Indeed the first one-third of this year has been full of trials for many all over the world. From the political uprisings in the Middle East, to the earthquakes and tsunamis in various places, to the violent and deadly storms just this week, the news reads like a dramatic screenplay of Matthew 24.

In times like these I often ask the question, “How do people who have no faith in God make sense of the trials of this life?” I don’t necessarily know the answer to that question, but I do know that He has placed believers in this world to be the hands and feet of Christ to a world that very much needs to know He is real.

It’s easy in a world populated by some six billion people to have a diminished sense of responsibility. How often have you thought — or even said — to yourself, “Someone else will do it?” Friends, what if we are that someone? Now is not the time to roll over and say, “Woe is me.” Now is the time to stand up to the challenges at hand, with full confidence and faith in Christ that He will work through us to help usher in His Kingdom on earth.

In his book Missional Small Groups, author M. Scott Boren writes:

I find it interesting that Jesus told His disciples, “You are salt, . . . light . . . a city on a hill.” He did not say, “You should be . . . ,” “You would be if . . . ,” or “You could be if . . . .” He declared who they were and equipped them to live in a way that fit this declaration.

Jesus never promised His followers that this life would be easy; quite the contrary. His words in John 16:33 are clear: “In the world you will have tribulation.” Thankfully He doesn’t stop there. “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” He will walk with us through the storms of life, and that brings me great comfort.

I also love this reminder from Psalm 46:1-3:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. (ESV)

No matter what happens in this world, we can be assured that God is still fully in control.

Whatever trial or trouble you may be facing today, know that if you belong to Christ, then you need not worry about the things of this life because we have the promise of ultimate victory in Him. Just know that the trials we face often provide us with a context in which to connect others to the redemptive message of the Gospel. Let’s be diligent to not squander such opportunities.

I’m mindful today of the words of this familiar chorus:

People need the Lord. People need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams, He’s the open door.
People need the Lord. People need the Lord.
When will we realize that we must give our lives,
For people need the Lord.

(Phillip J. McHugh & Greg Nelson, 1983)

I’ve always been a real fan of fall. I love the colors and the transition from hot temperatures to cooler, more bearable weather. However, the older I get, the more I love springtime. Having grown up in the deep South, the return of spring was hailed by frolicking wildlife seemingly celebrating the end of the hunker-down season. I remember watching squirrels at play, almost overnight shedding their poofy winter coats for something a little more tailored. The red robins do a similar change of wardrobe that I’ve always found fascinating.

Having returned to the real South from Texas (which I dearly love) nearly two years ago, I’ve again fallen in love with the sights and sounds of spring. Just in the past few weeks, the hills of Arkansas have come alive with flowering trees and shrubs, beautifully brilliant daffodils and tulips (my wife’s favorite), and mysteriously majestic dogwood trees, all of which announce the end of winter. I absolutely love my backyard because of the dogwood that for a period of just a couple weeks transforms the landscape with its bright white blossoms.

Not everything is so cheery in life. If you’re anything like me, you’ve largely given up on finding any good news on TV. In fact, too much time with that can make me quite depressed. I’ve found though that while man is destined to disappoint, God is faithful to do just what He says He will do. Just as his eye is on the sparrow, we can be assured that He is watching over His children. My recent visit to Israel was filled with so many amazing sights. I think my personal favorites were the lilies of the field (seen at left). Jesus himself said that “even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Matt. 6:29, ESV) As you can see, judging from this photo, who could argue that?

In a world filled with so much hurt, pain, sickness, calamity, brokenness, grief, and loss, it helps me to look around and again “taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8, ESV). When you feel all alone and begin to  think all hope is lost, lift up your head and cast your eyes on the evidence of our Creator — and know that He cares for you. If you’re reading this and don’t know what it’s like to have peace in the midst of the storm, I encourage you to contact me, and let me help you discover new life today. Whatever you may be going through, God can give you just what you need to persevere.

IT’S YOUR TURN!
What is your favorite thing about spring? How do you stay focused on good in a world full of evil?

