I saw a meme (a picture with a saying or something usually humorous the other day) that said this: "Good judgment comes from experience. And experience? Well, that usually comes from poor judgement." Men, today is Valentine's Day, and if your wife or loved one says, "Don't make a big fuss just because it's Valentine's Day," and you go along with that, read the above quote. Don't say we didn't warn you.
The most important decision you will ever make that has nothing to do with logic, only emotion. I've fallen in love, and she is the one for me. You mull it over with trusted friends. you talk to her dad to seek his permission to ask for his daughter's hand (or a suitable replacement if dad isn't in the picture). Then you ask her and she says yes. Phase two: The marriage. You know, that event that you took maybe less than three months to plan but maybe as much as 9 months. That day that is very much about planning. Where it will be held (for many of us the church, but sometimes other venues)? Who will conduct the wedding (not an issue unless you are of different religions or even faiths, for example I attended a Jewish/Baptist wedding once upon a time)? The bridesmaids, the groomsmen, maid or matron of honor, best man, their outfits (often tied to wedding colors - another decision), day, time (tied to location availability), invite list... you have either experienced this or get the idea.
Then you choose the vows. Those words that creates the marital relationship before God (the marriage license at the end signed by everyone creates the relationship before the eyes of the law I'm guessing). The pastor chooses readings or you give him (or her in some cases) those that are meaningful to you. One, most certainly in every wedding comes from 1 Corinthians 13. "The Love Chapter." While I'm almost certain Paul wasn't talking about marriage, like any artist, once your work is out there it is up for interpretation, and 1 Corinthians 13 has become that for marriages.
So, while you are standing there having just heard a song about love, you continue to stand for an undetermined amount of time to listen to the reading of 1 Corinthians 13. Me? Oh no, we listened to a solo and then had The Love Chapter read while we knelt. "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal," it starts. "...Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast;... Love never ends...." Neither, apparently, is this passage going to end, you think. Why didn't we just pick a few verses? you ask to yourself as you look into your soon-to-be new bride's eyes.
So, to remind ourselves of the love we share, we have set aside a day, once each year, to look back at our bride (or girlfriend), and remember our love. That day would be today, so today we use the devotion to remind ourselves of the love we share with our loved ones, mainly our wives and/or those we love, who may become our wives one day. And remember, if your wife or loved one says, "It's just another day, so don't do anything special for me," ignore it. Don't fall for it. If you haven't learned that by now, you will only make the mistake once. Make sure you at least say, "I love you," today.
Have a great day men.
Hope Men's Ministry
Monday, February 13, 2017
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Devotion 2.13.17
I had the privilege Saturday to attend an Eagle Scout Court of Honor. A friend's son was being awarded the Eagle Badge, an honor that few who are Scouts attain. Yet the forum included a video by then national president of the Boy Scouts in the United States, Rex Tillerson. Tillerson, himself an Eagle Scout, talked about the values instilled by scouting and the transfer those values take young men into life. Imagine, he said, that early in the Scout Oath, young boys take an oath to God and country, and he then quoted Scout Law, a series of words such as "Loyalty," "Trustworthy," and "Obedient." He then talked about life after scouting in which those worlds took hold and were of value throughout that young man's life.
Imagine that. Teaching values through activities to our youth that they take into life. That sounds familiar to us. In his book on excellence, Peterson talks about aspects of excellence that should transcend our lives. Unfortunately, we've learned to compartmentalize our lives. There is church self, work self, family self, and outside of formal organization self, and often times those "selves" do not overlap.
Peterson uses Jeremiah 7 where the LORD speaks to Israel through Jeremiah to say it's not enough to say, "This is the temple of the LORD," and then return to your life of sin when you leave the temple. As Peterson speaks of "discernment," that spiritual trait that seeks God's will, the fact is we know God's will, but our nature is foreign to that will (sin). Consequently, our lives are of substance and image. The image we project and the substance of our true selves. Like the Scouts, do we live those values we profess on a Sunday?
Fortunately our hypocrisy has a cure, and it is that of Christ Jesus. Christ covers our sins to present us holy before the Father. Pray we strive to lead those lives that are God-pleasing and that we turn to Christ when we fail.
