However, one of these books has so remarkably and completely captured my heart that words simply can’t begin to touch the depths of my soul with which it resonates. This book is a biography written by Eric Mataxas and titled simply Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr, Spy. In the vastness of the universe, supposedly so interconnected through the miracle that is modern technology, I have somehow managed to identify with a dead man in a manner that I’ve not connected to a living person in quite some time.

I know. That’s odd. Strange. Peculiar. Call it what you will, but it is the truth.

Here on page 121, as the Nazis have just come to power in Germany, this attentive, astute young theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, is starting to see the handwriting on the wall. Mataxas writes:

Bonhoeffer wrote . . . . ‘the outlook is really exceptionally grim.’ He felt that they were ‘standing at a tremendous turning point in world history,’ that something was about to happen. But what? In his prescient way, Bonhoeffer sensed that whatever lay ahead, the church would be threatened. He wondered if it would survive at all. ‘Then what’s the use of everyone’s theology?’ he asked. There were now an urgency and a seriousness to Bonhoeffer that had not been there before. Somehow he sensed he must warn people of what lay ahead. It was as if he could see that a mighty oak tree, in whose shade families were picnicking, and from whose branches children were swinging, was rotten inside, was about to fall down and kill them all. Others observed the change in him. For one thing, his sermons became more severe.

I certainly can’t begin to put myself in a category with someone of this exceptional character, caliber, and courage. However, there’s a change in me too . . . an urgency, a seriousness, that even though there before, has become more pronounced in light of our nation’s dismal and dangerous state of being. And the sad thing is, at least from my perspective, that no one really cares to hear the alarm.

“Just hit the snooze button,” they might as well say.

“Don’t annoy us with the facts.” “It’s all going to work out.” “How do you like my pedicure?” “When this CD matures, I’m gonna . . . .”

Enough already!

Those are the voices that play over and over in my head as I observe men and women going about their daily business with seemingly no care in the world. Denial must be a wonderful place of escape. I wouldn’t know. For some reason that only God knows, He has shaped me to care . . . to contemplate . . . to cry out in honest desperation to any who might listen. Most of all though, I cry out to Him, for I know He cares for me.

He cares for you too. And He wants you to love Him as much as He loves you!

Things are not OK on planet earth. I believe the end of all things is at hand. I don’t know if that’s weeks or months or many years away. But God is working out His purposes in all things.

Fortunately Jesus had quite a bit to say about dark days — the ones that saw Bonhoeffer exterminated, and the ones that we may well face someday:

Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:9-14, NIV)

Oh, that the church in America would rise up — but not before we fall down.

On our knees.

With humility.

In quiet desperation.

And seek His face.

And turn from our wicked ways.

We need believers in this land to stop going to church to be entertained and instead get serious about sharing His love and His message with the world  — while there’s still time. We need ministers of the gospel to cease tickling the itching ears of milk-guzzling congregations and find a new seriousness with which to feed spiritually hungry people the meat of God’s Word. Oh, that the sermons of our lives would get more severe!

Nothing lasts forever on this earth. The window of opportunity to share freely and boldly the Good News of Jesus Christ is beginning to close in our country. Like Bonhoeffer, I wonder how the church will respond to the coming persecution. Like Bonhoeffer, I struggle to comprehend how so many could turn a blind eye to evil and feel that prayer alone will be sufficient to meet the challenges that lie ahead. Like Bonhoeffer, I play host to thoughts I’d rather not consider.

It’s in these moments that the grace of Jesus Christ washes over me, reminding again and again that though we’ll lose some battles along the way, the victory ultimately belongs to Him.

To Him alone be the glory now and forever!

Despite any imperfections, my family did manage to teach me strong Judeo-Christian values, including strength of character, the importance of personal responsibility, and self-respect. Our American culture is spiraling out of control because we have been coaxed and cajoled by the media elite (who clearly didn’t have perfect families either) to believe that in order to be respected, our country must roll out the ‘welcome’ mat and be stomped on by those who simply do not share traditional American values.

Christians are increasingly under attack even in America. Atheists partner with liberal lawyers to challenge Christians’ right to pray to a God that the atheist doesn’t even believe exists. Churches are increasingly, though for the most part subtly(for the time being), pressured to not speak out on issues of moral right and wrong. In fact, the notion of ‘absolute truth’ has become nearly as offensive as a swear word, even among many believers.

