July, 2017

...now browsing by month

 

ME

Monday, July 31st, 2017

I was all set to add to my thoughts on forgiveness from this post when I had a change of thoughts heart.  I read something that sort of made me think a little too deeply for a Monday morning.  This morning in New Morning Mercies, Paul Tripp wrote this:

Grace not only forgives me, but enables me to live for something hugely bigger than myself. Why go back to my little kingdom of one? {Note: I change to the personal “me” or “my” when I write in my journal. He uses “you.”}

That phrase “kingdom of one” brought me back to a book I started reading over the weekend called More: How to Move from Activity for God to Intimacy with God by Greg L. Hawkins. Greg is one of the teaching pastors at Oak Hills Church where he joins Max Lucado and Randy Frazee.  I just happened to read last night about what Greg calls the “Kingdom of Me.” To summarize Greg says, “Many of us live in a box. It’s a small box known as the Kingdom of Me. We control what happens there.” However, he goes on to show how that box is awful small.

My thoughts ran like this: I spend a lot of time promoting the kingdom of Me. Such a tiny, small kingdom. The Pharisees promoted their tiny kingdom based on performance, personal power and acclaim. Mine isn’t so much personal power but I can say performance rears its ugly head, as does a little bit of acclaim from time to time (you know…I’d like to be known in the community type of acclaim).  Funny (not the ha ha kind): the phrase which going through my head was “Help me, Lord! Rescue me from me!”

So…how big is your kingdom?

Goodbye!

Friday, July 28th, 2017

When we are born two things happen: One, we start to die. Two, we start to grow. Seems incongruous, I know, but it is true. It is the latter I want to take a look at.

Growing up is part of life. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I heard, “Oh…grow up!” or the number of times I have used that same phrase. In Ephesians 4: 15-16,26-32 Paul tells us to grow up and as he does he tells us to get rid of certain things. What gives?  So that we will no longer be infants we need to get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, clamor and slander (to name a few). The subtraction method allows for the addition to take place. As we say goodbye, we can add to make our lives more productive.

Forgiveness is a huge part of moving on. “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Is.43:18-19)  It is the enemy’s plan to use your hurts to hold you back. He wants to put boundaries on your life based on your fear of getting hurt again. Total freedom means not allowing past hurts to direct our lives, tarnish our relationships and shape our personalities.

My sermon Sunday will be a real test. Physically of my ability to bounce back from surgery. Spiritually of our ability to overcome the ugliness of unforgiveness. Prayers would be appreciated on both fronts this weekend. Thanks..

WrapUp

Thursday, July 27th, 2017

I’m anticipating being back to work by today (Thursday) but just in case, I wanted this post to be ready to go. {Note: I am not at the office. I need to be careful in what I do and where I go}.

It is easy to dismiss my story because well…you have heard it before. But like you, every event in my life makes up my story. I read recently that my life is not an autobiography being written by me, but a biography written by God. There is a scene near the end of Back to the Future 3 where Jennifer opens the paper from the future that said Marty was fired and it was blank. When she asks him about it Doc Brown says, “That’s because your future hasn’t been written yet. Nobody’s has.  Your future is whatever you make it, so make it a good one…both of you!” I like the concept because the choices I make will affect my future. I do disagree with the premise of the movie quote though because God is the Author of my future and according to Psalm 37:23: “The steps of a man are established by the Lord when he delights in his way.” Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.My story will always include two bike accidents-one where my life and health were almost taken by a cowardly driver (11/7/16) and one where God spared my life (2/17/17) after I did an “endo,” breaking my collarbone, 3 ribs and splitting my helmet in 3 places while doing a face plant and who knows what else.

You have also read two other stories this week. A tragic one by David, the head of 3FeetPlease where he and his family lost their best friend. You also heard from Floyd, who lost a childhood friend to a cycling accident and almost lost his wife. Those are their stories.

You have a story also. Some of it has been written. Every hurt, every scene of agony, every incident of happiness, joy and laughter…all of life makes up your story. Tell it with the realization that your story is not done. There is more coming!

So I close out this Safety Week thanking David and Floyd for their stories. I thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I’ll be drawing names at the end of the week to see who wins the bears and also who won one of the two shirts. I’ll be contacting you for your size and physical address so David can send your shirt to you and so I can send you your bear (if you won).

Thanks again for joining me this week. And remember: 3 Feet Please.

