Let My Lifesong Sing To You

As you can tell, I'm on a Casting Crowns binge at the moment. Here's the title track to their latest album, Lifesong.

Empty hands held high
Such small sacrifice
If not joined with my life
I sing in vain tonight
May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You

Let my lifesong sing to you
Let my lifesong sing to you
I want to sign your name
To the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to you

Lord I give my life
A living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be Your hands and feet
So may the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Let my lifesong sing to you

Musings....

I'm headed tonight to a Casting Crowns concert in Tyler, TX, taking about 15 or so kids with me. Our youth minister planned it, got the tickets, got me to go to help drive, then backed out on going. Whas up wid dat? Something about being with his dad who he doesn't get to see except once every couple of years. Oh please!! Give me a real reason. Naw, I'm glad he gets to be with his dad. I wish I could be with mine more.

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A friend of mine in ministry told me he's getting divorced. Not sure all of the details, but I grieve for him in many ways. Losing a life partner, being alone, starting over, etc. To add to all of that misery, he has just been disqualified from being hired at about 80 percent or more of churches looking for ministers, whether it was his fault or not. We want perfect sermons in perfect worship services from perfect ministers in perfect churches buildings full of perfect people. God hasn't caught on yet. He seems to have only used broken people to do His greatest work. When will we learn?

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Another minister friend, who I only know through blogging, is quitting professional ministry. It is painful to read what he has been going through. If you're interested, you can read his story here, if you'll promise to pray for him and his family. What he writes, many of us feel. I just pray God is using this to lead him to some green pastures somewhere in order for him to put to use the wonderful talents he has been given. God bless you, Neal.

How 'bout them Aggies??!!

Somebody sent this to me the other day. Makes me proud to have attended A&M for a couple of years. Go Aggies!!! (Surely they are remodeling the inside.........I hope.)

Today my oldest son Tim turns 16. It is a great day for him, not so great for me. He gets to drive on his own. He gets to start dating. He just got his own cell phone. Life is good. As for me, I get to start paying double or triple car insurance premiums, worrying about him driving on his own (boys his age are the highest risk out on the roads right now, insurance statistics say), worrying about the safety of those in his care while driving, worrying about who he will date, how we will pay for extra gas, maintenance, etc. Really, though, I gave that stuff over to God a long time ago. I am excited for him. I remember when I went through all that stuff (except the cell phone thing). It was a great time. No, my heart says God is in control. He has protected him until now. My faith says He will continue to do so. Is it OK to trust God to take care of your children, but still get just a little antsy when they are driving on McCurtain County roads?

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I saw on ESPN that Bill Romanowski confessed to using illegal steroids for a few of his 16 years in the NFL. No big surprise there. Seems like he busted some guy in the eye a while back in a fit of rage. Broke his eye socket. Steroids make many people more violent and agressive. Hmmm..... I think anyone proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of using illegal performance enhancing drugs should have all their stats and records taken off the books. It is cheating. Bonds, McGuire, Palmeiro, Canseco, Lance Armstrong, all those guys, should be stripped of any records or honors, if proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. They possibly acheived those records over other players by having an unfair advantage. They should be put on trial to be able to defend themselves, but then let the evidence be weighed and a verdict issued.

Enough Already!

My heart is growing weary from all the major catastrophes it seems our world is having recently. Tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, roadside bombings, etc. Enough already! I don't believe it is some sign from God that the end is near, I just grow tired of seeing people suffer. I saw this picture and was just thinking of all the rescue workers and the horrible job they have of pulling people out of the devastation. Some end up committing suicide, some are emotionally scarred for life, some are never the same again from all the broken and battered bodies they have to carry. My prayers are with them tonight, as well as those who are being rescued.

Salvation - What's The Point?

This quote came off of Mike Cope's blog today. It's the words of Unveiling Glory.

"Living like Jesus is not something we do to get salvation--it is our salvation."

