Merry Xmas?

In the St Louis area there is a cool place, Mosaic Christian Church, pastored by a super neat guy named Shane Adkisson. Recently, he wrote something that I felt was so good, I wanted to pass it on. Enjoy [and thanks Shane]:

Alright, let me start by saying, I'm probably with you. I mean I don't appreciate seeing "Xmas" plastered around by retailers.

Why? Because Christmas is about Jesus.

But, let me give you something to think about.

Did you know that "X" is the symbol that biblical scholars have used for years for the abbreviation for Christ. Basically it evolved to be the abbreviation because in greek it's the first letter in the word "Christ."

Many years ago, most people didn't read. People came to understand that the symbol "X" stood for Christ. Old buildings where the church (God's people) would gather were often marked with an "X" so the common people, who didn't read, would know that's where the church meets.

I'm not suggesting we be happy about "taking Christ out of Christmas", but I am hoping to give you some slight encouragement when you see it.

For a long time, it's struck me as funny and tragic that many people celebrate Christmas with no idea of what they're celebrating. As unfortunate as that is, I think it's actually quite remarkable at the same time. Whether people know it or not, the world pauses to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

So, when I see the sign declaring the latest "Xmas Sale", I'll consider it unfortunate that they miss the significance of the party; however, I'll choose to be more than offended and I'll marvel in the ability that God has to be proclaimed even when the intentions of men might be otherwise.

The Latest

It's Wednesday afternoon and I'm ready to give everyone 'the latest' update on my lovely wife, Kelli.

She IS feeling better today. She can be up for 2-3 hours, and then has to lay down for a while. This routine seems to be working real well for her. Her back is, obviously, very sore and extremely bruised from all the needle punctures she's had recently. This is uncomfortable, but manageable. Her headache is almost back to where it was before any of the 'lumbar puncture' stuff began, which is still not good, but so much better than the spinal headache she was dealing with... that she isn't complaining.

She's been able to do some home-school stuff with Caleb and Michaela and even help out Conor and Kolten in their studies [they are currently in the dreaded 'finals week' at Maple Weeds College]. Merci is currently out of town with the Petersen family, living large in San Antonio, Texas. I came back to work today and that's been good.

I just phoned Kelli and she described how there are two ladies from the church deep cleaning our entire home. That frightens me a little bit, but only because there is some scary things hidden in the deep crevices of Craft-Manor. Truthfully, the love that is being shown towards us by way of food, cards, gift-certificates for pizza for the kids, and even house-cleaning... is just awesome. Kelli and I are blown away by the love and support we have.

Please continue to pray for Kelli and know that we are eternally grateful for your faithfulness and kindness shown to us in so many ways. Merry Christmas!

Another Update

It's 4:15pm on Monday. Kelli's 'blood patch' procedure apparently went according to plan. She is doing much better. She just finished her first meal since Friday evening, and inhaled it like... she hadn't eaten in a few days! She's laughing and back to her old ways, which includes hitting me and basically just being all-around ornery.

We expect to have a visit from the doctor before 5pm. All the nurses feel that Kelli has made such an improvement that I should probably start getting stuff together to head home. I suppose they could keep us, but if I were a bettin' man I'd wager we'll be sleeping in our bed tonight. That means, Kelli will be schoolin' me at Jeopardy and the smell of Bio-Freeze will fill the air at the Craft home very soon.

I know we still have a long way to go, but this was a yucky hurdle that I'm grateful to have leaped. All of your cards, comments on the blog, meals for the kids, and mostly your prayers have been hugely appreciated. How blessed we are! God has remained faithful once again!

If anything changes, I'll let you know.

The message from the weekend can now be heard here: Michael's Message

Update on Kelli

I so appreciate all the prayers for my wife, Kelli. I know that everyone wants an update, so I'll give one. I felt this might be the best way to do so. I don't have much time, so this will be quick.

Eight years ago, Kelli had a surgery for something called, Chiari Malformation.

That surgery helped... minimally. At times she has dealt with severe headaches that, I'm told, make migraines seem like stubbing your toe. Since that surgery, she has traveled to the Mayo Clinic twice to seek wisdom and instruction and seen her doctor regularly, as well as naturalist doctors.

Over the past six months, her headaches have become increasingly severe. She has missed work, church, and spent entire days [even a week at a time] mostly in bed. She's had to cease exercise, see a multitude of doctors [both natural in nature and the normal kind], tried multitudes of 'diets' and a plethora of medicines. She's had good days, and horrible days.

After some informal training, I learned how to give pretty good massages, and during this past month, each night while Kelli and I watch an hour of DVR'd "Jeopardy", she receives a semi-world-class massage from yours-truly. Our entire room, and most of the rest of our home, smells like either Bio-Freeze or Icy-Hot... something we've all gotten used to. [Kolten's room is directly above ours and he gets it the worst, as far as smells go. Poor kid.]

All of this has helped... a bit. On a pain scale of 1-10, Kelli has been between a 4-6 at all times, with an occasional 7.

In October, Kelli had a headache she rated at a 14, and was rushed to the hospital. They injected her with something and after a few hours sent us home with instructions to go back to our doctor and have him refer us to a neurologist. We did this and were put on a waiting list to get an appointment with the best neurologist our massive amounts of research could find within the Kansas City Metro area.

We finally were able to see Dr. Malik this past week. He scheduled Kelli for a 'lumbar puncture' this past Friday, which was as soon as he could do it. We went in at 11:45am on Friday, the procedure went well and Kelli went home to recoup. We were warned that 10% of those receiving this invasive surgery suffer what is called a 'spinal headache'.

Friday night her head progressively got worse and on Saturday she had to be rushed to the emergency room. They admitted her Saturday evening and we're still here now.

As I type this at 8:30am Monday, Kelli is [finally] receiving what is called a 'blood patch'. This could have been done Saturday evening, however, the doctors felt and advised that we should try a less traumatic approach. Apparently, 1 out of 10 folks that have a lumbar puncture experience a spinal leak. That fluid causes an un-godly amount of pain, which is the 'spinal headache'. That leak stops itself up in about 4 days and the pain will eventually go away. If you can handle that much pain, its a fine way to go. However, the quicker way to get rid of the pain, involves the doctors removing blood from your arm and quickly injecting it into your spine, where the blood acts like a 'patch' and literally clots the leak up. They say pain can be almost instantaneously lessened when a 'blood patch' is performed. It is, however, a more dangerous way to go... thus making us wait the past two days.

On a side note: If you are planning on being sick, in any way, in the near future. Plan your sickness AROUND the weekend. Hospitals all but shut down on the weekends, with nary a doctor in sight. However, Monday mornings hospitals awaken as though they're the doors of WalMart on Black Friday.

I sound as though I'm upset. Truly, I'm just really tired. Kelli hasn't been able to sleep. She cannot move her head. She cannot get up to use the restroom. She cries... a lot. I just wish they had done what they are doing now... last Saturday. But, praise the Lord, she's receiving treatment now. When she comes out, our hope is that she'll be on the way to feeling better... from the lumbar puncture anyways.

As far as the regular headaches she's been dealing with for the past eight years, we are excited about our new neurologist, Dr. Malik, and hope for his practice of medicine to be guided and directed by our great and wise Doctor in the heavens.

Again... that's a 'quick' update. I hope it answers your questions. Please keep praying, and I'll do my best to keep everyone updated when possible. God bless you all, and Lord... please help my wife.

- Michael

Thank You...

