Imitation Moment

In the book Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis there are times when he teaches through a hypothetical conversation between Christ and a disciple of Christ. I love this didactic strategy because he invites me in to identify with the disciple and to consider the words of Christ in a new way.

All the craziness associated with pulling together all the last-minute details for the Z2 Convergence that we begin tomorrow forces me to pause for a second to consider an interesting conversation between a disciple and Christ!

Disciple: Where are you, Lord, when I'm overwhelmed with all these details and all this stress?


Christ: I'm here with you, as you know already. I wonder what is overwhelming you to the point that you only now turn to me?


Disciple: I recognize that you have been here the whole time. At the same time, as my tasks continue to come at me with amazing vigor, my thoughts entertain the ever-present mountain called "things-still-to-get-done." I write them down "here" and "there." I forget about "this" or "that." I actually remember "the other thing" and manage to crank out pieces of randomness to add to the little hill called "finished." Are you just sitting there watching me? Waiting for something? What is going on?


Christ: Sure I see all that, my child. Actually, I feel how overwhelming it is for you. You take on so many things! I love that about you! I remember creating you like that on purpose. I also remember creating you to take delight in me, to experience peace in me. I see times when your faith in me alone carries you beyond this thing you are calling a mountain. You let go and sit at my feet as you breath your next breath, learning from me the way you must go. I love those moments that you are even unaware of yourself and so sensitive to my moving that it is as if I were directing your path according to my word. You do that so well, my child. Keep it up.

Hide-and-Seek

Opportunities patiently wait for us to discover them today! For some reason they like to play hide-and-seek all the time...and they are good at finding hiding spots! I know some kids who are excellent, top-notch, olympic-gold-metal-level hide-and-seek players, and these opportunities I'm talking about beat these kids all the time!

What is amazing to me is to watch them play. Even though the opportunities' hiding spots are incomparable, sometimes they like to toy with people. I occasionally see an opportunity, tired of hiding so well all the time, stand right out in the open ready to be "it" next round (wanting to be "it" even once), and someone just walks right past it as if she never saw it!! I am floored every time!

Well, today is going to be different for me! An opportunity told me to close my eyes and count to ten, and we all know what that means. I'm playing hide-and-seek today! It is going to be awesome.

You need to join us! Those opportunities have nothing on us! Ready or not, here we come!

Space on the 12th Day of Christmas

Every year, on the twelfth day of Christmas, my wife and I get to celebrate our wedding anniversary! Tanya and I were married on January 6, 2001. We got a chance to get away for our 11th wedding anniversary yesterday and today! My mom came in to spend some time with Kayla and Tyler.

We went to Crystal Beach, near Galveston. And, get this! We backed up our Honda Pilot right to the ocean's edge, opened the back door, and sat there for hours! It was amazing! The sea gulls were doing their thing, the water was doing what it does best, and we were enjoying the comfortable silence...mesmerized by God's beautiful creation! The only people we encountered during these times were those in the one or two cars that passed by every couple of hours or so.

When was the last time you took advantage of some space to reconnect with God through his creation? You need to do that.

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters." Psalm 24:1-2

Praise the Lord!

What would happen if you said these words to 3 different people today: "Praise the Lord! God is so good!" How would those people respond? What kinds of conversation would come from a statement like that? Who needs to hear you say something like that? What would that do to your heart? When would you imagine a statement like that coming out today?

As this Christmas Break Exercise continues, stretch a little today and give a little shout out for God!

"Praise the Lord! O gives thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord, or declare all his praise? Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times." Psalm 106:1-3

Shine Jesus

Today's Christmas Break Exercise post is short and sweet. These have gotten longer than I first intended. Here we go.

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." Isaiah 60:1-3

The year continues to unfold before you, and God is still the bright one who shines through you! Keep your eyes on the way of Jesus and others will come around so that they can see more clearly.

Prayer for Wisdom

I praise you, Father, for your presence. Today your wisdom and understanding wait to be experienced by those of us looking for them. Whisper to us, Lord, that our hearts may find you again today. Prepare us, Spirit, as we wait to see you this day in your wisdom. Amen.

"Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding, for her income is better than silver, and her revenue better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy." Proverbs 3:13-18

More Than One

Reminiscent of the nine lives that cats claim to have, I claim to have more than one life. In fact, I have more than two too! [get it...TUTU...ha...I'm a dork]. I have my spiritual life, my family life, my lame joke life, my church life, my work life, my exercise life, my hobby life, my you-name-it life. They are all there, present and accounted for! Each doing it's own thing!

As if it is against the rules to start over on, say, March 3rd or December 16th, the new year certainly encourages us to start over, to begin again, and to resolve to do this or that with my food life, weight life, or work life. If you are hitting reset this year, let me offer a thought that may take some pressure off your shoulders.

