact, according to some sources, Caesar actually passed by this soothsayer as he was walking to a meeting of the Roman Senate on March 15, 44 BC. Supposedly, Caesar remarked that the Ides had come. The soothsayer replied, "But not gone."

Turns out -- it was a fateful day for Julius Caesar. He walked into an ambush that day at the Theater of Pompey (temporary home of the Roman Senate). He actually was in attendance to let the Senate know that he was planning to postpone their meeting. After taking his seat on the Emperor's Throne, he was attacked and fatally stabbed some 23 times. Wow! Beware indeed!

And--today is a pivotal day in the election cycle in the Presidential Primaries in the US. Hopefully, none of the candidates received an Ides of March message! This has been an interesting primary season, to say the least. I have heard many folks express their anxiety about the races this year. Some have lamented that this may be the most controversial election in our history.

It will have to be incredibly controversial to win that designation! We have had some pretty interesting elections in our history as a nation. We have not had our leader stabbed by a host of Senators like ancient Rome--but we have had some doozies of elections.

For example, in 1824 John Quincy Adams was elected President of the US. However, Andrew Jackson won 99 Electoral votes and over 41% of the popular vote. Adams only won 31% of the popular vote and just 84 Electoral votes. There were four candidates who ran that year--and all from the Democratic-Republican Party. Because Jackson did not win enough of a majority of the vote, the House of Representatives had to elect the President. Henry Clay was the fourth candidate in the race and did not earn enough votes to be on the ballot in the House. However, he was the Speaker of the House and he hated Andrew Jackson!

So, what happened? Henry Clay led the charge against Andrew Jackson and convinced enough state delegations to vote for Adams. Finally, after all the deliberations, John Quincy Adams was named President, marking the only time in our history that the candidate who garnered the most votes in the Electoral College was not elected president! And--Adams promptly named Henry Clay his new Secretary of State! Talk about controversial!

Or, what about the election of 1860? Abraham Lincoln won the nomination to run for President of the US and nine states in the South refused to allow his name of the ballots! Or, what about the election of 1876 between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden? Tilden easily won the popular vote, but voter fraud in the Electoral College threw the election into the House of Representatives. Oregon turned in two ballots because of the infighting of their political parties. Finally, Tilden's supporters agreed to let Hayes become President if he would end Reconstruction in the South--even though he did not have the votes to win. He agreed and served one term as President.

Or, what about the election of 1872 when Horace Greeley tried to unseat President Grant? Greeley received 2.8 million votes which qualified him for 86 Electoral votes. Then, he died before the Electoral College met to cast their votes. This was unprecedented in US history. His Electors agreed to split their votes among other candidates. However, three of the Electors refused to change their ballots and all cast their votes for Horace Greeley. This was the only time in history that Electors cast their votes for a dead candidate!

So, this election cycle feels like it is out of control to some folks. It has been characterized by some low blows and crazy antics. I am not particularly enjoying it. After all, this is the race for President! However, I am encouraged by the fact that our nation has faced challenging elections in the past. Hopefully, we will find our way through this one!

Blessing the Generations

At our church, we are spending two months exploring Blessing the Generations. Here is an article I wrote about the six generations in our church relating to each other. I read this to the congregation on Sunday morning, January 10, 2016.

How do all of these generations relate to each other in healthy ways?

 

I’ve written this parody to just demonstrate how diverse generations can be – but also just how much we actually all have in common. We’ll see how many images, phrases and cultural jargon you recognize – and how often you are in the dark because of the limitations of your generation.

So – back to our question. How do all of these generations relate to each other in healthy ways?

That is a great question! How do we do it? In some ways, it is the $64,000 question.

There are no easy answers. Generations are just . . . well, different. Whether it is music, literature, movies, cultural iconography, tastes, preferences, clothes, hairstyles or heroes. We can just be so different.

But—generations don’t have to irritate each other all the time. We can learn from each other. We can truly relate to each other. We can live together in healthy relationships and get the best out of those relationships. Even when we don’t all recognize what is being said or why something is being done. We can give each other the benefit of the doubt. We can learn from healthy examples.

By definition, families are intergenerational. Families can create healthy dynamics where everyone benefits. I can think of numerous families that have demonstrated healthy intergenerational relationships. For example, Morticia and Gomez loved each other deeply and were able to care for Grandmama and still had time for their children, Wednesday and Pugsley. Plus, Uncle Fester and Cousin Itt were both welcomed and allowed to live in this multi-generational home.

Now, they were creepy and they’re kookey, mysterious and spookey, they’re altogether ookey --- the Addam’s family.

Ahh – why not?

Their house is a museum, when people come to see’em, they really are a scre-am --- the Addam’s family!

So, it can work. And not just on television. We can make it work.

But – we all know inter-generational intersections can be challenging. Different ideas can collide instead of merge when radically different perspectives are brought together. When people from such different backgrounds with such different worldviews are forced to interact with each other – it can be a recipe for disaster.

In fact, the differences experienced in multi/inter-generational relationships are innumerable. Sometimes when we try to sort them all out in real time in real relationships or real churches or real families, it is challenging to say the least. Emotions can run rampant, things are said and stuff can just cascade down unintentionally. It is almost like opening Fibber McGee’s closet!

There can be so many natural barriers between the generations. That doesn’t help. Differences in communication styles, language, cultural backgrounds and worldviews can result in the building of walls instead of bridges. So, when generations are trying to communicate with each other, it can be much like Abbot and Costello’s “Who’s On First?” skit.

And it can be frustrating when you are trying to share the irritation you are experiencing and there just isn’t the right Emoji that captures your feelings. 

#Idon’twanttoblessthegenerations #oldpeople #whycan’teveryonebelikeme #i’msooverit

#whoisFibberMcGeeandAbbotandCostello?

LOL SMH WITW UGBKM NBD

So, yeah, intergenerational relating is fraught with difficulty and misunderstanding. But it is worth the effort to make it successful. Intergenerational relationships will enrich your life and make you a deeper, more well-rounded person.

It’s not easy. It never has been. There have always been tensions between generations.

“Every generation wants to be the last. Every generation hates the next trend in music they can't understand. We hate to give up those reins of our culture. To find our own music playing in elevators. The ballad for our revolution, turned into background music for a television commercial. To find our generation's clothes and hair suddenly retro.” 