Received the following emails. I hope they encourage you, as they have encouraged me:

"I just wanted to say thanks for the free groceries on Sunday. My husband and i hadn't eaten in 3 days so we could feed our children. The food i was given in line while waiting was my first meal in 3 days, thanks isn't enough but thank you to you and your members. We recently moved here from Texas after losing everything and recently got on our feet to get a duplex and my husband lost his job 5 weeks after we moved in. we are still waiting on our food stamps and hardly make rent with my sons ssi. Thanks again." - Amanda R.

"I just truly wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Last night I was crying because I didn't know how I was going to feed my three kids so I did the only thing that I knew how to do I prayed. After feeling horrible and probably feeling more sorry for myself than I should I went to my computer and there was a ad on Craigs List for a grocery giveaway I guess my kids had been on the computer and anyways it was pulled up. So I went today and now have food for my children to eat and even get to go on a dinner date with my husband thanks to winning the dinner for two while waiting in line. I truly believe God sent me to your church. All of you were so kind and helpful and I never once felt bad about myself or looked down up on that I felt at other places. I wish I could say I could come to church every service but I know I can't. I do plan on access the services on the computer when I can. I just want you to know more than any church I have ever been to including the one I was baptized at you all made me feel welcome. I hope you continue your good works and may god live with in each of your souls and keep helping you bring complete warmth and love to those whose lives you touch." Thanks, - Radonna Y.

"It is quite humbling being a member of Desperation Church and working side by side with so many wonderful caring people. I wanted to thank you all for the food that we were able to take to HART MINISTRIES. We have so many people come thru the door that are homeless and impoverished and our food supply was running bare. Thanks to you our DC family, we are able to send out food, to those on the streets that might not have any othe rway to be fed." - Kathy D.

A Plea for Rescue

As a pastor, oftentimes I am asked about a particular version of the bible. Not to sound too simple, but I think that most of the translations we have today are 'close enough' and that a person should read whichever version they will actually pick up and read. For years I read the NIV (New International Version), because it was easy to understand and it was a gift. When I entered Bible seminary I began reading the NASB (New American Standard Bible), because I was told it was 'the best and most accurate' and it too, was a gift. For close to 23 years now, I've used the NASB and taught many Bible studies from it. Although I own well over twenty different versions of the Word of God, everything from The Message to The King James Version, the NASB has been the one I quote most and passionately run back to.

I love it.

Recently, however, I have purchased a HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible). This is sorta a 'big deal' for me. I made a choice to begin preaching from it, studying with it, and praying it in exclusively... for at least a season.

I'm falling in love with the Word of God all over again.

I remember talking with my beautiful sister, Lisa, once. She told me how she had purchased a NLT (New Living Translation) for her husband and my dear friend, Curtis. She explained how he "couldn't put it down" and how he had read the Book of Job straight through and admitted that he "had never really understood it before". I love that kind of testimony! This is why I still hold to the philosophy that "a person should read whichever version they will actually pick up and read". I get weary of those that wish to argue and debate concerning which English version of the Bible is the 'right one'. Truthfully, all of them are subject to scrutiny in comparison to their original languages. So... what's the use? Are there versions that are dangerously close to heresy, due to their radical departures? Probably. However, the Holy Spirit is pretty awesome... and I believe Him when He says He'll lead us into all truth (John 16:13).

For me, recently, I have greatly enjoyed my moments with my new HCSB. I love how it uses the Name 'Yahweh' for 'Lord', and I love how they've kept much of the poetic flow, while remaining true to the way I speak today all while shining light on the original context of Biblical times. Again, maybe it's just another translation, but I'm reading it... and I'm once again marveling at the beautiful Author.

If it's okay, I want to simply share with you a portion I read today. Heck... it's my blog... and you can stop reading if you want. But if you do... I think you'll miss something. For me, this familiar passage took on a new sense of passion and desperation. The final line, when talking about our future hope which states, "...and those who love His name will live in it"... excites me!

Take a minute and slowly read this powerful, poetic, passionate plea for Rescue...

Psalm 69

For the choir director: according to “The Lilies.”

1 Save me, God, for the water has risen to my neck.

2 I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing; I have come into deep waters, and a flood sweeps over me.

3 I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

4 Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head; my deceitful enemies, who would destroy me, are powerful. Though I did not steal, I must repay.

5 God, You know my foolishness, and my guilty acts are not hidden from You.

6 Do not let those who put their hope in You be disgraced because of me, Lord God of Hosts; do not let those who seek You be humiliated because of me, God of Israel.

7 For I have endured insults because of You, and shame has covered my face.

8 I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons

9 because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.

10 I mourned and fasted, but it brought me insults.

11 I wore sackcloth as my clothing, and I was a joke to them.

12 Those who sit at the city gate talk about me, and drunkards make up songs about me.

13 But as for me, Lord, my prayer to You is for a time of favor. In Your abundant, faithful love, God, answer me with Your sure salvation.

14 Rescue me from the miry mud; don’t let me sink. Let me be rescued from those who hate me, and from the deep waters.

15 Don’t let the floodwaters sweep over me or the deep swallow me up; don’t let the Pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, Lord, for Your faithful love is good; in keeping with Your great compassion, turn to me.

17 Don’t hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly!

18 Draw near to me and redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies.

19 You know the insults I endure—my shame and disgrace. You are aware of all my adversaries.

20 Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I waited for sympathy, but there was none; for comforters, but found no one.

21 Instead, they gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

22 Let their table set before them be a snare, and let it be a trap for their allies.

23 Let their eyes grow too dim to see, and let their loins continually shake.

24 Pour out Your rage on them, and let Your burning anger overtake them.

25 Make their fortification desolate; may no one live in their tents.

26 For they persecute the one You struck and talk about the pain of those You wounded.

27 Add guilt to their guilt; do not let them share in Your righteousness.

28 Let them be erased from the book of life and not be recorded with the righteous.

29 But as for me—poor and in pain— let Your salvation protect me, God.

30 I will praise God’s name with song and exalt Him with thanksgiving.

31 That will please Yahweh more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.

32 The humble will see it and rejoice. You who seek God, take heart!

33 For the Lord listens to the needy and does not despise His own who are prisoners.

34 Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them,

35 for God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah. They will live there and possess it.

36 The descendants of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will live in it.

Time to be THANKFUL

I came across a video this morning that perhaps you’ve seen. It’s of a beautiful, young woman named Sarah Churman. She has been deaf and through the grace of God and the wonder of modern technology she has been granted the ability to hear for the first time. Due to my own history with hearing problems, this video greatly affected me. I don’t usually share stuff like this, but felt that this was powerful enough to do so this time. Before reading further, please view the video now:

Sarah Churman video

Awesome, right? Sarah blogs about her experience and it’s great reading. Here’s an excerpt that was pretty neat:

“…We stopped to use the restroom and gas up and the toilet in the gas station about gave me a heart attack! The nurse warned me of this but I had already forgotten and totally freaked. Oh, and this reminds me, earlier when they first turned it on and I burped, totally freaked me out. I’ve been given a remote and I’m supposed to turn it up a notch every 4 days. Right now I’m at a low setting and they said if they were to turn it on full force my brain would freak. It’s like cold water in a pool… gotta slowly acclimate I guess? Oh, and on a sidenote… Lady Gaga sounds horrible on the radio! Just sayin. Sloan just kissed me good night… kisses sound all smacky like… weird… As I sit here beating the keys on the keyboard (not really, it just sounds that way), Skittles the Lovebird has been chirping, it’s so cute J I guess I’m keeping her up. Well, my hubby is in bed… guess I should join him. I’m thinking I’ll leave the device on and listen to him snore. I have to be the only wife that’s looking forward to that. God IS good. Thank you to everyone who has kept up with me on this journey… thanks for the prayers, support, etc. Can’t wait to get up tomorrow and hear the girl’s giggles.”

