It seems so long ago... I was isolated, hopeless.  And then I got birthday cards, or Christmas cards that reminded me I was not alone, or forgotten. Now, years later I have so many friends, and such hope in God.  But I remember how important a simple act of kindness can be, in setting someone free.  Those little acts of kindness really matter.

"I led them with ***cords of human kindness***, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them." Hosea 11:4  

God uses real people, to touch real people. Thank you, keep it up!

I know where I would be, Forever running but losing this race
Were it not for grace
...that is how the saints persevere...
His grace is sufficient! 2 Corinthians 5:9

Were It Not For Grace
Larnelle Harris

Time measured out my days, life carried me along
In my soul I yearned to follow God but knew I'd never be so strong
I looked hard at this world to learn how Heaven could be gained
Just to end where I began, where human effort is all in vain

Were it not for grace, I can tell you where I'd be
Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere
With my salvation up to me, I know how that would go
The battles I would face forever running but losing the race
Were it not for grace

So here is all my praise expressed with all my heart
Offered to the Friend who took my place and ran a course I could not start
And when He saw in full just how much His love would cost
He still went the final mile between me and Heaven so I would not be lost

Were it not for grace, I can tell you where I'd be
Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere
With my salvation up to me and I know how that would go
The battles I would face forever running but losing the race
Were it not for grace

Forever running but losing this race
Were it not for grace

Integrity

 "Have you seen me? Please help me, I'm lost! My name is Gracie and I'm a 4 lb. pomeranian.  I got lost on stanley Road.  If you see me, please call my mom right away!!" 

Three days earlier Julie had been stopped on the road by a tiny little dog, with ice on her belly, in the middle of Brookside Road. She stopped her SUV and the little girl hopped right in. The next few days we nursed her, fed her and almost decided she would be ours. Julie checked with the neighbors, the local postings and Craig's list and had the vet look for a "chip" and yet did not find any sign of her owner. 

Anyone who knows my wife Julie knows what a heart she has for dogs, and that she raised dogs for years. It wasn't until I came onto the scene that she stopped being a dog owner. A great sacrifice for someone like Julie. Me? I had almost forgotten about her dogs. You see, I am dog-friendly, but not really a dog lover.

Back to the story. When we had almost given up searching for the owner, Julie went to past a "Lost Dog" notice at the Marsh community board. It was one of the hardest things she had done in a while, because she had really become attached, but she told me she kept thinking what it must be like to be the lost dog's owner. Julie's choice, illustrated for me the meaning of the golden rule "And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." Luke 6:31 And that's when she saw the sign. "Have you seen me? Please help me, I'm lost!"

Seriously? You can't make this stuff up.  Julie was sad, and happy.  That night we reconnected Gracie and her "Mom" at Stoops Buick.  Gracie got all excited when were within a quarter mile of the dealership - must be "dog sense".  The reunion was pretty touching, even for me. We found out later that the owner had not posted the sign at the community board where Julie went, but somehow got moved to where Julie would look for it. Coincidence? :) "The integrity of the upright guides them..." Proverbs 11:3

During that time it became clear what lessons I could learn from a dog, and how much that meant to Julie. Somehow the pain of all that for Julie made it a poignant experience.  Those costly sacrifices are the ones that seem to matter most. We've decided that it's time to look again into being dog owners. Now in search for a Poodle and a Golden Retriever. Stay tuned.

PS.  If you see a lost dog, you just might want to take the chance of letting your heart get hurt.  

Rescue Time!

Conviction: Too much time on Facebook, not enough time writing and thinking about what matters.  I realized it because I resisted the conviction.

Sure, a lot can be said in 160 characters (Twitter), and there is a place for FB, but somehow FB has become a "time sinkhole".  No offense, there were plenty of great posts: Songs and funny pictures from great folks, but I have to admit, my closest friends just aren't spending a lot of time there, and a lot of the posts are well, just not where I am going.

Am I a laggard?  many people left FB a long time ago. They left their accounts up, but they don't really hang out there. Its just a channel of communication if needed. So like them, I'm not leaving, just putting FB on the shelf.

FB became a habit, kinda like chewing tobacco or smoking or that warm cup of coffee in the morning. I'm not giving up my coffee, but I have to spend more time on the things that matter more. Here are some thoughts from a recent sermon by my buddy BJ Bungard in a sermon called "Family Time".

1. Rescue Time from all the little leaks and distractions
2. In 100 Years the only thing that will matter is that you know God
3. What is the one really important thing I can do for your Kingdom today? 

Working through that sermon in our LifeGroup it occurred to me why its hard to realize our time is limited:  Because we worry instead of follow the Spirit, consume instead of care and ruminate instead of meditate. "Ruminate" means to compulsively focus attention on symptoms of distress and possible consequences as opposed to its solutions.  Ruminate is similar to "worry", except looking backwards instead of forwards, not something I don't want to do.

The "Big Kahuna" question from a LifeGroup study guide was this: "What do the most important people in my life need from me?" I thought, since I can't give them what I don't have, I need to have an authentic epiphany and humility before God that glorifies Him.  A big piece of that will come from saying "I'm sorry", or inwardly saying "I surrender".