            -Chuck Palahniuk, Lullaby

But it is worth the effort. Learning to relate to other generations will take time and energy. In order to make it work it is important To Tell the Truth. Because actually, Truth or Consequences emerge in intergenerational relating. Sometimes telling the truth requires Survivor – like skills. In fact, sometimes you hear The Voice ringing in your heart to do or say the right thing. It requires finesse and dexterity – it can be like Dancing with the Stars.

All of us are going to develop and mature through our own generation. If you can survive The Dating Game, get past being The Bachelor you can make to The Newlyweds. Sometimes your journey may be in Jeopardy. It will require Concentration. And – if you can learn the art of compromise, and if you can survive the Family Feud you will often say to each other, Let’s Make a Deal. Who knows? You may take a spin on The Wheel of Fortune and climb the $25,000 Pyramid and you might even ask the question one day, Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

As you mature and develop, hopefully your desire to be a blessing to other generations will develop as well. I hope you will see the value of reaching across the divide and building bridges to others who see the world very differently than you. What you will discover is that we actually all have a lot in common.

We want to live meaningful lives. We want to love and be loved. We want to know the deeper things of life. We want to have fun. We want to make a difference in the world. We want to recover from hurt and failure. We want to live! We want to navigate the human experience successfully. Certainly, if we are believers, we want to Follow The Jesus Way!

The writer of Ecclesiastes is right:

Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever . . .

       What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under           the sun.

Every generation has heroes and villains. Love songs and poetry. Tag lines, memorable events, leaders and followers. Sometimes we say the very same thing in different ways. But – there is a core connection across all generations!

The Crawley family didn’t invent the desire to live in an Abbey in Downtown.

Petula Clark was singing about that in the 1960’s.

When you’re alone and life is making you lonely, you can always go . . . downtown. When you’ve got worries, all the noise and the hurries seems to help I know . . . downtown.

Or Bruno Mars puts it this way for today’s generation--- 

Uptown: Saturday night and we in the spot. Don’t believe me, just watch – Uptown.

Wait a minute – it’s not Downtown Abbey – it’s Downton Abbey.

Oh well, you get my point, right? Here are a few other insights:

Adele wasn’t the first one to call and say “Hello from the other side.”

Jim Croce did it years earlier with a little help from the operator:

Operator, could you help me place this call?

See, the number on the matchbook is old and faded.

She’s living in LA with my best old ex-friend Ray

A guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated.

#Adeleisawsome #Ican’tbelieveheknowsuptownfunkanddowntonabbey

#whatkindofnameisPetula?

And – famous love stories? Every generation has them!

Beyonce and Jay Z

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall

Brad and Angelina

Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian

Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd

Elizabeth Taylor and Conrad Hilton

Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton

Elizabeth Taylor and John Warner

We also have our own memorable phrases:

Where’s the beef?

Show me the money!

Have it your way!

It’s the real thing!

A little dab’ll do you!

Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz – Oh what a relief it is!

You’re in good hands.

What’s in your wallet?

Don’t leave home without it.

Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.

A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Can you hear me now?

Finger-lickin’ good!

It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

You can trust your car to the man who wears the star.

15 minutes can save you 15% on your car insurance.

Watch me whip, Watch me Nae Nae

And generations have their defining opening lines or scenes:

That feather landing on Forrest Gump’s shoe.

You’re about to enter another dimension. A dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. Next Stop – the Twilight Zone!

The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

SUMMARY

So, there it is. We are very different – and very much alike. Some of us come from generations where only spiders built websites and the only thing online was a fish. Others of us can’t imagine a life without downloads, a digital footprint or an Instagram account.

Sometimes it can be hard to keep up with what is current or appreciate what used to be. When Barney Rubble and Fred Flinstone told us to have “a gay old time” – that meant one thing then, something completely different now.

To my generation, the moonwalk was made famous by Neil Armstrong. To another generation, it belongs to Michael Jackson. I remember when Matt Dillon didn’t know anything about Mary – he knew about Kitty and he was a Marshall in Dodge City with a deputy named Festus.

#whatisafestus? SMH WCA

I remember when the Colts were in Baltimore and the Jazz was in New Orleans. I remember the first microwave I ever saw and the first time I learned that a telephone could work without a cord attached to the wall. I remember the first personal computer I ever owned (thank you, Kaypro) and the first car I ever had with an 8-track player built in. I remember a bar in Boston where everybody knows your name; helicopters landing delivering the wounded to Hawkeye and Trapper John. I remember when a lovely lady met a man named Brady; when Mr. Kotter was welcomed back; when the SS Minnow was lost at sea; when the Jefferson’s moved on up; when space was known as the final frontier and the Starship Enterprise could boldly go where no man has gone before.

I remember when they built a bridge over troubled waters, when a stairway was built to heaven and the night they drove ol’ Dixie down. I know that country roads can take you home, that you can’t save time in a bottle, that Monday, Monday can be all I hope it will be and that the answer is not really blowing in the wind.

In fact, hey – I’m a believer and I have learned that without Jesus, I can’t get no satisfaction.

I am happy to be alive at this point in time. I am still learning and growing. I want to learn from all of you – and I hope we all join in the blessing:

#blessingthegenerations!

A Tribute to Mark Richt

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I love college football. I have been a fan of college football my entire life. My three favorite teams are: Auburn, Baylor and whoever plays Alabama.

The earliest game I remember is the 1967 Iron Bowl. Kenny Stabler wove through the Auburn defense that evening to secure a 7-3 Alabama win. I have either attended, watched on television or listened by radio to every Iron Bowl since.(For the record: Auburn is 21-27 during that time)

I now serve on the Baylor Board of Regents. As a part of my service to the University, I am currently a member of the Athletic Committee on that Board. I have the greatest amount of respect for our Athletic Director, Ian McCaw and the rest of the Baylor Athletic program. I would put our coaches and staff up against any in the entire country. Sic 'em Bears!

With all that said, I have watched the situation at the University of Georgia unfold with great interest. I have always loved Georgia. My parents are originally from Georgia. My wife was living in Georgia when I met her. We both have lots of family in Georgia. Georgia has always been my second-favorite SEC team. Even though the Auburn-Georgia rivalry is the oldest in the South, I have always cheered for Georgia except for that game.