Now New York City is moving ahead with plans to allow for a new Islamic mosque to be erected at Ground Zero — the very place where radical Islamic jihadists would snuff out the lives of nearly 3000 people not even ten years ago. The mayor of NYC doesn’t seem to understand what’s wrong with this picture because, after all, NYC is a place that prides itself on its colorful mosaic of diversity and multiculturalism.

Rodney King is perhaps best known for that whiny phrase, “Can’t we all get along here?”

Well, in a nutshell the answer is no — at least not if we intend to live with some measure of dignity and self-respect.

Muslims and Christians are diametrically opposed people groups. Christians pride themselves on loving God and loving each other. However, love does not equate with giving others carte blanche to do whatever makes them feel most comfortable. Several weeks ago I wrote a piece about America’s only hope — which essentially is prayer and humble repentance to a God that I feel we have forsaken as a nation. A second leg of that hope is based on the willingness of Christians in America to rise to the occasion and be a force for good — which includes fighting for our First Amendment rights.

Only in America would a religious group expect to throw up a place of worship in a location that is clearly enshrined in the hearts of millions. Especially when you consider that most Muslim people would never endorse a Christian place of worship being built in their homeland. I happen to have a number of liberal friends, with whom I frequently but respectfully disagree. However, what my liberal friends seem to not know is that jihadists are encouraged, if not expected, to erect places of worship at geographic points of conquest. And even if the peace-loving Muslims in America wouldn’t see a Ground Zero mosque as such a trophy, their hateful counterparts certainly would. Why in the world would we ever want to allow them such an in-your-face-arrogant prize?

I’m all for Christians being loving and as peaceful as possible. However, when our stalwart defense of others’ right to free speech and expression begins to result in the squelching of the same rights for us, then it’s time to change the strategy. When such rights become diminished for us as Christians, then our window of opportunity to reach the world becomes much more narrow.

The saddest thing perhaps is that most people who call themselves Christians are not really doing much even now to make an eternal difference with the message we supposedly cherish. The quest to be ‘politically correct’ in a world that clearly isn’t will ultimately reveal that Christians in America are among the stingiest of all people, effectively hoarding the Good News rather than generously proclaiming it while there is still time.

That would be not only inane; it would be utterly unconscionable — and blatantly indefensible before a holy God who gave us the most lavish gift of all, His only Son.

Father God, make us bold witnesses for You wherever we may be. May our words be supported by our actions this day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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I know . . . it’s not especially deep at first glance. But when you spend some time with it and really think it through, I think you’ll agree that it’s a question worth keeping around.

I ran across this post about mega-churches the other day, and I’ve been giving it some considerable thought. In fact, I’ve found myself asking that question: “What are you pretending not to know?”

Having served in a number of churches through the years, I can attest to the fact that young adults indeed seem to be leaving the church — or at least migrating to nearby mega-churches. Whether it’s the coffee shop, the bookstore, or the high-energy children’s programming that draws them in, many medium-sized churches are feeling that frustration and discouragement that comes from having ‘missing generations.’

I have a number of friends and ministry colleagues involved in leadership at some of the nation’s most vibrant mega-churches. These are good people with strong values and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Having grown up in the country, I’ve had my share of turns helping a stubborn old goat get its horned head out of a fence. That experience sure gives practical weight to the old adage, “The grass is always greener on the other side.”

I think that statement bears consideration by the leaders in mega-churches and — dare I say it? — regular churches.

Sure, the folks in ‘regular’ churches are aware at least on some level that:

• The quality of facilities and technology may never match that of mega-churches.
• The younger generations are drawn for some reason to the mega-church model.
• The number of specialized ministries is largely limited by the number of individuals available to staff them.

But the folks in mega-churches are, I believe, also aware of some key things:

• The anonymity factor of the mega-church model makes it more difficult to connect individuals in the life of the church.
• The self-focused consumer mindset of many mega-church attenders presents some real challenges to leaders.
• The bigger the crowd, the more difficult it is to know and respond to individuals in need of ministry.

Rather than looking with envy at another church, why not take some time to focus on the main things?

• God loved us enough to send His Son, Jesus, to die for us — that we might live!
• Regardless of church size, the individuals in them should function as a family.
• People need the love, support, prayer, accountability, and encouragement of other people.
• Our focus is not supposed to be on ourselves but on Christ — and making sure the people in our community and our world know Him too.

