Where Have I Been?

I can't believe that it's been a year and a half since I've written anything here. I guess I didn't have much to say!

In all seriousness, do you go through periods of your life where you don't feel significantly profound? I've been in a period like that for quite some time. I feel very much like life is moving and I'm along for the ride. Moments of inspiration and enjoyment have existed, but I really haven't experienced an amazing moment in quite some time.

I guess these are the peaks and valleys of life that the Bible tells us about. I walk in faith and know that God loves me and is working in my life for my good and His purpose. Maybe I just want to do some "running" every once in awhile. Over the past five or so years, I've certainly had to "run for my life" on many occasions so I guess I should be grateful that the pace of life is no longer that dangerous. I don't know.

It's good to be back on the blog, though. I think reading my friend Jim's blog ("And speaking of which...") every day made we want to come back and see if I've got anything worth writing down. We'll see...

Am I Really Wasting My Life?

Our discipleship group at church is studying the book Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. It's a book that I commend to everyone. In it, Piper systematically explains his view of a life well-lived in God's eyes. He speaks of fulfillment--not our own, but God's. He outlines purpose--not our own purpose, but God's desire for our lives.

We are in the midst of a powerful chapter, titled Living to Prove He Is More Precious Than Life. This chapter really drills down to the misconceptions about a good life and Piper is quite frank about topics like money, sacrifice, avoidance, and the great neutralizer, television. It is a convicting chapter in a powerfully challenging book.

In the chapter, Piper talks of the "weightlessness of God" and attributes the term to David Wells. In his book God In the Wasteland: The Reality of Truth in a World of Fading Dreams, Wells says, "Those who assure the pollsters of their belief in God's existence may nonetheless consider him less interesting than television, his commands less authoritative than their appetites for affluence and influence, his judgement no more awe-inspiring than the evening news, and his truth less compelling than the advertisers' sweet fog of flattery and lies...Weightlessness tells us nothing about God but everything about ourselves, about our condition, about our psychological disposition to exclude God from our reality."

This startling and true reality makes me examine my own ways of minimalizing God. It makes me ask, "How am I honoring Him in my life?" Piper speaks in detail about how just living a good life, spending time with the wife and kids, and not getting into big trouble is wasting a life. When I was dead in sin, I thought that was enough. In fact, it was the example of the good husband and Dad. But as I understand more about God's desires for me, it doesn't seem satisfying at all.

What must we do to live a life well lived in God's eyes? How do we avoid a wasted life? I honestly don't know. But I wait (sometimes patiently) for God to offer me the answers.

A Return to Home for the First Time

My sister, Mae, got married this weekend. It was a wonderful, joyous occasion and it all happened in our hometown of Raymond, Miss. Sadly, I don't get back to Raymond much despite the fact that it's only about 30 minutes away. But in returning home to participate in this celebration, I got to experience one of my places of home again for the first time.

From about the time I was nine or ten, we worshipped at the Raymond United Methodist Church downtown. I was drawn by the kids programs and the Sunday School and my family soon followed. We worshipped there consistently until I went away to college. It was a church filled with Godly people delivering the Gospel from the pulpit, pews, classrooms, and choir loft. I spent many a Sunday in the choir singing about the Grace of God and His unending love.

The only problem was I wasn't hearing it. Through my own sinful nature and my understanding of the world around me, I grew up with the belief that if I was good and faithful, God would love me enough to preserve my soul forever. I can remember many moments of anxiety walking into that sanctuary and thinking, "After what I did last night, how can I show my face in God's house this morning?" or "How can I be sitting at the front of this church when God knows what I'm thinking in my heart?"

It took me a long time to realize that I didn't understand the Gospel at all. I had it backward. I was a grown man with kids of my own before I realized that God loves me where I am and as I am. His Grace allows me to grow in faith and become the best that I can be. I had one thing right in my youth, I would never be good enough to earn salvation. Thankfully, my salvation isn't mine to earn. It was a gift given to me 2000 years before I was born.

So that brings me to Saturday. When Mae decided to get married at Raymond United Methodist Church, I was excited to see my old "stomping grounds" but I had no idea how I would be impacted by being in that place. As we sat at rehearsal Friday night and during the service on Saturday, I thought back to those moments of doubt and thanked God for my journey. It was so pleasing to return home as a man in love with God and living in His embrace. It was so good to be asking the God of Love and Grace to bless the marriage of my little sister and her husband. It was such a powerful experience to be worshipping in such a familiar place and, for the first time, doing it with the knowledge that Jesus is my Savior and the architect of my salvation.