This past week, Georgia fired its Head Football Coach, Mark Richt. Without a doubt, Richt is one of the best men and best coaches in all of college football. He is one good football coach. His record speaks for itself. He has won 74% of his games at Georgia (4th best of all active coaches in Division 1 football). He has won the SEC East five times and has twice won the SEC Championship Georgia had not won an SEC title in 20 years prior to his arrival). His Georgia Bulldogs have played in a bowl game every year that he has served as Head Coach. He has had 72 players drafted into the NFL. He has had nine 10-win seasons -- a bowl win this year will be ten 10-win seasons.

And--he was fired.

Wow.

Richt is not just a good football coach. He is a good man. A really good man. He was a stand-out quarterback in High School in Boca Raton, Florida. He signed a football scholarship with the University of Miami with the dream of winning the Heisman Trophy and enjoying a career in the NFL. However, he was beat out at Miami by Jim Kelly (future Hall of Fame). He graduated from Miami and was not drafted. He was invited to a tryout with the Denver Broncos -- but was beat out by John Elway (future Hall of Fame). He took a year off and was invited to a tryout with the Miami Dolphins -- but was beat out by Dan Marino (future Hall of Fame).

Finally, he went into coaching. He landing a graduate assistant job at Florida State. As a grad assistant, Head Coach Bobby Bowden led Richt to faith in Jesus Christ. Mark Richt became a believer in Bowden's office. It changed his eternity and his earthly life.

He has given the rest of his life in service to Christ. He has been an unashamed, bold and gracious follower of Jesus throughout his adult life. While at Georgia, it has just been revealed that he has been paying some of his assistant coaches out of his own pocket! When a coach did not get a bowl bonus because of some stipulation, Richt paid him personally. When the university was not able to give a raise to certain coaches, Richt made up the difference with his own money. When a coach just missed an anniversary bonus because he departed to another job, Richt paid the bonus himself.

Again-- wow.

At his final meeting with the University of Georgia team this week, he was greeted with an extensive applause by his players. He is headed to coach his alma mater, the University of Miami. His Georgia players gave him the "U" greeting that is used by Miami players and fans. It was an incredible gesture of love and appreciation from his team.

Then -- one of the players sent out a tweet from Richt's final speech: "Life is about people, not rings. Rings collect dust."

This quote from a coach who has two national championship rings (Florida State Assistant) and two SEC Championship Rings (Georgia Head Coach). He has the perspective as a champion himself.

All that to say -- Mark Richt is what is good about college football. A man who is well-grounded and is very good at what he does. He is the kind of man that student athletes need in their lives. He is the kind of man who understands that there is more to life than college football. He is the kind of man who is making an eternal impact in the high-pressure world of college football. While many coaches are chasing their own dreams and often surrender to the temptation of exploiting young athletes along the way, Mark Richt has stood tall as a shining example of how to be successful in teaching young men about life as well as football.

I am just one college football fan. But Mark Richt has my utmost respect and appreciation. I wish him all the best.

A Pastoral Prayer

Dear Father,

I come before you today on behalf of a broken world. On the one hand, I am grateful for the evidences of your presence in our world. It is unmistakable and readily discernible. Certainly we see your handiwork all around us. How we marvel at the beauty of your creative genius. The stunning images recently broadcast from the International Space Station reveal a world filled with splendor and majesty. The scale of your design that extends out into our universe and beyond escapes our comprehension.

We also encounter your touch in the innocence and wonder of curious children exploring their world for the first time. We hear whispers of your voice in their laughter and in the innumerable expressions on their faces as they learn new things and invite us to join them in their daily journeys.

We are reminded of the power of love as we see it extended through real relationships across the human family. An elderly couple walking through life hand-in-hand and coming to the end of their journey with an eternity full of memories. A dedicated single mom working two jobs and gingerly pacing herself as she juggles all the responsibilities of her life – all the while relishing the benefits of self-sacrifice through the health of her children. Generous people going above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that others have the daily necessities of life. 

So – yeah – we see you hand at work in the midst of a busy, complex, broken world. Truck drivers, Traffic Cops, Carpenters, Cooks, Barristers, Brokers, Programmers, Pot-hole repairers, Engineers, Educators, Musicians, Marketers, Homemakers, Heart Surgeons, Insurance Agents and Industrialists ----- all show up at work every day and contribute to an ordered society that bears the imprint of your design that allows us to creatively express your image in our world.

And yet – I am easily reminded of the brokenness of it all. This past week, as Americans we paused to express our thanks to our veterans. These champions of liberty. These servants of a civilized society. In fact, we paused to remember Armistice Day – when the freedom of Europe was secured at the end of WW I. And yet, we know our history. We know that WW I was quickly followed by WW II and a host of other wars and conflicts that have wrought havoc across the human family.

By Friday of this past week, we were bitterly reminded of just how fragile freedom truly is. The darkness of the actions perpetrated on Paris continues to shock us today. We are stunned again by just how evil human beings can be. 

So, Lord, I ask you to bring healing to families who are hurting today once again because of the violence committed by fellow human beings. I ask you to bring comfort to those who need it.

I also ask you to bring hope where it has been lost, joy where it has been tarnished. Peace where there has been conflict. And yes, even life where there has been death.

Certainly, Lord, I ask you to provide wisdom for the leaders of our world—especially those who do not seek your counsel. I ask you to give them insight beyond their human ability and courage to implement plans that will provide for security and stability for human beings to live in an ordered society. I ask you to give our leaders the wisdom and collective will to confront the web of terror that blankets our planet.

Also, Lord, I would be remiss if I failed to admit the darkness that lies in our hearts as well. We may not be tempted to take an AK-47 and take aim against innocent human beings, however, we still struggle with our own temptations. We are often characterized by malicious actions, critical spirits and the expression of vindictive motives. We often succumb to the temptation to answer darkness with . . .  more darkness.

Help us to learn the lessons from your Word. The only answer for darkness is light. May we be forces for good as we reflect the light of the Gospel in our world. May we be harbingers of hope. Messengers of peace. Examples of transformation. May we experience your power in our own lives so that what is broken within us might be restored so that we can bear Your image in this world.

Work within us and through us so that we might truly be the people of God.

In the Name of Jesus, have mercy.

Amen.

It's Okay, Elvis - We Love You

Man. Last night’s loss to Toronto was a tough one for us die-hard Ranger fans. I was able to catch some of the game live – but had to lead my Pastor’s Bible Study so I missed the crucial parts of the game. I recorded the game and watched the fateful seventh inning when I finally arrived home after a long Wednesday at church.

