We're here to talk about the wild, ridiculous love and grace of Jesus. So come along for the ride, and take time today to laugh, love & forgive. Never regret anything that makes you smile. Don't label people & focus on the positive. And enjoy EVERY sandwich!
The following post has become a Christmas season tradition on this blog because it is so full of great memories for me. I hope it brings back a few for many of you as well. Only 1 more sleep 'til Christmas... Way back in 2010 I put together a little slideshow featuring pictures of kids from the various youth ministries I served over the years and jolly old Saint Nick. Most of these pictures were taken at youth group Christmas parties. Some of the "youth" in these old photos are over 40 now. Many of them have children of there own. Others are still in college. The point is, I can look back at these pictures and remember all of the love and Christmas cheer we would all share this time of year and it is very special to me. For you see in every single picture in this slideshow, I am Santa. It's me under the beard. I always loved doing the Santa thing, and looking back at these memories is great fun.
I chose the song I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday from one of my favorite old school bands, All Star United. This song is full of energy and joy, but it also carries an important message. How much better would this world be if we were the people all year long that we try to be at Christmas? Enjoy the slideshow. And if you happen to be in it, thank you for some unbelievable memories. I would love to hear from you all. Have a very, merry Christmas!
The music of the late Dan Fogelberg has had a profound influence on my life. A classic 1970's singer/songwriter, Dan's music spoke to my heart from the very first moment I encountered it, when Paula Teague and friends used his brilliant song To the Morning in the first Quaker Lake Camp slide show in 1976 or '77. His music became a staple around camp- especially the Crafts Hut- and was used numerous times for devotions and in slide shows over the next 8 years or so. I purchased all of his albums and saw him in concert 3 times before his death from prostate cancer in 2007. His song Along the Road was featured in the first post on this blog; his lyrics have been used in many other posts along the way. But more than that, Dan's lyrics reside deep in my heart, and on many occasions I find myself turning to his words for consolation, comfort, encouragement and peace. That is still true today. Dan's music is seldom heard anymore on radio or in movies. His mellow style and comforting voice once caused one of my 1990's Kissimmee students to refer to him as "Dan Fogelfart." Even if you are an old-timer like me, you may not know many of his songs. Songs like Same Old Lang Syne, Part of the Plan, Leader of the Band, Place In the World For A Gambler, Missing You, Language of Love and Power of Love were hits in their day, but few remember them. His great love song Longer is still a favorite at weddings. But for me, the true greatness of Fogelberg is found in listening to entire albums, not singles. Great hidden gems like Wishing On the Moon, Morning Sky, Souvenirs/The Long Way, Once Upon A Time, Stolen Moments, Scarecrow's Dream, Ghosts and Lessons Learned are deep cuts that are among my favorite songs from any artist. And then there is Stars. The second cut on his 1972 debut album Home Free (right after To the Morning), Stars is a love song- but it is anything but typical. The lyrics capture those moments so many of us have felt in the reality of romance, somewhere between "She loves me yeah, yeah,yeah" and "She ripped my heart out and stomped that sucker flat!" The reality that everything you feel is honest and true and seems to be the most important thing in your life, and yet the other person just does not feel that way...at all. It is a song about how love can be both "true" and unrequited all at the same time. Love can be one-sided and still be authentic and overwhelming. Which, as Dan notes, makes it almost impossible to give up on. How can that kind of love not be shared, not be mutual? It is a question most young people get to ask over and over again in life. Stars is about that kind of love, about that kind of obsession. And for me, it is simply haunting. Sure, it's been a few years since anyone could spend a dime to make a phone call. But many of us know the feeling of trying catch a falling star with some grand romantic gesture...and having that star fall right on top of us. The lyrics hold up so well. Read them. Listen to the song once or twice. And then try to get it out of your head. I dare ya...
Stood out in the rain
Let it soak me down
Before I called you, I called you
Didn't see me there
Hidden by the rain
Beneath your window, but I saw you
Putting on your face
Before the mirror on the wall
Dreaming that the looking glass was me
Catching your fondest gazes
Living through your fickle phases
I love you
And it's getting easier each day
To weep about you
Harder every night to sleep without you
How many years must I be driven
By this dream of love with you?