My thought: my plethora of lives are more fused to be one than I think!

I have recently been on a journey to clean out my office to get it in order! Thoughts may circle around in some people's brain about how Chris is finally getting his work life organized! These thoughts, if they actually happened, would be accurate. My work life IS getting more organized and more manageable!

At the same time, a funny surprise continues to unfold in front of me. As my office is getting more organized, my financial life is getting more organized, my spiritual life is getting more attention, and my time with family is being managed better! This is cool! Work on one and get four! To be a math nerd for a second, maybe one times one CAN equal four! Awesome!

Um...no! Epic fail, Chris!

The reality is that one times one equals...wait for it...one! We have one life. Work to enhance it even in small things, and your life improves. Your one, God-breathed life--every aspect of it--responds and adjusts to every small, seemingly-insignificant tweak. It is as if we are hard-wired in the image of God to be a whole and complete living being! Nice.

So, go for it all this year with a bang as you hit reset and work on your life again! My excitement and anticipation grows as I wonder what will be affected this year as I work to get organized at work. What about you?

God's Word and Prayer

At the end of this year, my mind goes to the transformation that has happened in my own life in the course of one year. The list would be long indeed! Big statement here. Though mostly inside, God has changed me more this year than any other year since the life-changing transformation that happened while I was at Pine Cove as a boat driver in the summer of 1998.

As I look back on the year, what I see is God's word and prayer. Even though confusion, frustration, questioning, struggle, pain, and discernment could make their case to be what characterizes this year for me, I notice the sometimes subtle presence of God's word and prayer.

The nature of my job (to teach Bible classes) kept me going back to God's word. In my preparations God surprised me regularly with small things. As I reflect on this, it seems like God purified me little by little through it all with his word.

"Is not my word like fire, says the Lord..." Jeremiah 23:29a

Prayer was there too because of the nature of my job. At times I forced myself to ask others what I could pray for because I knew prayer changes things. It did. Even those small prayers said out of obligation, those prayers I'm supposed to pray because I'm the campus minister. Even more, I see those prayers said through silence, reflection, and tears from this year. Flash prayers like, "What is going on, Lord?" or "Give me patience, God!" opened up vistas of divine revelation.

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." Ephesians 6:18

God's word and prayer. Commit to these in 2012 and reflect on what happened in your life at this time next year!

Go in peace! Serve the Lord!

A Picture

I want to paint a picture
Without drawing a line
It will speak beyond itself
And to nature divine

It points and displays beauty
It fashions itself with word
It creates a connection
And feelings never heard

I want to paint a picture
Without skill or technique
It will dance beyond expectation
And rest in land unique

It wrestles with struggle
It smiles with wisdom
It hovers through silence
And reveals kingdom

I want to paint a picture
Without pride in me
It will honor God and Man
And hang upon His tree

Advisers and Action, Part 2

"Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but with many advisers victory is won." Proverbs 11:14

Today I continue yesterday's thought concerning the challenge associated with asking for advice and following through with action. I ended yesterday saying that asking for advice is only the first step in moving forward. A much more difficult step is actually taking a step!

Looking at the Proverb above it is obvious that the king of a nation must act to address the enemies looking to take the nation. No wise king would seek the counsel of his advisers and say, "Hey, that is great advice! Thanks for giving me that advice about preventing our enemy from destroying us!" and then do nothing. Yet, how quick I am to ask my friends for advice and put off any decision because it is a hard decision!

Regarding my office, one day I went to the library in Conroe with Tanya and the kids. While they ran with excitement to pick their own books, I went upstairs on a quest of my own. I left with a book called, Order From Chaos by Liz Davenport. Going through that book helped me begin to take another step I needed to get organized.

Interestingly enough, as I completely gutted my office to create some space to organize I found Adonna's written plan I mentioned yesterday. Reading through Adonna's plan again, I was amazed at how similar they were.

It baffles me why I never saw her advice and acted on it back in 2008! All I know is that now, I'm ready to act on the advice. The difference is found in me. I am ready to make a plan and follow through with it. What advice have you already received that you are needing to act on?

I've found that good intentions are only that...good intentions!

I also hear James 2:14-19 humming a little ditty in the background:

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that...and shudder.

Advisers and Action, Part 1

Breaks have generally been the time when I concentrate on getting things more organized, especially in my office. As I have been doing this again, I recall a time when an anonymous person (still unknown) hired a professional organizer to help me overcome my organizational struggles. At first, it was difficult to admit that I needed someone else to help me do something as simple as organize my office. "After all," I blindly reasoned, "I can do this 'simple' stuff myself! Why bring someone else in?"

