Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Live Like You're Losing
I decided to go “Tug McGraw” with this post by playing off of Tug’s hit song’s title, “Live Like You’re Dying.” For the past few days it feels like we’ve been losing. Without going into great detail because things are still playing themselves out, our church was visited by Legalism a couple of nights ago. Thankfully this “visit” came not from within our body but from without. Legalism has many characteristics. One of the primary ways legalism evidences itself is in the valuing of issues over people. Jesus was constantly inveighing against the Pharisees because they tried time and time again to trap Jesus by valuing the issue over people in need.
Legalism will ignore, deny, and even defame people over an issue. In the name of being right on an issue Legalism will un-invite and even attempt to destroy people of good character, people who have been supportive of the Legalist and the Legalist’s organization in the name of being like Christ.
Without sounding too cryptic the recent visit of Legalism to our locale was not unexpected but nevertheless it was disappointing. The sad fact of the matter is that people in the world will treat one another at times in a more Christian like way than the legalist who claims to be living for and like Christ. If I had to characterize legalism’s recent visit to our church I would characterize it as a loss.
Then there was our game last night. Recently my son Steven has been in the Coach’s doghouse for unknown reasons. He did get in our District Playoff game drawing a walk, stealing (his 3rd in 3 games) 2nd and ending up scoring. After jumping off to a 5 to 0 lead, we ended up losing 11 to 12. Yes, another loss.
But on the way home our family had one of those family discussions that mark a family’s character. We were processing the game and the recent visit by “Legalism.” My son made me proud for 2 reasons.
First, despite his reduced playing time he supported our Coach. In fact, he has supported him throughout the season even at times when I was questioning some of his coaching decisions. To see this level of loyalty taking root in my soon to be 17 year old son gives me great hope for his life.
Second, Steven was aware of the reason (here we go cryptic again) why “Legalism” paid us a visit. This visit impacts something that he loves greatly. Again, seemingly another loss until I heard my son say something to the effect of, “Dad, they don’t know you like I do. I see you planning, praying, and working to make this event the best it can be. You are a Man of God Dad and when someone asks me who I admire I always say, “My Dad.”
Family, I had trouble seeing the road for the tears that were welling up in my eyes. Yes, it seems like this has been a week of losing but I’ll tell you what, if losing produces the kind of faith and loyalty my son is beginning to display as he becomes a young man, I’ll take losing over winning any day of the week.
Legalism will ignore, deny, and even defame people over an issue. In the name of being right on an issue Legalism will un-invite and even attempt to destroy people of good character, people who have been supportive of the Legalist and the Legalist’s organization in the name of being like Christ.
Without sounding too cryptic the recent visit of Legalism to our locale was not unexpected but nevertheless it was disappointing. The sad fact of the matter is that people in the world will treat one another at times in a more Christian like way than the legalist who claims to be living for and like Christ. If I had to characterize legalism’s recent visit to our church I would characterize it as a loss.
Then there was our game last night. Recently my son Steven has been in the Coach’s doghouse for unknown reasons. He did get in our District Playoff game drawing a walk, stealing (his 3rd in 3 games) 2nd and ending up scoring. After jumping off to a 5 to 0 lead, we ended up losing 11 to 12. Yes, another loss.
But on the way home our family had one of those family discussions that mark a family’s character. We were processing the game and the recent visit by “Legalism.” My son made me proud for 2 reasons.
First, despite his reduced playing time he supported our Coach. In fact, he has supported him throughout the season even at times when I was questioning some of his coaching decisions. To see this level of loyalty taking root in my soon to be 17 year old son gives me great hope for his life.
Second, Steven was aware of the reason (here we go cryptic again) why “Legalism” paid us a visit. This visit impacts something that he loves greatly. Again, seemingly another loss until I heard my son say something to the effect of, “Dad, they don’t know you like I do. I see you planning, praying, and working to make this event the best it can be. You are a Man of God Dad and when someone asks me who I admire I always say, “My Dad.”
