I will never forget the Christmas message I taught when Margaret was 5 months pregnant with Scout. We were working at a small church in Waco. I think we may have had 20 both preschool and elementary in kid's church. We met in a school's music room using a karaoke machine for sound. (I think back to those days and just realize how spoiled I am now with all the lights, equipment, and space we have now.) It was still one of those days in Ministry I don't think I will ever forget.
I decided I was going to use John 3:16 as a text to teach the kids about God's love for us at Christmas. I had written out the lesson. I spent time in prayer about it. I was ready to teach it. We went through the normal parts of our lesson. We played some silly Christmas game. Sang some fun songs. Had a puppet come out and taught the memory verse. Worshiped. I got to the lesson and began talking about this verse that we all have heard a thousand times.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
I began crying right there in Kid's Church. It hit me. I don't think I really understood what God gave up for me that Christmas until I was teaching that room of kid's that day. I realized, I would not be willing to give up my unborn daughter who I had not even met yet for anything in this world. I realized my love for her was so strong that I would do whatever I could to keep her from any harm. I realized that instance what God gave up. I knew the verse. I thought I understood what it said. I knew at that moment I couldn't do what God did for anyone. That is why, to me, John 3:16 is the most important Christmas verse. He gave up the most important thing to him for me. He knew the pain Jesus would go through. He knew the kind of death Jesus would have to go through. This Christmas, think about that. If you are a parent, you know what I am talking about. If not, one day you will know exactly what I am writing. God sent his son that Christmas morning for each of us.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Scattershooting
How come when we start thinking about random things the first thought is weather? or food? I think about food all the time. The problem though is when I eat without thinking about food because that is when I don't know what I am eating. I wonder how many calories we consume just because people leave food out on their desks? I can stand there and eat and eat as I am talking. Does that count as multitasking? I think one of my favorite things about Christmas is hearing kids talk about what they want. It is truly a passionate thing. They may not tell you the same thing every single time but every time they have passion about what they want. I find it funny when a kid knows all the details about whatever it is he wants. I find it sad when a kid wants something that is totally inappropriate for them. It is even more sad when a kid gets that gift... I love how people have expectations from the past but they don't want to take charge and make it happen...
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Date of Infamy
Today is "Pearl Harbor Day", it is "A date that will live in infamy" as President Roosevelt Said. We have plenty of days like that: 9/11 (Twin Towers), 11/22 (JFK's assassination), 1/28 (Challenger Explodes) are just a few that I remember. We remember these days for the wrong reasons. We have personal days of infamy too. Days that loved ones pass away or are diagnosed with an illness, days a relationship crumbles, or just really bad days are all examples. These are scary days that we remember in our history both public and personal. In every one of these cases, people lives are altered and shaped. How they are shaped is up to that person. When effected by such an event we have many options how we can respond.
Some people respond through service. Think about Pat Tillman after the twin towers crashed. He decided to join the Army and defend his country. Even though, he had a great position of influence at home as a football star. He gave a great sacrifice for our countries safety. He gave his life.
Some people respond through anger. Think of Peter and all his actions as Jesus was being tried and tortured. He began the night by cutting off a soldiers ear. He cursed people. He was very angry with the entire situation. It was his way of dealing with the trauma at hand.
I remember sitting in a 6th grade science class in January of 1986 when the challenger exploded over the Atlantic Ocean. Our teacher said, "hey, let's turn the tv on and watch the shuttle take off." It was a sad day. I was shocked. I think it was the only time ever the teacher went without getting on to us for talking as a class because my classmates and I just sat there dazed. Something that had become common place for all of us was now a super sad event.
I remember sitting in the lobby at college, the day the twin towers came down and the plane flew into the pentagon, just anxious about life. My wife was expecting our first child. I had a million things going on in my head. Questions that I had no answers to. The thing I remember about those days is it caused many people to turn to God and pray.
