Still Enslaved

The town of Badagry, Nigeria was founded around 1425 A.D. It was one of the very first slaving ports in all of Africa. It is reported that over 500,000 slaves where shipped out of Badagry prior to the abolishing of slavery in the United States and Great Britian.

The ancient sites of the old slave markets still stand in Badagry. It was an eiree feeling to stand on the same soil where human flesh was a commodity, traded much like rice or corn. The old marketplace still trades in fish, corn, rice and little else has changed. The town was overrun with thatch roof shelters, crumbling old shacks and a people who struggle daily for their survival.

I asked a local preacher in Badagry how he would describe the old slaving village and he responded, "pagan, idolatrous and poor." As I walked down market street and stood on the trading blocks that once held slaves captive, I realized a troubling truth - the people of Badagry were Still Enslaved:

- Enslaved to Poverty

- Enslaved to Pagan Worship

- Enslaved to Sin

Centuries have passed since men like Abraham Lincoln and William Wilburforce removed the shackels and chains from slaving ships, but the people of Badagry still are not free.Today our brothers and sisters in Christ continue to battle slavery, but it is the slavery of sin.

Most of the people in Badagry and other places in Nigeria will never see much relief from poverty and want, but they can be emancipated from the shackles of sin and death. It was an honor to be in Nigeria representing African Christian Schools Foundation (http://www.africanchristianschools.org/).

For over 50 years this great institution has worked to free men from the bondage of sin. As I strolled through the city it was encouraging to see God's people working to make a difference.

Absolutes

This week I found myself as part of an online discussion concerning homosexuality. As I read through the bulletin board postings, I became more and more troubled that everyone seemed to avoid the term "SIN" when describing same sex behavior. While I had a chance to speak my peace concerning the Bible's teaching on homosexuality, I realized we are combating a much greater enemy. There is a deafening mantra that advocates tolerance of anything and everything and wars against the idea of absolute truth.

In addressing my concerns I appealed to the Bible's express teachings (Romans 1) and the example's given (Sodom & Gomorrah) concerning homosexual behavior. The problem is that many on the discussion board had a different standard of authority. Here are a few examples:

* God wouldn't make people that way and then condemn them.
* God gave us a mind and free will and respects our right to use them.
* I believe in a higher power, but can't believe he (or it) would condemn someone.
* We are not supposed to stand in judgment on others.

The problem is simple - there is a lack of an absolute standard. Without an understanding of right and wrong; good and evil; we are destined to continue down a road of decreasing moral values. We allow a mother to take the life of an unborn infant and now we are rapidly moving towards same sex marriages, legalized prostitution and a host of social ills that will bring down our nation.

I am troubled when I hear our politicians and those of the world defending the moral malaise taking hold of our nation, but when our brothers and sisters in Christ defend the undefensible I really begin to worry.

I believe it was Edgar A. Guest who said, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." We are long over due fighting these more battles. In many cases we have surrendered before a shot is ever fired.

Neglected Topics

Over the past few months I have had the priviledge of conducting workshops in a variety of settings (churches, retreat centers, and Christian colleges). The topics have covered everything from church growth to singles ministry to mission work. On the surface these topics would not seem to have a common thread, but it turns out that they do. During the question and answer sessiosn, one common theme came up in all of these programs. "Why aren't the churches doing a better job addressing the social, moral and practical issues facing society today."

Now I have never been one to bash churches, or make blanket statements about the condition and state of the Lord's work. That is the beauty of church autonomy - there is the ability to minister to the unique needs of the local church and develop outreach tools for the community you serve. That being said, it is troubling that the same questions are popping up over and over.

* Why aren't we being more pro-active in addressing marriage problems?

* Why won't churches provide practical advice on dealing with sexuality issues?

* Why are so many of our efforts now inwardly focused?

The overwhelming number of questions dealt with a congregations ability to deal with the really difficult challenges of 21st century culture. There was plenty teaching from the pulpits on sexual sin, morality and raising children in an increasingly immoral culture, but the concern came over how to make application of the lessons.