Spend my dimes on phones
Trying just to talk
But you don't answer, you let it ring
Spend my nights alone
Catching falling stars to give to you love
They're just for you
For stars fall every time
A lover has to face the truth
And far too many stars have fell on me
And as they trail the skies
And burn their paths upon my eyes
I cry
And it's getting easier each day
To weep about you
Harder every night to sleep without you
How many years must I be driven
By this dream of love with you?
With you
With you
Thanks Dan, for writing songs that make the things we feel seem normal- even when they are not. Most love songs strive to make us wish upon a star. You remind us, to quote another of your songs, that sometimes we have to "Wish upon the moon tonight; there's not a lucky star in sight..."
You know that thing where you would do anything to show another person how important they are to you? Yeah...this is about that. I woke up singing this song today. Now it will be stuck in your heads too! :)
Now that's commitment! Have a Happy Hump Day, my friends!
One of my favorite hymns of the church is the great classic It Is Well With My Soul. Written by Horatio Spafford in 1871 after his family drowned at sea, it has been sung in churches for many years. It is a glorious reminder of the saving grace of Jesus Christ,even in the midst of our greatest struggles. It is a song of hope and perseverance. The song has lifted my spirits on the numerous occasions when I realize that I, like all humans. am a sinner saved by grace. It was the last hymn we sang my final Sunday at Springfield Friends Meeting in 1994; it was a song that brought me comfort at times of great personal darkness. The song is a brilliant reminder that Jesus loves not because of what we do or who we are, but in spite of those things.
Despite my head-knowledge of the love and grace of God, there are days when my heart still hurts. I imagine this is true for everyone. Yesterday we said our final earthly goodbyes to an old friend; already this morning I have hugged my friend Lisa who is staying with us as she goes through the hard days following her recent chemo treatment. Life can hurt. But God is ever present, and the love of God whose name is Jesus can bring us peace even in our pain. So today I have a challenge for you. Watch this very cool video (complete with lyrics) of a modern arrangement of the song by the great band Jars of Clay from their album Redemption Songs. If you listen to this song and feel a sense of true worship and a sense of thanksgiving for the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us, then take some time and praise Jesus on this Sabbath. If you don't feel those things, you may need to get your heart checked. I'm just saying...
With everything going on in the world around us, the time seems right to share this post again- if only for my own sake. Sometimes a Flashback Friday is a great excuse to say something important for a second time... A couple of years ago I was watching the VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown with my wife and son when we encountered one of the most uplifting, hopeful and spirit-filled songs I have heard in a very long time. The band is called SafetySuit. I cannot speak to the religious convictions of the band members. It is is not "Christian" music. But if you are a Christ-follower, this song speaks to the condition of so many of those around you. People are hurting.Times are hard. And one of the most precious commodities the church has to offer is hope. If you are in student ministry and have not yet built a message around this song, then get busy. This video will inspire you, because whether intended or not, Jesus is all over it, just oozing from each frame. It is my hope that it will move you as much as it did me. So here is the official music video for These Times...
"Throw up your hands and believe it. These times are hard. But they will pass..."
There was a Flashback Friday post all queued up for today, but last night God gave me a new plan and a different kind of flashback. I was listening to my iPod and heard the classic Larry Norman song The Great American Novel (1972). The late singer was one of the first prominent voices of the Jesus Movement of the early 1970s and a pioneer of contemporary Christian music. To my mind he was clearly a leading voice of that generation and I have long loved his music. But as I heard this song last night the lyrics overwhelmed me, just like hearing it for the first time. The song seems to have been written for a time such as this. No matter your politics or your point of view, the words are like ants in your underwear- uncomfortable, irritating and hard to shake off. There are lines that make me angry, yet are difficult to refute. In scripture, prophecies were always painful to hear. This 43 year old song speaks to NOW in ways that can only be called prophetic. Listen & watch. Think about the lyrics. Squirm a bit. And don't miss the truth and the hope found in the very last line of the song. Then get down on the knees of your heart and pray for my country. As another prophetic radical once said, "Let those with ears to hear...hear!"
