Paths Of Glory

I just read Jeffrey Archer's new book, Paths Of Glory.

Paths of Glory is a work of historical fiction narrating the life of George Mallory. Mr. Mallory is arguably the greatest mountain climber the world has ever known. Paths recounts Mallory's attempts to be the first person to summit Mount Everest. Like so many climbers, his story ends in tragedy.

Paths Of Glory is one of the most gripping and enjoyable books I've read in months.

Pick this one up!

What a difference a year makes

Today is our son, Elijah John's one year birthday. This morning as I prayed and reflected a swirl of emotions filled me. Certainly many are absolute joy . . . but I couldn't help be taken back to his birth one year ago today.

Here is my journal entry from exactly one year ago:

We received a call yesterday afternoon that Baby Elijah would be born last night. Very exciting. Lots of prayer. Just received a call that he was born at 7 this morning--healthy. Thank-you God. Birth mom has made the decision to keep him. Hmmmm. Don't even know what to say. Trust God. Believe all is for the best. Don't like this journey too much.

And my journal entry from this morning:

Elijah's 1 year birthday!

What a difference a year makes. A year ago we received the heartbreaking, but understandable news that birth mom gave birth and decided to keep her son. Thank-You God for entrusting Elijah into our care--even for this brief time we have on earth. May he grow into a man who deeply loves You. May we be anointed by your Spirit to raise him according to Your plans. May I be an earthly father who is a reflection of You, his Heavenly Father.

As you can see by my journal entries, birth mom, after deciding to keep her son, one week later changed her mind and entrusted him into our care as our son. The journey was challenging but isn't the journey what it is really all about? A journey to help us trust--even when we can't see or even appreciate the outcome? A journey that is more about our commitment to become more and more like Jesus as we endeavor to love others in Jesus' name . . .

What a difference a day, a month, a year, or even a lifetime makes.

This is the life

I'm finishing up a book by Henri Nouwen called Intimacy. In the book Henri writes of the call to follow Jesus:

I am convinced that a community which feels called to do a most difficult task, which asks for great sacrifices and great self-denial in order to do the work of God which is obvious and self-evident, will have no problems at all in finding people who want to join in the challenging enterprise.

He who promises hard work, long hours, and much sacrifice will attract the strong and generous but he who promises protection, success and all the facilities of an affluent society will have to settle for the weak, the lazy and the spoiled.

I agree with Mr. Nouwen. Give me something that demands everything. Call me to a higher purpose. Engage me in the battle.

This is the life that Jesus promised.

Raising children that love Jesus

This past week I had the pleasure of spending a couple of days in Orlando with 20 other Pastors from across the country. The purpose of our time together was simple--learn from one another.

We began by brainstorming 15 topics that we deemed important to discuss. Next, we each had three votes that would determine the topics that would actually be given priority. I was pleasantly suprised by those chosen. #1: How to care for your own soul. #2: How do you "set your kids up" to love Jesus as adults?

The time we spent talking about our children and children in general was invaluable. Here's what I learned . . .

How to "set your kids up" to love Jesus as adults.

1. Take them on missions trips. (Seeing the church at its best, in action, has profound benefit for the life of your child.)

2. Emphasize the benefits of being a "Preacher's kid." (Ie. We often have flexible schedules that allow us to spend time together. We can share notes with our children from appreciative families who have experienced life change in the church.)

3. Protect your children from the negative side of the church. (Be careful of your conversations at home. Don't allow your children to be drawn into church struggles.)

4. NEVER use your children in a sermon without attaining their permission in advance.

5. We, as parents, need to make sure that we are loving Jesus as adults. (Children should not see you as one person at church and a very different person at home.)

6. Take a child with you on a "work trip." (Ministry frequently requires travel. Take your child with you and make it a special occasion.)

7. Read the book, Faith Training, by Joe White.

8. Invite your children to partner with you in ministry.

9. Make sure your children have godly friends.

10. Invite a "non-parental" friend to covenant with you to watch out for your child and to pour into their lives as much as possible.

11. Pray.

Role of men and women

After 7 years of study, discussion and lots of prayer . . . RiverTree now bases all leadership roles on character, giftedness and calling. We no longer restrict leaders based on their gender.

Sounds simple now, but it has been a long road of gut-wrenching, soul-searching, God-seeking deliberation.

I grew up in a church where women could sing special music or play the piano but not lead the singing. Women could count the offering on Monday but not collect the offering on Sunday. Women could teach boys but only until they reached the sixth grade.

I am thankful for the journey that God has brought us on. The journey to the point where there is no Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, because we are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

Early morning call

I awoke this morning at 4.

I had a choice to make . . . I could stay in bed and try to get back to my remaining two hours of sleep, or, I could get up and spend extended time with God. I got up.

As much as I enjoy my rest, I enjoy even more the times when God clearly calls me to come and sit with Him.

So I prayed, I read, I journaled.

Early mornings with my Father are always worth getting up for.

ReJesus

ReJesus is Alan Hirsch's latest book. You might remember Alan from his very important book, The Forgotten Ways. In ReJesus Alan (co-authoring with Michael Frost) calls the church and all of us as individuals back into a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and what difference the way Jesus lived should make in our own lives.

Hirsch writes: "We remain convinced that it is Christology that remains even more foundational and therefore the primary issue. We have elsewhere asserted that it is Christology (the exploration of the person, teaching, and impact of Jesus Christ) that determines missiology (our purpose and function in the world), which in turn determines our ecclesiology (the forms and functions of the church)."

And, "Let's get our Christology right and then dare to place all our deeply held desires for how to do church at its service. Not vice versa."

I found ReJesus to be both challenging and enlightening--a must read for every person who is serious about following Jesus and especially if you are in a leadership role in the local church.

Pick this one up!