No one would argue that pre-marital sex is sinful, or that pornography is a social and spiritual disease that is destroying homes and families all across our country, but as Christians, what can we do to make a difference. How can we assist young couples who are struggling with their finances, or provide support to those with addictive behaviors?

I don't know the answers to these questions. I would love to hear your comments on the most pressing "ministry needs" in our churches and how we can address them. You can post your comments here, or email me at coffeehouse47@hotmail.com

Rhythm

I wrote this on August 21st when I returned from Nigeria, since I am leaving again in two weeks, I wanted to repost this. I pray I can recapture the feelings expressed in this blog.

As our vehicles neared the village of Ukpom Abak you could hear the drums beating in the distance. The rhythm and flow of the music seemed to match the characteristics of the earth and sky. As we drew closer traditional dancers lined the streets and filled the drab, dark sand with vibrant color and movement.

My journey to Africa reminded me that God created us to interact with his creation, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth" (Genesis 1:26). Some cultures seem to understand that concept of dominion better than others.

The last two weeks illustrated to me the differences in cultures, but also gave me a deeper appreciation of my African brothers and sisters. Each morning, long before sunrise I could hear the soft echo of Christian hymns in the distance as our Christian family met for "morning prayers." Their hymns of praise were accompanied by nature's song. The chirping of crickets, the sweet chorus of birds singing as the earth awoke from her slumber.

I don't know a better way to describe what I heard and saw - it was man interacting with the rhythms of the earth. I don't mean for this to be some metaphysical incantation - it was simply the beauty of God's creation stepping in harmony with the glorious bride of Christ.

Last Sunday morning was my first morning home. I woke up to the sound of the alarm beeping from my cell phone and contemporary music blaring from my clock radio. Rather than synchronizing with the rhythm of nature I interrupted it.

Sometimes we return home telling the worst of what we see on foreign soil. We talk about the poverty, sickness and despair. What I will always remember is making the effort to climb out of bed early one morning and join my brothers and sisters in morning prayers. As I returned to my home the sun was rising over that house of worship and all seemed right in the world.

Outcome Based Ministry

This past weekend I just completed the last in a series of visits to a great congregation of the Lord's church in Alabama. They have some very devoted and loving members and a leadership that is committed to spiritual and numeric growth

During our time together we focused on two important areas in the work and development of any church: 1) Helping members find their talents, 2) Targeting specific outcomes (goals) for the ministry programs in the church.

In our approach to Outcome Based Ministry we walked through a process of determining and allocating resources (people and things), we set clearly defined outcomes, and developed a strategy to achieve those outcomes. It was truly exciting to watch God's people come together for a common purpose and capture a vision for evangelizing their community.

The most exciting part of our time together was watching the ministry teams come together and see the synergy that exists when teams collaborate. The women's ministry partnering with the campus ministry in adopting college students. The college program working with ESL and the Spanish outreach. We have all experienced times when works in the local church seemed to be in competition with one another. How refreshing it was to see them looking for opportunities to collaborate.

It is amazing how much more gets accomplished in a local congregation when there are clear objectives and accountability for the work. I am thankful that God allowed me to be a part of something special these last few weekends.

Politics

For years I was a political junkie and who knows, by the time the election rolls around I may be again. I hate to think that my vote may be more a vote of opposition than support, but that very well could be the case. There aren't many of the candidates left that really excite me, but there certainly are a few who give me more than a little bit of concern.

The attack on the Christian foundations of our nation, movements towards socialized medicine, the erosion of our constitutional rights to bear arms and free speech all concern me. Thomas Jefferson once said, "I fear for my nation when I realize that God is just." Pretty insightful for a man who has been tagged as a Deist.

The threat of radical Islam concerns me, the government's micro-management of every aspect of our lives and even our thoughts is of even great concern, but the real danger facing America is the continued drift away from the moral and spiritual principals found in God's word. David told us, "Rigtheous exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."