Today I simply praise God for the gift of his Son, and invite you to share in the celebration of the resurrection. The video below is one of my all-time favorite Easter songs. In fact, it is The Easter Song. I love the original from Keith Green and the classic cover from The 2nd Chapter of Acts. I loved singing it in various church choirs. But for me, nothing beats the incredible sound of Glad singing it acapella. Listen to the song, and then, as scripture commands, "Quickly now go tell his disciples that Jesus Christ is no longer dead!" He is risen! Hallelujah!!!! Celebrate in worship. Celebrate with family and friends. But most importantly celebrate that Jesus has claimed victory over sin and death. Grace and forgiveness live! The tomb is empty and because of it we are free!!!
I've spent the last couple of day at Spring Training baseball games. Saturday, my wife and our friend Lisa headed to Clearwater to see the Phillies and the Blue Jays. Yesterday I joined the Todd Willis family in Lakeland to watch the Tigers and the Nationals. It was a great way to combine two of my passions, baseball and my love for all the students who passed through my youth ministries over the years.. Today, with a little help from my old friends Geoff Moore & the Distance, I'd like to think a little about both... In the great song Home Run, Geoff (and co-writer Steven Curtis Chapman) use the imagery and passion of baseball to remind us of a very different story- one that is extremely relevant today. There are many differences between the people who call themselves Christians. We can read the same words in scripture and come away with very different interpretations. But we do claim to follow the same Jesus. The words of the song remind us that "we're on the same team though we're not all the same, that's why we have to learn to play together." The bridge lays out some steps we need to take to do just that.
You gotta keep your eye on the ball, swing straight
and true and follow though
Don't be afraid what ever the call
Because we're never alone,
our Coach is there to cheer us on...
And therein lie two of our biggest problems. We have stopped listening to the Coach- Jesus! We are trying to save the world under own own power. And we are afraid- so afraid that we have lost trust in the overwhelming power of the Creator of the Universe. It is so much easier to argue about sin than it is to love a sinful world, and so we are afraid we cannot do it. In doing those things, we have forgotten our primary purpose in God's plan. We are called to be the carriers of the disease known as The Good News. It is our job to spread God's love to the world. And so many of us want so much to be a part of that effort. As the song says, "I didn't join this team to sit on the bench, I'm going deep and swinging for the fence- I've got some friends on base I've to get home!"
My youth group in Kissimmee in the mid 1990s loved this song. We talked about the meaning a lot, and we focused on the references to the biblical Great Cloud of Witnesses. The lyrics say, "We are not the first to pass this way or stand over this plate. We are surrounded by a legacy..." Wanting to do our part to fulfill the Great Commission was one of the reasons we invited Geoff and the band to do a concert for our community at the Tupperware Convention Center in the summer of 1997. We were trying to hit a home run. We risked a great deal and lost a lot of money, but people came to Jesus that night. "You gotta pray and swing, then watch it as it's going, going...it's GONE!" But we had to work together to make it happen. We could not focus on the things we do not agree on. We had to focus on the ONE we do. And we had to share his love to with the community. The ENTIRE community!
We got to hear this song performed live that night, just like you will hear it here in a video I posted to YouTube (it's got over 4000 hits, which is lo for one of my videos!) back in 2012. For our FUMC-K family, it turned into a sing-along as we celebrated being the family of God- a true team. My prayer is that in the days to come the Christian community will set aside the things that divide us and focus on the mission we have been given- sharing the love of God whose name is Jesus with our world. If we will do that, we can make the Coach proud. He is indeed cheering us on, saying- "GO! GO! All the way!" Enjoy the video, filled with lots of great baseball images and a few select shots of my youth families. Now get out there and Play Ball!