Sure, there are lots of things that we often pretend not to know about our specific situations. But today one thing strikes me most that perhaps we pretend not to know. That is the fact that if Satan can get us focused on other churches and their ministry models, other people and their hidden agendas, or our own selfish desires, then he’s got us right where he wants us — in a place of paralysis that prevents us from effectively ministering in our own context.

Let’s stop pretending that ‘if only’ this or ‘if only’ that, then . . . .

STOP IT!

When the trumpet of the Lord sounds, and time is called here on earth, I don’t think we’ll find God asking us why we didn’t do as well as the church down the street or the church across town. I think we’ll find God holding us accountable for doing the very best with what we had and what we knew to be true.

Perhaps more than anything else we need to stop pretending that we’re somehow responsible for the harvest and just be diligent to faithfully and joyfully sow seeds.

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My writing is a source of personal therapy for me — as well as ministry and hopefully encouragement to those who read faithfully or just happen to stop by on occasion. Your support and feedback is often expressed privately through emails or Facebook messages, which is just fine with me. However, for the past year or so a handful of persistent ‘fans’ (wow, I really hate that word in this context) have encouraged me to take this site to a different level.

Well, today I’m venturing into a new place, looking to horizons unknown — but believing that God has placed me in this role for such a time as this. As a man deeply passionate about Jesus Christ and profoundly loyal to this place called America, that God has blessed from generation to generation — I am stepping up to be part of the solution to what is wrong in our nation.

With church attendance steadily dropping across denominations, and moral decay exposing the ugly roots of deeper spiritual problems, I am going with my gut and kicking into high gear that long-held notion of mine, that one person really can make a difference. The fact of the matter is that if our country truly does want to experience the continued blessings of God, then we must as individuals fall on our faces in humility, repent of our sins, and plead for God’s hand of blessing on our nation.

As you might imagine, I have been called everything from a ‘right-wing kook’ to a ‘religious nut.’ And quite frankly, you can’t stay in ministry as long as I have if your skin is thin. The bottom line is that I care far more about my God, and far more about my country, than I care about the wide assortment of labels that may be used to characterize my actions.

As Christians, I believe the time is now to rise up and be counted. With ever-increasing rules, regulations, and laws being made in spite of our Constitution, this ‘land of the free’ is seeming less so all the time. I believe in a sovereign God who remains in control of all things and surprised by nothing. However, I also believe that with freedom comes great responsibility.

Those who would seek to destroy our great nation will achieve their goals through several key ways: (1) increasing government control and decreasing personal liberty; (2) decreasing and/or censoring news and public information; (3) weakening national security; (4) violating the separation of church and state by bowing to the gods of hedonism and political correctness; and (5) diminishing the exceptionalism that for more than 200 years has made America a beacon of light in a dark world.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to bow to those who have done nothing to deserve respect. The very future of our nation is at stake, and for the sake of my children, I will not allow her to go down without a hard-fought campaign. There’s a line in the popular Lee Greenwood song, God Bless the USA, that I’ve never really liked. It says, ” ’cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can’t take that away.”

Don’t be fooled by the emotions evoked by this patriotic selection. Yes, they can. And yes, they will take our freedom away – that is, if enough good men and women don’t band together to stop the evil that is all around us. I happen to believe that within each of us lies the potential to do great good.

Today I invite you to join me in standing up for America. The battle will be long. The mission will be treacherous. But the victory will be sweet. It will not be won through a revolution; it will be won through a spiritual revival in the hearts and lives of God’s people.

Of course, I am well aware of the risks associated with taking such a hard stand. I will face criticism from some of my friends, some of my family members — even some of the ones in my own church. There are, in fact, many people I respect a great deal who believe differently than I do. All I can tell you is that when I look at the situation in our country, I can clearly see that we are at a critical point that goes far beyond the left- and right-wing arguments from ten and twenty years ago. This is not about Democrats or Republicans or partisanship at all. This is about an all-out war on the heritage and Judeo-Christian values on which this country was built. And having weighed my options, I believe the benefits will far outweigh any risks to my reputation and my ministry.

With great respect, I ask you to join the fight for freedom today. If you’re like me, then you likely have a job, a family, and a very full plate. That being the case, you are probably not able to invest countless hours fighting for the causes you believe in. To assist you in this effort, I have set-up a very simple page on this site where you can ‘Get Involved’ and show the naysayers once and for all that one person can make a difference!

If not you, then who? If not now, then when?