I have counseled countless individuals through the years who have suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of friends and family members — people they should have been able to trust. While Christ’s example of forgiveness establishes the pattern for our own lives, there are many things that are quite outside the realm of our influence and control. Chief among them is the fact that while God is able to forget as far as east is from west, He has designed our brains to remember. And that design is partly for our own protection. Another factor beyond our control is the capacity to somehow undo damage that has been done.

I submit that it is entirely possible to forgive someone (that is, to set the offense aside and hold them responsible no more) without restoring the relationship to its prior level of trust and intimacy. Forgiveness, after all, is really not about the other person; it’s about the one who was offended. It is ultimately a gift we give ourselves — the freedom to move on in light of the new reality of life with a scar of some sort to help us remember the risks associated with human relationships.

I would go a step further and say that there are certain situations in which forgiveness and relationship restoration are simply incompatible goals. As parents, for example, we are charged with the safety and protection of our children — physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Some offenses cut so deep that any fantasy of a three-strike rule for the offender must be immediately abandoned. To do anything else would be foolish, stupid, and wholly irresponsible.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Many offenders are masters of deception, smooth talkers, and incredible manipulators of truth. They will say and do absolutely anything to again exert their power and convince others that any natural consequences of their sin are unfair, unjust, and unwarranted.

I wish more than anything that these things were not true. I wish that the building blocks of life, once broken, could always be used to restore every relationship to its highest level of previous functioning. The truth is that fairy-tale endings are reserved for the movies, where a team of highly skilled writers, producers, and actors work together for hours on end to achieve an optimal outcome. The problem is that no relationship is perfect. No person is without sin. And no offense is too great to receive forgiveness.

Scripture says that so far as it depends on us, we are to be at peace with others. Sadly, that sometimes means forgiveness without restoration or reconciliation . . . a far cry from that fairy-tale ending our hearts yearn to experience and our souls long to see.

Forgiveness for most is a process, not a one-time action. With practice we hopefully learn to do it better with time. In the meantime we must accept its limitations just as we accept its liberty to move on.

Interact with Us!
What are your thoughts on forgiveness? Have you ever experienced a situation in which relationship restoration was not possible?

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.

The other night I joined my kids for a game of Hide-n-Seek. While they counted to 20, I quickly positioned myself behind a chair in our family room. However, it wasn’t until I got back there that I realized the space really wasn’t large enough. So I contorted my body into a perpetual crunch, bending my feet upward at the ankles so as to remain hidden from sight.

And I waited.

And I waited.

And I waited.

For nearly fifteen minutes I waited, listening impatiently to the pitter-patter of little feet up and down the stairs! There were a couple of times when my physical pain was nearly unbearable, and in those times I found myself struggling not to snicker audibly at the mere thought of my predicament. Finally my three-year-old daughter crawled up in the chair and looked over the edge of the back. I can honestly say I’ve never been so glad to be found in all my life!

Needless to say, that spot can never be used again . . . not that I would!

In reflecting on this experience, I began to wonder about the lengths people go to in order to hide from people in life — not physically but emotionally and spiritually.

Think about it. We all tend to show people just what we think they want to see — or what we’re comfortable with them seeing. When it comes to some of our deeper struggles, especially those laden with guilt and shame, we resort to the same skill set that Adam and Eve used in the Garden of Eden: hiding.

We hide behind smiles. We hide behind silence. We hide behind stories and work and food and shopping and sex. The list of options are truly endless.

But just like that over-sized kid hiding behind a chair, what we crave more than anything is actually to be found . . . to be accepted . . . to be loved.

You know, hiding didn’t work for Adam and Eve. And it won’t work for us either — at least not forever. God sees everything. He knows our name. He formed our heart. There’s nothing in the world that will keep Him from loving you.

As you go through your day today, make note of when you find yourself trying to hide from others. Sooner or later the pain of hiding will likely begin to exceed your fear of being found.

Scripture tells us that Christ alone is our hiding place. He’s the One who fully understands every need, every struggle, every burden. But sometimes we need others to be His hands and feet to demonstrate that love in physical ways.

If you are spending your time and energy hiding out, take action to break that pattern. Even if you’ve been disappointed in others, you can begin re-building relationships of security and trust right where you are today.

After all, it gets awfully lonesome behind that chair. And sooner or later, you’ll have to go potty.

IT’S YOUR TURN!