Lately my thoughts have been deeply immersed in the subject of friendship. There have been remembrances of good friends that are no longer in my life. There has been reminiscing about complicated relationships that have led to a drifting apart. And there have been joyous memories- more that I can count- of friends who have stuck with me through the years, no matter the circumstances and no matter my own issues. My message for this Sunday is not a religious one, but it is deeply spiritual to me. When you reach my age the stories you have of the people you love are among the most important things in life. Friendships are worth fighting for. They are worth the effort, the time and trouble to salvage when they appear to be on the brink. Listen to this song and soak in the lyrics. The song is called Heaven for a reason. It was the final song in the final episode of How I Met Your Mother- and that fictional group of friends knew all about fighting for friendships. Listen...and remember...
As Helen Keller once said, "Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light." Set aside some time today to value your friendships, to repair those that need work and to express love to the people who have carried you when you needed them most. I am blessed to have so many dear friends. I love you all.
Andrew Lewis was Organist and Interim Youth Minister when I was hired at First UMC-Kissimmee in 1994. He eventually became the Minister of Music and Worship there, and also became one of my best friends. Andrew had many gifts; a beautiful voice, a loving spirit and servant's heart. In all my years around churches he was the best worship designer I have ever been around, although in such a traditional church he got to use those skills on a very limited basis. One particular Advent season Andrew, Pastor John Willis and the rest of the worship team outdid ourselves. We took the One More Sleep 'Til Christmas theme from the movie The Muppet Christmas Carol and started our "sleep" countdown a month before Christmas Eve. Pastor John, his famous infamous puppet Hollywood (who has his own post here on this blog!) and I would weave the impending arrival of Santa Claus into the Children' Moment each week along with the excitement over the coming of the Christ child. By our Christmas Eve "family services" we had built to a fever pitch. Those kids and their parents had gotten the message- it was the night before JESUS! That night Andrew sang the Muppet song and had me sing the Rich Mullins classic You Gotta' Get Up (see the video at the bottom). Children performed a nativity play. Hollywood, John and myself then closed the series by reminding everyone that the coming of Jesus was an even more exciting event than the coming of Santa- although Santa rocks! It was an awesome service. Then everyone went outside to witness a Living Nativity performed by our youth. God even spoke to us through and angel on a ladder that night...
Every year Marilyn, Will and I attend a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Every year I am moved by the music, the lifting of candles as we sing Silent Night, and the Christmas story itself. And every year I think of Andrew, John, and Hollywood and all the time, effort and creativity that went into making that night in the late '90's one that will stay with me forever!
I hope that for each of you, tonight will be a Holy night.My family will attend the 6 PM service at Van Dyke, return home for real Carolina hot dogs and a viewing of Scrooged. Tradition will be broken, as we normally watch The Muppet Christmas Carol, but this year we are saving it until tomorrow so Michelle, who has never seen it, can watch with us. But Scrooged works nicely as a replacement, and so that is Christmas Eve at the Jones' house. Whatever your traditions may be, please don't forget the original Christmas tradition- O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of our dear Saviors' birth... Merry Christmas to all. Today it is finally true again-there's only one more sleep 'til Christmas! And that means that tomorrow you gotta' get up- it's Christmas morning. Hugs and blessings to you all!
I love everything about Christmas. I love the religious celebrations of the birth of our Savior. I love reading from Luke 2 (just like Linus!). I love the decorations, the trees and Santa Claus. I love the movies and TV specials. And I love the music. I know that they start playing it way too early for most of us, but when it it time I am sooo ready for it! I love it. And I love a wide variety of Christmas tunes. My play-list includes everything from traditional carols to rock anthems to singing vegetables. In fact, the first VeggieTales Christmas CD is a traditional favorite for us. And I love sharing some of my favorite Christmas music with you.