Moving back to the blog lets me say what needs to be said, and by linking that to twitter and Facebook, it should be visible to just about anyone who cares to read. See you in 100 years?

Happiness: Over the Rainbow

 QUESTION: "why is happiness about as hard to find as the end of a rainbow?"

ANSWER: Perhaps even a rainbow is not good enough. 

Happiness does not consist in the abundance of possessions, even rainbows (Luke 12:15), but in the glory of one who who sits on the throne surrounded by a rainbow (Revelation 4:3).   In this life we will have trouble (John 16:33), so pity those who are numb, and praise Him - Jesus - in the storm:  

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. (Isaiah 30:20)

Isn't that why we who mourn will be blessed, comforted (Matthew 5:4)?  We grow in endurance, character and hope (Romans 5:3-4) as we sit before the throne.  I had a difficult week last week; invested money I didn't have in a trip with my sons to visit my 81 year old uncle Bobby and his wife Joan. The boys never met my father, and I wanted them to gain a sense of the story they were part of.   Despite all I could do, they could not be happy, or content.  

We went to famous caves, nice hotel, 4 star restaurants, walked along three rivers, boat rides in the Chesapeake, camped and traveled through the beautiful Shenandoah mountains and topped it off with a professional baseball game.  Not enough. In great anguish I went to God and He redeemed the time, though not in their eyes. Do not grow weary of doing good, it is not in vain.

The day of no more tears, no more pain will come (Rev 21:4). Maybe that's why Bluebirds fly OVER the rainbow, beyond it, to God.

Somewhere over the rainbow

Way up high

There's a land that I heard of

Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow

Skies are blue

And the dream that you dare to dream

Really does come true

One day I wish upon a star

Wake up where the clouds are far behind me

Where troubles melt like lemon drops

Way upon the chimney tops

That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow

Blue birds fly

Birds fly over the rainbow

Why, oh why can't I?

Where troubles melt like lemon drops

Way upon the chimney tops

That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow

Blue birds fly

Birds fly over the rainbow

Why, oh why can't I?

Now I walk on death row

In a large fellowship of Christian men sharing a mission, Brian offered to share a  book his wife gave to him. In the front cover his wife wrote:

"I'm so proud of you and all you do to serve others. Your example made me a better person. Love always. "

Wow...wouldn't it be great to have a wife like that!  So I read the book.  

The story is about a high flying corporate lawyer who has an epiphany.   After running 70, 80, 100 hour work weeks to help others do mega finance deals he arrives at the first of several really good questions:  "What the heck am I doing with my life?"

Soon Dale finds himself at the end of a divorce, and wiped out financially and emotionally his brother asks him to give his life to Jesus. More good questions.  "What does that mean? What will that accomplish?". Then in acceptance, "What do I have to lose?"

 His questions are fantastic aren't they. He is asking, seeking, trying to understand. In a small bible study group, he meets a woman, and pursues her. She prays for Gods dominion over the relationship. Again it leads him to questions "What does it mean to give God dominion over  your life? Who does such a thing? How does one do that?"

He is remarried, and lands a huge job, builds an enormous house with a 1200 square foot bedroom, and then the questions begin to find answers.  He comes across the story of the rich young ruler, whom Jesus told to sell everything, give to the poor, and follow Him. Again, Dale asks one of his questions "Do you think he meant what he said?" After sleepless nights, he realizes he can't have all the wealth and the Kingdom of God, and following Jesus is not just for priests and nuns.

At this point I should say Dale is Catholic, which stuns me.  I almost stopped reading the book then remembered the sharp sincerity of his questions, and his responses. He pursues a life increasing devotion to serving others, building community, listening to his family (yes even the children) in family meetings. He finds a ministry helping the poor, at first part time, then ultimately full time. They move as they try to respond to the call to learn, until he finds an offer he cant refuse, one for which he seems tailor made. Ministering to those on death row.

One of the offenders Dale meets in prison has a dramatic outlook on Life: "I praise and thank the Lord for this life sentence. It's been eight and 1/2 years of blessing others lives. God has allowed me to lead others to Him, to plant seeds and water the seeds that others have planted." ... ."I no longer have a life sentence spiritually. Instead I have the gift of eternal life." 

So much of this story seemed to be my story, and your story...how tragedy leads to revival, and destiny. How God causes us to ask questions and then begins to answer in ways that bring life.  How simple obedience may not lead to success, or victory but simply peace and purpose.  

I recently worked with a group of men in a prison ministry, and without a doubt, God showed up in a powerful way.  Cleansing, healing, and drawing men to himself.  I had to great privilege of joining 40+ men and our Lord in those exploits.  Its been a chance to share my faith with so many in and outside of prison.  God is good.

Lord Help me to stay close to you in the trials, and not just endure but thrive as you rebuild who I am, making me the man you would have me be. Bring encouragement into my life through others Lord as you did for Brian, and help me be that kind of encouragement to them.