• Do you have a ‘big chair’ experience?
• What one thing most keeps you from being real with others?

However, questions linger and are actually being fueled today by the family’s Thursday night appearance on Larry King Live, in which the previously missing six-year-old said, “We did this for the show.” (Story here.)

I just bet they did.

I said yesterday that I would withhold judgment for a bit. Well, I have some thoughts that transcend the whole balloon incident.

First of all, it would seem to me that these children are being raised in an extremely laissez-faire environment. Why in the world would these kids be playing on the roof with a video camera? And yes, apparently both mom and dad were home at the time, so supervision theoretically should have been going on.

Secondly, I stand by my original statement that these parents (or at least the dad) indicate a huge need for attention that goes far beyond any normal limits. And I simply detest it when people even remotely appear to exploit their children to fulfill that attention need. Jon and Kate are another example of reality shows gone very bad. I suppose that’s why I very rarely tune in to such programming. The skeptic in me is always at work.

Thirdly, I’m all for adventure. And clearly this father is adventurous. With his incredible attraction to science and fascination for exploring extraterrestrial life, he seems quite the character. Add to that this interest in making homemade helium balloons, and . . . well, let’s just say it would seem that his sense of daring and adventure has  overtaken any reasonable level of common sense.

The fact of the matter is that we’ll probably never know for sure what the real situation was. Did the parents really believe the small child was in the balloon? If so, then why did we hear nothing about a detached basket until after the thing crash-landed? I mean, with the whole world watching on live TV, it was pretty clear that there was no basket for the 90 some-odd minutes that I watched.

I guess that on the bright side, this kid will have a great story to write when his teacher assigns the “What’s the Most Exciting Thing That’s Ever Happened to You?” essay.

Never mind. I’m wrong about that. Who wants to read about someone hiding in a box in the attic for four hours?

I guess the dad will just have to keep trying. After all, with a name like Falcon, this kid of his was apparently born to fly.

Better yet, family therapy and parenting classes. Now there’s an idea worth pursuing.

This family was apparently featured on the ABC reality show “Wife Swap.” I don’t know about you, but that just screams “attention need” to me. Add to that the father’s seeming proclivity for keeping himself in the public spotlight via iReports on CNN, and you have a wonderfully tasty recipe for skepticism to develop.

The news reports are all over the place, in terms of where the family members were — and what they were doing — in the moments just before the balloon allegedly “broke loose.”

I have a lot more that I could say about this situation that has captured the attention of millions, interrupted air traffic, and stirred fear in the hearts of parents and grandparents all over the world.

But I’ll reserve judgment. For now.

And hope that I’m very wrong about what I’m thinking and feeling at present. Time will tell.

I’ve always loved that particular song from my childhood. And its message is just as true today as it was then. God is still working on me . . . shaping me . . . sanding me . . . doing whatever is necesary to conform me to the image of His Son.

I’ll be the first to admit that the work God is doing isn’t always comfortable. In fact, it can be quite painful at times. But when I put aside my pride, my fears, and my natural tendency to fight against Him, I can see the intricate detail of the Master Craftsman beginning to expose the radiance of the Son.

Just for a moment. Just for a fleeting second. Just for the length of time it takes one grain of sand to pass through the hourglass.

But that one moment is just enough to persuade me to cooperate with the One who so desperately wants to transform me into that ‘new creation’ Paul wrote about in Scripture.

And for that one moment, faith takes flight . . . cares are quieted . . . and I can see just enough light for each step in the journey.

I’m so grateful to have a Heavenly Father who cares enough to handcraft me . . . to discipline me . . . and to remind me on a moment-by-moment basis that He loves me with a love that won’t let go.

I just returned from a couple days away with our church staff, where we spent time thinking, dreaming, praying, and planning together. And I must say that our retreat was time well spent.

There are several new faces on our team, and we’re definitely in the process of building relationships. In fact, of the eight members of our pastoral staff, five of us arrived just this year. And while we may be new working together, we’re definitely not new to the Christian life. We are a diverse group, in terms of talents, passions, and abilities, and our differences seem to complement each other well.