Today's selection may be a little obscure, but it also is one of my very favorite contemporary Christmas songs. It comes from the 2002 album City On A Hill: It's Christmas Time. This album featured various contemporary Christian artists including Third Day, Caedmon's Call, Jars of Clay and Sixpence None the Richer. The title track, It's Christmas Time, was written by Terry Scott Taylor and Steve Hindalong. Taylor's roots in CCM go all the way back to the beginning at Calvary Church in southern California. He has been a prolific songwriter and member of the bands Daniel Amos and Lost Dogs. His songwriting has been listed as an inspiration by artists as varied as U2 and Michael W. Smith. Hindalong received a Dove Award for his production work on the City On A Hill albums. He was in the classic CCM band The Choir, and with Taylor in Lost Dogs. He is perhaps most noted as a drummer and percussionist, having played on numerous albums for various artists over the years. This song (for me) sets the mood for the celebration, joy and reverence that the Christmas season should be all about. It is sung by an all-star choir, including Dan Haseltine (ofJars of Clay), Mac Powell (of Third Day), Michael Tait (of dc Talk and now Newsboys), Leigh Nash (of Sixpence), Caedmon's Call and Out of Eden. I trust the God will use it to move you as much as it moves me. The celebration of the birth of our LORD is coming quickly. Let's prepare ourselves now for the coming of the hope of the world. Enjoy the song!
Today's Christmas song of the day is All Is Well, from Michael W. Smith's first yuletide album simply entitled Christmas. It has long been one of my favorite songs about the birth of Jesus, even though you will notice that MWS seems to be missing from the singers. This song is all about the message.
People have been using the phrase "all is well" to describe situations and conditions for hundreds of years. In colonial days the Town Crier used to announce "11 o'clock and all is well!" Of course he didn't really mean it; he simply wanted to assure the villagers they were not being attacked. There were still things that were not well. In the movie Animal House there is a scene where the town is involved in a riot, and a very young Kevin Bacon stands in the middle of the street yelling "All is well!!!" It wasn't. And how many times has a politician looked directly into a TV camera and announced that "all is well" when in fact things were falling apart? The phrase carries very little weight in our world, because all is such a big word and we know that something, somewhere is not well.
There have been numerous times in my life when I was convinced that "all" would never be "well" again. During my morning quiet time around one Christmas several years ago it occurred to me that I was focusing on the wrong "all." It was quite true that things happen in life and we are never the same again. It is also true that there are times when we hurt people and wonder if they can ever forgive us. But God already has. God sent his Son to earth through Mary, a very young woman who at times must have been certain all was NOT well- and yet it was. And as I thought about that story, this song came to mind. The birth of the Christ-child was God's announcement to everyone that "all is well." And when God says it, "all" really means ALL! Life will never be perfect, but how can it be anything but "well" when you are secure in the knowledge that the God of the universe sent His Son to save you- and ME! And that is what the song is all about.
Life is still hard. Things go wrong. People disappoint us. But because of Jesus, there is nothing you can do to make God love you more, and nothing you can do to make Him love you less. I don't know about you, but to me, that truly means all is well...
Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world,
Red & yellow, black & wile they are precious in his sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
For the past several weeks it has been impossible to watch TV, read blogs or see the news without seeing or hearing the word "race." For the most part this discussion has been centered around the color of people's skin and the differences in cultures. We are each unique and different- this is true. But it seems we are still allowing skin color and nationalities to divide and separate us. As a historian it seems to me that one thing is clear- we have not learned from the past. We have been here many times before. There is no question that racism exists. The question is does it exist in me? If we fear a young man on the street because he is black, or trust a man in a suit because he is white, then our hearts are dealing with racism. As I have tried to sort out my own thoughts on this renewed discussion of how we are different, this song - now 20 years old- has been running through my mind. The great Christian band dc Talk reminds us that while we have differences, we share two great similarities. We are children of God. And we all sin. Thus we are all Colored People - and we all "depend on a Holy Grace." I pray that this song and this wonderfully well-made video will inspire you to examine your heart. The lyrics are also included so there will be no misunderstanding the message of the song. Jesus calls us to be one people, one family- the Samaritans, the Jews and the Greeks all living as one. That is the City on the Hill, the true vision of the family of God. And as Toby Mac (one of the writers of this song) sang 10 years later in his hit Diverse City, "we will never be that shining City on a Hill until we truly become a Diverse City." Indeed, diversity is God's design. In the Creator's eyes there is only one race- the human race. And God ought to know- he painted us all! Be blessed, my friends!