Wow. A 53 minute inning. Filled with drama, to say the least. It had everything any baseball fan would want packed into 6 outs. Fans on their feet (and throwing stuff on the field – way to keep it classy, Toronto). Great pitching. Obscure rule. Great hitting. Historic home run.

And . . . errors.

In case you missed it, the Rangers made history with three errors on consecutive plays in one inning. Elvis Andrus was involved in all three but was only charged with two of them. It was epic. Awful for us – but epic, nonetheless.

I hate it for Elvis. I love Elvis (both of them!). He is one of my favorite players. He embodies all that is good in baseball. He crowds Adrian Beltre on routine fly balls in the infield. His smile is contagious. His joy on the field is unmistakable. He rubs Beltre on the head and drives him crazy.

And – Elvis can play some baseball. I have seen him just lay out on ground balls in hole and shortstop and make unbelievable throws to first base. He has barehanded more short-hop ground balls and thrown out runners than any shortstop I have ever seen. He hits well. He steals bases (including home!). He plays with abandon. I’m proud of him. I’m glad he is a Ranger!

Elvis and the rest of these Rangers have given us a great season. Most longtime Ranger fans know that our heart is often broken in April. This year – after an incredible stretch of baseball, our heart was broken in October! Wow!

And – all of our lives are full of errors. Ours just aren’t as public as Elvis’. We all make mistakes in our work, at home and in our families. We are mistake-prone people. The hope is that we learn from our mistakes and we improve for the future.

That is my hope for Elvis. Learn from it – but move on. There is a lot of baseball in his future. I’m glad I will get to see him live it out in a Ranger uniform.

But, my hope for us is that we will learn from our mistakes as well. We don’t have to be defined by our lowest moments. We can move on into a better and brighter future.

And – Go Rangers!

I Love Youth Ministers

That is right. I love Youth Ministers. They are engaged in so much "front-line" ministry today on behalf of the church.

Today, I had the privilege of preaching to about 400 or so Youth Ministers from across the state of Texas. These ministry leaders are in Arlington for the annual Texas Baptist Conclave meeting. It is a time for these folks to spend some time in worship together and in training. They are here -- networking, learning, exchanging ideas, worshiping and just getting refreshed for the tasks at hand in their significant ministry.

I was energized by the opportunity. I was also humbled as I prayed for these ministers. Youth Ministry is such a strategic part of any church's ministry offerings. Our kids are facing unprecedented challenges today. Our society has been free-wheeling for so long that millions of young people are suffering the effects. The moral fabric of our nation is tattered to say the least. Families are struggling to navigate the terrain of an American culture that often lacks basic, common sense.

I can remember when the big issues in my youth were smoking (cigarettes) and drinking. There were those who were into drugs and alternate lifestyles -- but they were on the periphery of normality. Today--our kids are dealing with such deeper issues. Questions about morality, confusion about gender, broken relationships with parents, violence, abuse, absence of role models---what else do I need to list?

What do our young people need in the midst of such a challenging climate? How can we help them?

In April of 2014, Seraphim Danckaert wrote an article for Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy entitled, "Losing our Religion: On 'Retaining' Young People in the Orthodox Church. (You can find it here at Losing Our Religion)

In this article, Danckaert references the research of the National Study of Youth and Religion. According to the research cited, there are three factors that contribute to youth maintaining their Christian faith into adulthood:

1. The young person's parents were authentic believers who demonstrated their faith in their normal, daily lives.

2. There was at least one significant adult mentor or friend who also practiced authentic Christian faith.

3. The young person had at least one significant spiritual experience prior to the age of 17.

Wow. I look at those factors -- and I can't help but think of Youth Ministers! They play such pivotal roles in the lives of our youth. They can be that adult presence. Or they can build teams of adults who can be mentors for our students. They also oversee all manner of spiritual activities that help promote opportunities for young people to have genuine spiritual experiences.

Youth Ministry has such a significant role to play in our churches. Our Youth Ministers make unique contributions to the overall life and health of our churches. So -- I will say it again -- I love Youth Ministers!

Obstacles and Opposition

What should be our response when we face obstacles? And, what if those obstacles actually turn out to be full-out opposition?

First of all, I would distinguish between the two. Obstacles are simply . . . obstacles! They stand in our path. They block our progress. Opposition is more of an active reality. Facing opposition is a bit different than just a mere obstacle.

Regardless, what do we do when we find ourselves facing an impediment to our progress or someone (thing) is actually opposing us? There are numerous examples in the Bible of God’s people facing the challenges of obstacles, impediments or opposition.

Often, the first response is fear. It can be quite natural to be afraid of an obstacle. For example, when God asked Moses to send spies into the Promised Land in Numbers 13, those men returned with a report of fear. They explored the land and it indeed was prosperous and promising. However, they acknowledged their fears of the fortified cities and the giants in the land. In fact, they summarized their report with, “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes” (Numbers 13:33).

Sometimes it is natural to just be afraid. In fact, I don’t think that bothers God too much. However, if God is leading us towards something, we have to move forward despite our fears. We cannot allow our fears to paralyze us. Unfortunately that is what happened to the spies and the entire nation. They were paralyzed and unwilling to move forward. What should they have done?

I would propose that we should re-focus our attention on God in the midst of our fears. So, when you are sensing God’s direction and you begin to move ahead—you will probably encounter some obstacles. You may be afraid at first. That is ok. But, don’t let those fears stop you from obedience. Re-focus your attention on God.

Our temptation will always be to focus on the obstacle. Our focus is to be on God. He is the object of our affection. He is the one who is calling us and leading us. So, re-focus on Him. Make sure you are listening to Him. Be assured of your understanding of His direction and wisdom.

Then, face the obstacle. Engage it. Muster up the energy and the courage—and face it! Take the steps God lays out for you. Move through your fears. Don’t let fear or the obstacle win! Forge ahead.

You don’t have to fake your way through it. Your FAITH your way through obstacles! God is an expert at empowering us to face obstacles and opposition. He will provide insight and resources in His time and according to His will. He is calling us to a deeper relationship with Him. He wants us to learn to trust Him.

Paul was in Ephesus and the Corinthian church wanted him to come to Corinth ASAP. This was a demanding church. They were always in crisis mode. Paul heard their request and turned them down! In his answer to the Corinthians, we learn a valuable lesson about obstacles and opposition. Listen to what Paul told them:

But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

-1 Corinthians 16:8-9

Did you catch it? Paul said – a door has been opened. I am walking through it. But—there is great opposition here! Paul understood that the open doors in our lives are most often characterized by the presence of opposition. He did not allow that to keep him from forging ahead in obedience to God.