 

RidingaBike

Wednesday, July 26th, 2017

Welcome to story #3 in my Safety Week. I had surgery Monday so decided I would get some help this week. I tell my story here. Dave tells his story here. Today I welcome Floyd from theregoI. Over the past 3 or 4 years we have been blogging, Floyd and I have become online friends. I respect his thoughts and comments. His story here is actually 2 stories…both which have had an impact upon him. So I’ll turn it over to him:

I don’t know too many people that don’t remember the day they learned to ride a bike. It was dangerous and painful for the majority of us. The pavement is pretty unforgiving… So are ’65 Pontiacs. Lucky for me I hit it and not the other way around.

Another milestone in life is learning to drive a vehicle. In both milestones, we learned to drive rules to keep us and others safe and alive, but rules get broken. Lives too.

When I was in high school Shawn McCarty was the BMOC, (big man on campus). The difference between him and other typical BMOC’s is that Shawn was kind and genuinely humble. Some decades later Shawn and I worked out together at the same gym. When my wife peddled the Tour De Tucson and Scottsdale, Shawn and his group of riders looked out for her. Shawn protected her like his sister.

My wife and I had just finished a thirty-mile ride when we heard about the guy that had been hit and killed on his bicycle a few days earlier. He had been riding east on Thompson Peak Parkway by himself. The driver veered out of her lane and into the bike lane where she struck and killed my friend Shawn…

My wife and I were peddling up Pacific Coast Highway and got separated at a light. I was ahead and missed the turn to the marina. With zero chance of finding her and without my cell, I peddled back to the house and called her. She was forty-five minutes out. At fifty minutes, I called and started pacing. At fifty-five minutes and no answer I went to the street to look for her.

My wife called me at the one hour mark… she’d been hit by a car on her bicycle.

The elderly woman that hit her as she was crossing the street was doing fifty miles an hour. An eyewitness said her bike did five 360 degree spins in the air before she landed and skidded across the intersection into a curb. Divine Providence allowed my wife to walk away with some knee issues and a spine that’s been recently screwed together.

When you see someone on a bicycle, remember the first time you learned to ride, the wind in your hair, your senses fully alive. And thank God you weren’t hit doing it. Never mind the six degrees of separation, everyone, whether they believe like us or not, on bicycles, you’re related to. We’re all of One blood. Let’s treat each other like it.

No one should have to maimed or hurt on a bike ride. Give ‘Em Three Feet.

Thanks Floyd. I certainly can’t and don’t disagree with that sentiment. Don’t forget the bear giveaway and the T-shirt giveaway. For more information check here.

Lynn

Tuesday, July 25th, 2017

This is a week of “Safety Posts.” Mine was yesterday. Today, I want you to meet David Waechter. I met David when I got involved in 3FeetPlease. I asked him to write a blog post to tell his story and why he got involved in 3FeetPlease. Here is his “heart” story.

What happens when your best friend, confidant, mentor, “sister” is ripped from your life in a tragic and unnecessary accident?  What happens when a piece of your heart is shredded; never to be replaced?  What happens when you look her in the eyes, hold her hands, and lie?  What happens when your family triples in size because you made a promise?  For me, that answer was to become the living definition of “lost”.  I no longer had a direction or a desire to move forward in my life.  They call it extreme PTSD but it’s so much more.

The last words I told my friend before she took her last breath was that we would be fine and that “she could go”.  I’ve never told a larger lie in my life and I still regret it; though I know she understood when I told her that I was just giving her permission to join Him and to do His work.  The ER surgeon, other medical professionals, and even the Hospital Chaplain told me that what I was witnessing was a miracle.  Lynn should have been gone the moment the car collided with our bikes yet she held on for several hours for my daughter and me to get to the hospital.  She lasted less than 20 minutes after we got there.  They told me that she needed to hear my voice.  The truth of the matter is that Lynn was waiting for me so that I would know it was OK; not the other way around.  She was the stronger of the two of us.  She was the rock of our collective families and she was simply continuing in that role until the very end.

I’m often asked why I “lead” the 3 Feet Please movement.  I’m not good at meeting people, I don’t like marketing, and I’m horrible at trying to make an advocacy process work – three skills very necessary to be successful at this.  So why do I do it?  The simple answer is Lynn.  I owe it to her to make sure other families do not go through what we have.  People who drive cars needs to understand the damage they can do by making a bad decision.  In an instant, a bad decision can destroy a life and all those who loved that life.  I need to play a major role in stopping that from happening to others.