Pardon me, your epidermis is showing, sir
I couldn't help but note your shade of melanin
I tip my hat to the colorful arrangement
Cause I see the beauty in the tones of our skin
We've gotta come together
And thank the Maker of us all
We're colored people, and we live in a tainted place
We're colored people, and they call us the human race
We've got a history so full of mistakes
And we are colored people who depend on a Holy Grace
A piece of canvas is only the beginning for
It takes on character with every loving stroke
This thing of beauty is the passion of an Artist's heart
By God's design, we are a skin kaleidoscope
We've gotta come together,
Aren't we all human after all?
We're colored people, and we live in a tainted place
We're colored people, and they call us the human race
We've got a history so full of mistakes
And we are colored people who depend on a Holy Grace
Ignorance has wronged some races
And vengeance is the Lord's
If we aspire to share this space
Repentance is the cure
Well, just a day in the shoes of a color blind man
Should make it easy for you to see
That these diverse tones do more than cover our bones
As a part of our anatomy
We're colored people, and we live in a tainted place
We're colored people, and they call us the human race
We've got a history so full of mistakes
And we are colored people who depend on a Holy Grace
We're colored people, and they call us the human race
(Oh, colored people)
We're colored people, and we all gotta share this space
(Yeah we've got to come together somehow)
We're colored people, and we live in a tainted world
(Red and yellow, black and white)
We're colored people, every man, woman, boy, and girl
(Colored people, colored people, colored people, colored people, yeah)
Yesterday I wrote that Marilyn, Will & Michelle were going to spend the day at EPCOTand take in the annual Candlelight Processional. As it turns out, not everyone is familiar with the Candlelight Processional. So think of today's post as a PSA to those who may not know the wonders of this event! The Candlelight Processional, it is one of the most spectacular celebrations of the birth of Jesus you will find anywhere. A full orchestra, 400+ voices from local high school choirs, the Walt Disney World Choir, The Voices of Liberty (an amazing acapella group that performs regularly at the American Pavilion atEPCOT) and brilliant trumpeters present traditional faith-based Christmas music. Mixed in with the songs (Joy To the World, O Come All Ye Faithful, The Hallelujah Chorusand more) are readings from scripture, shared by a celebrity narrator. Yesterday my family got to hear Neil Patrick Harris (the 2nd time they have heard NPH) read from the Gospel of Luke. Over the years we have heard many different narrators, including Steven Curtis Chapman, the lat Dan Urich, Whoopi Goldberg and my personal favorite, Robert Guillaume (Benson & the voice of Rafiki). It has been a very important part of our Christmas tradition for many years now.
People (mostly inside the church) are often quick to divide the world into two parts: secular and holy. The concept of secular does not exist in scripture. God created everything; it is only when His creations are misused that we get in to trouble. We are told that "all good and perfect gifts come from God."Secular certainly does not exist at the Candlelight Processional. The event takes place 3 times each day from Thanksgiving until the end of the year in a large outdoor amphitheater. Each performance is packed, with many turned away for lack of space. That means that during this holiday season over 300,000 people will hear the birth story of Jesus from the good people of Walt Disney World. It also takes place at Disneyland- so multiply that number! It's a truly amazing thing that has been going on for years. God is not and cannot be confined to the church.
One of the songs they perform each year is the classic Do You Hear What I Hear? It is performed by the mass choir and orchestra of the Processional on one of several albums that are available. The one I have features narration by Lou Gossett (another favorite with an amazing voice). I have loved this song since hearing a church choir sing it when I was a little boy. For me, it captures the wonder of that holy night so many years ago. I hope it will inspire you as well. It's time to get ready- after all there's only 22 more sleeps 'til Christmas...