So come November what will be the deciding factor in casting your vote? Will it be the economy, the war in Iraq, securing our borders, or will something deeper and more significant influence your choice of political candidates?

26 Hour Day

Sometimes I feel as though I could definitely use a 26 hour day - that or live off of energy drinks for 48 to 72 hours. I guess I should feel blessed that there are so many things in this world that I want to accomplish, if only the things I have to do didin't interfere with the things I want to do.

Time management experts have all kinds of answers for increasing productivity and getting the most out of your day. Stephen Covey reminds us of how the urgent gets in the way of the important; other writers and consultants suggest setting priorities and working smarter, not harder. Here is my own list of guidelines based upon the Life of Christ.

1. Know your mission or objective. From a very early age Jesus knew that he must be about his Father's business. (Luke 2:49) In teaching his disciples he "must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things... be killed and raised again the third day" (Matthew 16:21).

2. Block out time to spend with the Father. Jesus often would escape the multitudes to spend time in prayer. As he approached the final week of his life, his conversations with the Father become more frequent. Our Lord understood the importance of keeping connected to God when the world felt as though it was spinning out of control.

3. Don't let others set your agenda for you. Jesus did not rush to Bethany when Lazarus died (John 11), and as he set out on his journey to Jerusalem, he didn't allow Peter to hinder his trek towards the cross (Matthew 16:23).

When we know our purpose or objective in life and we spend time with the Father sharing our work and mission, then it becomes easier to keep life in the proper perspective. Suddenly all the little distractions seem less important when we know that we are carrying out our Father's purpose.

Will this help me better balance all the things going on in my life - maybe not, but it should help me stay focused on the things that really matter.

Searching for God

I believe all of mankind is on a quest to discover God. While there are those who claim atheism or agnosticism, they too are seeking, but they reject the object of their search. Victor Frankl wrote the classic book, "Man's Search for Meaning." In that book he explains how prisoners coped, or failed to cope in the German concentration camps.

This morning in my quiet time I was reminded of how the busyness of life can get in the way of our time with God. Satan is really good at filling our lives with so much white noise that we neglect the important task of building and maintaining our relationship with God.

One reason I enjoy teaching is that it forces me to be disciplined in my study and prayer time. I once spent two years in a men's discipling program that also emphasized daily study and prayer. As I opened my Bible this morning and spent a few minutes in prayer, I realized how often I have let those disciplines lapse.

I pray that you too are on a journey to know God. That you will make time to build a close relationship with Him through Bible study and prayer. My personal quest is to KNOW GOD, not simply to know about God.

You Never Know

I still recall sitting down at the Starbucks near Wolfchase Mall in Memphis waiting to see if she was as pretty, smart and well-balanced as her online profile indicated. A lot of people are self-conscious about admitting they met through a "dating site," but there are a few advantages: 1) You get to see a picture and read how they describe themselves; 2) You can email and talk for a while before going through that initial face to face meeting; 3) If you are smart, you learn to look for "red flags" that might save you a lot of time and energy down the road.

I learned a lot about myself and about the life that I wanted during my five years of bachelor life. Mostly, I realized how important it was to find someone who shared my values for God, family and the church. The work that I wanted to do and the life that I longed to live all centered around my church family, my Christian service and my desire to raise my children in a godly environment.

It is interesting how God works in our life. We can spend so much time planning and preparing for how we want things to be we forget to include God in the equation. Let me give you a few examples of how God overruled my own lack of understanding.

1. I was never an advocate of long distance relationships, but what a blessing 3 hours of separation has been. We talk together, pray together and have really gotten to know one another. Physical attractions is great - but communication is essential.

2. I thought I was through raising children, but Debbie has two wonderful girls and it has allowed me to see her love, concern and care for those she loves. It has allowed me a deeper look into her heart.

3. I doubted whether I would ever serve in a ministerial capacity in the church again, but her love for God and desire to serve opens so many opportunities for both of us in the years to come.

