Thanksgiving 2010

This Thanksgiving 2010, I’m grateful…

For a wife who still captivates me and lavishes and builds me with honor.

For children who draw in me fathomless depths of love, pride and joy.

For parents who in tandem expertly created colossal memories from miniscule words like ‘home’ and ‘family’.

For family members, near and far, who warm me in the ceaseless glow of belonging.

For friends who shimmer with loyalty and shower with levity.

For a congregation that faithfully and fearlessly embraces challenge and marches.

For a staff that reaches in with transparency, reaches up with expectancy, and reaches out with humility.

For an eternal Father who shepherds me.

For a risen Son who saved me.

For an indwelling Spirit who shapes me.

Simply put, I am a man rich beyond measure and blessed beyond human merit.

I’m grateful.

Pastor's Perspective - Spam, Pop Tarts & Life

It was a carnival alright, but there wasn’t much splendor in it.

This past weekend the cruise ship Carnival Splendor left Long Beach filled with passengers ready for adventure and excitement. They got both! An engine room fire caused all power in the floating luxury hotel to be lost. In other words, no propulsion, no hot water, no air conditioning, no lights, no usable elevators (on a 9-deck boat), no hot food, no casino, and worst of all, no hot coffee! Imagine backed-up toilets, pitch black interior cabins, and nothing but cold food. According to news reports, Navy helicopters flew in nutritional substitutes for the much-anticipated and well-advertised steak and lobster – Spam and Pop Tarts!

Today six tug boats pulled the ship into harbor in San Diego. According to honeymooner Sabrina Klinge, “It was supposed to be this beautiful cruise and it turned into a nightmare.”

Ever feel like Sabrina?

You had life well-planned and vividly envisioned. Your future was to be an excursion-filled and exotic succession of scheduled arrivals and glamorous photo opportunities. You fantasized about who you would share life’s cruise with, the financial freedom and abundance you would have on board, and the seamless ease you would experience. Life was meant to be a tropical boat ride, marked by pampering, indulgence, recreation, beauty, relaxation, convenience, momentum and motion. But instead, something happened below decks – somewhere, somehow. A phone call, a diagnosis, a notice, a pink slip, a ‘Dear John’, a knock on the door, a tragic suddenly, a weather anomaly, a drunken swerve, a scandal exposed, a note on the counter and an empty closet. Life was to be sirloin, not Spam!

Been there?

What I have found in my 47 years is, life is filled with personal engine room fires, resulting in powerlessness, disillusionment, and a whole lot of drifting.

Many sweet and sincere Christians out there try to make things better, but in actuality only make things worse. In the midst of smoldering emotional and physical disability, we come running with our self-righteous confectionized clichés like, “You’re too blessed to be depressed!” How inhumane. How utterly goofy! Jesus never gave bumper sticker advice. Instead, I read that He stopped, He sat, He touched, and He even cried. So often, because of our own uneasiness, though well-intentioned, we simply say the wrong stuff. I’m reminded that before the cross-examination by Job’s friends, the Bible tells us that for a week they simply sat with him on the ground during his extreme suffering. I think we represent Christ best when we simply sit and say little – cry with instead of explain.

Friends, I hate to break it to you, but in the middle of suffering, we as believers don’t have all of the answers. So, stop trying to be clever and pragmatic; like that will somehow dissolve all of the pain we see all around us in the world. Our job is to simply be real, to show love, and just be there. Suffering people don’t need our, “I know exactly what you’re going through”s. What they need is to know that they are not drifting alone.

Simply put - There are no quick packaged answers for a hurting world. We are frankly incapable of providing the thorough forensic report of why certain tragedies happen, though we love to espouse our theories. Likewise, we are blinded to how long another’s suffering will last. The only true answer and hope we can offer those powerless, those being violently tossed on life’s cruel and towering waves, is the cross of Jesus Christ.

The cross is God’s epic remedy and clarion call to our fallen and chaotic planet – “I see you. I haven’t forgotten you. I know what you’re going through. I care more deeply than you’ll ever know. I have made a way for you to overcome and have hope and courage in this life, no matter what you’re going through. I’m with you. I’ll never leave you. There’s more. There’s better. Trust me. I won’t let you down. I won’t let you go. I love you. My Son’s death is the evidence of my love for you.”

For many here in Solano County, life has turned from a beautiful cruise into a nightmare. As the church – the living, breathing, reaching, touching manifested Body of Christ – let’s offer the drifting masses more than clichés and three steps on how to overcome cruises gone bad! Let’s offer them us - our presence. Let’s offer them what we have received by faith – the grace and hope that comes only from an old rugged cross.