Don’t settle for the passivist mentality. Don’t deny personal responsibility in the name of the sovereignty of God. Throughout Scripture, God most often answered the prayers of His people with His people. There is absolutely no reason to believe His method is any different at this point in time.

Yes, friends, it is possible to love both God and country. This is how. The time is now.

I will continue to use this site as a source of encouragement, inspiration, and insights on many different topics related to Christian life and leadership. I hope you will be a part of my ‘virtual family’ through your comments and personal thoughts. It is always a blessing to hear from readers.

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And while I personally enjoyed the distraction, I must admit that it will take more than fireworks and franks to get my mind off these colossal issues that threaten to choke the very life from our republic should a sharp and effective course correction not be made — and soon.

If you read this blog often, then you know that I am a huge advocate for personal responsibility. In contrast to the philosophies opined in the news media, pointing fingers and assigning blame is truly of little help. That’s where the church comes in.

You see, I believe that Christians have a responsibility to do something phenomenal in today’s American society — something that could radically transform the face of the Church as we know it. And yes, I understand that few facets of our economy have been so hard-hit financially as churches and non-profit organizations. When the budget gets squeezed at home, those expenses are among the first deemed ‘discretionary’ — like it or not. Just yesterday I was contacted by yet another ministry colleague whose staff position will be eliminated at the end of the year.

As a realist and a pragmatist, I struggle with optimism. I’m a pretty black-and-white kind of guy. I’m fine with calling a spade a spade, although I probably won’t waste my time trying to convince those who don’t necessarily see things my way. But here’s what I think: I believe that the church in 21st century America has the potential to transform society in ways not seen since the days of the early church, as described in the book of Acts.

As states follow the nation’s lead and assume higher and higher levels of debt, vital services will be significantly reduced, if not eliminated altogether. These services include healthcare, counseling, education, and childcare. And there are ways for the Church to step up to the plate and assume responsibility for filling in the gaps that, quite frankly, it should have been doing all along.

Somewhere along the way, the American Church began to take on the attitude of its typical parishioners. The Church began to believe that its effectiveness was largely dependent upon some of the most superficial things — like state-of-the-art facilities, larger-than-life personalities, highly specialized niche ministries, and entertainment-based programming.

In fact, I would argue that this is still the model of the local church that many so-called pastors, priests, or shepherds would esteem as the pinnacle of success.

They would be wrong. Dead wrong.

As American religious life evolved, many of the seeker-sensitive churches of the 80′s and 90′s made a very subtle, in fact, almost indiscernible transition. They moved from seeker-sensitive to consumer-driven. I suppose that once these churches reached ‘seekers,’ then those individuals continued to expect church to be all about them instead of all about Him. Consequently, the landscape of this great nation is now littered with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of churches that don’t know what to do or how to cope when the money goes away and the lights go out.

I have an idea. I think that it’s then that the Church should best be positioned to tell the world, in effect, “It’s showtime!”

It’s time to show the world that this Gospel we preach is real, is relevant, and is right here. It’s time to show the world that the message we carry is not hindered by a weakened economy — not if we’re really passionate about the message in the first place. It’s time to prove once and for all that if a few ordinary fishermen with no formal training and no budgetary funds can reach people for Christ, then so can we!

Will things improve in America? Well, I guess that all depends on how we define improvement. Do I think the economy is going to take off again and let us enjoy the perks and privileges of being a nation of plenty? No, I emphatically do not believe that. We have essentially kicked God out of our schools, our courts, and our public gatherings in order to satisfy the outcries of a few literally misguided souls. Consequently, I think that God is working out His purposes, and our comfort level is of no concern to Him whatsoever.

However, I do believe that the Church is going to see drastic improvement. I think that improvement will center around four major shifts in the life of our local churches, some of which are transitioning even now:

1. Ministry as we know it will look and feel very different than it does in many of our churches today. We will be forced to view our budget in the light of greatly limited resources. The glitz and glamour of entertainment-based programming will be replaced by ministries that meet the very real physical and spiritual needs of people who are discovering what humility really means.

2. Ministry will become increasingly community-based. In fact, many churches will have no building at all.

3. True believers will be identified only after the faux ‘Christians’ fall away. I hate to say it so bluntly, but the churches in this nation are filled with people who will be stunned and amazed to find that their pet project or ministry must take a back-seat to more hands-on and real-world ministry. The sad truth is that our churches will be better off without them, because to the faux ‘Christians,’ it was never ‘all about Him’ in the first place.