Family, I had trouble seeing the road for the tears that were welling up in my eyes. Yes, it seems like this has been a week of losing but I’ll tell you what, if losing produces the kind of faith and loyalty my son is beginning to display as he becomes a young man, I’ll take losing over winning any day of the week.
Friday, April 13, 2007
They Are Us
This is my second attempt at posting today’s subject. My lovely wife encouraged me to re-write this post. In her words the first edition read like a “time line” and with good reason since I’m a “time line / frustrated history teacher” kind of guy.
I’ll start off by offering this scholarly observation:
We must be careful in what we believe, especially when it comes to what we feel are Biblical concepts. I have come to believe that the reason why is when we come to this point of belief it seems that God will test us to see how strongly we do believe. In fact, I would not be surprised to find out that God who I’m convinced has a strong sense of (just look at my face) humor, probably gets a little chuckle when one of our “beliefs” percolates up to Heaven and he follows through with sending us a “crisis of belief” (stole that from the Experiencing God guys) to see how strong are our convictions.
Enough double talk you say. Enough double talk you (sorry, little blog humor) say. Any way class, today’s belief is “unity.” You guys all remember the “u” word? Remember Jesus’ prayer in John 17:
Jn 17:20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
At our church, “unity” has been on our hearts and minds for several years. We have always viewed our brothers in the Conservative Christian Church as family members. All of you know our common heritage in the American Restoration Movement. Wait, I hear something. Yes honey, don’t go timeline on our good friends. My apologies.
Without listing everything I could, let’s just say we believe God has been moving in our church and the local Conservative Christian Church, Discovery Christian Church (DCC) in the name of Biblical unity. We believe it has to be God because for our 2 churches to be at this point takes an all mighty, all knowing God. No man or group of men could have orchestrated the events of the past few years, months, weeks, and days to bring our 2 church families to this point. I’m sure some of you are saying, get to the point!
The “point” came to a head in late January of this year. Two members from DCC, Tim and John decided to pay our preacher, Don, a visit with a proposal. Don had preached at DCC a couple of weeks earlier on, you guessed it, unity. Their proposal was this:
1. Our preacher, Mike Grant is leaving in May to go into full time mission work in Haiti.
2. We need to look for a new preacher.
3. We like you, you being “Don.”
4. We believe in unity as much as you guys do.
5. Heck, (can you use the word “heck” in a proposal?) why don’t we just quit messing around and merge our 2 churches?
Don’s first question was an obvious one, “What do your elders and Mike think about your proposal?” Their answer was somewhat stunning, “They don’t.” “What do you mean they “don’t.” Their answer was, “They “don’t” know about our idea, yet.” So, Don encouraged them to go back to their leadership with their proposal while he did the same to us.
My “crisis of belief” came to me in the form of Don’s cell phone call to me as I was driving to see Steven play in a tournament over in Orlando. When Don relayed “the Proposal” (as we like to call it) to me I nearly ran off the road. Now, my crisis of belief / car accident (COBCA) wasn’t due to my “belief” in unity. I’ve been there for years and speaking of years I felt like Moses talking to God.
“Ah God, Cecil here. I’m honored you’ve chosen me to be a part of “the Proposal” but I need to remind you (there’s a joke in of itself) of something. I’m just a silly frustrated history teacher masquerading as a math teacher / elder. This unity thing you’ve laid in our laps is way too big for me to be a part of; besides, I’m not a man who likes to step out on faith.”
A little digression here; When I relayed this thought to Greg he reminded me of how one dimensional I am when it comes to eating out. Time and time again as we enter a restaurant I’ll think or say, I’m going to get something “different” tonight. In the end, I order the same thing I’ve ordered a thousand times. I’m sure there are some that read my blog (who never comment or call to wish me well) upon occasion who have labeled me a “change agent.” If they only knew how I love order and tradition.
So, I found myself being like Moses, telling God “His” timing wasn’t good. As I type these words I’ve learned a profound truth – God’s timing is God’s timing. It does not follow even closely the timing of men. It took me a while to realize this.