So, if you are facing obstacles or opposition—don’t be surprised. And—don’t allow those obstacles to deter you from doing the will of God!

We Will Never Forget

Fourteen years have passed since the events of September 11, 2001. Our world was forever changed that day. We will never forget.

We will never forget the senseless loss of innocent lives on that day.

We will never forget the families who lost loved ones to the acts of terror that day.

We will never forget the courageous and selfless actions of countless first-responders who saved the lives of others while showing little regard for their own lives.

We will never forget the countless acts of love and mercy shown by countless numbers of people in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy.

We will never forget the character of a nation that refused to be defeated by the cowardly acts of terrorists.

We will never forget the men and women who have stepped in the path of terrorism and served honorably in our military and worked tirelessly to make our country safer.

We will never forget that freedom is a precious privilege and a great responsibility.

We will never forget that God has a remedy for terrorists and all other sinners. It is His grace made possible through the loving sacrifice of His Son. He remains our only true hope and the true Answer for what is so broken in our world.

We will never forget the darkness of that day - September 11, 2001.

We will never forget the light of the Gospel that shines forth today and brings healing to the broken, hope to the hopeless, freedom to the captives and light in the darkness.

We will never forget.

An Ode to Teachers

In the fall of 1964, I began my academic career at Barnes Kindergarten at the Wylam Armory. Ms. Barnes sponsored a private kindergarten program for the “aggressive” parents in our community—since public school didn’t offer one. In the spring of 1965, I successfully graduated!

For the next 27 years I was enrolled in school! By the time I completed my PhD at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in July of 1992, I had been in the classrooms of many teachers!

Our two children both attended public schools and graduated from college. We now have two grandsons attending public schools. And – I spent 8 years on the Adjunct Faculty of Truett Seminary at Baylor.

All that to say – I have the opportunity to interact with countless teachers across the years.

So – to all of our teachers and administrators who are launching a new academic year, I want to say . . . THANK YOU! Thank you for all you do for our children. Thank you for spending untold hours preparing for your students. Thank you for being patient with parents. Thank you for spending your own money on the extra things. Thank you for going the extra mile time and again. Thank you for showing up early and staying late. Thank you for listening. Thank you for truly loving your profession and loving our children.

As I have reflected upon my own academic journey, I can’t help but think about the many great teachers I had in my classes. As I remember it, there are two things in particular I want to say about our teachers.

First of all, teachers are purveyors of information. The good teachers I remember are the ones who really knew their subject matter. And – they knew how to share that information with us in a way that helped us learn. At the end of the day, that is what teachers do—they teach!

Good teachers are well-informed. They know their material. And they know how to share the information with students. They understand that the knowledge they possess is valuable and useful to the students. Think about it. What a privilege for a teacher who leads a child to read. Or to spell. Or to understand basic math. Think about how those skills prepare a child for a lifetime of learning.

So, thank you teachers for being students yourselves. Thank you for spending time learning a subject and taking the time to impart your knowledge to your students. You truly do impact the world every day!

Second, the great teachers in my academic journey learned the art of inspiration. The great teachers understand that they can ignite something in a child through their influence. They offer that intangible quality of inspiring students to pursue endeavors that just may be life-changing.

When I was in fourth grade, my teacher, Ms. Buford, announced that our class was going to put on the school play that year. The entire school would be in attendance. We were excited about it. However, I was not the kind of child who was always “in front” in those days. I was a very good student. Honor roll every six weeks. But I was not an “upfront” kind of person. Well, she also announced, “Dennis Wiles – you are going to play the role of Jesus!”

I met with Ms. Buford after class. I asked her to reconsider. I had never done anything like that. Surely someone else could play the lead role. But, she insisted. And I did it. It was my first time to actually be in that kind of public setting (outside of sports). It was way out of my comfort zone. But, it ignited something in me. I actually could be up front. And – well, the rest is history for me. I have spent my entire adult life “up front” as a pastor. Thank you, Ms. Buford!

So, thank you teachers for inspiring students to reach for something new. Thanks for recognizing something in us before we see it in ourselves. Thank you for igniting passions in the lives of students. Again, you are impacting the world every day as you inspire your students.

I am grateful for our teachers and administrators who show up every day and make a difference in the lives of students. May this be a great school year!

What Does God Owe Us?

He is unfathomable. He is unsearchable. He is unknowable. He is unreachable.

He is Yahweh – I AM.

He is:

El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)

El Elyon (The Most High God)

Adonai (Lord, Master)

Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)

Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)

Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)

Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)

El Olam (The Everlasting God)

Elohim (God)

Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)

Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)

Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)

He is the God of ages past. He is God today. He will be God tomorrow and forever.

He is the God of our Fathers and Mothers. He is our God. He is the God of our children and our children’s children.

He is the God Who was, Who is and Who is to come.

Before anything was, He is.

He exists out of time. Yet, He lives in time. And He is always on time.

He is always righteous. He is always pure, He is always holy, He is always glorious – and He is always right.

His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. His ways are higher than our ways.

His yes is yes. And His no is no.

He is all wise. He is all knowing. He is all powerful.

He is a consuming fire. He is the LORD the LORD. He is majestic in splendor and glorious in array. He is immense in power and eternal in presence.

His Word is true. His Word is powerful. Through His Word, He created all that is. All of creation is an expression of His will. The heavens declare His glory. He is the God of the red moon. He is the God of the blue moon. In fact, before there was a moon, He is God.

He has no beginning and no end. He is immensitas as theologians have declared – He simply is. He exists independently of anything that is.

He is never confused. Never perplexed. He is never uncertain. He is never outmatched. He remains unimpressed. He has never consulted Isaac Newton, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Steven Jobs or Bill Gates about anything! He is up to date and never goes out of date. He understands the internet, microchips, mobile collaboration, smartphones, 3-D printing, oculus rifts, robots, neuromorphic chips and the Apple Watch.

He has never had to explore outer space, wait for a photograph of Pluto or wonder if there is life on Mars and He was never waiting for the human genome to be mapped because He spoke it all into existence and all creation bears His signature!

He is the incomparable God of this universe. He sits now enthroned in eternity high and lifted up with the 24 elders worshiping Him, seraphim praising Him while angels do His bidding.

From the first to the last, He is God!

