Read a headline today about Steve Jobs.
"Mortality drove him."
Didn't read the rest....but the thought continued.
Mid sixties seems to bring a lot more focus to things like this.
Mortality.
Lots more countings and calculatings...and watching life cycles.
Lots less expansive in the musings...
A lot more ticking sounds in the background.
Mortality.
What should drive us is not mortality, but immortality.
Even those without saving faith should give it central thought.
This life just isn't all that there is ... there is infinitely (word chosen carefully) more.
Heaven. Jesus. The Presence of the Father. Reunions. Really knowing. Justice.
No calendars. No sunsets. No anniversaries or birthdays.
Forever.
Immortality.
"Deep honor and bright glory to the King of All Time -
One God, Immortal, Invisible, ever and always.
Oh, yes!" The Message - I Timothy 1:17
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
The blessing
Got ready to come to the office today...normal morning slow shift.
Blahs.
Internal twittering voices assuring me that the day might not go well.
Final thing...a kiss and "goodbye" for my best friend, Jackie.
As I began my farewell, she began a blessing.
With things like...
"I think you are getting sharper and sharper.
"I see good stuff developing in you every day.
"You are doing really well.
"You look great today.
"God is with you.
"I love you.
And "I am thinking about it.
(If you have been to our seminars, I need not say more. :))
And I went from ok to joyful....from blahs to yes!..from not-sures to can do
And I drove to work admiring the beauty of sun and trees and mountains...and God.
Blessings from the heart are fuel for the soul and strike a match to tinder energy.
Wish you would have started this way?...not too late.
Give a call, write a note, text a blessing.
What a way to start...or restart...a day.
Blahs.
Internal twittering voices assuring me that the day might not go well.
Final thing...a kiss and "goodbye" for my best friend, Jackie.
As I began my farewell, she began a blessing.
With things like...
"I think you are getting sharper and sharper.
"I see good stuff developing in you every day.
"You are doing really well.
"You look great today.
"God is with you.
"I love you.
And "I am thinking about it.
(If you have been to our seminars, I need not say more. :))
And I went from ok to joyful....from blahs to yes!..from not-sures to can do
And I drove to work admiring the beauty of sun and trees and mountains...and God.
Blessings from the heart are fuel for the soul and strike a match to tinder energy.
Wish you would have started this way?...not too late.
Give a call, write a note, text a blessing.
What a way to start...or restart...a day.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Generations
We had gone to Cheddars to eat...all nine of us. Brad and Amy and family...and Jackie and I.
We had just been infused freshly with life at Church at Briargate.
Lots of chatter and joy.
Then I saw them come in...two very elderly people, both with oxygen assistance attached, both moving slowing to a table next to us. My guesses: married, in their 80's, out for a weekly special time together. And inside I marveled at their courage.
And as we ate I kept glancing their way, observing them often doing the same towards us...and eating with quiet seriousness.
Kendall...the 9-month-old youngest among us was being fed strained "something" and was enjoying it immensely. Smiles, reaching hands and occasional shrieks punctuating the air, insisting on more.
And finally it connected inside of me: her joy and their need for joy. What could happen if these generations could connect?
When I broached the idea to Amy, she said "fine" and so we turned Kendall in her high chair to face the couple nearby.
Quite absent looks turned bright and happy in immediate response...as we all got acquainted.
And a story began to tumble out....about being Roman Catholic, and 92!, and not married, but friends from the same elderly care facility, and where do you go to church?
About her being gone from church for 50 years and now returning. And he being a deacon.
And Kendall kept smiling and they kept talking.
And it ended with real "God be with you and bless you's."
And there was real joy...and love...and faith.
And there was Jesus.
We had just been infused freshly with life at Church at Briargate.
Lots of chatter and joy.
Then I saw them come in...two very elderly people, both with oxygen assistance attached, both moving slowing to a table next to us. My guesses: married, in their 80's, out for a weekly special time together. And inside I marveled at their courage.
And as we ate I kept glancing their way, observing them often doing the same towards us...and eating with quiet seriousness.
Kendall...the 9-month-old youngest among us was being fed strained "something" and was enjoying it immensely. Smiles, reaching hands and occasional shrieks punctuating the air, insisting on more.
And finally it connected inside of me: her joy and their need for joy. What could happen if these generations could connect?
When I broached the idea to Amy, she said "fine" and so we turned Kendall in her high chair to face the couple nearby.
Quite absent looks turned bright and happy in immediate response...as we all got acquainted.
And a story began to tumble out....about being Roman Catholic, and 92!, and not married, but friends from the same elderly care facility, and where do you go to church?
About her being gone from church for 50 years and now returning. And he being a deacon.
And Kendall kept smiling and they kept talking.
And it ended with real "God be with you and bless you's."
And there was real joy...and love...and faith.
And there was Jesus.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The pile on.
In the next 5 days, Jackie and I will speak 6 times....at a midweek Bible Study, at a marriage conference, and at morning worship at Church at Briargate (CAB). We appreciate your prayers, that each session will be full of truth, reality and Presence. Thanks!
We have moved back to Colorado Springs, leaving our dear friends at Canyon Road in Ogden...tears, hugs, fond memories, prayers. Our hearts are very moved to think of them. What a special family of faith they are. Pray for them as Jeremiah and Rachel Johnson engage in their first days of ministry there.
Church at Briargate has asked us to come and immediately lead them through a time of transition - probably about six months - as their great pastor Randy Poppineau has become the District Secretary Treasurer. They have asked us to go full-time, so these months will be quite full of activity. We began last Sunday and the response was wonderful. What a unique ministry the Lord has placed us in for this season.
And now, a mental image tied to great verses of scripture.....a pile on.
I love the end of the football games when the team who has given the most on the field and won in spite of all odds are so elated they all just run to the center of the field and pile on...until it is a heap of humanity at peak celebrative energy. What a sight!!
That is what I see as Paul describes a grace pile on...to the Ephesian church....watch the words stack up with superlatives until the field is just ablaze with joy in the goodness of God....
"Now to him who is able to do EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY BEYOND ALL that we ASK or THINK, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
Join the pile up today, my friend.
The win in Christ is big enough for us all!
We have moved back to Colorado Springs, leaving our dear friends at Canyon Road in Ogden...tears, hugs, fond memories, prayers. Our hearts are very moved to think of them. What a special family of faith they are. Pray for them as Jeremiah and Rachel Johnson engage in their first days of ministry there.
Church at Briargate has asked us to come and immediately lead them through a time of transition - probably about six months - as their great pastor Randy Poppineau has become the District Secretary Treasurer. They have asked us to go full-time, so these months will be quite full of activity. We began last Sunday and the response was wonderful. What a unique ministry the Lord has placed us in for this season.
And now, a mental image tied to great verses of scripture.....a pile on.
I love the end of the football games when the team who has given the most on the field and won in spite of all odds are so elated they all just run to the center of the field and pile on...until it is a heap of humanity at peak celebrative energy. What a sight!!
That is what I see as Paul describes a grace pile on...to the Ephesian church....watch the words stack up with superlatives until the field is just ablaze with joy in the goodness of God....
"Now to him who is able to do EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY BEYOND ALL that we ASK or THINK, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
Join the pile up today, my friend.
The win in Christ is big enough for us all!
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