I’ve worked with a number of teams throughout my years in ministry. I’ve experienced good teamwork, and I’ve experienced poor teamwork. But I’ve never worked with a group of people for whom I have more respect or higher hopes. I believe that God has brought together a team of people for such a time as this, and I’m truly humbled to be a part of what He’s doing in and through us to impact our church, our community, and our culture.

Our time of retreat was both informative and fun. We learned a lot, but we also laughed a lot. And any seasoned minister will readily admit that sometimes it’s your sense of humor that gets you through a day!

I’m still learning so much as a minister, and I pray that will always be the case. Here are a few of the things of which I’m being constantly reminded:

• Little things can make a huge difference.
• Clear and consistent communication is key.
• Attitude is contagious.
• I’ll never please all the people all the time, and God knows that.
• Intentionality is essential to progress.
• Trust is vital for relationship health.
• The big Kingdom always takes precedence over little kingdoms.

Over the next several weeks, I plan to expand on each of these concepts in this space. As always, I look forward to your thoughts.

For now, I want to thank you for your kind inquiries as to my status during this time of blog silence. I also ask for your prayers as I seek to give God my very best. After all, He deserves nothing less!

Of all the things I’m learning, I must say that one of the most important is that I must be intentional about taking time for the things that matter most. And my relationship with Christ is the most important of all.

Psalm 46:10 says:

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”

Perhaps you need to take a little time out from the routine to be still and know that He is God. You won’t be disappointed.

And remember, with God all things are possible. Put another way, with God the possibilities are absolutely endless! What possibilities are on the horizon for you this week? 

Now those of you who know me well can attest that I’m something of a sap anyway. For example, tonight was sad because my family ate at our favorite pizza joint for the last time. I know, I know. . .they have good pizza in Arkansas too. But I’ve spent over a year building relationships with these people. And saying goodbye is always hard.

I think about pushing my sweet daughter on the swing in our neighborhood park for the last time. It’s coming! But, you know what? It comes for all of us, doesn’t it?

I think about the transformation of my son from a scared and timid bike rider to a real pro — something that took place right here in our neighborhood during the past few years.

Texas has been good to me, and when I leave, part of my heart will remain — not because of the place but because of the people and the life lessons I’ve learned here.

I guess I could reminisce at length, but you probably wouldn’t be interested in reading that.

I came to Texas in 1995 to begin my Seminary training. Now some fourteen years later, I stand in awe of how God has worked in my life — not only to make me the person He wants me to be, but also to give me some truly indescribable gifts:

• I’m grateful for my wife. She loves, adores, and encourages me. She completes me like no one else ever could. She believes in me at those times when I struggle to believe in myself. I’m also grateful for her family, who has shown her what it means to love — and who have loved me as their own son.
• I’m grateful for two incredible kiddos who are Texans by birth — and by accent. They teach me more than anything else in the world ever could. And they challenge me daily to live a life of integrity — because they watch every little thing I do — and say.
• I’m grateful for the countless friends who I”ve made along life’s path. . .for times of joy and times of sorrow. . . for times when knowing they were praying made the difference between curling up or moving on, broken heart in hand. Both of our children are miracles in their own right, and the fervent prayers of friends and family could never be overemphasized.
• I’m grateful for loving church families. I’ve served on staff at three different churches in Texas, each one with their own unique personalities, challenges, and triumphs. But in each one, I have truly loved the people like family — and have experienced their love in return. These congregations have taught me many valuable lessons in life and leadership, but mainly they’ve taught me how to love more deeply.
• I’m grateful that no matter what comes my way, God has shown that He is bigger than any problem. With His help, I know that I can meet any challenge and come out on the other side stronger, more committed to Him, and above all, a more vibrant representation of Himself. I’m so glad that He takes such care to conform us to the image of Christ!

 

I’m reminded tonight of that wisdom-packed book On the Anvil by Max Lucado. And I know that while my physical location may be changing, God knows exactly where I’ll be. And He will continue refining me no matter where I go for as long as I live.

What I feel at this very moment in time transcends contentment, anticipation — even the greasy pizza I had for dinner. What I feel right now is an overwhelming sense of God’s goodness and grace. And I’m compelled to respond in gratitude.

I encourage you to take some time out to let God overwhelm you with His presence, His power, His provision, and His peace.

And give thanks with a grateful heart. It’s good for the soul.