Grace is Grace Regardless!

Day 8 Doxology: Please allow me a disclaimer from the very start of this doxology...I am an alumni of the University of Alabama, and I bleed crimson!  Really, I am partial and unapologetic during football season, and I am working through basketball, track, crew, volleyball, and baseball.  In short, I'm a fan which is short for fanatic!  However, I'm humbled and love my brothers and sisters from the other college in the state!  If that is all you hang your hat on, then you are missing the point if this doxology!

Tonight, I received a message / billboard from God...I call it conviction!  A feeling of remorse for an action for or against.  In short, I felt guilty!

Our church host an incredible Upward Basketball Ministry.  I can't tell you how proud I am of all that is accomplished throughout this Upward program.  Additionally, we are the last of the few churches in our area that host Upward for the high-school age group.  The reason we continue this ministry is because there is a need!

To be clear ..."Upward Basketball is an evangelist sports ministry designed to promote community outreach, develop volunteer leadership, and share the love of Christ with children and their families, using something as simply as basketball."

So today's doxology...I'm watching Alabama play basketball in the SEC tournament, and I can't help but to question their aggressiveness (Remember, I wrestled in high school)!  While I watch them as a fan (fanatic), I felt the urge to jump and scream then in a split second... I thought well it's not like this is Upward Basketball!  Bamm!  Shouldn't it all be a ministry?

During the season, I asked that we reevaluate the vision of Upward.  Were we sticking to the strict conviction upon which Upward was established?  In short, Upward, had become like the world that we saw on T.V. -aggressive, argumentative, and fanatical

Tonight, during an altercation of an Ole Miss Rebel and an Alabama Crimson Tide player, I had a separation of ministry from the world.  In that moment, I felt that God intended that the things He taught us were: be in the world and not of the world.  I taught our team and even led devotions that as much as we would like to confine them to Sunday, we can't.   This evening, I had become as guilty as those that I had brought attention too... simply because I was in the safe and security of my home!

Here is the deal...Grace is grace, and it doesn't matter where it is, or if it is for your team...I apologize to the coaches, parents, and athletes for ever acting otherwise!  Humbly...I share, a hardy Roll Tide!

The Heart Whisperer

Day 7 Doxology: If yesterday's doxology was about recovering from, or dealing with, the difficult times in our life, then today's "praise to God" moment is about one of the greatest joys we experience in our life...people that lift you up and bring you joy like the Heart Whisperer!

Do you know of that special someone that has a gift to warm your heart?  Whenever they are around you just feel better?  I have a little buddy at church that I call the Heart Whisperer.  He is so considerate, polite, and thoughtful.  During our fellowship time on Sundays he is so quick to visit some of the older ladies in our church and offer them a hug for their day...he is never refused because he is the Heart Whisperer!

For Valentine's Day he hand-made me a card and put some of his own money in it for a gift.  His thoughtfulness was whispering to my heart!

Every Family Fun Night (like tonight) he stands in a chair and helps me ask God to bless our food and fellowship, and our duet of a prayer is offered to the real Heart Whisperer.

Isn't that what we are called to do...share God's love?  A love that is without strings!  Be representatives of God's unconditional love?  Having the same mind as Christ by taming the heart?  I pray that people see in me such a pure child-like love for everyone I meet.  I pray that when I walk in a room full of people they immediately feel better.  When I talk to someone I want to make them believe they are the most important thing on earth at that moment.  I want to become a Heart Whisperer!

Tonight's doxology may not seem like a big deal...maybe I'm just trying to get you to think about how you treat people.  Do they consider you to be examples of God's generous love?  For those that think this young man is not an incredible conduit of God's warming love...then you haven't met him...he is the Heart Whisperer!

Keep Singing

Day 6 Doxology:  Ok...from the start, this is going to be a doxology you are going to have to feel rather than simply read through if you're expecting some quick and easy inspiration!

