still reflecting * bling *

I had a truly wonderful weekend with my family and a few very dear friends. It was so cool to see Camille and my brother's kids (Ty, Alyssa and JT) interacting now that they are all getting older. We celebrated my dad's 70th birthday (my mom bought him a Wii, how trippy is that?!?), we hung out, we went to the beach... we just enjoyed being together.

Family and Friends. Believe it or not, Verizon wasn't the first to market the idea. God was. And what I was reminded of this weekend ... or what I blessed by this weekend ... was the beauty of long-lived love.

The "very dear friends" I visited with were Gary and Sheri Webber (and their 4 kids). Gary is now the Sr. Pastor of the church he grew up in and we both interned in college. He and I served 3 churches together (the one he pastors now, one in seminary and another one between seminary and my coming to wb). As a result, we have seen A LOT of what I affectionately call "church crap" ... and have probably left a trail of it a time or two ourselves. But through it all, God's grace enabled us to hold on to our friendship, and as a result we have learned things about each other AND about ourselves that we otherwise may not have learned.

I believe the same is true with family. Long-lived love seems to be an endangered discipline. Maybe you, like I, have too many friends who merely endure their family visitations. Sure family can be annoying and sometimes even smell funny, but do you really want to challenge the Divine decision that made them your family in the first place? (count to 10 before you answer)

Which makes me wonder if the same could be said of church-life? Do we miss out on God's blessings, God's lessons, God's cool-sovereignty-thing when we bail on serving, leading or the church entirely? Just as folks run cycles in relationships and jobs, is it possible to run cycles within church-life, and dump our current church because it's just not fun anymore or to go date a younger and cooler church?
Long-lived love ain't easy but it may be one of the greatest tools God uses to create holiness in his children.

If I love God, I should also love others.
If I don't love others, I don't love God.
~ Craig Groeschel
(but I'm pretty sure Jesus said it first)

ponder these, you must

Connected are these statements?
Hmmmm, if so, connected they are how? Reply, if you wish.
May the Lord with be with you...


Faith never knows where it is being led,
but it knows and loves the One who is leading.
~ Oswald Chambers

Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
~ Paul, 1 Corinthians 6.18-20


We are not physical beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a physical experience.
~ some preacher I heard years ago... I'm sure I didn't think it up

the reVERBeration of life

I know it's "early" for a patriotic post but this is more than patriotic.

My full name is Christopher Albert LaRue. I was named after my grandfather, Sergeant Albert William Meyer, who was a member of Service Battery, 38th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. He was taken Prisoner of War while fighting the enemy near Kunu-ri, North Korea on November 30, 1950, and died 122 days later on April 1, 1951. His remains were not recovered.

Last night Camille rang a replica of The Liberty Bell in memory of her great grandfather and in proxy for "Granny", her late great grandmother. She was able to do this at a presentation made by The American Fallen Soldier Project, which is an amazing organization (website).

After she rang the bell, we were encouraged to touch the "shoulder" of the bell (see picture) to feel the reverberation. The bell's sound was intense and audible from a far distance; it's movement, after only one hammer strike, would last for up to 2 minutes.
This was a very moving experience: to see other families dealing with their recent loss, to see Camille ring the bell in memory of her great grandfather in proxy for her Granny whom she loved so dearly, to remember the freedom I enjoy was paid for by a family member I never met. The weight of these realities hung heavy and as the memory of that experience continued to echo in my mind and heart, God challenged me.

Are the sounds of my words and
the movements of my life
a continuous reverberation of God's love and grace?
Or do they clash and fall to the ground
inconsistent, lifeless and unremarkable?

Interesting how God saw fit to put the word "verb" (action) in the middle of the word "reverberation" (sound).

ambassadors (still)

Jesus had the amazing ability to
be completely IN the world without compromising his love for God
or limiting his love for the world.

We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were actually making his plea to the world through us.