You can read Sarah’s complete blog here.

This story has so encouraged me to be thankful for the smallest of things today. Hearing birds, giggles, and even snoring… I’m just blown away. We have so much to be thankful for. Life is truly what we make of it. This lady will, I imagine, be expressing her gratefulness for a very long time. May we never neglect to appreciate all the incredible blessings that often go overlooked in our lives. What if we viewed each and every moment and ability as a precious gift from God?

Thanks for reading.

Personal Day Revelations

I'm called to be a disciple of Jesus. Although that word is familiar to the 'Christian' world, it is often not completely understood. Perhaps another word would make more sense?

Believer. Pupil. Student. Supporter. Devotee. Follower.

A disciple is really all of that, I think. One thing that I'm becoming more and more convinced of is this: Whatever a disciple is, it is 'that'... consistently.

Tuesdays are my day 'off'. This week, my Tuesday was like a fifteen-year-old broken-down Kirby vacuum... it sucked bad. Things just went wrong from the start. Stuff broke, I didn't feel good, and it couldn't end fast enough.

Then, Tuesday night the Elders of Desperation Church had planned an appreciation dinner for my wife & I and the other staff pastors. I wasn't even wanting to go, because of how bad my day had been, but I'm so glad I did. It was awesome. Not only were we fed great food, but we were prayed over and encouraged with God's Word in a very special way.

As I went home that night, reflecting on the horrible day I'd had, followed by the inspiring night, I decided to go through with my idea of taking Wednesday off as a 'personal day'. My goal was to work outdoors all day and get some much needed tree trimming, wood chopping, and various other odds & ends buttoned up before winter settles in. I did.

Something happens when you're all alone for 16 hours and you're doing nothing but hard physical labor. I chain-sawed branches, then cut them up, then carried logs and brush to the wood-pile for hours and hours. I dug enough dirt to fill my truck-bed up and make three trips to the dump. I built a new recessed fire-pit, with real stones and everything! Actually, when I think about it... I got a lot done. But much more than physical work got accomplished yesterday... yesterday, I had time alone with God.

I probably did most of the talking - some of it was yelling, as I swung a hatchet into some of the hardest wood I've ever seen - but God was there... and He was listening. And when I gave Him the chance... He even whispered a few things back into my stubborn heart. I don't know... maybe it was during one of the numerous times I had to take apart the chain-saw to tighten the chain, or when I broke the ax-handle because I kept missing the awl, or that time I had to pull over on the side of the highway and pick up a bunch of limbs that had fallen off the back of my truck ... but somewhere during my 'personal day'... I began to notice that even when things weren't going perfectly... I was okay.

This is BIG for me.

You see, to grasp the fact that "stuff happens" to us... regularly... and still we are to maintain an attitude that is Christ-pleasing and Jesus-like, is something that my head may know quite well, but my heart and flesh are still struggling with constantly. Truthfully, if I added it all up, more "bad" stuff happened to me on Wednesday than on Tuesday. However, my heart was different and my spirit was refreshed and hungry for the presence of God... so Wednesday was so much better.

There's something about just being quiet with God... alone with God... real with God, that is absolutely transforming. It is in the quiet times... the 'secret place'... that God reveals so much to us. Stuff about Himself. Stuff about ourselves. I'll be sharing some of what I'm learning about all this, this weekend at DC.

I've got a list, a reminder of sorts, that I want to share with you. I need to keep myself honest with the Lord and the world around me. My flesh and selfishness can squelch the Spirit within me and even crush those around me. In an instant, I can bring pain and sorrow to my life. This list serves as a guide for all that I am and all that I need to be. It reminds me what it is to be a radical and consistent disciple of Jesus:

• A disciple doubts.
• A disciple denies.
• A disciple forgets.
• A disciple fears.
• A disciple changes lives.
• A disciple denies himself.
• A disciple believes Jesus is Savior.
• A disciple heals.
• A disciple sometimes rants.
• A disciple leads.
• A disciple is human.
• A disciple hides away at times.
• A disciple loves.
• A disciple protects.
• A disciple sometimes cuts off ears.
• A disciple is radical.
• A disciple is lost.
• A disciple is always seeking.
• A disciple is being healed.
• A disciple leaves his life.
• A disciple follows Christ.
• A disciple dies for faith.
• A disciple messes up sometimes.
• A disciple is called to be a disciple.
• A disciple prays.
• A disciple leads others to Jesus.
• A disciple sometimes falls away from Christ.
• A disciple gets in the grill of others.
• A disciple asks for forgiveness.
• A disciple forgives.
• A disciple tells the truth.
• A disciple sometimes lies.
• A disciple will teach.
• A disciple will write.
• A disciple has no attachment to religion.
• A disciple has friends.
• A disciple is lonely.
• A disciple doesn't try to win the approval of men (Gal.1:10).
• A disciple sometimes cares too much what men think.
• A disciple fasts.
• A disciple questions.
• A disciple hopes.
• A disciple gets angry.
• A disciple does not worry.
• A disciple sometimes worries.
• A disciple doesn't worry about money.
• A disciple likes money way too much.
• A disciple gives up.
• A disciple perseveres.

My hope every day is to add and take away from this list. Today? They all pretty much fit. Tomorrow? God only knows. I do know this: I'm so not interested in being a great leader. I am very interested in being a great disciple.

Pew Potatoes Will Hate This!

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can his faith save him?" - James 2:14 (HCSB)

I think James hits it out of the park in this verse. He's asking a legitimate question: can you have faith that saves you outside of deeds? Well? I'm not so sure. When we live our lives devoid of deeds, of doing things for others, we leave ourselves spiritually paralyzed. We've got nothing to do, thus, we've got nothing to say. Who wants to listen to someone who supposedly has the answers, yet lives a boring, self-obsessed, stationary life? Not me.

I struggle daily with small concepts about faith, but the one I can hold on to is this one from James: do. Just do. It's that old saying, "Fake it 'till you make it." "Deeds" equal "you getting completely out of yourself," and when you step up into another's life, you are fulfilling a law of Christ.

The Church must grab hold of what I'm talking about here. We must force ourselves to understand living beyond ourselves everyday. Deeds will connect us to one another and cement ourselves to God's will.

The world sees people who go to church, living fulfilling functioning lives, making money - having relationships, getting it done - and everyone has a big, toothy grin doing it. It does look good. However, what if what we really need to show the world is life-changing functionality? We need to mirror Jesus in all our activities. This doesn't mean we wear robes, travel with a bunch of ragtag crazies, speak differently and live poor. It means we come clean about the sin in our lives and live out our faith... faith that is "seeable".

Inaction is a big deal. James tells us to help widows and orphans (James 1:27). Translation: get up and out and help people. We have become consumed with what faith looks like instead of what it is doing. God says the religion He wants comes in the form of helping people, not playacting with flat, empty, good-looking smiles filled with selfish desire, wrapped around nothing to say or do. He needs us in the trenches, thinking about others and leading them to the Master.

Yesterday I spent some time talking with some widows and single mothers on the phone. Many of these precious women just cried as I described how our church community was planning to invade their homes this Sunday and practically help them. One lady is legally blind and has a large tree that has fallen in her backyard. Neighbors are complaining and she can't even see what to do to fix it. She's blind and in a bind. When I described how we were going to take care of her problem, she wept and wouldn't stop thanking and praising God. Another single mother of two has issues with her gutters. She doesn't know how to clean them. Last year she said her full gutters led to water running onto her front door and it totally froze. She was stuck in her house, because she was literally frozen in! She also can't mow her lawn, because her mower stopped working. The 'city' is complaining and she can't afford to get it trimmed. Another single mother described a hole in her ceiling that simply needs to be patched up, but she's been unable to figure out how to get it done.

