Fun with the Grandkids

The last few days have been filled with activity, much like most of you have experienced in the month of May. We were blessed to have our Memphis family (Josh and his family) here for several days, and that was such a treat. Truitt and Noah are so much fun!

Yesterday Jonathan and his family were with us. Beverly and Jennifer were looking through a lot of Jonathan's stuff from when he was a kid, when they came across his pocket New Testament.

Later while Jonathan and I were playing golf, Beverly and Jennifer were in the back yard playing baseball with the kids. When it was Jocelyn's turn to bat, Jed told Beverly he was going to read his Bible (Jonathan's NT). Now, Jed is 4 years old -- nearly 5. He opened the Bible and acted as if he were reading it.

After a few moments, he put it down. He told Beverly that he had found the passage about baseball. She asked him what it said. He said, "It says, 'Be kind when you are playing baseball.'"

It must be buried somewhere in Revelation. It's been a while since I have read that.

So Proud of My Granddaughter

Last night my precious granddaughter sang at a "Kids' Stand" event in Grapevine. This is a non-profit ministry that goes into schools to teach the kids moral lessons, and then invites them to an off-site event where they share Jesus with them. Jenny was very involved in the ministry.

The weather did not cooperate at all. We had to evacuate the auditorium twice. But when Malaya sang, it made EVERYTHING worth it. Jenny had a voice that would always give me goosebumps and would make me cry. Well, her daughter inherited her gift. When she finished, she got a standing ovation.

The song she sang is a popular song by Sidewalk Prophets. Malaya sang it as if it were advice her mom would have given her. Here are the words, with one word changed -- which I have highlighted:

Three in the morning and I'm still awake

So I picked up a pen and a page

And I started writing just what I'd say

If we were face to face

I'd tell you just what you mean to me

Tell you these simple truths

Be strong in the Lord

And never give up hope

You're gonna do great things

I already know

God's got His hand on you

So don't live life in fear

Forgive and forget

But don't forget why you're here

Take your time and pray

These are the words SHE would say.

Last time we spoke you said you were hurting

And I felt your pain in my heart

I want to tell you that I keep on praying

That love will find you where you are

I know cause I've already been there

So please hear these simple truths.

Be strong in the Lord

And never give up hope

You're gonna do great things

I already know

God's got His hand on you

So don't live life in fear

Forgive and forget

But don't forget why you're here

Take your time and pray

These are the words SHE would say.

Say . . . from one simple life to another

I will say . . . come find peace in the Father

Be strong in the Lord

And never give up hope

You're gonna do great things

I already know

God's got His hand on you

So don't live life in fear

Forgive and forget

But don't forget why you're here

Take your time and pray

These are the words SHE would say.

Thunder Collapses, Rangers Thunder, and Other Weather News

OK, so I'm not a rabid Mavs fan. I do like this team a lot, and I watch the games, but usually while I am reading a Western. I'm just in general not a huge team sports guy anymore.

So last night, with 5 minutes left in the game and the Mavs down by 15, my eyes were getting heavy. So I turned off the TV and went to sleep.

Imagine my surprise when I went out and got the paper this morning! Mavs win in overtime! Wow! Dirk is playing like he is on a mission.

My youngest son and I have a little humorous thing going. He keeps trying to get me to say I like Shaun Marion. Sorry. And while he is getting kudos for the block of Durant's desperation shot at the end of regulation, I think it was a poor choice in seeing the replay. Even in the replay, I could see that he could have easily been called for a foul. It wasn't, but I have seen lesser defense called a foul. The chances of Durant making that shot were very slim. But a foul would have meant a certain OKC victory.

Will the Mavs wrap it up tomorrow night in big D?

And how about the Rangers? Two straight complete games from their starters. And Hamilton and Cruz came back in style -- both hitting homeruns. It reminds us of what we have been missing. Hopefully, they can get on a winning trend now.

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Another tragedy -- this time in Joplin, Missouri. I never cease to be amazed at the devastation left in the wake of a tornado -- taking only seconds to destroy a lifetime.

Here in Decatur, we are under a severe storm warning today. Let's pray that nothing serious develops.

Does Anyone Get Drug Ads?

I cannot ever remember purchasing anything because of a TV ad. I admit that there may be something at work subliminally. But I raise this issue because I watch with amusement the drug ads. It seems to me that in a 30-second ad, they spend 25 seconds warning of the side effects and dangers of taking this particular drug. I cannot see how this could lead anyone to want to use it.

I mean, really, if you go to the doctor and need a medication, don't you pretty much depend on him / her to tell you what to take? I don't think it would even enter my mind to say, "Wait a minute, Doc. Instead of what you are prescribing, how about let me try ___________. I saw this TV ad about it, and think it's the drug for me."

Maybe someone can explain the marketing strategy. I would much rather see these companies save those millions they spend on TV ads -- and lower their prices!

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From Rabbi Abraham Heschel, as quoted in Philip Yancey's book, Disappointment with God: "Faith like Job's cannot be shaken because it is the result of having been shaken."

Thoughts on Prayer

The events of last year, with over 12,000 people praying for my daughter's healing, really shook up my "theology of prayer." I feel like I am trying to walk across an iced-over lake right now. My footing is very unsure. I am continuing to explore and journey through this, and hopefully will come to a God-centered conclusion.