Well, I learned through this exercise that having many advisers is wise. Several Proverbs (11:14; 15:22; 24:6) make this incredibly obvious! Proverbs 24:6 is characteristic: "Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers." They bring various perspectives and offer varying opinions. So, Adonna came in and helped me a great deal! She wrote out a plan of action and gave me great advice! I'm incredibly grateful for her expertise!

Here is what happened.

I kept the plan she developed near my desk for a while. It made me feel good. I had a plan! It was awesome! So...I made sure the plan was close, laying near enough for me to see it so that I could hop on it as soon as I had some time! Every time I looked at it, good emotions and smiles came to my heart, especially since my desk stayed clean for much longer than any other time I'd cleaned it off before! I had a plan after all!

Occasionally, I would take her plan into my hands and flip through it's pages reminding myself of the plan! Stirring myself once again I resolved to get to it soon, maybe even this coming weekend. Having made this "absolutely definitive and concrete plan" with the awesome word "maybe" (cough, cough), I put her plan back in it's place. Well, as you can imagine, the busyness of ministry continued. Eventually, another "important thing" to remember got placed on top of this great organization plan that never completely materialized!

While I will continue this story tomorrow, here is a concluding thought for today. Asking for advice is difficult! It forces us to come to terms with our own deficiencies. We see the weaknesses...and so do our advisers! In the end, however, we must recognize it is only a FIRST STEP in moving forward. Following through with the plan is much more difficult!

The Way of the Lord

Israel was in exile. Jerusalem was destroyed. The temple decimated. They were scattered among the nations. Israel's big three were gone: no land, no temple, and no identity!

In this context, Isaiah 40-55, speaks an unbelievable message of hope! Like yesterday's post (telling Israel to put on new clothes) we see amazing images of what God is going to do to restore the big three. They will go back to their land. They will rebuilt the temple. And they will be seen as God's people with innumerable descendants. God's message through Isaiah gave them hope for the future beyond their present situation.

I can hear the clamoring of critics and doubters now! "There is no way this is possible!" "The odds of that happening are horrible!" "Why would you even consider such a thing!?" "That is a pipe dream!" "Look at you now!" "You think God is with you? Ha!" "God will never accept you!"

And then this:

"...my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts..." Isaiah 55:8-9

The simple reminder this morning is to remember that the Lord's ways surpass our ways.

We may think we have the way of the Lord nailed down and forget to seek his guidance or hear his message. Our internal (and external) critic may blind us to the amazing transformation that God's Spirit desires to work in us. Our current situation may be so bad that we're convinced that it will never be restored or redeemed. We could be so "cold" that we think "warmth" will come from the Lord!

Be careful. God is in the business of taking what is "lost" and working salvation. Call out to Him! His ways are higher, deeper, and beyond our ways! That is awesome!

Put on Brighter Clothes

"Rouse yourself, rouse yourself! Stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath....Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion! Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city...Shake yourself from the dust, rise up, O captive Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter Zion!" Isaiah 51:17; 52:1-2

This is only a small part of a compelling sermon first preached to a people scattered all over the place after the Lord brought devastation and destruction to Israel. Having experienced captivity for some time I imagine the mourning clothing of sack cloth and ashes alongside the chains of their tormentors being a daily reality fixated in their minds. Perhaps they are so inclined to accept this way of living that they "fall asleep" thinking that no hope exists for them, that there is no brighter days ahead.

To hear a message like this is jolting! There is hope? There are beautiful garments for us? There is something more for us than chains and old clothes?

As this Christmas Break Exercise continues we may need a little jolting of ourselves, a little "Hey...get up! Rouse yourself! Shake off the dust! Take off those chains! Put on some brighter clothes!" This sermon reminds us to put on our Jesus-type clothes each day. It is a choice we must make today! We choose to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12). These clothes compel us forward through the day to interact with those around us.

Knowing we need to put on each one, which piece of clothing do you need to put on most today? Wake up and put it on! Stand up in the clothing that the Lord provides us!

A Gift of Prayer

We praise you, O Lord, for your goodness! You alone are God; there is no other! We fall down in your presence! You alone come near! You alone are able to work righteousness and justice!

How often it is that we claim to possess what only you can claim! How quick we run to cherish the gifts we receive without recognizing you, O Lord, as the one who gives them to us! How slow we are to see our family as worthy of our sacrifice and time!


Father, open the gifts that we give you today! With every one, we show you our heart one more layer deep! Savior, we wait for your surprises with eagerness. Remind us, Holy Spirit, today when we need to see you most! Encourage us, Lord, to fight ever-present temptations with your energy!


We praise you, O Lord, for your goodness!

God Hugs

"Hey man!" the guy says getting my attention. Without invitation he invades my personal space and gives me a comforting hug. "You look like you needed a hug!" I did need that hug, and I appreciated it very much. Yes, two grown men hugging is cool!