Each of these ladies, and others this Sunday, are going to be the recipients of a mass-movement of God's gang simply "doing". Isn't that awesome? Isn't that what abundant LIFE is really all about? Isn't that fulfilling the law of Christ in a way that causes this world to see, and maybe even thank and praise HIM?

I kinda think so.

Tweeting

For this week's blog, I would like to invite you to read a friend's blog.

You can find it here:

Click

Our God Reigns

Last night I led a new Discipleship class at Desperation Church. Only nine folks showed up, which was a bit disappointing (especially since three of them were in my immediate family and four others have been walking with the Lord for years and years). There were two people who are new to this Christian walk, however, and I was reminded of why I love Jesus and those who, with child-like faith, have fallen in love with Him. I pray that, as this bi-monthly class continues, the numbers will grow and better reflect the many who have begun this journey to know God in our community.

I've decided to briefly share, the following day, what our discipleship class conversed about. Last night we discussed what discipleship truly is... and what it is not. We talked about how a disciple is more than just a 'learner' or a 'student' of something or someone, but one who has abandoned all in order to learn from AND radically become like the one they are following.

As disciples of Jesus the Messiah then, our goal is not to gather together only to gain more and more head-knowledge, but to begin to discuss and discover ways in which we can literally be those that are becoming transformed into the very likeness of Him.

Practically what would that look like?

Would we say 'no' to a job opportunity that paid well and seemed great, if it required us to do something, even a small something, we felt was against what God was desiring of us? What if we had to work during corporate worship times? What if we had to be slightly dishonest in our sales-pitch?

If we were a teenage athlete, would we approach our coach and ask to get out of practice early on Wednesday nights so that we could attend Youth Group at church, because our relationship with God and God's people was vitally important to us? What if they said "no"? What if a scholarship were on the line?

Would we sacrifice a better life-style, in order to be a person who could give more, serve more, and love others practically to a greater degree?

What does it REALLY look like to be a disciple of Jesus - to be someone that actually abandons everything in order to walk in obedience to His Spirit's whispering?

We then talked about what the central truth, or the central message, of a disciple of Jesus really is: The universal reign of God. In other words, a true follower of Jesus is one who lives as though Jesus is in charge... of all. He's the King. He's the Boss. We may live in America, Australia, Africa, China, or anyplace else... but in REALITY we live in a Kingdom that is not really of this world - the Kingdom of God. And in His Kingdom, Jesus is King. He reigns.

I know... we've all heard that before, right? "JESUS REIGNS!" is a popular slogan and lyric for many of us. But do we live like it? Truth is, just taking a quick look around,... it sure doesn't seem like Jesus reigns. When I see the pain of the abused, the judgement towards others unlike ourselves in appearance or sexuality, and the corruptness and darkness of a world that has rejected God... I don't get visions of Jesus wearing a crown or sitting on a throne and smiling.

Why?

Because Jesus doesn't reign. Unless you and I let Him.

A disciple is one who announces the universal reign of God... with their words and with their lives. They are gaining head-knowledge, sure. However more than that, they are those that are becoming like Jesus. They are those that understand He is the King and what He says goes. They understand that what is actually taking place is a transformation; A Kingdom of princesses and princes who were once gutter-bums and ragamuffins are changing and becoming incredibly different than what they were... they are becoming Christ-like.

Today, may you and I be those that pronounce to this world that we have abandoned the passions of this culture and are pursuing a King Who loves us enough to die for us and then allows us to join Him in an incredible adventure by calling us to follow in His radical footsteps.

"How beautiful on the mountains

are the feet of the herald,
who proclaims peace,
who brings news of good things,
who proclaims salvation,

who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" - Isaiah 52:7 (HCSB)

Odd Tuesday

Usually my day off is Tuesday, however, yesterday being Labor Day, I took it off instead. I have been in the office all day, with a small exception of being out in the front lawn of the church for about 20 minutes working on a project. During that 20 minute span of time, a woman I have never met approached me and began telling me her story.

Her name is 'Abigail'. Her husband died four months ago. Two of her children have passed away. She is a lonely widow that occasionally attends another church in town. Last night she was driving on highway 152, when she passed a young woman walking, stumbling, and crying on the side of the road. Much like she felt she was to park her car and come speak with a sweaty, tattooed guy in a T-shirt working on a park bench in front of a church, she pulled over on the side of 152 highway to ask a young girl if she was okay.

Abigail picked this girl up. Her story now included a brand new character: 'Tina'. Tina is 19, homeless, hungry, sick with pneumonia, and desperately looking for a place to live, a place to work, and a place that will enable her life to improve. Abigail got Tina to a hospital and purchased food and medication for this hurting girl. However, now she didn’t know what to do.

Abigail introduced me to Tina. Now my story has two new characters in it: Abigail and Tina.

I spent a couple of hours on the phone with every local agency I could find, only to be extremely disappointed. As it turns out, to be homeless and get significant help is near impossible… but not totally. Unfortunately, Tina has been through the ringer. She’s dealt with alcoholism since she was eleven and endured the horrors of rape and severe abuse physically and emotionally.

She’s been hardened.

Religion and religious people are not anything that concerns her. She feels God is not ‘knowable’ and absolutely doesn't care about her or her situation. Life’s experiences have left Tina an agnostic to her bitter, hardened, hurting core. My words of ‘comfort’ were as useful as a screen-door on a submarine.

But today Tina’s story, Abigail’s story, and my story… all merged. Why?

I am reminded that I’m really just a tiny part in something much bigger than I often realize… God’s story. As I spoke with these lovely ladies, my heart broke for both of them. As a matter of fact, things got a little awkward when they each saw tears running down my face. After making numerous phone calls securing shelter for Tina, we simply sat down and talked. Each and every idea that I came up with would be shot down by this 19 year old, worldly-wise, un-knowingly desperate girl. She told me how she’d never go to any type of homeless shelter again, because the “people that work in those places treat people like me like we’re lower than dirt”. She said, “I may not have much, but I have my pride and my dignity and I won’t go to a place like that”. She was frustrated. Frustrated at her situation, at her helplessness, and at all those that said they wanted to help, but simply didn't. She then turned her frustration towards God and religion and began a line of questioning that would make a well-versed theologian with a few doctorates quake in their boots. My humble responses were, apparently, less than adequate and I, truly, felt more helpless than I've felt in quite some time. Physically, she would not let me help her. Spiritually, I was trying to be sincere, but came off ‘preachy’ and was absolutely not understood. Complete failure?

For all these reasons, my heart broke.

If these were my feelings, I imagined what God must feel when He sees His creation hurting like this. As things were unfolding, I also imagined how God’s heart must break each time He sees a child choose unwisely. We often talk about God’s power. I think that God would HAVE to be “all powerful” to endure the level of hurt and pain He must tolerate each day He has to look down upon our bad decisions and rebellion.

I'm also reminded that, like three out of the four 'soils' in Luke 8:4-15, sometimes people miss out on the 'good seed' of God's words because of their various negative responses to it. I guess I just never thought of how discouraging that might be for the 'Sower' of that seed. Truly, our God is all powerful and awesome to remain loving, when so many of us continue to not understand and willfully rebel.

Today has been odd. Not one of my favorite days, for sure. However, it has caused me to pause and view some things... and people... through the eyes of God.