So, the next step was a meeting. A historic (Sorry Honey, I didn’t give a date) meeting between the leadership of DCC and our church. We met at our church. We “knew” them but we had questions. We felt it was important to ask questions about where they stood on fundamental Biblical beliefs. Do you know what we discovered? They had the same questions! Hence, the title of this post: They Are Us!
It took months of meetings with DCC, our deacons, their deacons, our wives and their wives to ask and answer all of our questions. We ran through the full range of emotions including fear (fear of losing church members) as we processed this movement of God and at every point 2 things became apparent:
1. God really seems to want this to happen.
2. Over and over again, we realized that “They Are Us!”
A date for our announcement was set and re-set. We ended up with April 1st. It seemed appropriate. If half the church got up to leave we could always claim, “Hey, April fools you silly people.”
Since that time we’ve made the announcement and to my knowledge we haven’t lost one member. More over, applause, cheers, and amen’s were offered when we presented our “FRP,” that would be “Family Reunion Plan.” I am so proud of our church, my fellow elders, our deacons, our wives, and the good folks at DCC. This has been a growing process for this boy as well. It has forced me to do something that I have trouble with, stepping out on faith and trusting in God and not in my abilities.
We have a long ways to go. Our intention is to bring about this family reunion in January of 2008. At that point we would become the “Discovery Church of Christ.” I’m sure along the way there will be many hurdles to hurdle. It is our intention to meet any and all challenges with the guidance of God. As someone asked, “Is this a “done deal?”?” My answer was and is, “Only God knows.”
This is where you can come in to the FRP. As we told our church family, we need your help. We need prayers, lots of prayers. We need wisdom that at times we don’t possess. Please, when you can bathe our two church families in prayer and if you have any expertise to offer, we would gladly accept it.
God is good family. God bless.
I’ll start off by offering this scholarly observation:
We must be careful in what we believe, especially when it comes to what we feel are Biblical concepts. I have come to believe that the reason why is when we come to this point of belief it seems that God will test us to see how strongly we do believe. In fact, I would not be surprised to find out that God who I’m convinced has a strong sense of (just look at my face) humor, probably gets a little chuckle when one of our “beliefs” percolates up to Heaven and he follows through with sending us a “crisis of belief” (stole that from the Experiencing God guys) to see how strong are our convictions.
Enough double talk you say. Enough double talk you (sorry, little blog humor) say. Any way class, today’s belief is “unity.” You guys all remember the “u” word? Remember Jesus’ prayer in John 17:
Jn 17:20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
At our church, “unity” has been on our hearts and minds for several years. We have always viewed our brothers in the Conservative Christian Church as family members. All of you know our common heritage in the American Restoration Movement. Wait, I hear something. Yes honey, don’t go timeline on our good friends. My apologies.
Without listing everything I could, let’s just say we believe God has been moving in our church and the local Conservative Christian Church, Discovery Christian Church (DCC) in the name of Biblical unity. We believe it has to be God because for our 2 churches to be at this point takes an all mighty, all knowing God. No man or group of men could have orchestrated the events of the past few years, months, weeks, and days to bring our 2 church families to this point. I’m sure some of you are saying, get to the point!
The “point” came to a head in late January of this year. Two members from DCC, Tim and John decided to pay our preacher, Don, a visit with a proposal. Don had preached at DCC a couple of weeks earlier on, you guessed it, unity. Their proposal was this:
1. Our preacher, Mike Grant is leaving in May to go into full time mission work in Haiti.
2. We need to look for a new preacher.
3. We like you, you being “Don.”
4. We believe in unity as much as you guys do.
5. Heck, (can you use the word “heck” in a proposal?) why don’t we just quit messing around and merge our 2 churches?
Don’s first question was an obvious one, “What do your elders and Mike think about your proposal?” Their answer was somewhat stunning, “They don’t.” “What do you mean they “don’t.” Their answer was, “They “don’t” know about our idea, yet.” So, Don encouraged them to go back to their leadership with their proposal while he did the same to us.
