Thursday, December 14, 2006

Watching Life


How is it done? You know, how does one become so influential it is almost nauseating to be in the same room? Last night a group of friends and I had the unspeakable privilege of pouring out blessing on a man, Dwayne, who has blessed so many. Let me set the stage.

When I was 15 years old I returned from a short term mission trip to Mexico a changed man. It was a short time later I decided to give a public confession of faith through baptism. Dwayne was right there encouraging me, and holding me accountable for the decision I made.

I will never forget the day of that baptism: I was nervous, my heart thumping out a rhythm in my chest that was almost palpable among the congregation. Dwayne asked the questions and I responded with the answers I had been waiting to shout from the rooftops - YES, YES and a thousand times YES!!! What I was saying in effect was this, "Lord, you have provided your servant Dwayne at a critical point in my life and his life is so appealing to me that I want to follow in his serving footsteps." I came out of the water and shook my head to get the water out of my ear...soaking Dwayne and causing an awkward moment of laughter in the service - Dwayne didn't care that I just ruined his shirt, he simply embraced me and told me he loved me.

So, I ask again, how does someone become so influential? Only this time I think I may have talked myself toward an answer. You love. You love like Christ loved. In Luke 15 there are a couple of parables concerning lost things; a sheep, a coin, and a son. The undeniable link to all three stories: each item mattered so much to the owner that unrelenting searches and amazing celebrations followed.

Dwayne loved me right into my current position...that of youth pastor. As I drove home last night my eyes still wet with tears and my mind still trying to chase away the memory of Dwayne's failing health, I praised the Lord. The Lord has searched and found me - and there was much rejoicing in heaven when I was found. My mind fails miserably when trying to construct the shin dig awaiting Dwayne. I imagine it to be a homecoming he has spoken of so many times from the pulpit in our church. Influencing others through a life of love well lived - that is Dwayne's story and my insatiable passion.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

What's with faith anyway


Have you sat and stared into space lately wondering what's missing in life? I mean seriously, the Bible says we have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms (Eph. 1:3). Why doesn't my life feel like it?

I think of when I was younger...much younger. I used to tie a cape (bath towel for the layperson) around my neck and throw myself screaming from the edge of our second story barn window. At the same time my faith in God's ability to catch me was undaunted. This was certainly not the case with mom. She, unlike me, was not impressed. I sensed this in the tone and words of her question, "what in the WORLD do you think you are doing?!!!" I simply fluffed my cape, looked her square in the eye and said, "mom, it's okay, I pray before I jump."

Hmmm. Maybe there is something to this whole childlike faith thing. In Matthew 18 we are told to welcome children into the kingdom and by so doing we invoke and therefore welcome Jesus Christ as well. Welcoming Jesus Christ includes His blessing, His rebuke, His people etc... the list goes on.

So, do I welcome someone smaller in the faith than I? Is there such a thing as someone 'smaller in the faith?' God help us when we think we have it all figured out...it is the absolute non-pretentious faith a child exercises which pleases the heart of God. And we are told to find what pleases God.