4. As God allows our nation to go through this period of change, the Church will be marked by renewed passion, sharper focus, and more intentional ministry. As a result, we will see people won to Christ because of a true spiritual hunger that for so long has been numbed by a steady diet of materialism and pride. Talk about feeding the monster!

Now please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not a prophet, a priest, or a king. These are merely my thoughts and impressions, albeit after a period of prayer and searching. I could be wrong. And I certainly wouldn’t claim to lay out a timetable for all this. Besides, God could hear and answer the prayers of His people and restore this land to a place of wealth and luxury that we could only dream of. But when I think about how He lived among us during His ministry, I don’t think of extraordinary; I think of extra ordinary.

Plain. Simple. Humble.

So, I guess the answer to our prayers is entirely dependent upon what it is we’re praying. Are you praying for God to stem the tide, protect your assets, and keep you comfortable and secure? Or are you praying for God to do whatever it takes to get people’s attention, that they might see Him and believe before it is too late?

The truth is that, according to Scripture, sooner or later everyone is going to confess Him as Lord. My job as a believer is to pray that God will do whatever it takes – and use me as He will – to make sure that as many people as possible confess, “Jesus is Lord” on this side of eternity.

When this life draws to an end, that’s the only thing that will matter anyway.

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All that said, there are lessons we can learn from reading and watching the news. I admittedly try to limit my consumption of it, since it is clinically proven as bad for our health. Still, the events of the past nine days have been eye-opening to me — and I’ve been reminded of some tough lessons in leadership that are perhaps worth sharing.

For those of you unfamiliar with the big story from the D/FW metroplex, on Father’s Day (June 20) the adult son of the brand-spanking new Dallas Police Chief, David Brown, Sr. (in that position for about two months) killed Lancaster police Officer Craig Shaw as Shaw responded to the call of a shooting at an apartment complex. (Click here to read the original story from WFAA). According to the report, “the Lancaster officer — a five-year veteran of the force and the father of two children — was answering a ‘shooting in progress’ call around 6 p.m. when there was an exchange of gunfire.”

A 37-year-old five-year officer — a husband and father of two children — was killed on Father’s Day by the son of the new Dallas Police Chief.

OK, so it’s a bad situation already. A tragic loss of life for a family. The only officer killed in the line of duty in the history of the Lancaster department. And a pretty rough start, I’d say, for the new head of DPD, who must deal with not only the loss of an area officer who was killed by his son – but also with the loss of the son himself — also killed in the incident.

Fast forward to Sunday, June 27, after a full week of a news dominated by coverage of the incident, the aftermath, and the preparations for the funeral of a police officer.

Just when you think a situation couldn’t get any worse . . . well, it does.

(Click here for that part of the story.) Essentially, in the chief’s absence, two assistant chiefs made a grave mistake by calling multiple Dallas officers to escort the funeral procession for the chief’s son, David Brown, Jr. Apparently this assignment was not made long before the officers’ primary assignment of escorting the same-day funeral procession for the Lancaster officer who was killed in the line of duty — by the Dallas chief’s son.

With profound empathy for all involved in this terrible situation, I share the view of countless others — that this decision, regardless of the reason, was not only wrong; it was also offensive to the family of Officer Shaw. I admit that being the brother of a state trooper makes me particularly sympathetic to this salt in an open wound.

Now the escort debacle doesn’t materially change the situation even one bit. Two men are dead. Two men are buried. Many friends and family members are left to pick up the pieces and somehow move on in light of the reality of their passings.

However, this awful situation highlights some key principles of leadership, among them:

1. Leaders must be prepared to lead. Crises happen every day in our lives. Situations demand quick response time. The problem is that when leaders lack the judgment to make sound decisions under pressure, then insult is added to injury and fuel to fire.
      
2. Leaders must be willing to accept responsibility. When a gaffe as big as this funeral procession fiasco happens, ownership means saying ‘I’m sorry’ — not defending the bad decision to the nth degree.
      
3. Leaders must be willing to intentionally surround themselves with other solid leaders. No individual is an island unto himself. Those who constitute a leader’s nucleus of support must be capable of stepping up to the plate and delivering effective results, consistent with the collective integrity of the organization’s members.
       