Several years ago, I preached a message to some very loving peeps where I talked about...in the midst of our grief (whether big or small) our hope is in the Lord.  To illustrate my point I sang a song that I've sung alone in my truck a thousand times.  With nervous hands and a quivering voice I sung and played on my guitar a song that I lean on when times were harder than they should be.  Let me be clear, I haven't experienced pain like so many, but hurt is still is real and this song gives me peace.  So, for the almost 4 hour drive home from Atlanta, I sang this song -Keep Singing, by Mercy Me!

I feel almost silly for mentioning it, but I had such a hard time with today's doxology.  So much so that I noticed a really cool image of this morning's sunrise from Jennifer Gilliland immediately after I took one for myself.  And yes, it was beautiful, but since I was up and gone before 5am it seemed premature to label that as my day's doxology.  So I waited.  Still great job Jen!

The reason for my reluctance to mention, even write about it, is because my sharing almost has the potential to be misconstrued as idolatry, but my intent is to bring awareness to our dependance on God through whatever our circumstance (whether big or small)!  And that...is worthy of our praise!

I was in Atlanta, because that is where my tax person is, and this year's tax season (2018) is more difficult that last (2017)...after getting by, saving a tad, Shannon and I will have to pay a great deal of unexpected taxes (for us).  Listen, I have great friends that have way more tax burdens than we do, but it still stings!  So for the almost 4 hour drive home it was hard to see a doxology moment of any magnitude!  Until God reminded me that I've got to keep singing.  I pray that you look at the lyrics that I've posted and find the video of Mercy Me singing the song, Keep Singing, then maybe that soulful song can make you praise God through whatever situation in which you find yourself. Even if you have difficultly seeing God, I pray you Keep Singing!

Would You Rather?

Day 5 Doxology: Have you ever played the game "Would You Rather?"  It's an ice breaker game that I use to play at the beginning of a year-long confirmation class that I taught. It invokes asking difficult questions that would make people ponder what it is they didn't like or really didn't like.  For example: Would you rather eat a can of cat food or three whole rotten tomatoes?  Or, "Would you rather always smell rotten meat or always smell a skunk? Or, Would rather skip every where you went or run?  You get it, right?  Our class loved them!

Today I saw a picture that contradicted one asking Would you rather...?  Most everyday I see this man walking from of my office window.  It doesn't matter the condition...it could be raining (Like today), storming, freezing, snowing, or a 100 degrees with 100% humidity...this man is disciplined.

I watch him walk and he appears to struggle to keep up the pace that he maintains as he passes by...he may stumble, but he never falls!  It reminds me of Psalm 37:24 -though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord will uphold him with his hand.  What does this mean for the church and today's doxology?

This man encourages me.  Eyes from the Church...Mine...look at him and see a man with great discipline.  Someone that doesn't sit in his chair and play the Would I rather game -Would I rather walk to today or sit here because it is dry and comfortable?

Can eyes that gaze back at the Church say the same thing?  I am encourage yet again, because I've been serving my present appointment for almost two years and I can praise God that we have many that will choose to answer the Would I rather question buy saying I would rather follow God.  Are we where we need to be?  No!  Do we have a distance to walk still?  Yes!  Are we better today than we were yesterday?  Yes, praise God!  And there is my doxology!

Would you rather look ahead to the unknown or go back to what you know?  Praise be God for the man that keeps on moving, regardless!

Winning The Lottery

Day 3 Doxology: Francis Chan wrote a book in 2008 with co-author Danae Yankoski called "Crazy Love" -A New York Times Best Seller!  In it there is this  creative emphasis placed on the depth of God's Crazy love.  Heck, the book was so good it inspired artist Hawk Nelson to write the song Crazy Love.  It has long since inspired my life in a number of ways.

I can remember when my wife read Chan's book and set out to accomplish the challenge of doing something spectacular and amazing for 30 days to show her love for me, her spouse. Shannon, a gifted task person, accepted and completed the challenge with honors.  Waiting for her trophy, I hadn't yet read the book, and I was left in a state of awe not knowing what I had experienced nor what I had!