As I look through scripture, I tried to find the one correct way to handle tragedy. I wanted to find if God wanted us to rise up from the ashes and become strong warriors. I wanted to see God say, "Thou shalt not be saddened by the events that have taken place". I wanted to see a specific answer of what to do when the crap hits the fan. An emotion to have when shocked by a single days horrific events. I couldn't find anything like that. I did find two things.
First he said trust me. Acts 1 is very clear. Jesus is taking off and leaving his crew behind. I can see that being a horrible day. Imagine the emotions these guys have gone through in the weeks leading up to the event. One moment your life is rocked because your leader has passed. The next it is saved because your leader is alive. Just as soon as you get used to him being back, he says I am leaving again. He told them "You don't get to know the time, that is just the Father's business" He expected him to have faith. He expected them to put their trust in his promises. When we have a moment of crisis, God wants us to trust him. Trust that his promise to take care of his people is true.
Then he sent them to pray. God expects us to pray in those moments. It almost comes off as a secondary nature. It should. I pray that we don't lose that nature to stop and pray either as a church or a nation. I hope my kid's both personal and church learn that from me. I hope that I live out an example of prayer for them so that when something horrible happens. They turn to God in prayer. I hope that they learn to spend time in prayer for the daily stuff but in a time of crisis, I pray that they pray.
In times of trouble, I don't know if everyone should jump in service. I don't know if everyone is supposed to get angry. I don't know if everyone should be scared or shocked. I don know we need to stop and have faith that God is still in control and pray for everyone that is affected that day.
Some people respond through service. Think about Pat Tillman after the twin towers crashed. He decided to join the Army and defend his country. Even though, he had a great position of influence at home as a football star. He gave a great sacrifice for our countries safety. He gave his life.
Some people respond through anger. Think of Peter and all his actions as Jesus was being tried and tortured. He began the night by cutting off a soldiers ear. He cursed people. He was very angry with the entire situation. It was his way of dealing with the trauma at hand.
I remember sitting in a 6th grade science class in January of 1986 when the challenger exploded over the Atlantic Ocean. Our teacher said, "hey, let's turn the tv on and watch the shuttle take off." It was a sad day. I was shocked. I think it was the only time ever the teacher went without getting on to us for talking as a class because my classmates and I just sat there dazed. Something that had become common place for all of us was now a super sad event.
I remember sitting in the lobby at college, the day the twin towers came down and the plane flew into the pentagon, just anxious about life. My wife was expecting our first child. I had a million things going on in my head. Questions that I had no answers to. The thing I remember about those days is it caused many people to turn to God and pray.
As I look through scripture, I tried to find the one correct way to handle tragedy. I wanted to find if God wanted us to rise up from the ashes and become strong warriors. I wanted to see God say, "Thou shalt not be saddened by the events that have taken place". I wanted to see a specific answer of what to do when the crap hits the fan. An emotion to have when shocked by a single days horrific events. I couldn't find anything like that. I did find two things.
First he said trust me. Acts 1 is very clear. Jesus is taking off and leaving his crew behind. I can see that being a horrible day. Imagine the emotions these guys have gone through in the weeks leading up to the event. One moment your life is rocked because your leader has passed. The next it is saved because your leader is alive. Just as soon as you get used to him being back, he says I am leaving again. He told them "You don't get to know the time, that is just the Father's business" He expected him to have faith. He expected them to put their trust in his promises. When we have a moment of crisis, God wants us to trust him. Trust that his promise to take care of his people is true.
Then he sent them to pray. God expects us to pray in those moments. It almost comes off as a secondary nature. It should. I pray that we don't lose that nature to stop and pray either as a church or a nation. I hope my kid's both personal and church learn that from me. I hope that I live out an example of prayer for them so that when something horrible happens. They turn to God in prayer. I hope that they learn to spend time in prayer for the daily stuff but in a time of crisis, I pray that they pray.
In times of trouble, I don't know if everyone should jump in service. I don't know if everyone is supposed to get angry. I don't know if everyone should be scared or shocked. I don know we need to stop and have faith that God is still in control and pray for everyone that is affected that day.
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