One thing has really struck me. It is something that will make the "health-and-wealth" crowd uneasy. Scripture doesn't have a lot to say about praying for physical stuff -- even health. Maybe the most-used passage for that is in James 5, where James says (v. 13) "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord." Yet even here, MANY scholars believe James is referring contextually to spiritual sickness.

Now please don't roast me here. If you want to pray for cataract surgeries and things like that, I don't think it is wrong. It's just NOT where I am right now. I do find it sad that when we take prayer requests at church, nearly 100% of them will have to do with physical stuff. This just does not seem to align itself with Scripture.

So I've been thinking about "the Lord's prayer." Remember, the disciples asked of Jesus: "Teach us to pray." And so He did. Hear what He said (Luke 11: 2-4).

"Father, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us,

And lead us not into temptation."

In this prayer, Jesus urges His disciples to:

1. Honor God

2. Pray for the inbreaking of the kingdom here on earth.

3. Pray for DAILY SUSTINENCE.

4. Pray for forgiveness of one's sins, as well as for a forgiving attitude toward others.

5. Pray for SPIRITUAL strength to overcome temptation.

Five things He urged them to pray for. Four are spiritual, and one you could say is physical. But listen to what even the physical one implies: "Give us this day our daily bread." Hardly the prayer of Jabez! To me, it implies something spiritual. "Let me be satisfied with Your daily care." If anything, it diminishes / discounts concerns about the physical.

So for me in my journey right now, prayer is about SPIRITUAL things: strength to overcome temptation, being made more into the likeness of Jesus, dependence upon the Holy Spirit, etc.

Again, I am not writing this as the final authority on the subject. Nor am I telling anyone not to pray for "stuff." I am just giving an honest assessment of where I am.

It's a Sweep!

If I had not been watching it, I never would have believed it. The Mavericks put an old-fashioned whipping on the Lakers yesterday to sweep them. 20 3-point shots made!

Would anyone have believed it last summer if I had predicted that 1. the Rangers would beat the Yankees to get into the World Series and, 2. the Mavericks would SWEEP the Lakers in the playoffs, and 3. Bin Laden would be caught? I'm curious: Which of the three would you have considered most unlikely? least likely?

The Lakers are often lauded for their "class." Really? Two completely indefensible cheap shots in the 4th quarter. Give Kobe Bryant credit for calling them both inexcusable. The Zen master was not as direct. He said it shouldn't have happened, but his team was frustrated. Oh? So can every team that is frustrated start throwing elbows intentionally meant to hurt another player? Come on! Be big boys.

Oh, and the culprits themselves actually tried to defend their cowardice. No words of regret.

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Please be praying for the people of Memphis, Tennessee -- as well as other areas along the Mississippi River that face flooding over the next couple of weeks. My oldest son and his family have a passion for Memphis, and so that city is on my mind and in my heart today.

Better Than a Hallelujah

I know that most of you have heard the song, "Better Than a Hallalujah" by Amy Grant. Beverly said she thinks it might have been released last February as Jenny was in the hospital. I confess: If this song had come out 2 or 3 years ago, I would not have been able to relate very well to its words. Now it makes all the sense in the world. Here are the lyrics:

God loves a lullaby in a mother's tears in the dead of night

Better than a hallelujah sometimes.

God loves a drunkard's cry, the soldiers plea not to let him die

Better than a hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries

God just hears a melody

Beautiful the mess we are

The honest cries of breaking hearts

Are better than a hallelujah.

The woman holding on for life, the dying man giving up the fight

Are better than a hallelujah sometimes.

The tears of shame for what's been done, the silence when the words won't come

Are better than a hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries

God just hears a melody

Beautiful the mess we are

The honest cries of breaking hearts

Are better than a hallelujah.

Better than a church bell ringing,

Better than a choir singing out, singing out.

We pour out our miseries

God just hears a melody

Beautiful the mess we are

The honest cries of breaking hearts

Are better than a hallelujah.

May 1: Anniversary Day

Yesterday was my anniversary here at the church. Six years! It hardly seems possible that I have been here that long. I love this church with all my heart. To me, this is what church was intended to be: a place of encouragement and mutual support as we journey together arm-in-arm.

This is truly my family. I love our ministry team! And I actually look forward to elders' meetings! Man, do I love these guys!

As I said yesterday, I hope I am about 1/4th through my time here as preaching minister.

On another note, I found out yesterday that May 1 is also our secretary's anniversary date. She has been serving this church for 14 years. Congratulations, Joy!

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I watched with rapt attention last night as the news about Osama Bin Laden was coming down. I have read stories about Navy SEALS, and am amazed at the effectiveness of these guys. They must be the equivalent of David's "mighty men."

I do have mixed feelings about the celebration of this event. As I watched this morning, drunk college students slurred the singing of "The Star Spangled Banner" on national TV (I had to listen closely to figure out that is what they were singing). Others shouted, "Nah-nah, hey, hey, goodbye." I can only imagine the reception as these videos are shown in Arabic countries throughout the world.

It seems that our interests would be better served by being matter-of-fact about this incident, as we express a confident resolve in letting terrorists know that they can expect the same. But it is not something to be celebrated like VJ Day in 1945. That is just my opinion.