4. Leaders must be willing to learn from the lessons of life. No one could have predicted something like this. Nothing can undo the damage that has been done. No words can assuage the raw hurt. Time alone does not heal wounds; it’s what we do with the time that counts. Leaders do well to reflect on their decisions in the company of others for the purpose of identifying any clouded judgments or possible blind spots.

Situations like this take time to process. Every day many of us face challenges in leadership on a different scale, but nonetheless challenges which we must be competent to handle. When people begin to view us as incompetent, lacking confidence, or belligerent, it’s probably time to start packing the bags — because leadership demands respect, and respect demands trust. Without those two essentials, one is not really leading anyone. He’s merely taking a walk.

And not a one of us is exempt from that harsh standard of evaluation. Only by the power of Christ can we lead well through the hills and valleys of life.

There are definitely those days when I’m tempted to throw care to the wind and just vomit all over my readers. The daily news cycle presents many opportunities for me to spew venom. However, I care far too much about you to do that. (Aren’t you glad?)

This little piece of advice has relevance to much more than just blogging though. Think about it. Every thought we allow to take root in our minds . . . every word we speak . . . every action we take . . . either adds to or detracts from our own lives — and the lives of those with whom we intersect.

For believers, every word and every action is also a reflection of the love of Christ at work within us. To be honest, we all have days when we miss the mark. Since discipleship is a process, it only stands to reason that the sinful nature within us rears its ugly head, gasping for life as we are daily crucified with Him. Sometimes we think bad thoughts. Sometimes we say bad words. Sometimes we do bad things.

Let’s be honest for a minute. There’s not a one of us who does not have somone in our life who just absolutely gets on our nerves, pushes our buttons, and all but begs for us to lash out in anger and frustration. I’ve found that God often places these people in our path to provide me with opportunities to rely on His power instead of my own.

In daily living, the goal for which we should aim is not one of perfection but one of steady growth in Christ. As we grow in wisdom and knowledge of Him, those with whom we share life (and space) should see more of Jesus and less of us. Just as we do not make a long journey in a short while, we must approach the Christian walk one step at a time.

I pray that this week will present you with many opportunities to share His love and message of redemption with those around you. As one of my seminary professors once counseled his students, “If necessary, use words.”

He must increase, but I must decrease.” – John 3:30 (ESV)

It’s a daily choice. What will you choose today?

For many of us, the price of freedom has come at great cost to our families. While I have not lost any immediate family members through military service, I have worked with those who have not been so fortunate.

I have worked closely with a number of military families during times of great emotional pain and sorrow — the kind of anguish that comes when young lives are, in our estimation, cut short. I have also had the privilege of knowing people who never really had the chance to know their parents or grandparents due to the casualties of war. That is the reality for one of our church staff members. Her father died while serving in Vietnam when she was just a little girl.

This day hits me hard every year as I think about the stark ambiguities that seem to be magnified on the evening news. A day that has been specifically set aside to remember those fallen men and women is marked less by memorials and more by boating and backyard barbecues.

On this Memorial Day, I urge you to interrupt your celebration of summer long enough to give sincere thanks to God for those brave soldiers who have made it possible for us to live in the land of the free.

However you choose to spend this day, say some special prayers for those families who are daily reminded of the sacrifices of their loved ones. For them every day is a memorial day.

May we never take our freedom for granted. And may we never ever forget that its price is paid in human lives.

Within the context of Christianity, discipleship has to do with the process by which believers in Jesus Christ are transformed into His likeness. That is no small task, to be sure. Fortunately, the process of discipleship is not left entirely to us or to chance. When we cooperate with the Holy Spirit and seek to allow God to mold and shape us according to His plan, then discipleship takes place.

Discipleship is a concept not unlike that of a mirage. We have some idea what it looks like, but we’re never able to fully reach it — until we cross over from earth to eternity through that much-dreaded, much-feared bridge called death. It’s frustrating to realize that the closer we think we are to being ‘complete’ — or as they say in the South, ‘done’ — the more elusive our desired destination becomes.

That’s because humility is one evidence of the discipleship process. As such, it stands to reason that if ever we begin to think we’ve arrived, then we can be sure we haven’t!

Like the Apostle Paul, each of us has some sort of sinful thinking or behavior that serves as an all-too-familiar reminder that our journey of discipleship is not yet complete. Isn’t it interesting that we will not be completely like Christ until we are with Him?

