Sunday, October 12, 2008

rel·e·vant

rel·e·vant \ˈre-lə-vənt\ adj.
bearing upon or connected with the matter in hand; pertinent: a relevant remark.

I've now have the title for the book I want to write...Reclaiming Relevance. I'm convinced that too much of what we do as churches and worship ministries is driven by what we've done as churches and worship ministries. History and heritage are important gifts that are not to be overlooked, but I'm convinced we spend an inordinate amount of time and energy holding onto those at the expense of having a "bearing upon" or being "connected with the matter at hand." And that matter is proclaiming the glory of God and His unfathomable grace to a profoundly unaware and desperate world.

I know that the term "relevant" has gotten some bad press in certain circles, and that's OK. Relevance has served as the excuse for shallowness and lack of preparation in far too many instances. It can be used as a reason to dilute truth. In these applications, so-called "relevance" deserves the condemnation it has received.

On the other hand, scripture commands us to be "relevant" in the best and truest sense of the term. What has more "bearing upon" the foundational questions of good and evil, life and death, meaning and purpose, than the truth of God's word? This truth, of course, is unchangeable. Our delivery of it, though, must always be evaluated in terms of accuracy and effectiveness. If that evaluation reveals a need for change, we have abdicated our responsiblities as salt and light if we fail to implement it--whether it suits us or not. How dare I allow my preferences to supercede my God-ordained responsibility to present His truth in a way that it can be heard and understood by the world around me?

Anyway, my book (if I ever write it) will likely focus on the issue of relevancy particularly as it pertains to worship. It will likely cause offence to some whom I deeply admire and respect, but they will, hopefully, hear my heart even if they disagree with my approach. Who may agree or disagree, though, can't be the determining factor in whether or not I write (or what I write).

So what do you think?

Monday, September 1, 2008

More transitions...

I've long been impressed by the calm and peaceful way most elderly couples can look back at the events of the past --even hard or tumultuous times. From their vantage point, they know that the events of the past have worked themselves out and things are fine. Those who are believers can even see God's hand at work through those events.

My desire is to live NOW with that same perspective, knowing that God will, indeed, "work things out" in a way that will honor Him. Maybe it's just the phase of life we're in, but it seems like every day/week/month (choose one) brings about another very major transition: job change move oldest finishes college/leaves the country middle at college youngest off to school parents ill death of first parent empty nest. The early years of our marriage were that same way--getting married grad school full-time job first home children arrive--and God has certainly worked good out of all of it. The transitions of the last months and years have been, almost entirely, positive and exciting changes. In retrospect, about the only difference we'd have wished for would have been some of what we've seen with our parents. (Even in not being able to sell our house, we can see God's hand at work.)

Change can be exhilarating, exhausting, exciting, frightening or some combination of all the above. It's exciting to me to see what God has done in our lives over these last several months, though certain parts of it have been a bit exhausting, too (e.g. carrying loft beds, step-by-step, up to the fourth floor!). It's even more exciting to imagine what He's got in store for us in the days to come, and my imagination is really pretty limited in comparison to God's incredible creativity (to put it mildly).

So, with all due respect to what we've seen recently, here's to the future! I can't wait to see how God is going to work in our lives and the lives of those we love. Even if we'd never seen it before (and we certainly have), His word teaches His faithfulness in every situation. So bring it on--I can't wait to see what He's going to do!

Blessings...

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

So Much More

In a few hours, I'll be leaving to pick-up our middle daughter from college in Oklahoma, swing by my parents' house in MO, and then drive back here to OH. Emily's finishing her sophomore year in college already! In less than two weeks, Kim, our oldest, will be coming in from Mexico for a visit, and in just over three weeks, Mallory, our youngest, will be graduating from high school.

My wife and I have been blessed so far beyond anything we could even begin to imagine or deserve when it comes to our daughters. They are each unique, of course, but they each love God and are serving Him in the way they sense Him leading. They are beautiful, both inside and out, and they bless Brenda and I in ways they don't even realize.

What's amazing to me is that it was only about 3 1/2 weeks ago (or so it seems) that they were toddlers.......or in preschool.......or even in grade school. But here they are--our youngest about to graduate, our middle daughter half-way through college, and our oldest already a graduate and serving God in Mexico. No more than we knew about being parents when they came along, it's clear that God deserves all the credit and we are simply the beneficiaries of His goodness and grace.

Of course, that's really true in every area of our lives. Even in those situations in which He chooses to use we humans as tools to effect His will, the blessings, the results, are totally from Him. In this particular case--our girls--it just seems like He did it overnight! Whatever His timeline was, though, His blessings are magnificent beyond measure.

To God be the Glory!

Thursday, April 24, 2008

No Need, But Lots of Want

I was driving home late the other night (I'd been to Pittsburgh to see my Marlins beat the Pirates 10-4!) when I heard a song I'd heard many times before. Casting Crowns is a group that everybody in our family enjoys, and their song "In Me" is nice enough, but I'd never paid it a whole lot of attention. Until the other night, anyway.

