In church, but not without issues

A friend recently shared with me a report from the Man in the Mirror Christian men's organization. This group found that for every 10 men in the average American church:
* 9 have children who will leave the church
* 8 do not find their jobs satisfying
* 6 pay monthly minimum on credit card debt
* 5 have a problem with pornography
* 4 will get divorced - a decision that affects 1 million children annually
* Only 1 will have a biblical worldview**
* All 10 struggle to balance work and family

The Man in the Mirror website states four key ideas to keep in mind regarding men's ministries. They emphasize:
* The senior pastor's enthusiastic support; a committed leadership team; a strategy
* Be purpose driven rather than event driven (men want to be part of something larger than themselves).
* Be relationship based rather than task oriented (events may attract men, but it is relationships that make them stick).
* Make disciples and pray for workers (make disciples and then pray that God will lead them to the appropriate place of service).

** The Barna Group is a "visionary research and resource company" based in Ventura, California. A survey they conducted recently showed that only 9 percent of born again Christians have a biblical worldview, which the organization defined as: "...believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn his or her way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today."

For more information on this subject, see http://www.maninthemirror.org/

A day of praise and thanksgiving

For months, 5-year-old Aubrey's world has been filled with challenges quite unlike the vast majority of girls her age. Shortly after her first birthday, it was discovered that Aubrey has a rare genetic mutation called "TERT," which means her body did not create blood platelettes at normal levels. Over the years her platelette count continued to drop. Aubrey underwent tests and procedures including seven bone marrow biopsies and three blood platelette transfusions. Since July her "home" has been a room at Duke University Hospital. She, daddy Nick and mommy Jeanette have continued to walk together on a months-long journey that included medical teams, chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

From the beginning, this family's journey has been made hand-in-hand with Jesus, and on Monday, September 20, the following entry was made on Aubrey's CaringBridge journal:

Please join us for a day of praise and thanksgiving

Who: Aubrey Steen, Child of God

What: Aubrey Steen being discharged

When: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 (approximately 2 p.m.)

Where: Duke University Hospital

Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Floor

Why: By God's grace and love, and because engraftment is better than 98 percent

R.S.V.P. To God by the power of prayer

Praise be to God! On Friday, September 17, father Nick had reported that Aubrey's engraftment analysis test showed "she really got 100 percent. There were no recipient cells detected, meaning all cells found that could be analyzed were the donor's: none of Aubrey's could be found. And in this crazy, mixed up world of bone marrow transplants -- not finding any of your own DNA is a good thing. No, it's a great thing!"

The road to full recovery for this sweet child of God, and for her parents, will include daily visits to the hospital. There will be parental tasks including daily blood draws and IV infusions. Aubrey's "team" of prayer warriors, located all around the country, will continue to intercede on her behalf ... but evidence of The Healer's power is real. It is measurable. To Him be the glory! Thank you, Lord!

The street of life

It was wonderful over the weekend to have my 26-year-old son present me with a CD of several praise songs he had written and produced with new computer software. I haven't seen his song lyrics on paper, but among the lines I recall from one song were references to "the street of life" -- "I'm ready to cross the street, Jesus. I'm ready to cross the street. Hold my hand Lord."

This morning at a weekly "dads" group session we talked about the vital importance of our roles as parents ("Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6). The "street of life" reference sparks memories of fast moving, unpredictable toddlers, busy streets and the occasional need to discipline in an effort to guard against a tragic accident.

Lord willing, our children grow to be adults, at which time we will no longer be in a position to literally guard over them as they approach the "busy street." It was heartwarming to me last weekend to hear my adult son's heart, calling on God the Father to "hold his hand" even as I have been called to let him go.

I give thanks to the Father for the incredible Good News that He knows, loves and desires for ALL to receive Him and the protection He promises. He knows all, is everywhere. He is never distracted or disinterested. He is Truth. He is Love. May He continue to gift and encourage "workers" to act and speak into the lives of our children long after they have left the protection of our homes. May He provide "workers" to water and nurture the seeds of faith planted ... may He give us patience and hope as we pray for loved ones who have yet to surrender to the freedom of His grace.

Upward focus

Luke 21:28
Jesus says, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

This morning I took a walk, and low hanging clouds drew my eyes upward on several occasions. I was reminded of an inspired book I just finished reading two days ago: "A Season for All Time," by Dr. Ray Rempt.

In a chapter titled "Look Up!" Rempt wrote in part: "When we look up, we are of course looking for the return of the Lord. This means that we are not only following His command, but we are expecting that He will appear as He promised He would. We do this because we have a hope that He is coming. Think what it is like for those who have no hope."