I should do that more often.

The Nerve to Serve

I'm not sure who exactly reads this little blog. Only few comment, which is normal for blog-readers, I'm told. Actually, I read a few blogs myself, and rarely comment. So... there ya have it.

Anyways... if you read this blog, and do NOT attend Desperation Church in Liberty, Missouri - the following will seem as tho it's not for you, however, I'd REALLY appreciate your input as well. If you simply click 'COMMENT' below, and then sign in as 'ANONYMOUS' your comment will be much appreciated.

Here we go:

For almost three years our church has dedicated the fourth weekend's services to leaving the walls of our building and going out into our community to practically show the love of God. We call these weekends: DC-W.O.W. (Desperation Church With Out Walls). These weekends have included service projects that vary from giving away groceries to cleaning up our town's 'square' after the Fall Festival, from raking leaves to providing a relaxing meal for the parents of 'special needs' children, from giving baby clothes to young mothers to yard-work at local nursing homes. We've done all this and so much more.

I felt that God gave me a vision for this unique way of reaching out. It was almost as if I felt it as a 'mandate'... like something I 'had' to do. It hasn't been easy. Some, initially, hated this idea and didn't understand why we had to do this during regular church hours. Others never gave it a chance and immediately left our fellowship. Many did, however, grasp the vision and have been faithful to serve and do their best to make a "loud noise for Jesus" in our small community. Over the past three years, numbers have dwindled. Some times we have less than 100 people show up for a DC-W.O.W. weekend. Actually,... our numbers overall at Desperation Church have dwindled, but that might be due to a number of other reasons. I still feel that this was a vision that God gave me for our church. Something inside of me tells me to never judge the success of something based on 'numbers' or on if it makes 'men' happy.

Galations 1:10 - "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Some things are going to change at Desperation Church.

Jon Petersen has been the pastor on staff that oversees DC-W.O.W. He has done a marvelous job! However, it was never his vision. It was mine. Hiring someone else to oversee and orchestrate a vision that God has given me, may not have been something I was supposed to do. Again, Jon has done an outstanding job. He has been more than faithful to doing all that has been asked of him. However, when we find ourselves working on something that is not what God has called 'us' to do, it can often lead to burn-out and discouragement (especially when numbers of volunteers begin to dwindle). Jon's heart has always been for youth and young adults. He came to Desperation Church with over 15 years of experience ministering to young people. In a sense, this is what makes his heart beat fast, what he enjoys, what he is called to do. So... he'll be stepping into more of a youth minister's role. Along with his responsibilities of overseeing small groups and other ministries at DC, Jon will now lead the many wonderful volunteers we have in ministering to the numerous young people that attend our church. I am so excited about this, as a pastor and as a parent of teens!

This all means that my job description is going to change as well. I will now be the DC-W.O.W. Director. Along with planning and preparing weekly messages for the folks that attend our weekend services, I will be overseeing this monthly outreach ministry that has been birthed within my heart. I'm excited... and a bit nervous. "Can I adequately feed those that come to be spiritually fed on the weekends, AND organize and administrate a major monthly outreach?"

Please pray.

Besides your prayers, here's where I NEED you (If there is anyone still reading at this point). I need your ideas. I want our community to look at our church and see Jesus! I want them to see that we are not all a bunch of selfish, self-absorbed, money-grubbing know-it-alls, but rather, imperfect people endeavoring to love God whole-heartedly while loving those outside our walls radically! Even if you don't attend DC, I'd love to have you give some suggestions. It really is a difficult thing to pull off monthly, when we don't have much in the way of resources, but what if we could truly point our community to the living Jesus by showing them He's alive in us and loving them through us?

I'll be asking certain ones to help me with putting your ideas into action, but I must have your ideas. You live in this area. You know folks that need to see Jesus. What are some ways the 'church' could help this happen... in a practical way?

Here's 5 things to keep in mind when thinking about ideas for DC-W.O.W.:

1. Would this outreach meet a real need in our community?
2. Would this outreach promote unity within our church & without it?
3. Would this outreach involve all ages and abilities? If not, then what will we do with children and those who are unable to physically be involved?
4. How much would this outreach cost?
5. Would this outreach be something that hundreds of volunteers could be involved in?

Now, it's your turn... I can't wait to hear from you. Thank you so much!

EPIC FAIL

Ever fail?

I’m talking about falling flat on your face and really screwing things up? This happens to all of us at one time or another. The difference between an average person and one that achieves great things seems to be their perception of and response to failure. Most of us were never taught how to deal with blowing it big time, but if it’s something that we are all going to do at least once in our lives, then why don’t we talk more about “dealing with failure”?

I have failed… much more than once. Sometimes, after counseling or simply talking with someone about an incredibly important subject, once they’ve left… I feel that I failed; “I should have said…” or “I wish I hadn’t said…”. Sometimes after preaching a sermon I feel the same way; “Man, I don’t think I made any sense” or “Why would anyone listen to someone as boring as I was today?”

The truth is that failure is something that all of us must deal with… pretty regularly. J.M. Barrie said, “We are all failures – at least, all the best of us are.” Failure is far more common than success, much like poverty is more prevalent than wealth. However, the difference between those that seem to rise above the crowd and those that continue to meander amidst or below it, is often how an individual views a mistake.

I love movies. I also love comic books. Whenever the two merge, I am first in line. My sons and I have been to the 12:01am showing of almost every superhero movie since they have been old enough to wear their Spider-Man underoos! This past week a comic movie came out, that I have not seen: Conan The Barbarian. The reason I haven’t seen this movie is because the Conan comic was never one of my favorites, and I have heard that the movie was going to be extremely violent [I am not a fan of blood and guts movies].

Well… I guess I'm not alone. The movie is currently bombing at the Box Office. All that money invested in this movie is being flushed down the toilet by horrible critic reviews and audiences giving it a unified ‘thumbs down’. This makes me sorta sad for those involved with a movie like this. For this reason, I was greatly moved when I read a statement by screenwriter Sean Hood, via Quora, offering up a unique insight into something we don't often see with people involved with movies like Conan the Barbarian...his thoughts on what it was like to see the movie "flop". It showed me a man who is currently living smack-dab in the middle of failure and his mature response. I want to share a portion of his statement, in hopes that we’ll all learn something that I believe is really important:

“…For the next couple of days, you walk in a daze, and your friends and family offer kind words, but mostly avoid the subject. Since you had planned (ardently believed, despite it all) that success would propel you to new appointments and opportunities, you find yourself at a loss about what to do next. It can all seem very grim.

You make light of it, of course. You joke and shrug. But the blow to your ego and reputation can't be brushed off. Reviewers, even when they were positive, mocked Conan The Barbarian for its lack of story, lack of characterization, and lack of wit. This doesn't speak well of the screenwriting - and any filmmaker who tells you s/he "doesn't read reviews" just doesn't want to admit how much they sting.

Unfortunately, the work I do as a script doctor is hard to defend if the movie flops. I know that those who have read my Conan shooting script agree that much of the work I did on story and character never made it to screen. I myself know that given the difficulties of rewriting a script in the middle of production, I made vast improvements on the draft that came before me. But its still much like doing great work on a losing campaign. All anyone in the general public knows, all anyone in the industry remembers, is the flop. A loss is a loss.

But one thought this morning has lightened my mood:

My father is a retired trumpet player. I remember, when I was a boy, watching him spend months preparing for an audition with a famous philharmonic. Trumpet positions in major orchestras only become available once every few years. Hundreds of world class players will fly in to try out for these positions from all over the world. I remember my dad coming home from this competition, one that he desperately wanted to win, one that he desperately needed to win because work was so hard to come by. Out of hundreds of candidates and days of auditions and callbacks, my father came in....second.