Hope Men's Ministry
Imagine that. Teaching values through activities to our youth that they take into life. That sounds familiar to us. In his book on excellence, Peterson talks about aspects of excellence that should transcend our lives. Unfortunately, we've learned to compartmentalize our lives. There is church self, work self, family self, and outside of formal organization self, and often times those "selves" do not overlap.
Peterson uses Jeremiah 7 where the LORD speaks to Israel through Jeremiah to say it's not enough to say, "This is the temple of the LORD," and then return to your life of sin when you leave the temple. As Peterson speaks of "discernment," that spiritual trait that seeks God's will, the fact is we know God's will, but our nature is foreign to that will (sin). Consequently, our lives are of substance and image. The image we project and the substance of our true selves. Like the Scouts, do we live those values we profess on a Sunday?
Fortunately our hypocrisy has a cure, and it is that of Christ Jesus. Christ covers our sins to present us holy before the Father. Pray we strive to lead those lives that are God-pleasing and that we turn to Christ when we fail.
Hope Men's Ministry
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Devotion 2.9.17
Since most, if not all of us, are grown, where do you go when you need guidance? A trusted friend, perhaps a licensed counselor (nothing wrong with that by the way), a pastor? We seek advice as men, but we seek it under the cloak of darkness. We seek it in cloak of darkness because we, in fact (but not in truth), are supposed to be the source of strength and answers. To reveal a vulnerability or a weakness would be, well, showing a vulnerability and weakness.
Men have a God-given role to lead and to be the spiritual leaders of the home and the family. That point may be debated in this world, but the truth is there for us to see in scripture, covered in devotions past. So, where does a man go when he needs guidance?
David, king of Israel, man after God's own heart, shows the torment he feels because he is the king of Israel. Just where, may we ask, does the warrior king, go when he needs guidance? Described in 1 Samuel 16 as ruddy and handsome, David's confidence probably filled the room when he entered it. And yet David had his weaknesses and shortcomings.
David is a man worthy of study for men because he was of this world, and being of this world, he had his strengths and certainly his weaknesses. Yet David, in all occasions, turned his eyes to God. "Nevertheless, I am continually with you, you hold my right hand, you guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire more than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:23 - 26)
We see God's own son, Christ, turn to the Father often for counsel. Pray in earnest that as we seek guidance, we turn to Christ and the Father, praying for insight, praying for wisdom, and praying for those things we believe we need and those things He knows we need.
Hope Men's Ministry
Men have a God-given role to lead and to be the spiritual leaders of the home and the family. That point may be debated in this world, but the truth is there for us to see in scripture, covered in devotions past. So, where does a man go when he needs guidance?
David, king of Israel, man after God's own heart, shows the torment he feels because he is the king of Israel. Just where, may we ask, does the warrior king, go when he needs guidance? Described in 1 Samuel 16 as ruddy and handsome, David's confidence probably filled the room when he entered it. And yet David had his weaknesses and shortcomings.
David is a man worthy of study for men because he was of this world, and being of this world, he had his strengths and certainly his weaknesses. Yet David, in all occasions, turned his eyes to God. "Nevertheless, I am continually with you, you hold my right hand, you guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire more than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:23 - 26)
We see God's own son, Christ, turn to the Father often for counsel. Pray in earnest that as we seek guidance, we turn to Christ and the Father, praying for insight, praying for wisdom, and praying for those things we believe we need and those things He knows we need.
Hope Men's Ministry
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Devotion 2.8.17
In a book I acquired recently, the author, Todd Rose, writes and talks about The End of Average - How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness. I'm two chapters into it (I read about three books at a time which isn't good, but it is what it is), and the author notes our culture's use of "sameness." He speaks of how the marketplace drives "average," how medicine drives "average," and all other aspects of people and professions that value average. The temptation to target "sameness" comes from attempting to diagnose, prescribe, and attempt to solve problems, cure diseases, find a solution to overcome obstacles, and a host of other observations meant to examine the situation. "If we can identify what the average person needs/wants/desires, then we can treat the issue for a broad number of people."
Rose talks about issues in the Army Air Corps (what would become the Air Force) and the inordinate number of crashes occurring due to "pilot error." They studied pilots and cockpits and sought to find out what the average pilot was built like - height, arm and leg length, and the cockpit designed to fit that. Believe it or not, it finally occurred to them to discard that notion and design a cockpit that could adjust to the individual. Todd writes, "By discarding the average as their reference standard, the air force initiated a quantum leap in its design philosophy, centered on a new guiding principle: individual fit."