As I was cranking the CD up to help me stay awake, two phrases of the chorus seemed to jump out at me like they never had before--

How refreshing to know You don't need me.
How amazing to find that you want me!

You know, the almighty God of the universe who created all that it and has every resource imagineable at his beck and call really doesn't need you or me. He would still be perfection itself, the ultimate completeness, even without me. Neither does He need me to accomplish His purposes in the world. He is more than capable of realizing every aspect of His perfect will without my help. As much as I long to serve Him, it is kind of refreshing to know that His will isn't dependent on my performance.

At the same time, though, it's rather disconcerting to realize that the source of so much of my identity and sense of self, serving my God, really isn't necessary for His success. It leaves me feeling a bit lost and out of touch. But, how amazing to find that you want me!

He doesn't NEED me, but He desperately WANTS me. Can you fathom that? I don't think I fully can, but what I do understand of it shows me more than I've ever realized of God's incredible character and nature. He doesn't need me, but He wants me because HE chooses to.

What an amazing God we serve!

Blessings!

Saturday, April 5, 2008

"Dying to Know You" by downhere

This song really speaks my heart. Hope you love it, too.

Old streets don't lead back where they used to
We blaze new trails to ancient places
I still love You just like I used to
But this love won't fit spreadsheets

I don't just want to hear it
I want to feel it too
It's less like I'm trying
It's more like I'm dying to know You

New day, new wave, same destination
With all this new change, lest we forget our beginnings
But I'm done with lip service
You look through the skin to the heart that drives this
Beyond trying, I'm dying for love

I'm dying to swim in Your sea
I'm dying to taste and see
I'm dying in all that I do
So come to me 'cause I can't get to You

Friday, March 14, 2008

To Spring!

This past weekend we got just over 11" of snow. It was definitely the biggest snow of the season, and it also served to set a new record for winter snowfall. We broke the record that was set just last year--so much for global warming!

At this point, we've had something over 97" of snow for the year. I've got to confess, though, it doesn't seem like we've gotten over 8 feet of snow. It's been spread out through the winter enough, and it's melted enough in between snows to keep it from being too bad. But in any case, it's more snow than I've ever seen in one winter.

The hardest part of the winter hasn't been the snow, or even the cold (we've had lots of days that started in the single digits). I've had way more than my quota of gray, though! Spring has long been my favorite season of the year, and that will be truer than ever this year. Today was supposed to be cloudy with rain. Instead, we had a beautiful day with sunshine and temps in the mid-50's!

Now that's what I'm talking about! And I'm ready for more of it, too--both weather-wise and otherwise. Here's praying that the coming changes in the seasons will reflect changes in how we see God at work. I know He's been at work right on through the dark (and snowy!) winter, but I really believe He's got other things in store that we haven't yet seen.

I'm anxious to see how God chooses to work in the weeks and months ahead, and I'm anxious to see days like today become the norm rather than the exception. Bring on the spring!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Ohio Winter



One must be properly attired (see jacket logo) to deal with the harsh Ohio winter .

Monday, February 11, 2008

"Good News" by Betsy Walker

Gettin to heaven
Not ‘cause I’m straight
Gonna live forever
Not ‘cause I believe that True Love Waits
Those things don’t save me

I know why Jesus loves me
It’s not ‘cause I pray
Yes, I am a Christian
Not because I vote the right way
That doesn’t save me

And I don’t understand why we spend so much time
With our passionate debates
And our picket signs
Cause how will they know how to change their lives
Till we hold up the answers
Instead of the crime

Jesus, He’s the lover of our soul
Only He can make us whole
He can change us
Clean us up, make us new
He’s the only way, only truth, Good news

I have found salvation
But not in the church
I have been made new, same as you
By a grace I don’t deserve

What can wash away my sin
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again
Nothing but the blood
Nothing but the blood

What can wash away my sin
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again
Nothing but the blood
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

He’s the only way
Only truth
Only way
Only truth

And I don’t understand why we spend so much time
With our passionate debates
And our picket signs
Cause how will they know how to change their lives
Till we hold up the answers
Instead of the crime

Friday, February 8, 2008

The Blessings of the Moment

I have trouble believing it's February already! Last summer and fall ran right into Christmas and now the depths of winter. I spent a week in Mexico visiting our daughter last month, and came back to 4-degree weather here, so there's no question that we're well into winter. At least it's given me a little bit of time to slow down and think. I don't know all that God's up to (do we ever?), but I continue to believe He's definitely up to something special.

He has blessed us in so very many ways. Truth be told, He's blessed us in lots of other ways, too, but we don't always recognize them. Do we still receive the blessing, then, or do we miss out on part or all of it because we fail to recognize and acknowledge the true source of it? Too often I've missed the blessing of the moment while waiting on some expected or desired "blessing" that only materialized much later (if ever).

Lord, help me to live fully in the moment (not worrying about tomorrow) and to trust You for what is to come. At the same time, help me to be faithful in carrying-out the responsibilites of caring and providing for my family that You've entrusted to me.