As I've mentioned before, I think God likes to surprise us with hugs, especially for those of us who show and receive love through touch. What I cherish about God hugs are the disguises in which they come. Here is a brief list of God hugs I've received lately:

• An actual, meaningful hug
• A person told me that they'd been praying for me (without me asking!)
• I watched the wind sneak through a forest
• I heard the apt words of a prophet to me
• A killer, awesome food gift given out of the blue
• I found out that someone talked good about me behind my back
• I watched my kids point their friends to Jesus

God wants to hug you! He has probably done it many times over today already. He disguises himself so well that we have to spend regular time becoming more familiar with them. How have you experienced God's hugs lately?

Yearning and Seeking

"My soul yearns for you in the night, my spirit within me earnestly seeks you..." Isaiah 26:9a

As this Christmas Break Exercise continues, I wanted to remind you of the Christmas Break "Bucket" List. Take a moment and read through this list again. Even those of us who are beyond our college years can find small ways to keep our souls yearning for the Lord! Number eleven is a great one!

Wait a Second!?

I hope you are enjoying the change of pace that comes with Christmas break! You've been waiting for it with great vigor! Your eyes have been on this season for a while!

As you think about this season for which you've been eagerly anticipating, hear this word from Isaiah 25:9:

"Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

I love how Isaiah talks as if he can see the Lord right there in front of him. "There he is! Look at Him! Look how awesome He is!" This text forces me, as I continue this Christmas Break Exercise, to look around while I'm on break. The Lord is here! I've been waiting for this time. God is amazing! Let us be glad...no exuberant...about the salvation the Lord has provided!

Wells of Salvation

"With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known his deeds among nations; proclaim that his name is exalted." Isaiah 12:3-4

I recall only one well from which I have ever drawn water; it was at my grandparent's farmhouse. It was good water, cold and refreshing on hot summer days. As a young boy, I remember being confused about the well water though! I was afraid that my grandparents underestimated how much water to put in the well. What if we ran out of water!?

I love the language of drawing "from the wells of salvation!" Salvation here is never something we put in to draw back out later on when it is needed. We could never claim any part of it! Indeed, salvation is something that comes from the depths of the Lord. And there is plenty of it to go around, and more than one well.

Remember during this break to take a drink. Draw from the wells of salvation today! How do you do that? Thank the Lord! Call on his name! Tell someone about how God has worked among us recently! Lift up God's name!

By "My" Hands

The Christmas Break Exercise continues this morning!

Yesterday was the last day that we had carpet in the big room of the KFC building. Here is a picture of it before we got to ripping out the carpet.

I could talk about how awesome a job I did in getting the carpet out. Genius could point out that I cut it first in small strips to make it easier to pull up. I thought about cutting hand holds in the carpet too so I could get a better grip! I'm so wise. My strength could also win the day as I point to that! You can tell my strength just by looking at me, after all! Look at me...I did...I...I....me...my...

Hear the word of the Lord about Assyria, who God used to destroy Israel for their rebellion, from Isaiah 10:12-13:

"When the Lord has finished all his work [read "destruction"] on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the arrogant boasting of the king of Assyria and his haughty pride. For he says: 'By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I have...plundered their treasures.'"

It is so easy to slip into thinking that I am the one who does all these awesome things...whatever those awesome things are! Classes...assignments...finals...tight budget...many friends...spiritual progress. I easily forget that I am merely the tool in God's hand. I am the instrument he uses to accomplish his purposes.

Remember to keep your pride in check during the break, especially when around family. It is easy to think too highly of yourself in these moments. Remember that you are still learning and that many people know more than you do. Knowledge and understanding belong to the Lord! Strength and power are His! The Lord says, "All things come about by my hands."

The Vineyard

I praise God for this Christmas Break Exercise where we have the opportunity each morning to focus our minds on the way of Jesus to water our hearts for the day. Hear the word of the Lord from Isaiah 5:1-2:

"Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes."

Notice that Isaiah is singing a love song for God. Interestingly enough, the love song is startling for Israel. It speaks of all that God has done for Israel, his provisions, and his protection. In spite of all of it, however, Israel returns sour grapes! As we see a few verses later (Isaiah 5:7), the Lord expected to see justice, but saw bloodshed; he expected righteousness, but heard a cry!

We pause for just a minute to thank God for all that he has provided for his people, for us who desire to draw near him and learn his ways! Spend a minute (or four) to thank God for his provisions in your life.

Let us pray that God's provisions result in the fruit that He desires for us. During this break, may God see in us useful grapes! Search us, O God, and know our heart; test us and know our thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in us, and lead us in the way everlasting. Amen.