Arms Wide Open

Friends….I’m troubled.

I am troubled by what our country has become and is becoming. Now before you assume I am talking about our current President, read on. While decisions are being made and cynicism reigns, this is not what troubles me the most. While town halls escalate and tea parties dominate, this is not what troubles me the most. I am not the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to politics. I can’t claim to understand what all of the shouting and organizing ultimately will do to make a difference. So what troubles me most is that the things and places where I know that we, as Christians, can make a difference go untouched.

People are hurting

People are hungry (physically and mentally)

People are broken

While the wave and volume of the arguments between the right and left grow higher and higher, “the least of these” grow quieter and quieter. In our efforts to be right, what troubles me is that we are missing our opportunity to be Jesus. I am sorry if that offends or if you disagree, but this is what I believe God is saying to me. As God often does, He speaks in many different ways through many different forms but the message is often the same when He wants our attention. For me, personally, I believe He is saying that what this world needs is the LOVE of Jesus. What this world, this country, this state and this city need are people who will be what Christ called us to be. As Phillip Yancey once said:

“No one ever converted to Christianity because they lost the argument”

I had the opportunity yesterday to view “Lord Save Us From Your Followers” and friends, it broke me. I sat numb for several minutes as the credits rolled. It was like I had an opportunity to step outside of my world and see what was going on from a new perspective. I didn’t like what I saw. I didn’t like what we I have become. It not only left me numb, it inspired me. I energized me. It awakened me.

I have two things to leave you with today. Number one, we MUST get this film in Columbus (we are making great progress by the way). It needs to be seen by those on the right, the left and in between. If we are going to change our world, our state and our city, this is the place to start. I cannot say it enough. Trust me on this. If you are not in Columbus, look at their web site and find a showing near you. You will be glad you made the journey to get there.

Lastly, I ask you to watch this clip from Bono. The audio was taken from his speech at the 2006 National Prayer Breakfast (full transcript here). Parts of his speech are featured in the “Lord Save Us From Your Followers” film. After hearing him speak and seeing the other parts of the “Lord Save Us” film, I couldn’t help but wonder if Christianity couldn’t use a little more Bono and a little less “Religious Right”. Sorry if that offends, but when I find or hear things that bother me I have to ask if they bother me because they are so right or so wrong. I don’t claim to be right, or have the answers. However when you align what Bono is saying with the teachings of Jesus from the Bible (the Truth) you cannot argue with his call to action.

I mentioned it before, but “the boy” asks an interesting question rather frequently as we watch sporting events. The question is simple, but often I cannot give a clear answer. His question is this…

“Hey Dad, is (insert athlete’s name here) a Christian?”

Athletes he has asked about in the past are Lebron James, Tyler Hansbrough and Ryan Howard. I found out yesterday that Albert Pujols is a man of great faith. “The Boy” and I watched the home run contest together the other night. I had stepped out of the room, but when I returned he told me about an interview they did with Josh Hamilton while I was gone. They had asked him about his incredible home run display last year and he gave all of the credit, glory and honor to Jesus. “The boy” told me about it and later I heard him telling my wife.

Lastly this morning, I received an email from our good friend Lynne with an article in the Columbus Dispatch about a blue chip prospect in the Cleveland Indians farm system named Matt Laporta. He is the next big thing in Cleveland and currently plays for our local AAA Columbus Clippers. The article outlines his faith. Great, great stuff. I printed the Pujols and Laporta articles (see links below) and shared them with “the boy” this morning. Later, I plan to take him to the “I Am Second” web site so he can hear the testimony of Josh Hamilton first hand.

Dads, like it or not, our kids are going to follow athletes and pick their heroes (just like we did). Choose wisely.

Albert Pujols article -(HERE)

Matt Laporta article -(HERE)

Josh Hamilton testimony – (HERE)

The service for our friend Stefan Tarapchak yesterday was wonderful. The choir and Allen Lowe did an incredible job of singing songs of praise and hope. I was so proud of Sandi as she delivered a memorial speech to Stef. While it was, at times difficult, this morning I rejoice. As a matter of fact, I can’t get away from how excited I am this morning. I keep thinking that Stef would have wanted it this way. What would he have wanted???

SEVERAL people accepted Christ as their personal Savior at the end of service yesterday.

I rejoice that Stef’s personal hope was that “just one” would be saved. His journey will forever change the eternity of countless people. Scripture tells us that when one gets saved, there is literally rejoicing in Heaven. So to that I say….let’s party down here on Earth!

Thank you Stef.

You fought the fight.

You won the race.

You spoke louder than before.

Lives are forever changed!

Stick with me for a minute…

About 8 months ago, I started to get this nagging pain in my abdomen and back on the upper left side. It basically appeared over the summer and got progressively worse. One gall bladder, an ultrasound, CT scan and more blood work than one man can count later it has been determined to be a “muscular skeletal” issue. Visits to a chiropractor and massage therapist are slowly working out a problem that has built up over time. Quietly the muscles and “pressure points” in my upper back have worked themselves into a real mess. Addressing the issue and working through it is not an overnight success. It is going to take time. We could just throw pain killers and Ibuprofin at it, but it would only mask the problem.