Oh, and for those of you who are wondering; she grows more lovely every day, she is smarter than those folks who stay at a Holiday Inn Express, and balanced isn't strong enough word to communicate her approach to life, struggles and goals for the future. All of those things have caused me to grow more and more in my love for Debbie Baker, but her heart for God is the one attribute that sent me over the edge.

So next time you sit down for a Caramel Macchiato just remember - "you never know what God might have in store for you."

The blessing of words

In a file in my office I keep letters that were sent to me by some very special people in my life. Some of them are letters of thanks, others are simply little notes of encouragement and support. They are some of my most treasured possesions.

I have never been rich as the world counts wealth, but God has bestowed upon me treasures that other men covet. I was reminded today just how valuable time, relationships and communication are.

As Tristan and I walked the paths and trails I realized how blessed my life really is. Our conversation flowed as easily as the water along the streams feeding Radnor Lake. We may not have solved the problems of the gulf war, or the down turn in the economy, but we discussed religion, philosophy and literature with an ease and comfort that comes from years of heartfelt conversations.

We all love our children and its hard at times to watch them grow up and find their place in the world, but some things are more difficult to let go. When Tristan left for college I missed our evening conversations, while he spent three months in Europe our conversations were almost non-existent, but today was such a welcome reunion.

Through the years we have had many conversations. There were those difficult father/son talks that had to be made, times when discipline had to be imposed, and the lectures that came as he began to grow into manhood. Today was different - while it was a father and son soaking up the glory of God's creation, something had changed. I got to spend today talking man to man with the son I love and respect.

Thank you for the life you have chosen to live, may God continue to bless your years with maturity and faithfulness.

I AM RESOLVED

Did you know that at the start of each new year there is a dramatic increase in gym memberships, the purchase of dietary aides and enrollment in financial planning courses. This phenomenon is driven by our tradition of making New Year's Resolutions. This year I am going to lose those 10 lbs., or quit smoking, or start a savings program.

New Year's Resolutions can be a blessing to our life, if for no other reason than it causes us to reflect on areas that need improvement. Few of us succeed in meeting all of our goals for the new year, but we shouldn't get discouraged. If you are starting to consider some changes you want to make for 2008, here are a few suggestions designed to help.

1. Pray daily about your goals. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above..." (James 1:17). David reminds us, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalms 37:4). What a difference it makes when we include God in the equation.

2. Set realistic, achievable goals. Rather than setting a goal of losing 25 lbs., set a goal to lose 2 lbs. a month. There is real power in small successes. Achieving a series of small goals gives you the confidence you need to take on bigger challenges. Jesus tells us that when we are faithful over few things, he will make us a master over many things (Matthew 25:14-30).

3. Find an accountability partner. Through the years I have been on again, off again in keeping a workout schedule at the gym. There was one year however when I consistently made it to they gym 3 to 4 times every week. That was the year I had a workout partner. If I decided to sleep in, or skip my workout, I knew that Alan would hold me accountable. The same is true of the two years I spent in a men's study. There were 11 other men holding me accountable for my bible study, memory work and my Christian walk.

I pray that God blesses you in your efforts in 2008. Always remember that "HE is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20).

God, help me to remember

Are you a list maker? You know, one of those people who writes everything down so you won't forget. I keep a running list on my fridge of the groceries I need to buy, a calendar on my computer to help me remember appointments and sometimes I even carry a small tape recorder in my car so I won't forget that brilliant idea that came to me while driving down the interstate.

God recognized that man needs help remembering. He instituted the feast of the Passover to remind his people of their deliverance from bondage and captivity and He had them set up 12 stones at Gilgal as they crossed over into Caanan. In the New Testament Jesus provided us the Lord's Supper as a memorial of his death, burial and resurrection, but even with all of this sometimes we still forget.

Sunday morning as I sat in worship I was reminded again concerning the grace of giving. In this simple act God has called us to be like Him "every good and perfect gift comes down from the father of lights". I have heard dozens of lessons on giving and even taught a few in my day, but it struck me just how quickly we forget.

