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.

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."

A Love Story for the Ages

Like most men, I don't have much time for chick flicks. I don't get particularly excited when the Notebook or Beaches is airing opposite Monday Night Football. There is however one love story that captures my imagination every time I it hear it. It is the love story between God and man.

You see men can relate to a love story when it is filled with the pursuit of a beautiful woman or the intrigue of fighting for the woman we love. You may have missed it in a casual reading of the Bible, but it is a love story for the ages. It is filled with pursuit and passion, unfaithfulness and restoration.

The story begins with the bridegroom preparing a home for the bride. The garden in Genesis has everything the bride could imagine. On quiet evenings they would even walk and talk together in the garden. It doesn't take long however for infidelity to mar this beautiful story and the remaining pages record the bridegrooms struggle to bring his bride home.

From time to time she returns home to the bridegroom, but most of the story is her wandering in the wilderness of Sin and her drifting from lover to lover. As the story unfolds, we see the heartbreak and sorrow experienced by the bridegroom, but one thing never changes throughout the story - he continues to pursue the woman he loves. He is with her in the wilderness, he longs for her while in captivity and he pleads for her return each and every day.

Finally, in an act of full and complete sacrifice the bridegroom surrenders his own life to rescue his bride. She has been decieved by the lies and treachery of a false lover. For six hours he hangs on a cross and as he looks out over the crowd he whispers a prayer of forgiveness on her behalf.

Like any great love story, this one too has a beautiful ending. In the closing pages we again see the bride, but this time she is adorned in white, pure and spotless. There is no uncleaness in her. After generations of battle and pursuit, the bridegroom takes her home to her mansion and yes, the live happily ever after.

A Place of Vision

The wise man of old once wrote, "Where there is no vision, the people perish..." (Proverbs 29:18). That has always been a favorite verse of mine. I believe that God wants his people to have a vision, mission and purpose in the work that they do for Him.

It is great to be associated with a congregation that understands the importance of vision. At the Spring Meadows Church of Christ we believe that God has created a place of vision. A congregation that endeavors to serve the needs of our members and touch the lives of those living around us. Spring Hill, TN is a rapidly growing community (over 46% each year) and we know the fields are white unto harvest.

We are just beginning the great journey that God has set before our eyes. There is still so much we need to do. In the coming weeks and months we need the prayers, encouragement, support and even the financial help of our brothers and sisters all across the U.S. If you are looking for a place of vision to call home, come visit us at the Spring Meadows Church of Christ. There is more information if you click the link on the right of this page.

The Measure of a Man

I have recently been re-reading John Eldridge's book "Wild at Heart." My son and I have both read the book through at least three times. Eldridge does such an excellent job explaining why God created us the way he did.

There is something that captures the imagination of a man as he watches John Wayne draw his pistol from the holster, or Michael Jordan hit a jump shot from 30 feet with the game on the line. We love the violence of hockey and football because of the vicarious thrill of watching men go into battle.

God didn't design men to be spectators, he created us to be leaders. To fight for our families, stand up for the oppressed and defend the truth and honor of the bride of Christ. I believe that Theodore Roosevelt captures the heart of a "real man" in the following statement.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

In a few weeks the men of the Spring Meadows Church of Christ will be studying Wild at Heart on Wednesday evenings. I pray all of our men will come and bring friends. If you are inspired by Henry's speech at Agincourt or how Sir William Wallace rallied his men to go up against the superior forces of the English, or it may be you long to stand beside the 300 Spartan's as they hold off the Persians at the pass at Thermopylae. If this describes you then join us for an epic adventure of manhood.