It was devastating for him. He looked completely numb. To come that close and lose tore out his heart. But the next morning, at 6:00 AM, the same way he had done every morning since the age of 12, he did his mouthpiece drills. He did his warm ups. He practiced his usual routines, the same ones he tells his students they need to play every single day. He didn't take the morning off. He just went on. He was and is a trumpet player and that's what trumpet players do, come success or failure.

Less than a year later, he went on to win a position with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he played for three decades. Good thing he kept practicing.

So with my father's example in mind, here I sit, coffee cup steaming in its mug and dog asleep at my feet, starting my work for the day, revising yet another script, working out yet another pitch, thinking of the future (the next project, the next election) because I'm a screenwriter, and that's just what screenwriters do. In the words of Ed Wood, "My next one will be BETTER!"”

Wow.

One of the greatest problems people have with failure is that they are too quick to judge isolated situations in their lives and label them as failures. Instead, they need to keep the bigger picture in mind. When you and I fail, we are not ‘failures’. We may have failed at doing something, but we are not failures. There is a big difference.

I love how Scripture tells us that Jesus instructed His closest friends to shake the dust from their feet and simply go to the next house if they were to fail at bringing someone to an understanding of their Message (Mark 6:11). Why did Jesus tell them this? Could it be that He understood how hard we humans take it when we don't succeed at the things we're endeavoring to accomplish? Jesus knew the truth, which is: At times, we’ll fail... But how you and I respond when we do is what will determine any future success we will have.

May you and I be those that turn our failures into learning moments, and eventually stepping stones for the success that will lead to our God receiving the glory due Him through our lives!

Shaken Not Stirred

I'm a pastor.

One of the 'jobs' of a pastor is providing solid, Biblical, relevant teaching to various numbers of people. I've been doing that, on a regular basis, since 1989. You'd think after that amount of time it would be something that I'm comfortable with, and feel confident in. However, I find myself nervous each and every time I am required to stand before folks and talk... about God.

Over the years I've shared this nervousness with certain friends. I'm often told that I "don't seem nervous" or that I "have no reason to be nervous". But it doesn't help.

My knees are knocking each and every time I preach.

This morning a friend shared the following quote, by the incredible A.W. Tozer, with me via email:

"I've been preaching since I was nineteen years old and now I'm sixty-three. And yet, after all these years of preaching, I come into the pulpit shaking inside - not because I fear the people, but because I fear God. It's the fear and trembling of knowing that I stand to speak of God and if I don't speak rightly about God, what a terrible error it will be. If I speak evilly of God, what a frightful crime! It is only when I speak well of God that I dare sleep at night without asking forgiveness." [ "The Attributes of God" Vol. 2 ]

I am so thankful for this quote. It comforts me. It encourages me. It gives me hope. It rings wonderfully true in my heart.

As followers of God, you and I are going to be given multiple opportunities to speak into the lives of others. At times those opportunities will position us before large numbers of folks, and at other times we'll be one-on-one with them. There need not be a sense of fear in us, but perhaps there should be a sense of awe and trembling, as we recognize that we are ambassadors. We, literally, are representing the greatest, most powerful, most awesome and mysteriously loving Being ever to those that are desperate... whether they know it or not.

May the whispers of hope reach the ears of hope-hungry people through you and I, and may we never take lightly the remarkable calling we've been given.

I Wanna Rock

After an eight day sabbatical and a one week vacation, I'm finding it sorta difficult to prepare for the weekend's message. An older man at the gym this morning said to me, "After all that riding on your motorcycle, you must have a hundred sermons ready to preach!"

I wish.

I did indeed ride my Harley Davidson 4,384 miles, through 13 states, over eight days. And it was an awesome time to be alone, reflect, think, meditate, and enjoy the Master's creation as I've never done before. However, although I spent much time in prayer, listened to the entire New Testament on my iPod, and worshipped with some amazing music and scenery,...I wasn't exactly 'sermonizing'.

This morning I decided to just quiet myself... and hang out with the Lord. Pray. Sometimes when I do this, I find myself slightly rocking back and forth. This rhythmic rocking reminds me of some of the "intercessors" I'd see at the hyper-pentecostal prayer meetings I used to attend. I say, "used to attend", because I don't find myself at those types of prayer meetings anymore. I found them unauthentic and tedious, and, I believe, my conversations with the Father were never meant to be like that... so I simply stopped attending.

But the "rocking thing"... has sorta stuck. Weird?

I have found that the Jews have a practice, called davening. For them, the rocking motion during prayer is a way of expressing that one's whole self, body and soul, is caught up with God. The movement of the body mimics the flickering flame of a candle, calling to mind the saying that "the candlestick of God is the soul of a man."

I do like the idea of "one's whole self" being caught up with God. In a sense, raptured [1 Thessalonians 4:17-18]. I know, I know... that's not what that particular word is supposed to mean. Forgive me. But how I long for moments now... in this life... where I am literally 'caught up' with God. Moments when I forget the stresses I deal with daily. Moments when I lose all sense of time. Moments when I just sort of 'wait' on God... and He strengthens me, encourages me, and holds me tightly as He whispers the things that truly matter in life straight into my calloused ears and hardened heart [Isaiah 40:31].

So today, I have a lot to get done. But right now... all I wanna do is rock.

See ya!

Christian Nation?

In the week following the celebration of our nation’s birthday, I am hearing quite a few folks hating on America; its president, legal-system (the jurors who handed down a not-guilty murder verdict for Casey Anthony), and our country’s straying from its founding principles. I’m finding it a little discouraging. Just a couple of nights ago I was gazing at fireworks and listening to “God Bless America” being played over loud speakers at a football stadium and now I’m hearing television reporters declare that “the devil is dancing” as he celebrates all that America has become.

I have always found it interesting that people refer to this country as a ‘Christian nation’. To be honest, I wonder if it ever was. I appreciate those that have gone before us and been committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. However, has this nation ever really been “Christian”?

Please take a few moments to look at the following quotes from some of this nation’s founding fathers and others who’ve helped, or seem to be helping to, shape this country:

“Mystery [the divinity of Jesus Christ] is made a convenient Cover for absurdity.” – John Adams

“The Bible is not my book, nor Christianity my profession.” – Abraham Lincoln

“If I should go out of church whenever I hear a false sentiment, I could never stay there five minutes.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“This story of the redemption will not stand examination. That man should redeem himself from the sin of eating an apple, by committing a murder on Jesus Christ, is the strangest system of religion ever set up.” – Thomas Paine

“The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one.” – George Bernard Shaw

“But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” – Thomas Jefferson

“Every other sect supposes itself in possession of all truth, and that those who differ are so far in the wrong; like a man traveling in foggy weather, those at some distance before him on the road he sees wrapped up in the fog, as well as those behind him, and also the people in the fields on either side, but near him all appears clear, tho’ in truth he is as much in the fog as any of them.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Religious hatreds ought not to be propagated at all, but certainly not on a tax-exempt basis.” – James A. Michener

“The need for religion will end when man becomes sensible enough to govern himself.” – Francisco Ferrer Guardia

“The way to see by Faith is to shut the Eye of Reason.” – Benjamin Franklin

“The government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” – John Adams

Why are we [Christians] so surprised when our nation, its government officials, or any of its inhabitants act in a way that is contrary to God’s Word? Is it because there are a few vague statements in our founding documents that refer to God? Is it because the very first inhabitants of this land came here from England seeking a place they could worship freely? [Wait a minute… they weren’t really the first inhabitants of the land, were they? Some would say that we sorta stole it from the ‘first inhabitants’, in our effort to ‘worship freely’,… but let’s not talk about that.]

