Fresh Air

I finally did it. After twenty years of faithful service as a pastor in the United Methodist Church, I retired on July 1, 2008 at the age of 57. Why retire so early? Because I was tired of being trapped and confined behind the walls of the institutionalized church. It has been my experience that churches will do almost anything to avoid following Jesus. Structures, programs, activities, fellowship dinners, meetings, etc. all designed to keep the congregation locked behind the doors of the church.

When the church tries to keep God inside its doors, Jesus weeps.

Well, no more. Not for me. I’ve scaled the walls, taken a giant leap of faith and proclaimed my freedom. Now I’m on the outside ,away from the damp and musky smell of decay, breathing in the fresh air of the Spirit. And I have to tell you I’m enjoying the view!

Freedom to follow the Son!

Time for a Change

It is the beginning of another new year. Time to let go of the old and embrace the new. I have gone through some significant changes in my life over the past six months and these changes are being reflected in my blogs. This blog will cover my thoughts and opinions on the faith, life, and culture of the church. My parallel blog, Epic Conversations, now becomes Living Water and will focus on my personal experiences and observations as I follow the Holy Spirit throughout the upcoming year. I am anticipating this year to be one of amazing discoveries and incredible insights as I follow Jesus down the path He as placed before me. I invite you to join me on this fantastic journey into the unknown!

Everyday Heros

This week my wife, Susan, was traveling to Minneapolis to attend her annual Creative Memories conference. My daughter Kristen and I had never been to Minneapolis so we decided to tag along for a few days and see the sights. We had no idea that we were going to witness an historical and tragic event.

On Wednesday, August 1, we decided to take a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi River. I had just purchased a new camera so I was snapping pictures of everything (you know how camera bugs are).

As the boat was turning around to head downstream, I took this picture. What you are looking at is the 35W bridge five hours before its collapse into the Mississippi River. After we returned to the dock, we crossed over this same bridge on our way back to the hotel.

We first heard the news about this tragic event at 6:15pm, approximately ten minutes after the collapse. Susan immediately emailed Jackie (our prayer team leader) asking for prayer for everyone involved. From our vantage point on the eighth floor of the hotel we could see a portion of the collapsed bridge as well as the fire and rescue vehicles on the scene. Cars and trucks were scattered everywhere on portions of the bridge and in the water as fire and smoke bellowed into the evening sky. People in the surrounding area were told not to drive on the streets so rescue vehicles could have easy access to the hospitals. Cellular phone signals were jammed as people scurried to gather more information desperately trying to contact their loved ones.

In the midst of this chaotic heartbreaking disaster people who had been involved in the incident and bystanders near the scene began helping those who were injured. Rescue personnel held cell phones next to the faces of some who were not going to make it giving them an opportunity to say good-bye to their families.

As we watched the story unfold on a local news station I began thinking about all these people who were willing to risk their lives to help others. “These people are heros,” I said to myself. Not special individuals with capes and supernatural powers, but everday people extending a helping hand to those in need.

As followers of Jesus we are called to live a life of action. We don’t have extraordinary powers and we can’t fly but we can help those who are in need. We are to come to the aid of those who are broken and broken-hearted on a daily basis, sharing with them the unconditional love and acceptance of Jesus. We are to reach out and help them in their time of need, asking nothing in return. It is my hope and prayer that the church will come to see itself as a group of everyday heros who are willing to risk whatever it takes to make a difference in the lives of others.

Minneapolis, as you struggle to cope with this senseless tragedy please know you are not alone. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, the victims and their families, and all those risking their own lives in order to save lives. We love you.

God at Play

I had an amazing experience at the beach recently. Someone had left a biplane kite lying on the ground next to a picnic table. After a while, a family arrived and one of the kids noticed the kite. He picked it up and carried it down to the beach swinging it around in the air.

About an hour later, the family left. I wasn’t paying close attention and thought that one of the kids must have taken the kite with him. All of a sudden as I was staring at the horizon, the kite appeared coming over a small dune. It must have been on the beach all this time. I just couldn’t see it from my vantage point. The plane ascended into the air just like a real plane would do. When it reached about one hundred feet, it leveled off and began heading north parallel to the shoreline. What blew my mind was the realization that no one was flying the kite. There were no strings attached and no one was standing on the shore. I watched the plane continue it’s journey until it was no longer in sight.

“How remarkable,” I thought. I was watching God at play. Yes, it was God flying the kite that day enjoying His creation. I wonder how often we miss God at play because we are too busy to notice. Take the time to slow down – to stop, look, and listen. You never know when you might catch God at play in His world. And when you do, I encourage you to take the opportunity to join Him.

The Experiment

As a pastor in the local church setting, it is my responsibility to do everything I can to connect people with the love of Jesus through preaching, teaching, and casting vision. God has called me to share with the community of faith what it means to follow Jesus, to take a risk and make a difference.