Teams that excel make that same devotion to excellence. How do our individuals fit into our game plan? How does our game plan reflect the individuals who make up the team? Like them or not (maybe even detest them), the New England Patriots haven't dominated for years by targeting average.
How does this notion of targeting average by various industries impact the church? Is the church of targeting average? While your desire may be to say, "No, our church is a church of excellence and our ministries are of excellence!", the fact is we are creatures of comfort, and the expectations necessary to create the environment of excellence often challenge those comfort zones. Christ certainly turned the comfort zone on its ears in His day when he said this, "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17) Came to call sinners? But we value those who walk in the paths of the law, who observe the law, who tithe, who observe the Sabbath, and who observe the various rules in and around the temple.
This simple comment speaks volumes to us today. Why do we exist? What is our role and purpose in this world? How do we operate in this world from Sunday through the rest of the week? How do our Sunday activities appeal to those not part of the church?
Pray we expect excellence as we serve Christ. Pray that we understand the fact that we are here to serve those not yet in the Word and to recognize the need for grace and mercy in our own lives.
Hope Men's Ministry
Rose talks about issues in the Army Air Corps (what would become the Air Force) and the inordinate number of crashes occurring due to "pilot error." They studied pilots and cockpits and sought to find out what the average pilot was built like - height, arm and leg length, and the cockpit designed to fit that. Believe it or not, it finally occurred to them to discard that notion and design a cockpit that could adjust to the individual. Todd writes, "By discarding the average as their reference standard, the air force initiated a quantum leap in its design philosophy, centered on a new guiding principle: individual fit."
Teams that excel make that same devotion to excellence. How do our individuals fit into our game plan? How does our game plan reflect the individuals who make up the team? Like them or not (maybe even detest them), the New England Patriots haven't dominated for years by targeting average.
How does this notion of targeting average by various industries impact the church? Is the church of targeting average? While your desire may be to say, "No, our church is a church of excellence and our ministries are of excellence!", the fact is we are creatures of comfort, and the expectations necessary to create the environment of excellence often challenge those comfort zones. Christ certainly turned the comfort zone on its ears in His day when he said this, "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17) Came to call sinners? But we value those who walk in the paths of the law, who observe the law, who tithe, who observe the Sabbath, and who observe the various rules in and around the temple.
This simple comment speaks volumes to us today. Why do we exist? What is our role and purpose in this world? How do we operate in this world from Sunday through the rest of the week? How do our Sunday activities appeal to those not part of the church?
Pray we expect excellence as we serve Christ. Pray that we understand the fact that we are here to serve those not yet in the Word and to recognize the need for grace and mercy in our own lives.
Hope Men's Ministry
Monday, February 6, 2017
Devotion 2.7.17
A gig (that's a musician's name for an event in his or her schedule) I've really begun to enjoy is the opening of Sunday School in the sanctuary each Sunday where I play "Mr. King." Perhaps the name itself is the reason since it adds to my already large ego, which my wife would say is true because I've asked to be called that at home as well. Perhaps it is because I share the stage with "Gordy," a puppet operated by Brent Smith as we talk about stuff. And perhaps it is because there are children in the audience ages 3 to about 5th grade who seem to enjoy "Gordy" and will talk to him when he's out and about.
We talk each Sunday and it usually goes something like this: Gordy does something silly, for example he once found a dog and wanted to keep it even though it may belong to someone else; Mr. King usually asks Gordy a series of questions, as in one episode where Gordy wanted to learn more about fishing and so we got the kids to fish for other kids with "gummy worms;" then we tie it to scripture and watch a video; and finally, Gordy gets it, Mr. King affirms it; and we close out in prayer and send the kids to class.
My enjoyment is the level of enthusiasm of the kids. As we've grown into this relationship (we just began our turn at this back in September), we've learned how to talk back and forth. I make more eye contact with Gordy and with the kids, and we are in a rhythm now. When I finish, I walk into the Adult Bible Study where we are far more sophisticated and talk about mature topics. Yet, we are all bound by a simple truth that is spoken so well in a child's song.
"Jesus love me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him below,
They are weak but he is strong
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
The Bible tells me so."
No truer words were ever spoken, and despite of our level in age, that simple truth should always be at the forefront of our minds.