I would suggest the thing we have been calling ‘Christianity’… isn’t really very ‘Christ-like’ at all. Former slave, Frederick Douglas, said it perfectly, “Between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference – so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked… I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ; I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land ‘Christianity’.” – Frederick Douglas, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave, Written by Himself (1845; New York: Signet, 1968), 120.

Has anything changed? How authentically ‘Christ-like’ is America today? How genuinely ‘like Jesus’ are those who profess to follow Him?

According to their web-site, The 700 Club can be seen in 96 percent of the homes in the U.S. and is carried on ABC Family cable network, FamilyNet, Trinity Broadcasting Network, plus numerous local U.S. television stations, and is seen daily by approximately one million viewers. CBN WorldReach broadcasts, which include international editions of The 700 Club, have aired in more than 100 languages, can be seen in over 200 countries, and are accessible throughout the year to more than 1.5 billion people around the world. On August 22, 2005 Pat Robertson bluntly stated, “We have the ability to take [Hugo Chavez] out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability.” That is an interesting opinion, and one that I do not share. Why? Because it doesn’t exactly seem to be something Jesus would do.

Ann Coulter, a radio/television talking head who claims Christian beliefs and is praised by numerous conservative Christian personalities, states, “We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. We weren’t punctilious about locating and punishing only Hitler and his top officers. We carpet-bombed German cities; we killed civilians. That’s war. And this is war.”

Jerry Falwell, an evangelical fundamentalist Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and a conservative commentator from the United States , stated, “You’ve got to kill the terrorists before the killing stops. And I’m for the President to chase them all over the world. If it takes ten years, blow them all away in the name of the Lord.” What ever happened to turning the other cheek, and much of Jesus’ message in Luke 6?

Why do Christ-followers concern themselves so deeply with the kingdoms of this world, but seemingly ignore the Kingdom of God? Listen, I’m not saying that we rise up and revolt against our American government, because they are not Christian. Absolutely not. I am saying that many of the voices that supposedly represent ‘Christianity’ are saying things that aren’t necessarily all that Christ-like. Are we not called to be “in the world, but not of this world”? We submit to Christ first, and as we live as aliens and strangers to the powers of this world, we submit to our governing authorities second.

Someone much wiser than me has said, “You can’t blame a sinner for sinning”. I believe that is true. I can’t go to Chic-Fil-A and complain that they don’t make good tacos. They don’t make tacos! That’s not their thing! In much the same way, I can’t complain about my government or country for acting like something they simply aren’t. All I can do is submit to my God-given authorities, always understanding that my life is woven into a larger tapestry of being a Christian who lives as an alien and stranger to the ways of this world.

I was listening to someone talk about how dreadful it would be if America ever elected a Mormon into the White House, or God-forbid, a Muslim. My response is, “Why?” What difference is there between them and any other person who isn’t sold out for the cause of Jesus Christ? None. What difference is there between them and someone who claims a belief in Christ, but finds no problems with lying, cheating or some other ‘sin’? None.

It’s a country… that’s it. Ever heard the saying, ‘a house is just a house, but, the family within that house is what makes it a home’? So too, this country is just a country. This planet of ours has lots of countries… and Jesus died for the people that reside in all of them. What truly matters is our God, and His eternal, unseen Kingdom. It would be nice if the supposedly ‘Christian-talking heads’ spoke about that Kingdom a little more often, and stopped dramatizing how awful America is.

Jesus isn’t American… Chic-Fil-A doesn’t make tacos… the United States isn’t a Christian nation… but I’m still darn lucky to live here and proud of those who've made that possible. However, what I'm most proud of is not my nationality, but the fact that I've been adopted into God's family and am called a child of God. My first desire will always be to see "His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven".

Getting Cussed Out

Last night, after our church get-together, I had a pretty interesting incident. I was cussed out by a real pro. Some folks from Desperation Church were able to witness a woman give me a verbal smack-down. One of them, Marcus, writes about the incident in his own blog, found here.

I can't get the incident out of my mind. It was sorta traumatic.

I'm reminded how much easier it is to act 'loving' and 'like a Christian' to those who are loving back to us, and how hard it is to act loving to those you'd rather duct tape to an ant hill and smear their ears with jam.

I'm not sure how Jesus did it, but I long for His strength and attitude to reside within me so much more than it currently does.

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" - Luke 6:27-28

Birthday Treasure

So, as of tomorrow I'm married to a 42 year old woman. That's right, Kelli is 42. We have been married since 1990, which means that for more than half of her life she has been with me.

Scary, right?

The Bible has a little verse that says, "Where your treasure is, there your heart shall be also". For over two decades my treasure has been Kelli, and her treasure has been me. Guess what... our hearts have remained madly in love with each other for all these years.

In the past few years I've seen more marriages come to an abrupt and devastating end than I had ever imagined possible. Couple after couple, that once declared undying love for one another, have thrown in the towel. Most of these couples consisted of two people who not only claimed love for one another, but for Jesus Christ as well.

What does that even mean, I wonder: "love for Jesus Christ"?

Maybe I'm wrong, but doesn't it mean that they had more than just deep feelings for Jesus, but that they also were willing to lay down their lives, desires, and passions... for the will and cause of God? I think so.

What if it's true? What if "where your treasure is, there your heart shall be also"? Like, what if the things you and I are spending our time thinking about, spending our money upon, spending our energies pursuing... are actually clues to where our hearts really are?

Do you know how easy it is for your heart, my heart, to stray? Pretty stinkin' easy. For this reason, we must be those who are extremely careful with what we are treasuring.

For more than two decades, my wife has treasured me... and I her. For this reason, we remain madly in love. It's not an accident. It's not because we got real lucky in finding each other (which we did). It is because we have made a conscious decision to treasure one another. In other words, we work hard to make sure that we each are at the top of the priority list, we each are the most important items on each day's agenda.

The same is true for Christ. Our hearts remain "hard after Him", not because we are super-spiritual, or fanatically faithful... but because we make conscious decisions daily to lay our lives down and put His will and ways above our own.

I'm glad Kelli was born 42 years ago. I'm glad we shared a Sociology Class in 1988. I'm overjoyed that she said "yes" to a date, and later "I do" to a life-long life with me. But I'm even more glad that she wakes up each day and still chooses to make her deepest treasure Jesus... and then me. For this reason, I know where her heart lies.

I don't ever have to wonder about that... and I'm really glad.

Happy Birthday, Kelli. I love you 5. Thanks for being you - everything about you is the coolest thing!

Girl Meets God

For a number of years I've been a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ. Then a few years back I became interested in Judaism. The idea of learning more about the religion that Jesus, Himself, was a part of intrigued me. As I delved deeper into the Jewish background and roots of the Christian faith, it only expanded my understanding of the Messiah that I love.

I have read numerous books, and a few have been incredibly helpful to me. Don Finto's "Your People Shall Be My People" was revolutionary and a must-read for beginners to this topic. Another book, Athol Dickson's "The Gospel According to Moses" took it to a whole other level, as they say. I have read, and re-read that one and am blown away each time. Other books by Brad Young and Ron Mosely have been helpful, but not quite as engaging.



Then yesterday, at a thrift store downtown, I picked up Lauren F. Winner's, "A Memoir: Girl Meets God". I have not finished it yet, but am so excited to be reading something as engaging and informative as anything I've read in some time. So far, I recommend it highly. God bless!