It was so good to go home, even for a few precious hours.

Mississippi State Fair 2010

The Mississippi State Fair has come and gone. It looks to be a record-breaking year with very little rain and BIG crowds. (Of course, the only day it rained was the day we chose to go.)

The highlight of the year had to be the gruesome discovery of the Krispy Kreme Burger. If you've never seen it, it's quite possibly the most unhealthy burger in history.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/03/broadcasts/main1680067.shtml

What is the Gospel?

Last Sunday, our minister, Dr. Derek Thomas, began a series on the Gospel. During his sermon, he gave those of us listening a bit of homework. -- "Tell me the Gospel in 50 words or less."

This was not an easy task. My first attempt was 200 words. Each word seemed so essential to the whole of the description! It took me about four attempts to really boil it down to precisely what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it.

I encourage you to take a moment and try this exercise. Not only did it make me focus on the Gospel (which I think was Derek's intention to begin with) but it made me strip away all the "fluff" and speak to the basics of the Good News.

Here are my thoughts on the Gospel, in 50 words or less:

I am a sinner, unable to redeem myself. As my Creator, God wants an intimate relationship with me. He sent Jesus to live and die for me. Jesus suffered God’s wrath as punishment for my sins, though He never sinned. It was the only way that I could be redeemed.

I'd love to read your versions of the Gospel in 50 words or less. Send them to me.

A Time Capsule

My Uncle Will is one of the most kind people I know. I see him rarely but when he happens to touch my life, it's always in a profound and blessed way. Earlier this week, I received a package from him out of the blue. When I opened it, I discovered that this great guy had opened up a little time capsule for my sister, Mae, and I. It's one of the nicest things anyone has done for me in a long time.

Uncle Will went to the tedious task of copying all his home movies on to DVD and sending them to all the members of the family. Not only that, he individualized the packages to include only those films that relate to each member of the family. My pack of DVDs included old home movies from the 1950's and an extensive interview between my great grandmother, Mamaw, and two of my great-aunts. Both discs were filled with funny and sweet moments.

Aunt Bunt:  Mama, what did y'all call that cow?
Mamaw:  Well, I reckon we called it a cow!

As special as those two DVDs were, the most charished gift was on the third disc. In the last couple of years before my mother died, she hosted several family reunions at her home in Raymond. Deep in her heart, I think she knew that she wasn't going to be with us much longer and she wanted to surround herself with her family as often as she could. It energized her to be around her family and it gave her purpose to have a project like a family reunion. The third DVD was a copy of my little sister, Mae, and my cousin, William, putting on their documentarian hats and giving us a glimpse of one of those reunions.

It was great to see all the family. It's been years since I've seen many of the folks that made an appearance on the tape. But the highlight of the reel was the last five minutes or so. It was my sister, Mae, and my Mom just being the best buddies that they were. I cried as I watched it for the first time a couple of nights ago and I'm tearing up as I remember it right now.

Mom radiated on the screen as Mae did one of the dance routines she learned marching with the band. It was so great to hear Mom's laugh when Mae cracked one of her silly jokes. They even sang for the camera! Mom often had a joyful song in her heart but it didn't always come out great when she shared it. That was OK. As she reminded us, we were suppose to make a joyful NOISE unto the Lord. He didn't say anything about it being perfectly on key.

My sister was the coolest kid I've ever experienced and she's still just as cool today. And my Mom was so proud of her and loved her with every fiber of her existence. I have no doubt that Mom lived about five years longer than she should have simply out of love for Mae. It wasn't easy on Mae and she learned some lessons at 10 years of age that most of us don't get in a lifetime. But I don't think Mae would have it any other way and I know that Mom would say the same thing.

Uncle Will, thanks for the gift. I'll get around to writing you a thank you note. I've never been great at that, despite the fact that I'm Retta Porter's son. Mae, thanks for being my sister. You are, without doubt, the best and I can't wait for the big day. You keep living with the heart you were given and y'all are going to have many great days ahead. And Mom... It's been awhile since my eyes have seen you and my ears have heard you but my heart still feels you every day. I miss you.

Operation Spring Fling is April 16!

Operation Shoestring is hosting our annual Operation Spring Fling at the Mississippi Museum of Art on Friday, April 16. This fund-raising party is a wonderful way to support the very important and successful growth going in the Bailey Avenue area neighborhoods. It's also a great night of music and merriment!

By Teaching Children and Inspiring Families,

Operation Shoestring Ensures We All Rise Together.

You should check out Operation Shoestring and our Operation Spring Fling today!