If you are a movie fan of a certain age then you are aware that Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were at one time romantic comedy royalty in Hollywood. They had big hits with Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and You've Got Mail (1998) during a period in which both of them became box office gold and the darlings of movie critics. What you may not remember- because so few people saw it- is that those films were preceded by the 1990 movie Joe Versus the Volcano. It happens to be my favorite of the Hanks/Ryan trilogy of films. The plot finds Joe, a simple man who is miserable in his work, his relationships and his life, being diagnosed with terminal illness- a "Brain Cloud." A wealthy friend (played by the great Lloyd Bridges) of his doctor offers Joe a lot of money to travel to a remote island and jump in a volcano to appease the natives (the Waponi Woo) so that he can continue to mine "bubaru," an element crucial to his business. Their volcano demands a yearly sacrifice and all of the Woo are too smart to jump. But Joe, a former fireman, is anxious to do something heroic before his life ends- so he agrees. Meg Ryan plays three different characters, the third being a daughter of the wealthy businessman. She is driving the boat that will take Joe to island of the Waponi Woo. It's a strange plot to be sure. But it gets very interesting. At one point on their journey a huge storm shipwrecks their boat and they are left floating at sea for days on end, kept alive by the really expensive luggage Joe purchased with the money he was paid. Patricia (Ryan) is unconscious. As they begin to run out of fresh drinking water, Joe finds himself thinking not of himself for the first time in years, but of Patricia. He cares for her, giving her sips of the water to keep her alive. Finally, as Joe is suffering from dehydration, he awakes one final time and has the following revelation:
I won't spoil the ending of the movie, because it's awesome and you WILL have to see it now...right? But my focus today is on Joe's simple, honest prayer. We do forget just how BIG our God is, don't we? No matter the weight of our circumstances, God is bigger. No matter the depth of our despair, God is bigger. Mo matter the pain in our relationships, God is bigger. No matter our sins, our doubts, our frustrations and our failures- GOD IS BIGGER! Joe figures that out, and eventually decides that life is indeed worth living.- after a few twists and a lot of orange soda. The Waponi Woo love them some orange soda...
My hope is that today you will join me in praying Joe's prayer. You may be like me and just have days where you feel overwhelmed by life, or like Joe and be unsure of who God is or if God could possibly care about you. Today put that aside and remember that God is BIG, that God loves you, and that you are here on this spinning orb we call earth to make a difference. "God, thank you for my life..." Never give up hope.
One last thought- if you are ever diagnosed with a "Brain Cloud," get a second opinion...
It's Monday, the day when everyone feels just a little less peppy, a little less enthusiastic and a little less joyful. But it's also the start of a new week, and a new opportunity to do something amazing for the people in your life. A few weeks ago I ran across this old song from (of ALL people) Barry Manilow. I remembered it from way back in the day, but I did not remember it had such a wonderfully spiritual message to it. We just never know where inspiration will come from, do we? Want to jump start your week? Check this out:
Make this a day to shine, a day to spread faith, hope and love to your world. It often feels so dark outside. But if we truly believe, if we seek "that of God in everyone," then we can indeed "Shine, Shine, Shine- all around the world!" I wish you all blessings and great week filled with joy and adventure!
I woke up this morning and had a longing to watch some classic cartoons. Well good luck with that. We have 9000 channels to choose from- and no decent cartoons. As I recalled some of my favorites from the 60s and 70s, I found myself singing theme songs. That was followed by a trip to YouTube. And now you get to share in my bliss. This post should probably been called An Old Fart Saturday, but I strive to be family friendly! Enjoy...and have a fun-filled weekend!
Yesterday I wrote that the Apostle Paul once famously talked about the need to keep "pressing on." I have mentioned before that our theme for my first summer in Kissimmee was Don't Look Back. We based that theme on the scripture found in Philippians 3:13-14: But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward the prize that is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Jesus Christ." We wanted the students in our ministry to focus on what lies ahead rather than the past, both in terms of our programs and their relationship with Jesus. So many times we feel that the sins that we have committed in our pasts somehow keep us separated from Jesus forever. Nothing could be further from the truth. With Jesus, my potential always trumps my past.Grace comes to us new everyday. Dwelling on our past sins may keep us from feeling connected to God, but that is because we have not forgiven ourselves. God is ready to love us and give us purpose this morning no matter how we may have failed Him last night. It is truly an amazing thing. But in order for us to accept this gift of grace, we have do do what Paul told us to do in the Philippians passage. We must forget what is behind us and press on toward a goal of living life with Jesus.