So what in the world did that little pathology report have to do with my book review? Like I said, stick with me.

Through that magic that is facebook, I recently became re-acquainted with an old friend named Matt Bays. As luck would have it, Matt lives in a neighborhood which may one day be our destination due to our world headquarters in Indianapolis. So when Matt asked me to review his new book, The Blind Writer, I was honored to do so! I’m so proud to see a friend follow through with a dream of writing a book. After reading it , I am even more proud knowing that Matt poured his heart and deepest thoughts into this book. It is a journey through the ups and downs of a man that works in “the church” and lives in a world that is challenging our emotions and faith each day.

I took you through the story of my back because I thought it best explained what “The Blind Writer” is all about. I agree with Matt on many of his points in this book as it relates to what “the church” (pick one) has become. Like this issues that were my back, at first, we don’t even know they are there. The problems within our walls are silent, but slowly can destroy a ministry and church. When they do finally present themselves, we must be willing to go through the proper steps to find the real problem. Once identified, we must then deal with it accordingly. It’s not always popular. It’s not always easy. Yet if you and I want to see the Kingdom of God advance, we must do what it takes. We need to be like Jesus, not a subculture that has been created by men to make us feel like “Christians”.

Matt poured his time, heart and soul into this book. You may agree with everything, disagree with some or all of it. Either way, I recommend that you at least take a look at “The Blind Writer“. It might just give the pause we need to re-think how we do church.

Thanks again to Matt for the opportunity!

I swear this song is haunting me. Then again, it might not be the song, it might be the waiting that is actually haunting me. The song is just incredibly appropriate. I first heard it well over a year and a half ago and have somewhat forgotten about it until recently. The song is “While I’m Waiting” by one of my personal favorites, John Waller. It was also featured in the film “Fireproof” at a very appropriate part of the movie.

All of that to say that I almost titled this post “Charlotte Update”. As to not set the world and grapevine into motion, I decided to go with a different title. Our home is not for sale and as of this moment, we have no plans to even visit North Carolina anytime soon. God really shook up our basket a few months ago and yet Heather and I continue to wait. We both know that God was and is up to something in our lives. It was so crystal clear at the time of the call. It was almost audible. In the same breathe I would say that we are confident that not moving was the right thing to do. So we wait.

I know so many people that are also “waiting”. Jobs, homes for sale, ministries, relationships, futures, health, wealth, debt, fears and expectations. My prayer list is full of people that are “waiting”. If you know me at all, you know that my weakness is…well…waiting. I am blessed with no attention span and no patience. So the Lord making me wait is a prime example of refining in my life. He went right to the place that I am the weakest and we are pretty well camped out there. So we wait.

I think the point of this entire post is that while we are all “waiting” there is work to do. For so long I sat on the sidelines and “waited” for God to make that move. I waited for the sign, the time, the crystal clear moment. That may or may not come but we can, as John Waller says, worship, serve and run the race while we’re waiting. If you’re like me and “waiting” on God to bring clairty to something in your life, take a few minutes and listen to this song by John Waller. If nothing else, know that we are waiting together.

What a week it has been. I have always had a rule to leave politics out of my blog. I’m not going to change any of that now. Yet I sit here today with such a mixed bag of emotions. Reading articles and comments on blogs, facebook and twitter has been quite an experience. I go from inspired to disappointed. I go from angered to completely perplexed. All of these emotions have nothing to do with the election. They are all based on the posts and responses leading up to and following the election from Christian brothers and sisters.

I have tried to approach each commentary with an understanding and allowing that each has the freedom to say or do what they feel appropriate. But today I believe what saddened me the most is that we have allowed an election process to drive walls and bitterness between believers. At a time when those of faith should unite for a cause much greater than who is in the White House, we are fighting amongst ourselves. At a time when the nation needs to see the love of Jesus we cannot allow circumstances to take us from what we are here to do. Are we advancing his kingdom or setting it back?

The reality is that this world is hurting. It was in that state before last night and it will be in that state when the new President takes the office. The hurts are real. People are hungry, homeless, poor, broken and need the hope of Jesus Christ more than ever before. Are we expressing that message or doing it damage? Are we doing our part to usher in His kingdom?

The most important thing that I have tried to remember in this entire process is that there is only One man, and one Remedy for all that we seek. It is not John McCain. It is not Barack Obama. It is Jesus Christ. If the celebration in Chicago last night was anything, imagine the day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. Imagine the acceptance speech when the one that suffered for all of the sin in the world takes his rightful place on the throne!

Now that is change we can believe in. That is the hope we seek. That is the day I long for.

“Remedy” by David Crowder Band

[audio http://leftfield8.com/audio/dcbremedy.mp3]