Storm stories

During my tenure in Louisiana, we endured five hurricanes in eight years. Lili, Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike. They are etched into my memories, and certain aspects of each are unforgettable. I thought that I would be retired from hurricanes when I moved to the Mid Atlantic region. I guess not.

Despite the warnings of the meteorologists, we have fared well in Charles Town, with no major damage that I am aware of. To the east and north of us, that is not the case and many folks are in bad shape. To the west and south of us, they are digging out from a foot of snow. And with early warning, reasonable precautions for preparedness, and the resources of the federal government standing by, people still endure the storm, suffer damage, and slowly recover. We just cannot escape the storm.

My time on the Gulf Coast taught me to take hurricanes seriously. Get the emergency kit ready before hand, store up some drinking water, make sure you have batteries and milk. Kim and I did those things, and when our power went out for a couple of hours on Monday night, we had no panic or stress, but rather enjoyed a candlelight dinner and quiet conversation. With the wind and the rain outside, it was almost relaxing. Because we had prepared for it.

The whole things stands as a metaphor for life. I know that it is an old cliché to describe the storms of life, but it still holds true. Families face storms of illness, financial pressure, the loss of a loved one. Marriages face the storms of disagreement, confrontation, and sometimes betrayal. Businesses face the storms of competition, technology, and uncertainty in the market. We cannot escape the storms; we cannot totally evade the difficulties and challenges that life throws our way. But we can be prepared for them, and we can certainly survive and even thrive in the midst of them.

Proverbs 6 describes the wisdom of the ant, who plans ahead to ensure that supplies are laid up and life is prepared for the lean times to come. We use the same wisdom when we go to Wal-mart early and stock up on flashlights and soup. But even more significantly, we can be mentally and emotionally prepared for the storms of life.

By building a life of integrity and a reputation of character, you are well prepared from the day that people rise up to accuse you. If you have lived with honesty in your business and personal life, those who seek to ambush you will have little ground for their attack. By building a healthy marriage of mutual trust, faithfulness, and companionship, you are well prepared from the normal temptations and difficulties that will someday come your way.

If you fail to prepare for a hurricane, you are certain to be left in dire straits. No water, no lights, no relief in sight. It is a desolate place to be. Likewise, if you fail to prepare your life for mental or emotional conflict, you can easily be ruined and stranded.

Certainly, God is always with us as we face the difficulties of life, He is our ever present help in time of need. He will not abandon nor forsake His people, and we are well confident in his protection and grace as we face conflict. No doubt, no question. But it seems to me that he has given us a number of gifts to use for our own selves, that we would be well prepared for times of trial. He has given us a brain, to think ahead. He has given us experiences that we can use to shape our judgment with. He has given us His Word, to guide our relationships and decisions. He has given us the ability to choose well for ourselves. Ought we not use these gifts for our own well being?

On the news Tuesday, a woman from Atlantic City was being interviewed. She ignored the evacuation order of the governor, remained in her home, got flooded, had no food or power, and then was furious that she had not been rescued. Seemed odd to me. But in truth, we do the same sort of things when we blame God for the consequences of our own bad choices. Better that we would choose to prepare our lives by living well and thinking ahead. Then we can rejoice and enjoy peace in the midst of all the messes.

I am shattered. Crushed. Disappointed.

One of my heroes has apparently been exposed as a fraud and a cheat. I was inspired by Lance Armstrong. His story of surviving serious cancer, and not only surviving, but recovering to compete in the most demanding sporting event ever imagined. And not only to compete, but to win, and win seven times over. He was amazing.

But maybe not. I do not know him personally, and I confess to having no knowledge of the facts of his case. I am just saddened by it all, mostly by the man-crush that I carried for so long.

Integrity matters more than victories.
Character counts more than money.
Honesty in one's own soul is better than all fame in the world.

Rainy Monday

I have Mark Knopfler on Pandora. I have Al Mohler in print. I have a headache, and it is raining. Mondays are great.

On Monday, I can reflect on the previous Sunday, consider the ups and downs of the day, the church activities, the staff and the people, but mostly I reflect on my own soul. I can look ahead to the upcoming days, plan a few things, ponder a sermon or idea or six, and get the week moving. Sometimes Monday is extremely productive. Today, it is only in the way of getting to Tuesday.

In my life, and likely in yours, some days and weeks are better than other days and weeks. The last week has been as difficult as I have had in several years. Multiple issues, multiple conflicts, some of them my own, some that I am simply a spectator for, all of them emotionally challenging. Some minor illness, a tinge of continual physical pain. Some semi-significant financial decisions. Mother's Day and my wife's birthday coming up.

In the face of a rainy Monday, and all the piles of life that are surrounding me, and my own failures and victories, I am content. I have found a peace and joy that supercedes hardship. I am loved by the God of the Universe in spite of myself. I have a few constant and reliable friends that will stick with me, encourage me, forgive me when I am less than my best. I have a wife who is incredible in so many ways. I have two dollars in my pocket, I can eat today, I will sleep in my own bed, in my own house.