Hope Men's Ministry
We talk each Sunday and it usually goes something like this: Gordy does something silly, for example he once found a dog and wanted to keep it even though it may belong to someone else; Mr. King usually asks Gordy a series of questions, as in one episode where Gordy wanted to learn more about fishing and so we got the kids to fish for other kids with "gummy worms;" then we tie it to scripture and watch a video; and finally, Gordy gets it, Mr. King affirms it; and we close out in prayer and send the kids to class.
My enjoyment is the level of enthusiasm of the kids. As we've grown into this relationship (we just began our turn at this back in September), we've learned how to talk back and forth. I make more eye contact with Gordy and with the kids, and we are in a rhythm now. When I finish, I walk into the Adult Bible Study where we are far more sophisticated and talk about mature topics. Yet, we are all bound by a simple truth that is spoken so well in a child's song.
"Jesus love me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him below,
They are weak but he is strong
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
The Bible tells me so."
No truer words were ever spoken, and despite of our level in age, that simple truth should always be at the forefront of our minds.
Hope Men's Ministry
Devotion 2.6.17
"This game is over," I said with about three minutes left in the 3rd quarter. My wife, grading papers, agreed. We turned it over to the movie "Dave," the spoof on a president who is replaced by his look-alike after a stroke.
I woke up early and tossed and turned. The potential devotion ran through my mind. "Super Bowls rarely live up to the game they are supposed to be," ran through my mind. Does the devotion even need to be about football? I asked myself. We are men, and you do write them to be "theme-of-the-day" to apply scriptural truths to every day life, I said to myself.
So, when I awoke this morning, I pulled up the headlines. Tom Brady named MVP? I looked at my wife. "I think the Pats won that game," I said. She said they did because it was on the tv when she went to work out. "And we missed it," I said. I missed Roger Goodell having to hand the Super Bowl trophy to Kraft. I missed Tom Brady's distant handshake at the end of the game with Goodell, as if Brady knew he had to do it but really could care less about Goodell. I missed the MVP trophy award. I missed Kraft's speech that slapped Goodell across the face in a gentlemanly way, as Goodell left the stage.
We missed the single-biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. 25 unanswered points. Over time. A catch to end all catches to keep a drive going. A coach that knows the game better than any current coach in the NFL standing cool on the sideline, not getting deterred regardless of the hopelessness that most people would have. It was one of the greatest Super Bowls of all time, if not the greatest, and sealed a note in football history for one of the greatest teams in the NFL of all time (sorry, hate them or not, you cannot ignore the stamp on the game the Patriots have made).
In the parable of the 10 virgins, I fell into the group that fell asleep, ignoring the need to be prepared for the return of the master. When I awoke this morning, game over, I looked at the group who had stayed with the game and said, "Share some of the joy you had last night in a game like that," to which they said, "Game over. Joy is ours. You should have stayed with it." In that parable, the five wise virgins were steadfast and stayed prepared." When the master returned, the five foolish begged the five wise to share in their preparation, to which they said, "Too late." Christ, at the end of the parable, said, "Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." (Matthew 25)
Pray we always are alert. Alert to opportunities to serve. Alert to sharing the gospel. Alert to Christ's return.
Hope Men's Ministry
I woke up early and tossed and turned. The potential devotion ran through my mind. "Super Bowls rarely live up to the game they are supposed to be," ran through my mind. Does the devotion even need to be about football? I asked myself. We are men, and you do write them to be "theme-of-the-day" to apply scriptural truths to every day life, I said to myself.
So, when I awoke this morning, I pulled up the headlines. Tom Brady named MVP? I looked at my wife. "I think the Pats won that game," I said. She said they did because it was on the tv when she went to work out. "And we missed it," I said. I missed Roger Goodell having to hand the Super Bowl trophy to Kraft. I missed Tom Brady's distant handshake at the end of the game with Goodell, as if Brady knew he had to do it but really could care less about Goodell. I missed the MVP trophy award. I missed Kraft's speech that slapped Goodell across the face in a gentlemanly way, as Goodell left the stage.
We missed the single-biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. 25 unanswered points. Over time. A catch to end all catches to keep a drive going. A coach that knows the game better than any current coach in the NFL standing cool on the sideline, not getting deterred regardless of the hopelessness that most people would have. It was one of the greatest Super Bowls of all time, if not the greatest, and sealed a note in football history for one of the greatest teams in the NFL of all time (sorry, hate them or not, you cannot ignore the stamp on the game the Patriots have made).