I think that’s one of the reasons that personal time with Him through devotional reading, prayer, and meditation is so important in the life of a believer. Think of your best friend. This is a person you can share your heart with — even if it’s ugly — and still be loved and accepted. This is a person who knows your hurts, habits, and hang-ups — and still wants to be with you. This is a person who often knows what you’re thinking even before you say a word.

Of course, it didn’t start out that way, did it? Every friendship has a Day One . . . a beginning point at which somehow an introduction of sorts was made, and a relationship began to grow.

Discipleship is not just about doing good things (although those deeds may serve as evidence of your faith). Discipleship is about living a life of faith and trusting in the only One who has the power to know you even more than you know yourself.

There are many facets of discipleship — and many vehicles to help us grow in knowledge of Him. For me, the clearest evidence of discipleship is the quality and quantity of time I spend with Christ. You see, discipleship is not about rules; it’s about relationship.

I thank God today that His amazing grace clears the way for me to enter into the presence of the very One who took my sin, my shame, and my blame . . . . on my cross.

However, the reality is that most people experience real life in their relationship with their mother — a mixed bag of happy memories, sincere regrets, angry outbursts, complicated misunderstandings, periods of silence and so on.

Perhaps that’s why card shops like Hallmark, after so many years in business, still seem to struggle to produce just the right card for many well-intentioned shoppers. With Mother’s Day card categories like “Mom, You’re the Best,” “Across the Miles,” “Warm and Respectful,” “Humorous,” and “Simply Stated,” you’d think there could be just the right card somewhere in that long aisle.

However, year after year I have observed many fellow shoppers struggling to find that perfect card, and I’ve listened with interest to their under-the-breath grumbling as they frantically search for that seemingly elusive card.

“Too mushy.”

“She wasn’t religious.”

“No emotion at all in that one.”

“She’s my mother — not my wife.”

The truth is that only you can best articulate your thoughts and feelings about your Mom. And if you’re fortunate enough to still have a living mother with whom you actually communicate positively, then it is your words she wants to hear — not those of some professional card writer.

Mother’s Day is in many ways a day set aside each year to honor mothers, to shame children, to stigmatize the childless, and to provide retailers with a springtime sales bounce.

This year I hope you will mark this day however it best fits your own situation. Don’t let the movies, the commercials, the sappy stories, or even the preacher’s message dictate the way you acknowledge the day — or the way you decide not to acknowledge it.

Relationships are difficult. Life is messy. Not everyone has a reason to celebrate — or even to remember fondly.

I’m one of the lucky ones, I suppose. I plan to spend a few minutes visiting by phone with my mother, who has blessed my life in innumerable ways. I’ll treat my wife and mother of my children (along with the children themselves) to a nice Mother’s Day brunch. And if I know me well, I’ll end up feeling guilty for not being able to spend some actual time with my mom — and guilty for creating work for those moms who had to cook and serve my family. It’s true what they say: life isn’t fair.

I also plan to do a few other things on this day:

• I plan to send warm thoughts to those whose mothers have died in the last year, particularly young children.
• I will pray for those I know who want so badly to be parents but have found that dream impossible, at least to this point.
• I will offer some special prayers for those who opted to abort their ‘fetus’ — and never feel the warmth and pride of seeing that it actually was a baby human with feelings, with life, with a soul.
• I will pray especially that more of those who don’t want to be parents, for whatever reason, will be willing to give life to their child — and a treasured opportunity to those who do want to raise a child.
• I will think of those mothers whose children are risking their lives in military service that we might enjoy freedom.
• I will think of those whose mothers are behind bars.
• I will think of courageous single moms who are working multiple jobs in order to provide for their children — often without any special acknowledgement even on days like this.
• I will think of those people who are dealing with their mother’s serious physical or mental illness or chemical dependency.
• I will think of those moms of children with special needs. The ones I know demonstrate extraordinary strength and resilience in the face of persistent challenges.

If you find yourself fitting fairly snugly into one of those categories, then I pray God’s special blessings on you today. I hope you’ll feel some comfort knowing that there are millions of you in this great big world; not everybody gets to be ‘normal’ or ‘traditional.’

If you are reading this and classify yourself as one of the ‘normal’ folks for whom Mother’s Day presents no emotional ambivalence, no baggage, and no special issues, then count yourself blessed — and spend some time thinking and praying for someone who is struggling today. I have no doubt that you can think of at least one such individual.

However you choose to spend this day, I pray that you’ll be able to see the hand of God at work in your life on this second Sunday in May.