I’m still horribly lost and probably always will be to a point.  But, I’m also finding that this path is taking me somewhere I would never have gone on my own and I’m learning a lot more about myself and others along the way.  I’m meeting some amazing people with some amazing passions.  I’m also meeting some very sad people who have experienced similar tragedies and I do my best to offer them comfort and an empathic ear.  It’s a much different life than I thought I would have at this point in my life, but I’m going to figure out how to have an impact and how to make a difference.  The reality and the beauty of what we do is that those we save will never know that they were saved.  The will simply make it home safe because some driver was educated and made the right decision.  In this case, ignorance is truly, wonderfully, bliss.

Please give cyclists plenty of room when you drive.

Don’t forget a comment enters your name for a bear and the possibility of winning a T-shirt. See here for details and pictures.

SafetyWeek

Sunday, July 23rd, 2017

I am writing this particular post on Sunday and plan to post it early Sunday afternoon. I think many of you know I will be having surgery Monday morning (10:00 EST) so if you think about it prayers would be appreciated. I trust the doctors and nurses, but also want the Great Physician’s guidance for them and healing for me. Jo and Tami will be waiting so please say a prayer for them as well.

I’m not sure what kind of week I will have. Up to this point in my life, God has granted me the ability to recover quickly from surgery. I’m praying this will be the same. I know there will be restrictions and I have absolutely NO DOUBT Jo will make sure I hold to them-30 days of no cycling (her particular favorite); no lifting more than 10 pounds; and no bending at the waist. I think the latter will be the hardest.

Why surgery? In spite of being told to stop telling my story, I can’t and I won’t. After all it is now my story.  On Monday, November 7, 2016 I was riding my bicycle when I was hit by a cowardly hit-n-run driver. I recovered fairly quickly from that…or so I thought. There were some immediate effects and then some residual effects which showed up later. One of them was the back issue I am now having to have surgery for. It is my understanding the doctor will be going in to shave the disc as well as the bone spurs which appear to be impinging the nerves. Hopefully, 45 minutes or so later, it will be over with and my nerve pain an issue in the past.

My incident with disaster has led me to become involved in and an advocate for 3FeetPlease. I have distributed stickers, shirts, information, and bears to local bike shops in the hopes that Indiana will join other states (like Ohio and Arizona and others) to enact a “3 Feet Law.” To help me out this week I have asked some others for their help. My first guest will be Dave Waechter, who leads the 3FeetPlease organization. I’ve asked him to write something I can post. His story is gut-wrenching. I have also asked someone many of you are familiar with, Floyd, from theregoI to write a post. He has two stories within a story. Dave will post late Monday/early Tuesday and Floyd will post late Tuesday/early Wednesday.

I’m also having a give away. I am randomly giving away this bear from any who comment or respond to any of the posts this week. I have 6 bears to give away so the more you respond, the better chance you have. Also, thanks to Dave’s graciousness, two T-shirts will be given away (one by him and one by me). If you win, I’ll contact you and ask for your size and address and send it to Dave who will mail it to you.

THE BEAR:

THE SHIRT:

All week long. You have a chance to hear some terrific stories. You also have a chance to win a bear for yourself or as a gift (which I just did and hope to have a picture for you).

Meanwhile, your prayers for surgery and recovery will be much appreciated.

Two-wayStreet

Friday, July 21st, 2017

One is hard-pressed these days to listen to the news. If you do, hardly a day goes by when you don’t hear about someone shooting up a place because of mistreatment or hidden anger/resentment.  Often you might hear how “highly respectable” or “a member of the local church” someone is only to hear they went on a shooting spree and took countless lives,  then often turning the gun on themselves.  Just recently you might remember reading about a man who went to a softball practice of one of the political parties and had a shooting spree.

Ephesians 4:31 tells us, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.” Sounds simple enough, but as we all know, life isn’t that easy.

One of the hardest things to do is to receive grace and then to turn around and give it. There is a story Jesus told in Matthew 18 of that principle. A man was forgiven of a humongous debt, one which he could never repay. But then he went out and demanded payment from a fellow slave who owed him pennies. When he couldn’t pay him at that instant, he threw him in jail. (BTW: how does that work anyway? “I’m going to throw you in jail until you pay me what you owe.”).

Grace received…grace given. A two-way street. If I may borrow a statement from Kyle Idleman’s book Grace is Greater:

Stop thinking about what’s been done to you, and start thinking about what’s been done for you.

Progress

Thursday, July 20th, 2017

I like progress. We all do. I like seeing progress. We all do. The state is redoing the main drag through Spencer and I have to remind myself it is called “progress.” I will have to remind myself of that for two years.