What does He owe us? Seriously? Is that really a question?

Retreat: Spiritual, Academic, Emotional

I have spent this week nestled in a Study Carrel in the Moody Library on the campus of Baylor University. I have to thank both First Baptist Church of Arlington and Baylor both for this week. I am on my annual Study Leave from FBC Arlington. This wonderful church graciously allows me a month out of the pulpit and away from my normal administrative duties to spend time studying, praying, reflecting and planning. It is a true gift each year. And - Baylor University is gracious to offer me a place to hang my hat while I am here studying. So - I am grateful, for sure.

I have spent most of the week in the quiet setting of this great library. And yet, I have been surrounded by the voices contained in the wisdom of these shelves. The great voices of the past -- Augustine, Chrysostom, Luther, Wesley, Truett, Ladd -- and many others, have all spoken to me this week. Taking time to listen and reflect on theology, ecclesiology, church history and homiletics has been productive for me. There is just something about the academic setting that contextualizes my thinking. I spent 29 years in school -- so I feel at home in a library!

Also, taking time to ponder the grand sweeping story of the Church in history offers a person some grounding and weight in the midst of a culture that seems quite weightless right now. The orthodoxy of the past seems to now be weightless in my culture today. Sound reasoning and appeals to rational thinking can both be as easily dismissed as a cable TV provider. So, I have appreciated the time to reflect upon the big picture and the meta-narrative of The Big Story.

Also, it has been a time of emotional retreat for me. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the emotional energy required to fulfill my calling. I love people. I love my people in particular. As a pastor, I am personally engaged in the lives of many people. For the past two weeks now, I have been studying at home and here in Waco -- and I have experienced an ease in the emotional pull that is so familiar to any minister who is personally connected to the people of God.

This week in particular has been a time of spiritual retreat. I am a sinner. I need God's personal attention in my life just like any other follower of Jesus. I have spent time with the Father. I have asked the Holy Spirit to nourish and refresh my soul. I have looked to Jesus as the author and prime example for my faith.

Today, I went on a long prayer walk across Baylor's campus. It was a powerful and rich time for me. God touched me on many levels. I just wanted to engage Him on somewhat "unfamiliar" territory. I have never really walked around this campus like I did today. I felt His presence and listened for His voice as I shared my concerns and burdens with Him.

I found the small chapel in the Bobo Spiritual Life Center here at Baylor. It is a small, austere room, decorated with a contemporary but simple cross. I sat in this chapel and prayed and worshiped. Meanwhile, scores of incoming freshmen at Baylor filled the outer hall of the building as their orientation to Baylor University has begun. I could hear the excitement in their voices. I was struck by the contrast of my library setting all week. I have been surrounded by the wisdom of the voices of the past all week. Today, I was blessed by hearing the voices of the future. Who knows how God is going to use this crop of young people for His glory? I found myself praying for them as I sat alone in His presence.

I will return to Arlington today. It has been a productive week. I have renewed energy for the tasks at hand. God has given me a sense of direction for next year for our church. I still have a couple of weeks left to now more fully develop the general direction I have felt led to. I have been blessed by this time here for sure. As a Regent at Baylor, I have been inspired by how I see God using this university for His Kingdom's purposes. As a Texas Baptist pastor, I have been encouraged by my sense of Baptist identity here. 

As a follower of Jesus, I have been blessed by God. I am humbled by how He pays attention to our needs. I am transformed by His grace in my life. I am blessed to be reminded of just how desperately I need Him in my everyday life. 

So - July has already been a time of retreat for me. Academically stimulating, emotionally encouraged and spiritually inspired. Thanks be to God.

A Free Church in a Free Society

For most of us who have been aware of cultural and political developments in recent years, there was little surprise in the Supreme Court ruling announced today. Personally, I was disappointed, but not surprised.

Our nation is an incredibly diverse one. Further, this nation has almost 240 years of experience in the grand experiment crafted by our Founders. This country has been an experiment in freedom. In spite of many shortcomings in our history (e.g. slavery, subjugation of women, child labor, etc.), the idea of freedom has captivated our national consciousness. Liberty is a long-held, much-treasured component of the American ideal. Often this ideal is expressed with pride when we say, "This is America!"

Seeds of liberty were sown across the spectrum in American life from the nation's inception. It took some time for the fruit to be borne both legally and socially. However, in spite of ourselves sometimes, we actually matured into a nation where institutional racism is illegal, equal rights are extended to people of all races and genders, human rights are protected and legal provisions are in place for the impoverished.

It is not--nor has it ever been--a perfect society. However, it has been a grand experiment. The impulse of freedom has penetrated urban, suburban and rural communities in historically-unprecedented fashion. Our national story is replete with untold numbers of people who have risen above their circumstances to achieve "The American Dream." In business, in political life and on the athletic fields--there have been too many inspirational stories to count. At the heart of it all is the concept of freedom. In this country we don't have to ask permission to dream. We don't have to wait on a government-assigned job. We are not subject to institutional limitations that maintain societal divisions.

So -- I would argue the experiment is working. America is a free society. People walk through their day in freedom. A typical American's day is filled with choices. Some of those choices may have a profound impact on their future. It is an amazing country that attracts millions of immigrants each year.

The other aspect of the grand experiment was to all freedom of religion. The Constitution was ratified as amended in 1789. The First Amendment guarantees the practice of religious liberty across our land. This was an unprecedented move. Our Founders were people of faith (not all of them were orthodox Christians). From the very beginning, America was to be a free society inhabited by a free church.

From a church history point of view, this proved to be an unprecedented decision. Throughout the history of Christianity there have been all kinds of relationships between Church and State. The American experiment was truly new. There was to be no persecution, no favoritism and no establishment of religion. Religious expression was to be lived out freely in the context of a free society.

So - how has that worked out?

Again, I would argue the experiment is working. It is not as clear as the State Church model. It is not as pure as the persecuted church experience. However, religion in general and Christianity in particular, has flourished in the grand American experiment.

Just as the seeds of liberty have borne the fruit of diversity in the broader American society, the resulting fruit of religious liberty is a very diverse religious family in America. It is truly the most religiously pluralistic free society on earth. Without government compulsion, but with government protection, religion has grown across America.  As already stated, Christianity in particular has truly flourished.

Today, however, we have been reminded of just how difficult it can be to live as a free church in a free society. The highest court in the land has just issued a decision that signals a major societal shift for the American culture. One of the core institutions inherited by American society from much older cultures has just be re-defined by the decision rendered by nine people.