Years after the summer of 1994 and our Don't Look Back theme, the great band Relient K wrote a song about this scripture called Pressing On, and today I share it with you below. All of us can look back and see moments (or months!) that we would like to erase from our lives. Jesus does that for us. We just have to believe it! The lyrics to the song remind us that while God is always looking down on us, He is never "looking down" on us! What a blessing! I encourage you to take the song's challenge: "To go back to where I was would just be wrong; I'm pressing on!" Have a blessed week everyone!
This weekend my wife Marilyn and I were finally nominated to participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The challenge came from my old buddy Todd Willis. Wanting to be a part of something larger than ourselves, to give to a worthy cause and to cool off on a hot Sunday afternoon in Tampa, we completed the challenge yesterday. The video was shot by our son Will, and you can see our dog Conner wandering around throughout the brief film. It was a true family event. Like any great movie, the film was not without bloopers and controversy. You will see Marilyn crack up just before I pour the ice water on my head; that is because Conner had just taken a big poop right in the driveway. The fact that we completed the shoot in one take while laughing that hard is a tribute to the cast and crew. Immediately upon conclusion of the film, Will and I both questioned whether Marilyn had actually poured the ice water on her head or not. She denied wimping out, but friends on her Facebook also challenged her. She was accused of only getting one ear wet and using a "sideways, glancing" bucket pour. Our friend Lisa (whom I nominated) says that when she completes the challenge she thinks Marilyn should have to do it again and do it right. There is more of this story still to be written. I am expecting the paparazzi to arrive most any time now... The key to any fundraising effort is to draw attention to your cause. By that standard, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is one of the best success stories in recent memory. It's raising money, drawing people together, and drawing attention to a terrible disease that affects so many. We were particularly glad to answer Todd's challenge as his father-in-law is one of those who needs our help. So if you haven't done so yet,make a donation to the ALS Association. Pour some ice water on your head. And become a part of a real movement. How many opportunities do we get to do that? Here's our video!
Back in January I chose Comeback as my #OneWord365 for 2014. This was to be a year of comebacks in my life, and in many ways it has been. But I have also been reminded that the old cliche that says we take "one step forward and two steps back" got to be an old cliche because it is far too often the truth. So true, in fact, that I have begun to view the concept of a comeback as simply being able to reverse that process and take two steps forward to recover from each step in the wrong direction. We all struggle with forward motion... On July 4th my wife Marilyn and I went to the movie theater to see the film Begin Again. You may not have heard much about this movie, and that is a real shame, because we found it to be brilliant. The cast, featuring Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightly, Hailee Steinfeld and Adam Levine is superb. The film revolves around songwriters and music, and the original songs in the film captured my ear and my heart. So please, go see it. In a world full of Transformers, movies like Begin Again deserve our support. But the real message of the film is one of comebacks. The characters have all faced disillusionment and disappointment in their personal and professional lives, and the movie chronicles their attempts to rebound from the same sorts of messes in which we all find ourselves. It is both encouraging and real. Not all comebacks are a success. The music video embedded below is from the movie- in fact it has three different versions in the film. This is the final one. I must confess I cannot stop listening to it, both this version and with Keira Knightly singing it. It asks a question that I find to be crucial to the idea of making a comeback from the things that drag us down. "Are we all lost stars trying to light up the dark?" Life, love, relationships and dreams will all send us two steps back from time to time. How do we respond? And where do we find the courage to to forward again? I hope you will enjoy the song as much as I do. But more importantly I pray you will realize that even when things feel the darkest, it is within you to be a light in our world. The light doesn't burn out. It's just that sometimes we are all Lost Stars...