OVCF, the church I pastor, has been needing room for the children for several years. We have taken a very conservative approach in that we want cash in hand before moving ahead. With the generosity of our people, two donations, and an inheritance, we were able to move ahead with getting the shell done and the interior framed.  I’ve included some pictures of the outside and the framing. (The addition mimics the old building in looks). In what may be a first, what we estimated we needed and what we had just about equaled each other (to our good).

We do have some money set aside (but not enough) so we met the other night to plan our next steps. That plan is now in place and we will be moving ahead slowly since we have determined not to borrow any money.

I’m excited about the progress. I’m even more excited about the debt-free approach we are taking. I have always contended that big mortgages are an albatross around the neck of a church. A church with a big mortgage is often hamstrung in helping others with simple things. For example, the leadership here has stated “No kid will not go to camp because of finances.” Last summer, and again this summer, we have spent over $3000 sending kids to church camp, giving part-time and full-time scholarships to any who ask for/need it. I like that approach. Just today (Wednesday) I visited camp with Ryan (our youth pastor) to visit 9 campers from OVCF, all of whom received some help, and a couple who received complete help. If one young person’s life is changed, it is worth it.

These are exciting time for us. I hope you don’t mind me sharing some of my thoughts. I certainly won’t mind you praying for us as move along progress.

Comfort

Wednesday, July 19th, 2017

Confession: if you haven’t already figured it out yet, I am sometimes an emotional writer. I sometimes write what is on my heart-filtered and unfiltered depending on subject matter.

This is one of those posts.  If you are looking for a “Smile. Be happy” post then I’m going to say you won’t find it. However, I do hope you will read to the end.

As many of you know, I have back surgery scheduled for this coming Monday. Until then, I have to live with occasional intense pain. I have given up riding my bike because it was no longer fun. It hurt too much whenever I hit a bump or missed seeing a small hole in the road. I woke up this morning and within 10 seconds made the decision not to go to the Y (where I do upper body work) because of the pain. Even putting on my shorts would have been a nightmare, let alone my shoes.

I was whining. I was crying. I was definitely feeling sorry for myself. Wallowing in self-pity. Then I read this from New Morning Mercies (NMM) by Paul David Tripp:

God puts me in hard moments when I cry out for His comfort so that my heart becomes tender to those near me who need the same comfort.

Strange that 20 minutes or so earlier I was whining and feeling sorry for myself. But Tripp wasn’t done.

The hard moments are not just for my growth in grace, but for my call to be a tool of that same grace in the life of another sufferer. In difficulty God is softening my heart and sharpening my edges so that I may be ready to make the comfort of the invisible Father visible in the life of the weary pilgrim He has placed in my pathway.”

The Scripture reference was 2 Corinthians 1: 3-6.  If you get a moment, take a peak at it.

So I need to change my attitude. Stop complaining about the pain. Stop crying and belly-aching and start trusting and seeing it as a ministry opportunity (now or future).  I’ll be honest. I’m not there yet. Least not at this moment.  I can only pray that time will come soon.

Thanks for listening. (And yes, I shared this with my small band of brothers who are working through NMM with me).

Reason

Monday, July 17th, 2017

Not reason as in intellectual “reasoning.”

But reason as in “why I do what I do” or “did what I did.”

This past Sunday I spoke about shame and its effect upon our lives and upon our thinking. I opened with the following illustration:

John Wilkes Booth believed in slavery, but he did not lift a finger to save it. The South had lost the war it fought to save slavery, and he had been too much of a coward to do anything for the cause. His cowardice shamed him. “I despise myself,” he said and went out looking for a chance to escape his shame. The chance came when a British play called My American Cousin opened at Ford’s Theater, and it was rumored that the president would attend. Abraham Lincoln was a sacrifice to shame.

So professionals have been asking the question-then and now-are people ashamed because they do bad things, or do people do bad things because they are ashamed? Most students of shame point to monsters like Hitler, Saddam Hussein and others like them as examples. Most every monster was a disowned child-abuse or abandoned-or in some other cruel way made to feel unworthy and unwanted.

That is not justification for their inhumane acts, but it does give us some insight into them, and others like them.

And us. You and me. Seemingly normal (so we say) 🙂 people.

Unfortunately, we live in a culture which tends to think “I’m entitled to  (name it).” The whole entitlement mentality needs to stop-at home; at church; at sports; and play. Let it begin with me.