The announcement of this decision has already given evidence of the diversity of religion in America. Christianity is not monolithic across our land. The Christian family is broadly divided across a spectrum known commonly as the right and left. Those who are more liberal in our family (the left) tend to be more embracing of a decision like this. Many of them no longer hold to the authority of the Bible in the traditional sense and thus the message they often proclaim tends to be more of a cultural echo than a prophetic voice. Those on the far right of the spectrum (fundamentalists) tend to demonstrate their anger over these types of decisions and use these times to denounce the American culture. There will be many angry voices heard across America on Sunday morning. I understand their pain and would only caution -- it is okay to get mad, rarely is it ever okay to stay mad.

However, there are many folks like me who tend to hover somewhere in the middle of that theological and religious spectrum. We are not as newsworthy, so you will hear very little from us on a day like this. Our voices are muted by the louder voices on the extremes of our family. 

On this day, I have been more reflective than reactionary. I am mulling over how to lead my particular congregation to a reasoned and Biblically-based approach to the free society around us. I am seeking wisdom from God once again as to how to embrace and love people with the love of Jesus Christ without surrendering a deep commitment to the truth He embodies. I have been driven to the Bible again for direction.

I am not given to public political opinions. I am not a politician. And--I have lived long enough to learn how fleeting political power can be. And--I have studied enough history to know how short-lived political victories can be.

I am a spiritual leader. I am a pastor. I am a follower of The Jesus Way. I am seeking God's wisdom as to how to follow faithfully and proclaim graciously the message of the Gospel in a compelling fashion that honors my belief in freedom.

I still believe in a free church in a free society. May God give us His wisdom today as to how to best be the Church for this era!

 

Murder in the Church

It is shocking. Just to have those two words in a sentence or title: Murder - Church.

We are all still reeling from the events in Charleston, South Carolina this week. A crazed young man interrupted a prayer meeting at a local church with unspeakable violence. How could this happen?

I will never forget March 3, 2011. It was a Thursday afternoon. I was home preparing for a Men's Retreat and my phone rang. One of our staff members informed me that something terrible had happened at NorthPointe Baptist Church. NorthPointe is a mission of our church and one of my seminary students, Clint Dobson, was serving as pastor there. I dropped everything and jumped in my car and headed to NorthPointe.

I drove into the parking lot at our mission and was met by a couple of staff members. Police cars were literally everywhere. A helicopter was overhead. SWAT police officers were surrounding the building. To say that it was surreal is an understatement.

Finally, the details emerged. The unspeakable had happened. At CHURCH. A young black man had entered our mission church and murdered our young, white pastor. He also had left the church secretary for dead after severely beating her. Miraculously she survived.

I remember thinking -- How could this have happened? At CHURCH? Is nothing sacred anymore?

Obviously, Clint's family, friends, church - and our church - have never been the same since that day. The violence perpetrated in that church has changed all of us.

When I heard about the shooting at Emanuel African Episcopal Methodist Church in Charleston, I couldn't help but re-live our experience just a bit. Similar emotions emerged. Similar questions surfaced. How could this have happened? At CHURCH? Is nothing sacred anymore?

This time, a crazed white man murdered several black Christians. Evidently he was motivated by his racist hatred.

When Clint was murdered, as best we know, racism was not a motivating factor. Evidently, his murderer was a young man who lived in a violence-ridden and drug-crazed environment. He needed a car, some money and a few things to sell. He killed a brilliant young pastor to satisfy his wants.

Senseless.

As I have reflected on it all for a couple of days, I have just been reminded of the darkness of evil and the impact of sin. Clint's murderer was (and is) a broken, sinful individual. We discovered at his trial that his days were marked by senseless acts of violence and drug use. He had no problem with abusing others to get whatever he wanted. He was even willing to kill another human being if that was what it took to meet his demands. He was even willing to walk in a church in broad daylight and murder a pastor at his desk working on Sunday's sermon.

This young man in Charleston seems to have nursed a racist perspective over the course of a lifetime. I have only briefly read about his propensities, but they are the product of a sinful mind encased in the evil of racism. He was willing to walk into a church prayer meeting and presumably kill the pastor and other parishioners just because they were black.

Senseless.

There are no easy answers today. There weren't any easy answers when a church was bombed in downtown Birmingham in the early 1960's. There weren't any easy answers when a crazed individual walked into a youth prayer meeting at Wedgewood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas back in 1999 and just started shooting. There were no easy answers that day in the parking lot at NorthPointe. 

In the face of such evil, we grieve. We grieve over the senseless loss of life. We grieve over the incredible darkness that can live in a human heart. We grieve over the reverberating pain felt by family members and survivors.

We also continue to turn to a loving God who grieves more deeply than we ever will. We turn to a loving Father who has promised us that love will outlast and overcome hatred. We turn to a loving God who personally visited our planet and entered into the suffering of humanity. We turn to a loving God who can and will bring comfort and peace to troubled souls. We turn to a loving God for strength to enable us to walk through our grief and loss with hope. We turn to a loving God who can enable us to continue to be beacons of light in the face of such darkness. We turn to a loving God who alone can bring about the transformation of human beings and deliver us from the darkness of evil in our own lives. We turn to a loving God who alone is the hope for a future where the light of His love will overcome the darkness of a broken world. We look forward to the new heaven and the new earth where there will be no more evil or death.

Until that day comes -- may God use us as His ambassadors to share His love and His hope in our own corner of the world. May we be able to share the love and hope of Jesus with others so that hatred, racism, violence would be overwhelmed. 

I also must say that we acknowledge that evil has penetrated the walls of our churches. Yes, there have been murders at church. But, the church itself has not been murdered. In fact, the church opens its doors for murderers, drug abusers, racists and all sinners ----- yes, the church is open for business in Arlington, Birmingham, Ft. Worth and Charleston today. The church is open and at work. The church continues to say to everyone, "Come inside. Find hope for your life. Find rest for your soul. Find answers for your questions. Find beauty in your ashes. Find healing for your pain."

May God have mercy on all of us today.

Churches and Transition (4)

Our conversation continues. Churches must learn to deal with transitions. As I have written earlier on this blog, churches are not trying to "keep up with the Jones" (or the Kardashians) -- but they must recognize the reality of change all around them.