I am not discouraged on a rainy Monday. In fact I am reminded that God is Good, even when I am not. Rain is necessary and vital, it causes the grass and flowers and crops to thrive, and reminds us to enjoy the sunny days. Just as stress and challenge is necessary and vital, it refines us in the heart, causes us to consider our own motives and actions, and reminds us that there will be days and weeks that are less troublesome.

Let it rain all day.

Gravity at Work

As one whose calling and vocation involve the use of words on a regular basis, you would think that snapping out a regular bog post would be among the least of my challenges. In fact, it is among the most stressful for me. Perhaps that is why I avoid and neglect it. There is so much that needs to be said,and I feel a pressing need to get it right. There is so much at stake, there is an urgency in the Gospel, and we cannot waste our efforts with trivia.

I was reminded this week, by some wonderful and gracious friends, that as a man of God, my words are loaded with meaning and intent. Because of my unique role in the community and in society, people tend to believe what I have to say and take me seriously. I have had some moments in the recent past in which I was careless about these matters, and I occasionally speak first and think about it later. I was reminded that I do not have the luxury of foolishness in my words, deeds, or actions. And for those occasions in which I neglect the seriousness and gravity of my calling, I humbly ask your forgiveness and understanding that I am merely human as well.

As a church, we ought to be developing a ministry mindset that derives around purpose and intention, with an understanding of the magnitude of what we are about. The God of all creation has spoken, the Redeemer has called to His people. He has work for us to accomplish, a mission and a obligation to go forth and live in grace and love and reveal His majesty and magnitude to a world that needs Him so desperately. We cannot afford to lose a minute, and we cannot waste our chances.

There is a scientific term called specific gravity, that has something to do with the density of matter in relation to volume. Air has a specific gravity of .0012, and lead has a specific gravity of 11.35, and that is why we understand lead to be heavier than air. In a sense, churches have a specific gravity. The matters that we deal with here are weighty and significant. As we relate the truths of God to a world that is twisted with sin and degradation, we deal with matters of eternity and life. There is gravity in God's Word and the ways we live it out and relate it those around us.

I can't speak for you, but I remember every church that I have ever set foot in, even from a child. Some of the impressions left in me by those churches have been good, some not so much. But all of them linger in my life and heart. We represent the Living Lord of the Universe in a dying world, and every action we take reflects on Him. That is heavy. We should never have just a regular Sunday, or just another worship service. Each and every time the church gathers, the presence of God is to be acknowledged and experienced. Every opportunity we have to speak to those around us is an opportunity to speak words of grace and kindness and life. We must be deliberate in our actions and words as we seek to fulfill our mission and purpose on earth. There is much at stake.

I was reminded this week of all these truths because I sometimes fall short, sometimes I am casual and careless as I interact with people I care about. And sometimes my words in conversation do not match my heart or intent. I am blessed to among gracious and forgiving people, and I thank you for the gentle corrections and accountability that you provide for me. I ask that you continue to help me to be at my best every day, so that I can be refined and purified for service in this community and Kingdom. And if we will all be aware of the gravity and emotional significance of who we are and what we do, I firmly believe that God will be honored and revealed in the life of His people.

Many Blessings to you all.

Vroooom

When does it end?

Perplexed

There are more people, everywhere, than ever before. Like 7 billion.
Developing nations have fallen in love with internal combustion.
Rain forests are diminishing and the cost of living is rising.

I am not one of those grumpy old guys that say, "What the heck is the world coming to anyway..." and I am not going to blame rock and roll, or the Illuminati, or the computers taking over. But I am a bit concerned about the future that my grandchildren may face.

There is more demand, and less supply, of food, fuel, finances, and all the other things that we think we need to survive and thrive. We have more possessions, more gizmos, more communications, more medicines, more of everything that we can count and touch and look at.

And we have less community, less freedom, less love. But those are harder to count. And I cannot sell or buy them. And no one has found a way to make money off of them. yet.

The world is a complicated place, no doubt. I don't think the politicians have the answers, even if they tell you they do. I don't think American Idol is going to save us. But we will watch anyway.

I wonder if there are still places in the world where people like you and I can experience truth, love, and hope. Where we can deal in total honesty with one another and love each other in spite of all the garbage that we wade through day in and day out. I wonder.

News from the Dungeon

So yesterday, I was doing my Sunday thing, trying to tell the world some Good News. I love doing that, I love my church, my friends, and I love to find the nuggets of truth in the Bible and relate them to the wacky world in which we live. God knows we need some good news, and I love to tell it.

So I was talking about how easy it is to blame the world, the ex, the boss, the whomever for all my problems, and what a cop-out it is, and we really need to learn how to take responsibility for our own hurts and scars and start dealing with them, and quit blaming everyone else for my mess. It is called growing up.

But then, and I planned it this way, I told some of my own horror stories, because if anyone wanted to play the blame game and bail out on taking responsibility for life, I could nominate myself. I am the poster child for dysfunctional. And except by the grace of God, I would be in jail. or rehab. or dead. So I told some of those stories to remind people that they have no excuses. If I can let go of pain, and overcome, and find peace in the soul, they can, too.

What I did not expect was this alarming feeling of being totally exposed by showing off my own scars. I would have rather been naked.

I am grateful for my church, who loves me, and lets me be who I am. You guys are awesome.