As I grow in my faith, I'm increasingly convinced that salvation has more roots in this life than in the afterlife. Don't get me wrong. There are many times when I am going through something difficult, the only thing that keeps me going is knowing that one day this will all be over and I will be in heaven. That is a vital and important part of me knowing I am saved. But the majority of the time, I bask in the glory of salvation because of the kind of "life" Christ gave me in the here and now. Life is better because of Jesus. Kingdom living is blessed living. The word, the Spirit, the church, all impact me and benefit me in this world, in the realm of the physical. I know this life is but a vapor in the wind, but it's the life Jesus came to bring me until He takes me to my true home.

Salvation means that not only eternity is secured for me, but my daily walk is guided and influenced by the Good Shepherd, the guardian of my soul.

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full"
John 10:10

The Loss of Compassion

I'm just wondering today why we are so eager to help Katrina and Rita victims who lost everything, and yet seem unwilling to help guys like this? We were falling all over ourselves, scrambling to do anything and everything for people we didn't know from LA, MS, and TX. We didn't know their backgrounds, didn't know their personalities, didn't know their faith, didn't know their work ethic, didn't know their marital status, yet we poured millions of dollars into the cause (thousands from our church alone), worked countless hours to feed, clothe, give personal necessities, pray, help, etc. What is it about perennial homeless people that all of a sudden causes us to lose our compassion?

I know where some of you will go. "Get a job!" Fine. Many need to do that. But have you ever been unable to do something that you really need to do in order to improve your life? Have you ever tried to quit smoking, quit drinking, manage your money better, quit cursing, eat better, lose weight, exercise more.....the list could go on and on. Many try and most are unable to overcome these powerful negative influences. Did you ever think that it could be the same being homeless? That maybe the circumstances they are in are so powerful that they don't have the energy, will, wisdom or fight in them to overcome? And that maybe if we stepped in and, instead of chirping at them to get a job and pull themselves out of their misery, helped them, clothed them, fed them, got them a job, encouraged them, prayed with them, detoxed them, that it might be just what they need to see a brighter and better life?

"They will take advantage of us!" Some will. Everyone won't.

"They've got to want to get better!" Do you really think they like being homeless, unproductive, dirty, smelly, poor, lonely, sick, addicted, etc.? Don't kid yourself and don't listen to them, whatever they might tell you.

"They got themselves into their situation, they need to get themselves out!" Yeah, right. Do you want the Lord to tell you that? And another thing, many times that isn't true. Losing a child from a drunk driver, which started their downward spiral, was not their fault. A marriage partner walking out was not their fault. Layoffs at the plant were not their fault. Surgery that required high powered pain killers that they now are addicted to was not their fault. Being told they are worthless and they don't matter their whole life is not their fault. Give people a break, for Christ's sake!

If everything in your life was taken away from you, and you were sitting on the corner under a blanket like this guy, what would you want to hear from people driving by? "Get a job, you lazy bum!!!" or "Hop in"?

A Heart That Seeks God

In our quest to learn more of God's true character and nature, yesterday we looked at the amazing revival that took place during the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah. The temple had been shut down, high places erected, idol worship, sacrificing sons in the fire, you name it, it was probably happening among God's people. But here comes a young 25 year old that in the first month of his reign, he begins a path back to God, starting with the temple. It is a beautiful story...........EXCEPT the fact that the whole revival process was fraught with violations of the word of God. Levites were helping skin sacrificial animals, which they were forbid to do according to the law. Only the priests could serve at the altar. Levites were killing sacrificial animals, which was supposed to be done by the worshiper bringing the animal. People were eating the Passover while ceremonially unclean. Even the Passover was not being eaten at the prescribed time. But here's what Hezekiah did. He prayed, "May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking God..." And an amazing thing happened. He forgave them. He overlooked their violations of His will because something greater was going on. People's hearts were turning. They were seeking God again.

We may not get everything right in our understanding of God's will or our practice of it, but we serve a God who is able to see beyond our ignorance and weakness and see the intent of our heart. Praise God for that!!