Love Wins - and anonymous cowards

Today I came into my office and had an anonymous letter sitting on my office chair. The letter was addressed to me, but with no return address. No name. Inside the envelope was a copied article, written by Ray Comfort, concerning Rob Bell's book, Love Wins. The article was titled, "Rob Bell Has Bad News for the Jews" (or something like that).

I skimmed the first two sentences and then quickly wadded up the article and threw it in the trash. It was garbage.

Here's why I feel this way:

First, Ray Comfort is not someone that I believe should be listened to. He promotes an evangelism formula called "The Way of the Master", which ironically, is exactly the way the Master did NOT evangelize. His ministry is one that I would never support, let alone recommend ANYONE be involved with. I think Mr. Comfort's ideas, teachings, and conclusions are bogus, anti-Biblical, and dangerous to say the very least.

Second, if someone wants me to read something, or discuss a topic, then have enough courage to sign your name or come in and talk with me. I will not take the time to read extremely long articles or books that are left and "emails" sent to me by anonymous folks. Sorry, but that's how it is.

Third, please stop sending me articles concerning Rob Bell's book and other hot-topics. I have a computer. I know how to research and study. I don't need 50 counter-viewpoints shared with me every time I stand up and declare something. I would spend 20 hours a week reading all the "stuff" people send me. That's not going to happen. If you have a legitimate question and feel it merits a discussion. My door is open. Come in and let's talk face-to-face.

As for Rob Bell's book, Love Wins, Love does indeed win. Chew up the meat and spit out the bones. Nothing major in my belief system is altered by what Rob claims in his newest book. Nothing has changed with what I've been teaching, as pastor of Desperation Church, for well over a decade. I will always support the message of 'love' and the message that the Kingdom of God is happening NOW. Real, authentic life does not begin when you take your 'last' breath, but your 'next' breath.

Thanks for reading.

Michael Craft

Big-Time Blessings

I was blessed today... big time!

I decided to take my family out to lunch today after church. This is becoming a rare thing for the Crafts, due to it costing so much to take all 7 of us out. When we are able to go, we usually have to wine & dine at such wonderful places like the Bell of Tacos.

Today, May 1st, is payday. I decided to splurge and go to Minsky's Pizza - the only place I know of that serves great pizza... on WHEAT crust! It's really great, and a bit more healthy. When my family arrived we ran into four of our DC family chowing down. The pic here is of them. They were finishing up and we were just getting started, but it was cool to laugh and visit with them for a moment.

They left.

We ate.

When I went to pay... our bill had been taken care of.

Totally.

Thanks guys.

Thanks God.

>"Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice." - Psalm 112:5

"A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself." - Proverbs 11:16-17

"He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God." - Proverbs 14:31

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done." - Proverbs 19:17

"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor." - Proverbs 22:9

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." - 1 Peter 4:9

"But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" - Matthew 6:3

You Say It's Your Birthday...

"A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth." - Ecclesiastes 7:1

Today, April 8th, is my birthday. It's funny how the older one gets, the more anticlimactic birthdays become. I've always believed that they (whoever 'they' are) should make it so that no one has to work on their birthday. That should go for all that person's loved ones as well. Everyone associated with the birthday boy or girl should have the day off, in order for them to be catered to, as royalty. From the moment a person wakes up on their birthday, there should be music, dancing, presents, cake, and various adult beverages showered upon them. Poems and other works of art should be created in their honor and shared from the highest of rooftops for all to hear and see. Radio stations should be given a list of songs, favorites of the birthday honoree, to be played continuously all the day long. Upon seeing proof of birth date, all restaurants should provide all-you-can-eat-free buffets, all amusement parks, movie theaters, and zoos should provide free admittance, and Starbucks should always throw in an extra shot for nothing!

A person's birthday should be... awesome! When you lay your head down on your pillow at the end of your birthday, you should be in a deliriously joyful haze... wishing you could do it all over again, and again, and again.

But in the real world, you have to go to work... and dump the garbage... and the restaurant you picked for breakfast only had one waitress working 'cause all the rest called in sick, and she's not about to sing to you, let alone bring you a free dish of vanilla ice cream with a small candle in it.

I wonder if that's why the Holy Spirit inspired the joy-inspiring pessimist who wrote the poem of Ecclesiastes to say that a person's death-day was actually better than their birth-day? Or maybe they just realized that death, although a sad thing, is a better time to reflect on a person's life, character,... good name? I mean, as sad as the death of a pre-born or young child may be, the death of one who has lived a longer life is of greater sadness, at least in the Jewish mindset. Why? Because, the longer one lives the better we are able to know their character. This quote from Mendele Mokher Seforim says, “Among the Jews, a birthday is no holiday, but the anniversary of a death, that a Jew remembers.” *

On this, my birthday, I am reminded that I'm getting older. Statistics state that I may well have passed the half-way point of this life. So, I'm asking questions today. Questions like: If it were not my birth-day, but my death-day... what would I have left behind? How is my character? Is my name good, better than fine perfume? In other words, does my reputation stink... or not? I desperately want to be a man that reeks... of the fragrance of Jesus. I long for Him to be what consumes my thoughts and my behaviors.

When all that becomes the case, perhaps I'll be able to say, along with the apostle Paul, "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" (1 Corinthians 15:55), because my death-day will be better than any birth-day I've ever had, or could have ever imagined!

*Telushkin, Joseph. Jewish Wisdom. New York: W. Morrow, 1994.

Preparing for my upcoming mission's trip has been a lot of fun. The tsunami and subsequent melt-down of nuclear plants in Tokyo, Japan has made this time a little stressful for my loved ones. For this reason, and so that they'll know how to pray, I'm putting a detailed schedule here for them to follow. I love you all and do appreciate your prayers.

Thursday, March 17th, 4:30am - Meet Lee Trotter & Check in at KC's Airport

6:20am - Continental Flight #2208 to New Jersey - arrive at 10:00am
11:10am - United flight #3869 to Tokyo, Japan - arrive at 2:10pm March 18th
5:55pm - Nippon Airways flight #0949 to Manilla, Philippines - arrive at 9:55pm

Take shuttle to New World Hotel Makati City Manila for a good night's sleep

Saturday,March 19, 9am - Meet Pastor Rey Descalzo in lobby of hotel, then drive 9 hours from Manila to Aritao (Rey's home & church, and our base for next 2 weeks)

Sunday, March 20 - Sunday Service

Monday, March 21 - Visit and Pray with Governor, LLuisa LLoren Cuaresma

Tuesday, March 22 - Crusade Begins (People arrive from all over to participate in a Basketball tournament, receive free food, and attend outdoor services)

Wednesday, March 23 - Crusade (Basketball/Crusade Ministry continues)

Thursday, March 24 - Crusade (Basketball/Crusade Ministry continues)

Friday, March 25 - All- Day Youth Fellowship Revival

Saturday, March 26 - DJR Christian School-1st Grand Alumni Parade (1991-2011)

Sunday, March 27 - Sunday Service & Nursery, Kinder Thanksgiving Day

Monday, March 28 - DJR Christian School(Graduation Day - ministry to graduates and pastors/alumni)

Tuesday, March 29 - Family Day
Wednesday, March 30 Travel day, 9 our drive to Manila

Thursday, March 31 - Begin the return trip Home:

9:45am - Nippon Airways flight #0950 to Tokyo, Japan - arrive at 3:00pm
3:55pm - United flight #3814 to Houston, Texas - arrive at 1:50pm March 31
3:30pm - United flight #4658 to Kansas City - arrive at 5:26pm March 31