I am a firm believer that God speaks today not only through the church, but through the culture itself. This is why I depend on others as well as myself to listen and see what God is doing in the world. This helps me determine what God is saying to the chuches and what I need to be working on when it comes to preparing messages.

I would like to try an experiment and see how well it works. I am asking all my readers to take the time and think about what you believe needs to be addressed in a Sunday morning message. What would help you become a better follower of Jesus? What do you believe needs to be addressed that would help those who have not received Jesus into their lives?

Send me your comments. This will give me a better idea where people are, what tools and resources they need to become everything God has created them to be, and to help others understand what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Please feel free to submit as many suggestions as you like and thanks for participating in “the experiment.”

Expect the Unexpected

You never know what’s going to happen during a worship experience on Sunday morning. This week we had an unexpected guest. A young woman in her late twenties or early thirties became disruptive about halfway through the service. She started laughing inappropriately and shouted some profanities while I was speaking. From my perspective she did not appear to be dangeruous so I continued delivering the message.

When the service was over I made my way to where she was so I could talk with her. There was no way I could evaluate in a few minutes what was going on in this young woman’s life, but there is one thing I could do. I could let her know she was loved and accepted. I wanted to make sure she wasn’t shamed, embarrassed, judged, or rejected because of her behavior. I hope I was able to get that across. At the end of our unusual conversation she hugged me and said, “you are a very nice person.”

Here’s what I know: Jesus attracts the broken and the broken-hearted. The more we follow Jesus the more broken-hearted people He is going to send our way. It is essential that we treat all people with honor, dignity and respect. We are to love them as Jesus loves them. This woman made her way to our church. Why, I don’t know. But I do know that what she experienced while she was with us could affect her thoughts, perceptions and actions after she left.

This was a valuable learning lesson for me. I am a reflective person and looking back there are some things I wish I had said but just didn’t think of at the time. Jesus has also shown me it is imperative that we put a plan into place to help people who come to see us with special needs. And this is exactly what we’re going to do. We may not be able to handle their problems, but we can do everything possible to make sure they experience God’s love while they are here.

I thank God for what He has revealed to me through this unexpected encounter, and I pray that this young woman experiences the love that Jesus has for her, feels His touch on her life and receives the help she needs to be the person God created her to be.

Whine Experts: The Challenge

It seems like everywhere I go lately, I run into complainers. People who will offer their advice and opinion on why something can’t be done, won’t happen or ever change. They are determined to view life and the world with a negative mindset. They savor the flavor and the taste of a good whine. I have often said that I want to keep a wedge of cheese on my desk, so that when complainers come my way I can point and say, “Here, have some cheese with your whine.”

I was encouraged when I read an article in the paper about the Unity church that was offering a challenge to cease from complaining for twenty-one days. The idea has caught on and received national attention. If you actually go the distance and don’t complain for twenty-one days you will receive a certificate of happiness.

I would like to take this idea to a higher level. I challenge everyone to follow Jesus for twenty-one days. Read one chapter a day from the Gospel of John using The Message translation. Follow Jesus during His life and ministry. Listen to what He says. Do what He says do. See the world and everyone you meet on a daily basis through His eyes. Think about how He would respond in every situation you encounter.

At the end of the twenty-one days, sit back and reflect on your life. What did you experience? How do you feel now? Take the challenge and let me know what happens. This just might be the most exciting three weeks of your life!

A Psalm 139 Experience

You made my whole being; you formed me in my mother’s body. I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well. You saw my bones being formed as I took shape in my mother’s body. When I was put together there, you saw my body as it was formed, (Psalm 139:13-16a, NCV).

I had the opportunity to see Bodies: The Exhibition on its run here in Tampa. Yes, I know there is controversy about displaying the bodies of human beings, but this was done in good taste and was a fascinating experience. I found myself becoming even more excited about God. It is obvious that we are created beings, designed and shaped by extrordinary hands. Chance doesn’t even come close to entering the picture. So much love and care has gone into our design. God created us and has given us incredible bodies so we can experience this thing we call life. I’m so grateful for this gift. I want to know as much as I possibly can about the One who made this all possible. I want to hang with and learn from the Creator of the Universe!

The Best Way

Jesus came to set the oppressed free. He is our liberator and deliverer. When we follow Jesus we should experience new life. Don’t fall back into old patterns and ways of being. Ask Jesus to show you what He wants you to see and experience in and through your circumstances. He will show you the way. It may not be your way, but it will be the best way.

Never Have an Ordinary Day

When God led the Israelites out of Egypt He was always ahead of them: a cloud of smoke by day and a column of fire by night. God’s leading is not dark or mysterious. He is always in front of you so you can “see” Him and follow. Look for God at the beginning of your day, throughout the circumstances of your day, and in the evening. You can count on this: God is always leading and always wants you to follow. Every day of your life can be an adventure of discovery, passion, and obedience. When you seek the Lord and follow His lead, you will never have an ordinary day.