My “crisis of belief” came to me in the form of Don’s cell phone call to me as I was driving to see Steven play in a tournament over in Orlando. When Don relayed “the Proposal” (as we like to call it) to me I nearly ran off the road. Now, my crisis of belief / car accident (COBCA) wasn’t due to my “belief” in unity. I’ve been there for years and speaking of years I felt like Moses talking to God.
“Ah God, Cecil here. I’m honored you’ve chosen me to be a part of “the Proposal” but I need to remind you (there’s a joke in of itself) of something. I’m just a silly frustrated history teacher masquerading as a math teacher / elder. This unity thing you’ve laid in our laps is way too big for me to be a part of; besides, I’m not a man who likes to step out on faith.”
A little digression here; When I relayed this thought to Greg he reminded me of how one dimensional I am when it comes to eating out. Time and time again as we enter a restaurant I’ll think or say, I’m going to get something “different” tonight. In the end, I order the same thing I’ve ordered a thousand times. I’m sure there are some that read my blog (who never comment or call to wish me well) upon occasion who have labeled me a “change agent.” If they only knew how I love order and tradition.
So, I found myself being like Moses, telling God “His” timing wasn’t good. As I type these words I’ve learned a profound truth – God’s timing is God’s timing. It does not follow even closely the timing of men. It took me a while to realize this.
So, the next step was a meeting. A historic (Sorry Honey, I didn’t give a date) meeting between the leadership of DCC and our church. We met at our church. We “knew” them but we had questions. We felt it was important to ask questions about where they stood on fundamental Biblical beliefs. Do you know what we discovered? They had the same questions! Hence, the title of this post: They Are Us!
It took months of meetings with DCC, our deacons, their deacons, our wives and their wives to ask and answer all of our questions. We ran through the full range of emotions including fear (fear of losing church members) as we processed this movement of God and at every point 2 things became apparent:
1. God really seems to want this to happen.
2. Over and over again, we realized that “They Are Us!”
A date for our announcement was set and re-set. We ended up with April 1st. It seemed appropriate. If half the church got up to leave we could always claim, “Hey, April fools you silly people.”
Since that time we’ve made the announcement and to my knowledge we haven’t lost one member. More over, applause, cheers, and amen’s were offered when we presented our “FRP,” that would be “Family Reunion Plan.” I am so proud of our church, my fellow elders, our deacons, our wives, and the good folks at DCC. This has been a growing process for this boy as well. It has forced me to do something that I have trouble with, stepping out on faith and trusting in God and not in my abilities.
We have a long ways to go. Our intention is to bring about this family reunion in January of 2008. At that point we would become the “Discovery Church of Christ.” I’m sure along the way there will be many hurdles to hurdle. It is our intention to meet any and all challenges with the guidance of God. As someone asked, “Is this a “done deal?”?” My answer was and is, “Only God knows.”
This is where you can come in to the FRP. As we told our church family, we need your help. We need prayers, lots of prayers. We need wisdom that at times we don’t possess. Please, when you can bathe our two church families in prayer and if you have any expertise to offer, we would gladly accept it.
God is good family. God bless.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
364
Hello Friends. Sorry for the lapse in posts. We were on Spring Break last week and driving back and forth from the “Palm Bay Spring Break Baseball Classic.” We ended up in 5th place with a record of 2 and 1. Steven did well playing mostly at 2nd. I drove him and 4 of his fellow players to the Tournament each day. I had a great time enjoying their banter back and forth.Now, how about them Florida Gators! In 364 days they have brought home 2 NCAA Basketball Championships and 1 Football Championship sandwiched in between. There has never, never been a University to enjoy this kind of unprecedented success in the span of one year. I wonder if the Ohio State Buckeyes are getting a complex when it comes to Gators having been beaten by UF in two Championship games in the span of one year.
My condolences go out to you bloggers who root for UCLA and Oregon as well. I can tell you that the entire state of Florida whether you are a Hurricane, Seminole, or a Gator Fan can truly identify with a popular saying in Gainesville, “Ain’t it great to be a Florida Gator.”
Next Post: “They Are Us.”