I feel it's that way with God.  We don't truly understand what we have.  Through the centuries, we men [unisex] have tried to define and understand God's love...I believe we never quite live up to God's original intent.  Yet, we try!

Maybe trying is our greatest accomplishment?  In our attempts, we come closer than ever to our desire, and maybe God's desire, for everyone to be happy.  Which brings me back to Chan's book?  When Shannon read Chan's book and set out to fulfill Chan's tasks, she was so deeply bought in to making our marriage whole -not that she isn't now!  For the record...I'm the luckiest man alive!  However, it's amazing what you can accomplish if you work at it!

Over the years, her simple little task have continued...even grown!  I have notes in my closet that remind me of the things that she likes about me -it makes me want to do them more.  She leaves notes in the drawer that holds my toothpaste that reminds me that we are one -it makes me want to be even closer!  And, this morning without my asking she brewed me coffee and left a note to remind me why -it makes me want to travel to the ends of the earth to win her love every day!  Shouldn't I want to do that for God as well?

It's God's crazy love shared between this man and that woman forever!  It's like...winning the lottery!

You Are Awesome Mrs. Awesome

Day 2 Doxology: I didn't have to look very long before my heart's desire was to praise God.  Today's doxology came at 9:31am.  Sure, other moments in my day stood out and begged me to offer praise, but few could compare to the way my heart was moved when a dear friend sent me a text and today's doxology.

Her words reminded me of some very important things about my life. I won't share them all, but I will speak to what it feels like when someone ministers to the depths of your soul...so deep that you know that it can only be Christ.  I had to read the text several times, each time my eyes would water more and more.  And, as with each reading, I felt genuine love.  This person was Christ to me.

Certain moments just minister to me deep in my soul.  There is not a sweeter time as a father than when I see and hear my daughters laugh uncontrollably...when their eyes are crying for joy because I've made them laugh.  There is not a greater moment as a husband than when I see in my wife's eyes that she is proud of me, and tells me she loves me.  I'm never more humbled than when someone reminds me that I was their pastor, and God used even me to further their discipleship.

I love being a minister and helping when and where I can, but sometimes you wonder if you are doing any good, if you are a conduit for lives to be touched and changed.  Then in God's appointed time someone takes just a moment to say You Are Awesome!

So, let my doxology be your doxology and possibly someone else's doxology...take just a moment and contact someone you haven't heard from in a while and tell them they're awesome!  Tell them they are loved by you and God and that they matter!  In the spirit of Philippians 2:5 -in your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus!

Be Christ to them like Mrs. Awesome is to me!

The Same Just Different

Day 1 Doxology:  I must say I have been anticipating this day for a while, it appears you have as well.  I have received text and calls asking if I would continue my blog-writing tradition for my Lenten doxology discipline.  Well, be careful what you ask for, here it is.

I usually start off slow, then I have sprouts of brilliance or cleverness (or I get lucky),  then they'll be a dry spell when the writing gets harder, and thankfully as Easter approaches the vigor returns.  So, for the next 40 days (not counting Sunday) we will go through our day and look for God together. Then we will share our praise God moment with the world (Yes, the world!).  Apparently, there are some in Russia that really enjoy when my day and God collide.

 Have you ever noticed that for something worth while to begin often something else must die; for growth to take place the struggle of the old ways must be corrected.  Today's image was taken when last year's Palm branches were being turned to ashes for tonight's Ash Wednesday Service.  Last year a week before Easter the children in our church were waving them and singing "Hosanna" and tonight mixed with oil the ashes of those year-old Palm branches were used to draw a cross on the foreheads of believers.  Still functioning but in different ways.

In my own life, I am just a shell of the person I once was.  I am still functioning, just differently.  Lately, I am in awe of a God that flung the stars in the heavens but cared enough to number the hairs on my head.  I am in awe of the complexity of the human body; the life of a Palm branch, and the regeneration of cells.  I guess at the height of my awe-struck wonder is why God took the time to put that much hair on my back with all he has going on in the world.  The older I get the more I understand some things can be the same just different!

Welcome to Lent!