In the parable of the 10 virgins, I fell into the group that fell asleep, ignoring the need to be prepared for the return of the master. When I awoke this morning, game over, I looked at the group who had stayed with the game and said, "Share some of the joy you had last night in a game like that," to which they said, "Game over. Joy is ours. You should have stayed with it." In that parable, the five wise virgins were steadfast and stayed prepared." When the master returned, the five foolish begged the five wise to share in their preparation, to which they said, "Too late." Christ, at the end of the parable, said, "Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." (Matthew 25)
Pray we always are alert. Alert to opportunities to serve. Alert to sharing the gospel. Alert to Christ's return.
Hope Men's Ministry
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Devotion 2.2.17
Visited the city of Austin this past week for an educator leadership conference. It was enjoyable as the firm I now represent kept me busy interacting with the superintendents and assistant superintendents that were there. I see people from my days in Houston and the colleagues I have here in West Texas. Austin is a great city to visit and take clients to dinner and talk about projects and such. My first conference in Austin was in the 1980s, so I've seen the city grow over those years.
With that comes travel in the city, and the ride share companies are abundant, minus Uber, in the city. We depended mainly on one called Fare!, and one ride has stayed with me. Our driver's name was "Sajib," and when he picked us up, I got the front seat. Sajib and I started talking about Austin as he began the drive, and I eventually asked, "So, where you from originally?" He paused, and finally said, "Pakistan," almost apologetically, as though he knew what would be going through my mind. He followed up with, "... I've been here for 10 years. I can't believe what's going on over there. It's just crazy." The tone in his voice told me he wanted to make sure I heard him distance himself from the events in that part of the world, so I turned and looked at him and said, "The whole world is crazy my friend, the whole world." Yes, he responded, the whole world, almost relieved I didn't press. We began talking about life, the importance of family, and our hope for our children. All in about five minutes. When the ride was over, I got out with the others, and Sajib got out. He thanked us, and then said, "I can stay, I can take you other places if you need, no cost."
My regret, complete regret, was I didn't shake his hand and say, "I will keep the world and our children in prayer." I know he would have appreciated that. I believe the opportunity was there to show the love of Christ and the ability to look past my own prejudices, and his, and begin that dialogue that might ultimately introduce him to the world of the grace and forgiveness we live daily.
My prayer now is that Sajib, and others like him, are reached. My prayer is to not fail to act when God puts someone in front of me desiring to be heard, listened to, and then introduced to the love of Christ. We keep those who haven't met Christ in our prayers, and we pray that when an opportunity presents itself, we go to God for the words and wisdom necessary to begin that conversation.
Hope Men's Ministry
With that comes travel in the city, and the ride share companies are abundant, minus Uber, in the city. We depended mainly on one called Fare!, and one ride has stayed with me. Our driver's name was "Sajib," and when he picked us up, I got the front seat. Sajib and I started talking about Austin as he began the drive, and I eventually asked, "So, where you from originally?" He paused, and finally said, "Pakistan," almost apologetically, as though he knew what would be going through my mind. He followed up with, "... I've been here for 10 years. I can't believe what's going on over there. It's just crazy." The tone in his voice told me he wanted to make sure I heard him distance himself from the events in that part of the world, so I turned and looked at him and said, "The whole world is crazy my friend, the whole world." Yes, he responded, the whole world, almost relieved I didn't press. We began talking about life, the importance of family, and our hope for our children. All in about five minutes. When the ride was over, I got out with the others, and Sajib got out. He thanked us, and then said, "I can stay, I can take you other places if you need, no cost."
My regret, complete regret, was I didn't shake his hand and say, "I will keep the world and our children in prayer." I know he would have appreciated that. I believe the opportunity was there to show the love of Christ and the ability to look past my own prejudices, and his, and begin that dialogue that might ultimately introduce him to the world of the grace and forgiveness we live daily.
My prayer now is that Sajib, and others like him, are reached. My prayer is to not fail to act when God puts someone in front of me desiring to be heard, listened to, and then introduced to the love of Christ. We keep those who haven't met Christ in our prayers, and we pray that when an opportunity presents itself, we go to God for the words and wisdom necessary to begin that conversation.
Hope Men's Ministry
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)