I then recalled my morning reading in "Living on the Edge," by Pastor Chip Ingram.

In a chapter titled "Where's Your Focus?" Ingram wrote in part: "In English, the word hope primarily means wishful thinking. But the word hope, as used in the Bible, is not a reference to wishful thinking, but to an object of trust because we can know something with absolute certainty. The Scripture talks about the return of Christ as our blessed hope."

Ingram continues: "Things may be difficult and circumstances may be tough, but our hope does not change. We are forgiven children of God who are sealed by the Spirit of God and adopted into the family of God with a place reserved for us in heaven for all eternity. This is our hope! Paul says an upward focus is a mind-set whereby we live in light of eternity."

We give thanks, Father, that as your forgiven children, our hope is not of the futile, "crossed fingers" variety. We give thanks for the blessed assurance of intimate relationship with You, not only in this life before Jesus' return, but for eternity!

Change me. No, wait...

Galations 1: 10:
"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

I was convicted yesterday by a word picture our daughter shared, prefaced with the question: "Who are we trying to live for?"

She wrote: "Are we going to submit to the ways of the world, or are we going to allow Jesus to be Jesus, in and through us? We need simply to surrender all parts of ourselves to God, to allow Him to have His way in all areas."

"I found it was as if I had put up a 'Do Not Enter' sign in my heart," she continued. "I would ask God to change my heart, my 'house' -- but when He came to demolish my fleshly habits and do new construction, I would respond: 'Whoa! Where are you headed with that bulldozer?! I think I'm really pretty content with THIS junky ol' area, and I'm not really ready to give up THAT area ..."

She concluded: "What it comes down to, every moment of every day, is our choosing to say 'Yes' to the Spirit and 'No' to our flesh."

It is so true. God calls us to demolish the "old man," not because He hates us, but because He hates sin. He loves us and desires to live in relationship with ALL in a Spirit-filled, holy place. I see God's "architectural" skills evidenced throughout His magnificent creation. Am I really going to balk at the invitation to allow him to be my personal architect?

Think before speaking

From an email I received from Brother Jim recently:

"It is said that Augustine had a sign on his living room wall that read: 'He who speaks evil of an absent man or woman is not welcome at this table'."

"Try the acronym T.H.I.N.K. the next time you are deciding whether you should speak something you are thinking:

T - Is it truthful?
H - Is it helpful?
I - Is it inspiring?
N - Is it necessary?
K - Is it kind?

"Instead of speaking evil of someone, we are to '...be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another'." Ephesians 4:32

"But they don't deserve that! That may be true, but neither do you or I - yet God still forgave us. Paul concludes Ephesians 4:32 by saying, '...just as God through Christ has forgiven you'."

"Forgiven people should be forgiving people. Otherwise, we are grieving the Spirit."

His desire that ALL be saved

God is awesome - and sometimes He blesses us with extraordinary glimpses of His infinite power. It was a routine visit to the market to pick up some groceries and a deli sandwich for a brief "dinner date" at the marina. I went inside to make the purchases while my wife waited in the car. When I returned to the car she looked at me and said, "Don't start the car yet." I knew by the expression on her face that she had something very important to say.

As it turns out, my wife was blessed with a supernatural experience while I was engaged in "the routine." In the hustle and bustle of a market parking lot, with main street traffic whizzing by just beyond, she had said to herself: "It's so tragic that so many of these people don't know Jesus." God responded immediately, however, in the way only He can. He gave my wife "eyes to see" from His perspective.

My wife and sister in Christ almost whispered as she pointed to a person in a passing car and said, "God is orchestrating a way to make Himself known in his life." Another car, and a passing pedestrian: "God is wooing that person, and that person!"

"God just showed me how big He is," she continued. "He is wooing His beloved everywhere, all over the world! He knows everyone, knows about everything in their lives. His infinite power is so beautiful!"

Thank you, Lord, for revealing to me yet again that your love, your grace, is intended for all. Forgive me for my selfish tendency to be "content" in my faith, to "nest" in the assurance of life eternal with you ... while too many still remain to be drawn into the fold. Help me, Lord, to see my fellow man through your eyes, not just occasionally, but daily. Strengthen me as I struggle with the constant habit of "circling the wagons" out of fear, or laziness, even as you call me to move forward WITH YOU into "the wilderness" to share the Good News.

Matthew 11:25
Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children."

Matthew 9:37-38
"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field."