Let me remind you of what we have already learned. Churches that are learning how to proclaim the unchanging message of the Gospel in the face of changing times have engaged themselves in the following:

1. EMBRACE YOUR ERA

2. EVALUATE YOUR AREA

Now -- let's look at a third exercise:

3. EXPLORE YOUR ARENA

Thing of your church as an arena of ministry offerings. How well do you (as a leader) understand these ministries? Why is your church engaged in them in the first place? Do they match the giftedness and identity of your church? Is the history of the church an issue? What kind of staff do you have in place? What kind of staff do you need? Who are the leaders of the church? What kind of training do you offer for your leaders?

I usually encourage new pastors to take some time to become familiar with the congregational "atmosphere" of a congregation. Before you can make strategic and substantial changes in a church, you need to understand the true makeup of the church.

Remember -- if you are new in particular -- those members have been there a while. They have a certain perspective of their church. It is an "understood" reality for many of them. The general atmosphere simply flows through the ventilation system of the church! Everyone is breathing the same air!

At one church where I served, I asked the leaders of the church to describe the church to me as if it were a person. They took their time to evaluate their response. Finally, this is what they told me: Our church is a middle-aged, balding accountant. He started his own business a few years ago and was really excited about the possibilities. The early expansion of his business exceeded his expectations and the experience was thrilling. However, in the past 15 years or so, business has flattened out and the enthusiasm has waned. He is a bit more cautious now and somewhat content with reality.

Wow! That was insightful! It helped me understand how these leaders viewed the church.

One church where I served had an air of formality about it. It was like a well-pointed dinner with nameplates at each setting. The folks at the table were well-dressed and well-mannered. It just had a "proper" feel to it. I had to learn to lead the church appropriately.

Where I serve today, our church is more like a family picnic. There are paper plates and barbecue everywhere. There is more of a festive atmosphere and everyone is welcome!

My point? You need to explore the arena of your own congregation. What are the primary gifts of the people in your place of ministry? How are you using those gifts? Who are the people in your church? Do they match the overall makeup of the community as well? How can God more effectively use the gifts of the people in ministries that serve the interests of God's Kingdom?

Take time to evaluate and assess the budget of your church. How are you spending money? What priorities are reflected through those expenditures? What does the budget communicate? What are some ways to adjust the budget? What changes might be made to bring the ministries more in line with where God is leading you?

I guess what I am after here is this -- take some time to explore who your church really is. Take your history into consideration. Talk to some long time members. Ask them to help you figure this out. Ask them how they have handled change in the past.

Once you understand the DNA of the church, you are much more equipped and prepared to lead it into the next era of ministry. 

Churches and Transition (3)

We have been discussing how churches can navigate through transition. One thing is for sure, change is inevitable. Particularly nowadays! Our culture seems to be changing at warp speed around us. Our churches are often caught off-guard with the rapid shifts in culture. Technology has certainly played a role in increasing the speed at which change occurs. 

To be clear -- just because our ministry setting seems to be in constant flux, that does not necessarily mean that churches should be trying to "keep up with the Jones'" so to speak. I am not advocating in these posts the idea that we should abandon our core convictions so that we might make the Gospel more palatable to our culture. What I AM saying -- is that we have to be willing to think critically about our church's strategy in proclaiming an unchanging message in the context of changing times.

With that said . . .

1. EMBRACE YOUR ERA

2. EVALUATE YOUR AREA

Churches that are flourishing today are churches that have taken the time to evaluate their unique area and setting for ministry and mission. So, begin with geographical considerations. Where is your church located? Is it urban, suburban or rural? What is the cultural setting around you? Why has God allowed your church to be located in that particular spot?

I realize some churches have chosen to be located in several geographical locations simultaneously. This phenomenon is known as the "multi-site" model. I am not a big proponent of this approach unless each site has its own pastor who preaches each Sunday and is incarnationally present with the people. Our church oversees about 350 different apartment churches across Arlington, but each one has its own indigenous leadership. (But this paragraph is actually for another topic -multi-site churches-and another future blog post!)

For example, our church is located adjacent to a major state university. University of Texas at Arlington has over 35,000 students. We literally share property together. In fact, it is difficult to determine when you leave its campus and join ours -- and vice versa. So, that particular location has caused us to make significant financial and ministry decisions because of our huge next-door neighbor.

What is the composition of your community? Blue collar? White collar? Ethnically diverse? Apartment complexes or homes? Socio-economic factors need to be explored. What makes these people tick? Is your community very connected to its public schools? What kind of entertainment is available in your community? Is the make-up primarily families or single adults?

What are the ministry opportunities in your community? What needs can you help to address? How can your church bless its community? Does your community need a clothes closet? A training center for adults who are changing vocations? A counseling center? An after school care program? A feeding center in the summer for children who are hungry? 

Also - look for ways to collaborate with others. What are the possibilities of cooperation and collaboration in your particular community? What kind of partnerships can you forge that will give you the chance to bless your community and be salt and light for the Gospel? Is there a local school you can adopt? Can you provide tutors for students? Can you host events for the neighborhood? Can you show drive in movies on the side of one of your buildings during the summer? Can you volunteer at sporting events or other types of entertainment in your community? How can you bless your city?

Our church is located in downtown Arlington.

We are right across the street from City Hall. A few years ago, our city asked us to consider engaging in a land swap that would allow for the construction of an outdoor concert venue that would be a great blessing to our community. We worked it out! We arrived at a deal that was beneficial to both the city and our church. We now have over 50 free concerts each year at the Levitt Pavilion that is located in our front yard! It has been a tremendous blessing for our church and for our city.

As a downtown church, we are a hosting church. We host events each week at our church because we located in the very center of Arlington. People can travel from across Arlington and conveniently arrive on our campus. Graduations, recitals, strategy meetings, Bible Study Fellowship, weddings, receptions, High School Choir performances -- we routinely host events like these all the time.

On the south side of our campus, we intersect directly with UT-Arlington. Recently the administration of the university decided to construct a new College Park Center -- which houses athletic events, music concerts and a host of other activities. In order to satisfy the parking demands of the new facility, the university asked us to consider allowing the construction of a parking garage on our campus. We would "lose" a parking lot but gain a 4-story parking garage that we can use daily and on Sundays.

We worked it out! We now have a parking garage located on our property that services our parking needs during the week and on Sunday mornings. For a downtown church, this is a huge blessing!

So - your church can evaluate your area. Find ways to partner and to minister. Hopefully, you will find favor with both God and man!