Pastor's Appreciation

I’m not sure if the same month we elevate ‘spooky’ and pastors has any connection! Typically, October is designated as ‘Pastor Appreciation Month’. I’m not sure where it began and how long it’s been around. Naturally, we as humans all like to be appreciated in some way or another now and then. Like most pastors I know, we believe we are divinely called to what we do, whether appreciated demonstratively or not. However, it does feel kinda warm and snuggly to know that what you pour your life into daily connects with somebody out there. We do what we do ultimately for the Lord and His glory, but a ‘That a boy’ now and then admittedly doesn’t hurt. We were people before we were ‘pastors’!

As I thought about ‘Pastor Appreciation Month’ 2010, I thought about the most overlooked and sometimes most undervalued and underappreciated demographic in our churches. Without this faithful group, there would be no pastor, much less a month to appreciate him in. That group I’m referring to is pastors’ wives. Clearly, without the continual love and prayers, encouragement, support and honest treasured advice from our spouses, we could never do what we do.

The Lord certainly knew what He was doing when He gave Michelle to me as my friend, wife, children’s mother, and cherished ministry partner. For years I’ve told so many, “I get the paycheck, but Chelle is the best minister in the family!” I believe that to be true even today. She not only is an amazing homeschooling mom of four, she runs our household with great efficiency, always has time for family and friends in need, juggles several ministry responsibilities at FCC seemingly effortlessly, and continues to be my greatest confidant and advisor. Over our many years together, she has proven time and time again that she is as reliable as the day is long. If there is anybody on this green garden planet who has my proverbial ‘back’, it’s my bride of almost seventeen years. She is my ‘Proverbs Thirty-One’ gal! Michelle will be the first to tell you, “I didn’t marry a preacher. I married a banker!” She’s right! However, her divine transformation from a banker’s wife in Tampa to a preacher’s wife in California has been her husband’s joy and sweetest gift, for which I will always be exceedingly grateful.

Simply put, anything appreciation-worthy this month is sweet – but must be shared. I could not do what I do without someone humbly and faithfully serving in the proverbial shadows. I know it, and I don’t acknowledge it nearly enough.

I once heard someone say, “Behind every great man is a great woman, laughing hysterically!” I’m certainly not a great man. Anything perceived as “great” is Christ in me. But one thing I do know, I have one great wife.

So, to all you amazing pastors’ wives out there, ‘Happy Pastor’s Appreciation Month!’ You’re the true heroes, and each congregation’s greatest blessings.

Pastor's Perspective - The Field of Solitude

Last Sunday I shared a message titled ‘Four Fields’. You can give it a listen at 1stchristianchurch.org, then Media, then Podcasts. I told our rain-soaked faithful that in preparation for the palace, God slowly and intentionally developed David’s heart in the fields of solitude, obscurity, monotony and humility. Late last month, I was reminded of the importance of time spent with our heavenly Father in the field of solitude. Let me tell you about it.

One year ago this month, the Lord put it on my heart to do something I’ve always wanted to do – write a book. He not only gave me the biblical text to write from, but through my amazing congregation’s loving generosity, a laptop to write it on! Since then I have taken two excursions alone to some dear friends’ cabin home in the Sierra foothills. Last month was one of those getaways. My plan was to string together a few days of marathon writing. However, my first morning there, God reminded me that His plans are far greater in purpose, and trump mine every single time.

My first morning waking up was a glorious one. The temperature outside had dipped dramatically, and the sound of a chattering squirrel outside my bedroom window was a welcomed alarm from my typical one back in Fairfield. My game plan was a simple one – eat a quick bowl of cereal, drink a couple of cups of black coffee, grab a quick chapter out of the Old Testament, and commence to pecking. As I ate and read about the prophet Samuel’s unwavering dedication to the Lord, I sensed God’s unmistakable presence move in around me. I moved my bowl aside, and lowered my head to the dining room table, bracing myself in fear and reverence. Over the course of the next few minutes I began to share my heart with the Father in a trickle of confession, repentance and soul-yearning. Before I knew it, the trickle was a fast-running stream, and within minutes Niagara. If anyone would have come in during that time they would have thought ‘He’s coming apart!’ yet, in reality, God was putting me back together.

After what seemed like an eternity, I looked up at the three empty chairs around the table in which I was sitting. In an unanticipated moment and revelation, I began to envision the chairs being filled, each with a divine member of the holy Triune. I leaned across the table at the chair at the head of the table opposite myself and began speaking openly to God the Father specifically. I acknowledged His greatness, His creativity, His power, His love and grace in overwhelming adoration. Thankfulness rose up high and loud. My worship then turned into confession and transparency, with sobs of sorrow, pleadings of restoration and grace. I then looked at the chair to my left, God the Father’s right, and began verbalizing my love and appreciation for His cross, and my regret for making my life and ministry at times about anything other than His life-giving death and resurrection; then allowing the joy of His salvation to wash over me. After a long period of time, I turned to the chair on my right. I thanked Him for His leading, His invaluable place in the Trinity, and acknowledged how desperately I needed Him, all while asking Him to forgive me for the many times I had grieved His holy character. Many more things happened at that table, frankly too holy to describe.

