Last week began with a bang to say the least…or maybe it would be better
to say a headache and then a crash, in that order. Without going into a
great deal of detail, on Sunday night as Michele and I were getting
ready for bed I told her how much I was dreading the upcoming week. We
were in a situation that I was praying for truth to be clearly revealed
but, knew it would take some time and probably a great deal of
frustration for this to take place. Monday was as difficult as I
expected - before our day really even began we had a dear friend who was with
us in a meeting get word that someone in their family had died...and that seemed to set the tone for how the day would go. The pressure was nothing less
that incredible with what we faced for the rest of the day (actually the whole week). On top of all this, we were a typical two car family getting used to being a one car family for the week because my truck was being fixed - having to
go four different directions at any one time and trying to figure out what we could and could not do. When someone dropped me off at home Monday evening, Michele and boys were on their way out going to the boy's class, and I told
her that I was going to run a few miles. Five miles later, and then after
my fourth phone conversation in less than an hour, my wife calls and
informs me they are on their way home. Literally 5 minutes after this
call I get another call from her phone telling me that she and boys were
in an accident. Long story short, Joshua (our youngest) was knocked out
briefly, the ambulance came and our car was totaled. This was all just on
the Monday of the week I was dreading. In short, this week was starting
even worse than I had expected! Somehow though, this week was shaping up just the way the Father expected - whether it was on our timetable and itinerary or not! Rather than covering each day and the
difficulties I want to just share with you a few things I learned.
God always supplies: When this wreck happened, the first responders;
both the fireman and the EMT were members of our church and brought
calmness to the situation not only to my boys, but also to my wife (thank you Craig and Diane). In the middle of a very difficult situation, my oldest son was tested and lived out many steps of manhood we have studied, talked about and learned, but that I had only hoped he had gotten.Ultimately, we were able to all come home as a family around 3am on
Tuesday morning - if the week had gone worse than expected, this would
STILL have been a blessing worth holding and praising our Lord!
Our church family showed incredible love and grace to my family. From one family coming by Monday to give me their car so I could go to the
hospital, to literally being offered the use of 6 different cars for the
week - to meals, calls, chocolate (my comfort food), people picking up my boys, wife and even me for rides, as well as for the church member who is helping me with my truck! ...to
say the least, it was overwhelming love and grace that our church family
showed.
It taught us to receive: It hasn’t taken 3 ½ years for people to know
that I have a difficult time allowing people in our congregation to “do”
for our family. Honestly, being raised in the ministry I have seen more
than one minister that I felt took advantage of a generous
congregation. So, we have always responded at the other end of the
spectrum. Well, this time we had no other option than to let, and even
ask some of our church family for help. There was never a hesitation by
them and for that I am thankful.
Truth was revealed: After almost a week of meetings and discussions, truth came bubbling forth for all to see. It did so
in a way that was so clear and open that my mind was blown.
God has allowed so many incredible families to be part of our Trinity
Family and even brought new ones in that fit perfectly into the body and
have the ability to use their gifts and even vocation for His glory and
the body’s benefit.
Going into this week, I would have told you that it was going to be very
difficult, and it was. But I told Michele at the end of the week, it
may have been one of the greatest weeks we have ever experienced in our
marriage. God allowed all the blessings listed above - He reminded me
that the van can be totaled, our other car in the shop, and a difficult
week can come, but the fact that all 4 of us can get in a borrowed car
and come home and pray together, thanking the Lord for His grace and
protection, His provision and His Bride - that is what really matters.
He also made me understand that He is the source of all truth, so He
will expose truth and destroy lies in His timing not mine. This is
something I knew in my mind, but to experience it - to see it so clearly - to
comprehend it - that is something I pray that has burned into the depths of my
soul, never to be forgotten. I need no computer monitor, not hidden agenda, no blog, no group of
people to validate truth... I am just called to live it and teach it, and
trust that God works all things for His glory in His timing.
There are those of you who have prayed for us, ministered to us and
encouraged us in ways for which I can’t begin to even express my
gratitude. But I thank you for your love! I thank the Lord for His
grace, and I am so grateful that he can take something that seems so
difficult and use it for His glory. I love you and thank you for being
such a blessing to me every week, but especially this week!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Great Application
I can’t imagine a more misquoted or misinterpreted verse
that Matt. 7:1. I came across a blog that helps give practical application of
how to avoid this sin, or help in convicting me when I commit this sin. Needless
to say, many people quote Matt. 7:1 whenever someone confronts them with a sin - but certainly the intent of this verse is
not a call to ignore sin in my life or in the life of another. So what does it
mean? I think this blog gives us some helpful applications:
Don’t Assume
It may be the best known Bible verse in our culture: “Judge not,
that you be not judged” (Matt. 7:1).
As one of our society’s most popular verses, it is also one of
the most misunderstood. Too many people, non-Christian and Christian, take
Jesus’ words to be a blanket rejection of all moral evaluation. But given that
Jesus alludes to his opponents as dogs and pigs five verses later, it’s safe to
think Jesus wasn’t condemning every kind of judgment. We see from the rest
of the Gospel that Matthew 7:1 is not inconsistent with strong criticisms, negative
statements, church discipline, and warnings about hell. Judgmentalism is not
the same as making ethical and doctrinal demands or believing others to be
wrong.
And yet, after all the necessary qualifications, we must not
mute this important command. As sinners, we are apt to assume the worst about
people. We are eager to find favorable comparisons that make ourselves look good
at the expense of others. We are quick to size people up and think we have them
figured them out. But I have learned over the years–both as the giver and
receiver of judgmental assumptions–that it’s best not to assume.
Don’t assume you know all the facts after hearing one side of
the story.
Don’t assume the person is guilty just because strong charges
are made against him.
Don’t assume you understand a blogger’s heart after reading one
post.
Don’t assume that famous author, preacher, athlete, politician,
or local celebrity won’t read what you write and don’t assume they won’t care
what you say.
Don’t assume the divorced person is to blame for the divorce.
Don’t assume the single mom isn’t following Jesus.
Don’t assume the guy from the Mission is less of a man or less
of a Christian.
Don’t assume the pastor looking for work is a bad pastor.
Don’t assume the church that struggles or fails is a bad church.
Don’t assume you’d be a better mom.
Don’t assume bad kids are the result of bad parents.
Don’t assume your parents are clueless.
Don’t assume everyone should drop everything to attend to your
needs, and don’t assume no one will.
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