Throughout this day I have thought and prayed, "God, help me to remember." I wasn't just referring to the grace of giving, but to the importance of all the important things that are often neglected in our christian walk. God, help me to remember . . .

To pray
To give
To treat others with love and respect
To surrender my selfish pride
To humble myself in service
To cast off every sin and the burdens that weigh me down

and the list goes on and on. There is so much to remember and so often I forget.

"Father, as I turn this new day over to you help me to remember and forgive me when I forget. Allow me to cast my cares upon you and to guard my heart from sin. Help me to make my heart a dwelling place for your Spirit and my life a spiritual worship unto you. So often I have forgotten, but for today God, help me to remember."

Love One Another

I will never forget driving up to the church one evening and William (not his real name), was sitting on the steps just waiting for someone to show up and let him in. Will grew up in the worst kind of social squaller. He was the product of a broken home and his mother would bring men into the house and engage in behavior that no child should ever have to see.

One day members of the local church were canvassing the neighborhood and signed Will up to ride the "Joy Bus." It was the day that changed his life forever. He only lived a few blocks away, so he rarely waited for the bus to show up at his house. More often than not he was at the church ready to ride along and help out where he could. He attended every service, never missed a youth event, and pretty soon was leading prayers and giving short Bible talks.

I left for college and often wondered what happend to Will, at least until that cool December morning in Plymouth, MI. I remember a tall strapping young man in uniform walked in with his wife at his side and small child in tow. Will was serving with distinction in the U.S. Army, had married a Christian girl and was active in the local church.

How does a young man from such a troubled background grow to become a pillar in the local church? It was the result of a loving family. No, not his biological family, but his spiritual family. I have often subscribed to the belief that we can make a lot of mistakes in life, as long as we love one another, for "love covers a multitude of sin."

A Touch of Wonder

Arthur C. Gordon wrote this inspiring litte book entitled, "A Touch of Wonder." It is simply a series of short stories and applications that he has drawn from his own experiences of life. I have read the book a number of times and given it as a gift more than once.

I think the reason I am drawn to Gordon's book is that it is relevant to everyone. As we read his stories we are reminded of the fenceposts we have passed in our own life.

Over the years I have compiled stories and illustrations from my own life; they relate the wonders and marvels God has worked on me and sometimes even through me. For the next week or two I am going to share some of those stories with you. Some are wonderful stories of hope and restoration, others reflect times of brokenness and healing.

I hope before we are through that they might bring a little wonder to your life as well.

My yoke is easy...

Sometimes we simply need a point of reference to remind us of how good God is. There have been days when I indulged in my own pity party, or complained because my Father was a little slow in bestowing His blessings. I marvel at how God continues to bless me through my murmuring and complaining. He simply waits for teachable moments to reveal himself to me.

This week has been a struggle at times. I have found myself impatient with others and with God. I want my prayers answered almost immediately and think how sweet life would be if all the obstacles were cleared from my path. I know that is not a very practical consideration, but it is my blog - so I am allowed to dream.

I know that God works on us in during our times of need and dependence. He challenges us with trails that we can only overcome with His help. He rebukes the son that He loves (Hebrews 12:6)! Sometimes I simply wish he didn't love me so much (no, not really).

So what about this point of clarity? How do we come to accept the challenges and heartaches that creep into our lives? I can only offer two simple strategies that work for me.

1. Claim the promises of God. Today I claim the words that Jesus spoke, "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30)

2. Stop and take a good hard look at the world. I don't ever want to be like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11, "I thank you that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican." That kind of self-righteousness smacks in the face of God's desire for us. However, when I look around and see the tragedy in the world; the starvation in Africa, the earthquakes in Peru, or the plight of our inner cities I realize how truly blessed I am.

No, life isn't always easy and sometimes our knees buckle under the burdens and weight we carry. Those are challenging times, but if we are faithful, they can also be extremely liberating. It may be in those dark days, straining under the weight and sin that we better understand a couple of other promises God has given us:

"Cast your cares on him: for he cares for you" (I Peter 5:7).

"Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1)

I don't know about you, but I am tired of collapsing under the burdens and weight of this life. I am ready to throw off the yoke of despair and heartache. I am ready to cast my cares on my Lord and Savior. I am tired of standing on the sidelines watching - I am ready to run the race.

Gatlinburg Retreat

This weekend was the 11th Annual Christian Singles retreat in Gatlinburg, TN. There were about 60 in attendance at the Stiener Bell Lodge tucked way in the beautiful Smokey Mountains.

I was blessed this year to be able to facilitate the retreat and we all had an amazing weekend together. The theme this year was "Living a Fulfilled Single Life," and the group took full advantage of experiencing the fulfilled life as well as studying about it. We had games, devotionals, hikes and my personal favorite - shopping in Gatlinburg (I hope you can sense the satire).

There were two keys to the success of this year's program. First, everyone came with a spirit of love, acceptance and compassion. It was really exciting to see how quickly this group connected and the support and encouragement they all provided for one another. The second key was their spirit of participation. During the educational periods, the group discussion was dynamic and compelling.

Of course the best part of any good singles workshop is spending it with other great singles. I was blessed to be able to make so many new friends, but I enjoyed the added pleasure of enjoying the beauty of God's creation with someone very special.

Tough Love

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog about the God of second chances. It is comforting to know that God longs for the prodigals return and embraces the humble in His protective care. Sadly, there is a side to many who abuse God's grace and mercy. They anchor in His safe harbor when the storms of life are raging, but forget his goodness and mercy when the seas are calm and the sun fills the sky.

Jesus had to cope with these same people in his time. There were those who followed him only for the loaves and fishes and others who responded to His healing and restoration with an ungrateful heart. James refers to this individual as "a double minded man who is unstable in all his ways" or a man "who beholds his face in a mirror and then forgets what manner of man he is" (James 1:8; 23-24).

There have been times in my life that God has brought me to my knees as a reminder that He is Soveriegn and Lord, whether I acknowledge that or not. Those were always unpleasant and stressful times, but the result was a greater dependence upon God and a better understanding of his divine will in my life.

There are times I offer intercessory prayers on behalf of others, I typically ask God to heal them, bless them, or give them strength in difficult times. Rarely have I prayed, "Lord, bring them to their knees so they will know you are God and that your dominion is everlasting." Maybe I just need to ask God to heal them with a little tough love!

A Time to Laugh

Tonight I was reminded of what a blessing laughter is in our lives. Both the ability to laugh at ourselves and to share the gift of laughter with another. Here are some other's thoughts on laughter.

"Laughter is the closest distance between two people." Victor Borge

"To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.... a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4)

"You can't deny laughter; when it comes, it plops down in your favorite chair and stays as long as it wants." Stephen King

"And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter and the sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed." Kahlil Gibran

Someone once gave me some really sage advice. They told me that if you realize that you have done something foolish enough to laugh about later, then you might as well laugh about it now. Learn to find the humor in the embarrasments of the moment. Solomon was right, "A merry heart is good like medicine."

The Road Less Traveled

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet, knowing how way leads onto way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost

Morning Already?

So the alarm goes off at 5:00 am and the coffee hasn't started to brew. I glance that clock, slide over the side of the bed and mumble those words we all share in common, "Is it morning already?"

Each day is a little different, but I realize that how we face the day depends to a large degree on our attitude as we roll out of bed. Today, I am feeling just a little overwhelmed by all that needs to get done, so there is that underlying tension that comes from such a burden. On other days however, I wake before the alarm goes off eager and ready to start the day. It may be the result of a road trip I have scheduled, or a tennis match that I have been eagerly awaiting. The result is the same, because I look forward to those events, I can't wait for morning to arrive.

What a difference it would make if we simply woke up with a zeal and enthusiasm for each and every day. Imagine how our productivity might improve if we attacked each task with a fire in our belly and a desire to turn the mundane into an epic adventure.

So how do you plan to start your day? "Is it morning already", or "this is the day that he Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it."