A few times I tried to lift myself from the table, but to no avail. After each tear was cried, every sin confessed, every desire verbalized, and my heart was fully yielded, over three hours had flown by. At that point I didn’t want to leave that place, that table, that seat. And then it all hit me. Friends, it was so obvious that I gave voice to it – “Father? This isn’t about a book is it? You just wanted time with me.” At that beautiful truth Niagara rushed again, at the reality that the Universe Creator mysteriously and scandalously, wanted to spend time alone - just with me. (I’m choking-up even now as I remember it.)

Friends, I know that a whole lot changed in me since that morning in the mountains. I don’t know everything that was done in me. All I do know is, I can’t get close enough to Him, through His Word and time in prayer. And, I’ve never been so excited about ministry! Even a few others have noticed that there is something new and renewed in me. I am certain that I would have never had that priceless exchange with my Father in the day-to-day routine of home and office. It required intentionally getting away and at least allowing Him the opportunity to speak and move.

David spent a lot of time alone with God. When nobody else seemed to really care or notice, his heart was being touched and deepened for the rich things of the Almighty. Only after serving faithfully in the field of solitude could he truly be ready for the palace.

Have you spent time alone with God lately?

Will you?

What's the Minimum?

"..I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." - 1 Kings 24:24b

We live in a society that wants much, but wants to only give the minimum to receive it. Here King David was offered something to give God that would cost him nothing; yet, his wisdom and relationship with the Lord detained him from doing the easy or convenient thing. David knew..

No sacrifice = No honor
No sacrifice = No blessing
No sacrifice = No personal growth

Just a reminder before Sunday that God deserves more than our freebies, leftovers and minimums. If we are to reflect authentic Kingdom ambassadorship, we've got to swim against the stream of societal norms and shift our thinking from "How little?" to "How much?"

The cross of Jesus Christ is proof that God is not a 'minimum' Giver!

Pastors Perspective - Rescued!

As I peck this, the rescue of 33 trapped Chilean miners continues. Last night I sat emotionally transfixed watching each miner emerging from his tomb of seventy days! The joy, elation and reuniting continues to be an international human interest event that none of us can ignore. After the initial cave-in back in early August, there was no word of any survivors for seventeen days. Then a note came from below informing the world that they were alive. For two and a half months these men kept their hopes alive and took amazing care of one another, sacrificing that they all might live.

As a pastor this story is rich with spiritual significance. At one time in all of our lives as Christians we were all trapped in the darkness of sin. Unlike the situation in Chile, our situation was not an accident, but deserved. Hopeless and helpless we wandered in the darkness, alive but in all reality, dead. Then a light shined into our lives. The note we received indicated that a rescue had already taken place in Jerusalem a long time ago, and that although we were dead, our divine Rescuer was alive, well and able to deliver us!

Another inspiring reminder from this event down in South America, is the way these men have taken care of one another. Some were older and weaker, but the stronger helped the less viral, ensuring that they all emerge alive together as they have. Over the course of seventy days, hope at times must have waned. Yet, they encouraged the floundering that help was on the way, that they could make it, and that better was just ahead. In other words, these miners did an exceptional job of reminding us in the church what it means to be the church.

Lastly, we as modern-day believers in Christ are reminded that like these miners we have each been set free.

Where were you when Jesus came to your rescue?

He came to me in despair, divorce, cancer, infidelity, infertility, rejection, isolation, depression, and trial. We don’t lack for deep and ominous mines do we?

Are you in any of those mines right now?

Maybe you’re trapped in addiction, grief or disillusionment.

Jesus knows where you are and He can rescue you, if you’ll let Him. No matter where you are and how long you’ve been trapped there, Christ wants to bring you from the darkness into His marvelous light!

Catalyst 2010

What an amazing time I had at Catalyst 2010 last week in Atlanta! Michelle and I were blessed to have Derrick and Sierra with us for an unforgettable experience. The focus was 'The Tension is Good.' We were refreshed, challenged, comforted, affirmed, rejuvenated, burdened, inspired, and stretched all within the scope of a few days. As a matter of fact, we've already pre-purchased our tix for next years event! Yep, its really that good. I'm hoping and praying that more from FCC will join us.

I'm glad to be back home. I really missed my kids and congregation. I'm so eager to implement within our amazing leadership team a vision that will bring Christ greater glory here in northern California. This is our generation and watch. Now is our time to reach and restore.