Firestone and Tanzania

I had the privilege of playing Firestone South yesterday. Jay Biggs, one of the pros at the club, graciously invited me to be part of a foursome. The course was spectacular and the day pristine. But the reason we gathered to play golf was far more important than any score we shot (thank heavens!).

This Fall, Trent, Andy and Jay are putting together a golf outing at Firestone to raise resources for Compassion International's AIDS initiative in Tanzania, Africa. These three guys are convinced that they can secure more than $100,000 through this effort--and after spending the afternoon with them, I'm convinced as well.

What I love about these guys is that they're taking the gifts and abilities God has given them and putting them to use to build God's Kingdom now and forever.

So keep your eyes and ears open for more details on this upcoming event. We'll have a lot of fun and help children on the margins of society in the process.

The clock has struck midnight

I just received news that Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter, Maria, was struck and killed by a Sport Utility Vehicle in her family's driveway yesterday afternoon. I am sick to my stomach with grief. Maria, at age five, is the youngest of three daughters the Chapmans adopted from China. The SUV that struck her was being driven by her older brother who did not see her.

Steven and his wife MaryBeth began Shaohannah's Hope adoption advocate ministry and have been a profound and impactful voice for caring for children at risk. www.shaohannah'shope.org

While I'm writing this entry I'm at the same time listening to Steven's amazing song Cinderella which he wrote for his daughters. Here are the lyrics:

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays,
Without a care in the world.
And I'm sittin' here wearin' the weight of the world on my shoulders.
It's been a long day and there's still work to do,
She's pulling at me saying "Dad I need you!
There's a ball at the castle and I've been invited and I need to practice my dancin'"
"Oh please, daddy, please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms'
Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song,
Cuz all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I'd approve of a dress
She says "Dad, the prom is just one week away,
And I need to practice my dancin'"
"Oh please, daddy, please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Ohh-oh ohh-oh,
I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song,
Cuz all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
She will be gone.

Well, she came home today
With a ring on her hand
Just glowin' and tellin' us all they had planned
She says "Dad, the wedding's due six months away
And I need to practice my dancin'"
"Oh please, daddy please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Ohh-oh ohh-oh,
I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song, (even one song)
Cuz all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

The clock has struck midnight for little Maria. She is gone from this life but not from the life that Jesus gives for all of eternity.

Please pray with me.

Oh God, our hearts break for the Chapman family. Our hearts break with your heart. Please hold little Maria in your arms. Wrap your arms of care around Steven, MaryBeth and their children. Heal their son who was driving the SUV. Let them all know the depths of your love.

Father, help us to love those around us knowing that the "clock could strike midnight" at any time. Help us to "not miss a dance" with those we love.

In Jesus name,
Amen.

By name

I recently had a young lady approach me after one of our weekend services. She was somewhat emotional as she said, "Pastor Greg, I want to tell you how God has used you to change my life." I was prepared for her to tell me how God had been speaking to her through the weekend teaching times . . . that wasn't it at all. She continued: "About a year and a half ago you came into the store where I was working in the mall--Bath And Bodyworks. You were buying gift baskets for some of your staff." (By the way, they were having a 70% off sale. Very nice. Frugal but not cheap.) "I was having a bad day and you made it a point to call me by name. You were nice to me."

She went on to explain that after I left the store she went online and found RiverTree Christian. For the first time in years she attended a church service . . . at RiverTree. She's been attending and turning her life over to God ever since.

I share this story with you simply to make us all aware of the difference that small kindnesses can make in a person's life. I didn't lead her through a bunch of scriptures. I didn't leave a "Jesus tract" on the counter. I simply called her by name.

"Little things"

I spent a great deal of time this past weekend reflecting on what makes many moms "heroic." What it boils down to are all of the "little things" that moms do to pour into our lives that help us become the people that God created us to be.

For instance, my mom:

*Encouraged me to read comic books when I was in my early teens. Later on that translated into a love for reading in general.

*Memorized Bible verses with me. Verses that I hid in my heart . . .

*Bought and slogged through extra workbooks to help me with math and language arts. In other words, she spent time with me on my homework and beyond.

*Instilled in me a belief that with God's help absolutely ANYTHING was possible in my life. To this day I hold to that truth.

Would love to hear some of the "heroic" "little things" that your mom did for you!

Consumer or consumed?

Most people when asked the question: What is the most pressing disease that needs cured in America today? Would respond: Cancer!

I would contend that the most insidious disease destroying our country is consumerism. And I believe that we must start listing consumerism as a very serious illness.

We are quick to label many addictions as diseases (and rightfully so). We can easily discern the devastating results of addictive behavior. We can point to a person who is struggling and say, "They need help."

But when it comes to consumerism . . . not only do we not view it as negative--we encourage it! (Go ahead, spend your rebate check on a new TV.)

And yet, the results of consumerism are destroying millions upon millions of individual lives and families. (The number one reason cited for divorce in America today is financial pressures.)

Julie and I just paid off our Saturn VUE. The only debt we now carry is on our home. No credit card debt. No home equity line of credit. No family loans. The result? Freedom that leads to health.

The antidote to consumerism? To be consumed by the things of God. In practical terms, to live by the Biblical financial principles of "enough is enough," generosity and appropriate saving.

When it comes to the disease of consumerism--how healthy are you?

The answer to our prayers?

I gathered with about 50 other Jesus followers this morning to spend an hour in prayer. It was nothing short of amazing.

What made this morning so special was that we invited five of our ministry partners to join us so that we could simply pray for whatever they needed. The leader of each ministry took two minutes to tell us about their most pressing challenge.

Gary Porter, from the Christian Children's Home, asked us to pray for 30 families that would be willing to become forever homes for children eight years of age or older.

Jill Taylor, from the Pregnancy Support Center, asked us to pray for more servant volunteers.

Terry Hunka, from ChildReach Ministries, asked us to pray for the needed financial resources for children in Peru who are desperate for life altering surgeries--procedures that cost about $250 each.

As I was sitting at the table praying, God just wrecked my heart. I couldn't help but think that God has already answered every prayer we were praying. There are more than enough families in the church to care for every foster child in need. There are more than enough Christians to fill all of the volunteer positions needed to save the lives of the unborn. If we would have simply emptied our wallets, we could have provided the funds for countless surgical procedures.

But instead we prayed. We asked God to do what we're not willing to do. Prayer is absolutely vital. But I wonder if our prayers should begin with each of us asking God if He wants us to be the answer to our prayers?