Do we get that?!?

cross-bearer (pt 3)

Must Jesus bear the cross alone,
and all the world go free?
No, there's a cross for everyone,
and there's a cross for me.
hymn, words by Thomas Shepherd, music by George Allen

This past Sunday we bore the cross together. Here is how I know:

I have to write to tell you how awesome today's service was. The message was spot on and the music perfect. Thank you ... (I know it takes a village to put it all together) ... for presenting an Easter celebration that was both uplifting and pertinent.
~ KG

Please pray for me to keep my commitment to have a closer relationship in following Christ and telling others about how wonderful God is in my life.
~ response card from Willie, who also rededicated his life

This is just a sampling of the feedback I've received over the past 2 days... there has been so much more.

God blessed us Sunday.
Easter is supposed to be us blessing HIM but our heavenly Father evidently couldn't help himself... and he blessed us anyway. He so loves to see his kids excited to worship, excited to serve, excited to be together. And what parent wouldn't want to bless his/her kids after being loved on? So how could he do anything less?

Our God is amazing.
Our family is blessed.
And our cross remains for there is still work to be done...

cross-bearer (pt 2)

I stand at the cross and wonder.

I stand before the cross and fear.

I kneel before the cross and weep.

I pray before the cross and rejoice.

To know the cross is to know Christ.

To feel the cross is to feel Christ.

To gaze at the cross is to gave as Christ.

To carry the cross is to be a Christian,
and not until then.

God, forgive us.


The Cross, by Lois A. Cheney

cross-bearer (pt 1)

You cannot make your own cross but unbelief is a master carpenter at cross-making. You do not choose your own cross but self-will would try to be your lord and master.

Your cross is prepared and appointed by divine love. Accept it cheerfully. You are to carry your cross without raising trivial objections. Do not be insolent, or trample it in vain glory, or fall under it in despair, or run away from it in fear. Take up your cross as a true follower of Jesus.

Jesus was a cross-bearer. He leads the way along the path of sorrow and you could not have a better guide. If he carried a cross, what nobler burden could you carry?

The cross is not made of feathers or covered with velvet... but the cross is not made of iron. It is a wooden cross and you can carry it because the Man of Sorrows knows its weight. Take up your cross and by the power of the Spirit of God you will soon be in love with it. Like Moses, you would not exchange the reproach of Christ for all the treasures of the world.

taken from Charles Spurgeon

friends

Two quotes I had in my study notes but didn't make it to the message:

Nothing among human things has such power
to keep our gaze fixed over more intensely upon God,
than friendship for the friends of God.
~Simone Weil

&

If we stick together we can see it through,
'casue you got a friend in me.
~Randy Newman, Toy Story

Read them again...as many times as it takes for them to sink in. Seriously, read them again. Go ahead... ;-)

Thanks for being friends.
To me.
To one another.

'Cause if we can't be friends, why would we expect anyone else to want to be a Christian?

spiritual exercise isn't an oxymoron

Many people you pass by today are in the midst of a 40 day spiritual exercise. And no, spiritual exercise is not some kind of oxymoron.

Right now, countless "high church" folks (Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans, etc) are observing the season of Lent: a 40 day observance of fasting and prayer. The biggest thing Lent is known for is "giving up" something. Most protestants don't observe Lent (we would fall into that category), yet most protestants recognize the value of spiritual exercise, or spirital discipline.

As you look ahead at your life, "at what" are you looking? Many times, looking ahead has more to do with getting past some negative in order to do what we really want. You know the "God, if you'll just get me past this, then I can..." prayer? (yeah, I'm with ya)

We can sometimes be like the little boy who "gave up" fighting with his brother for Lent. Half way through, his father asked, "So, how's it going, son?" to which the son replied, "Great, but man, I CANNOT wait for Easter!"

Spiritual exercise is doing something different in your life to give God room to share something new with you, so when you emerge YOU are different.

Get it? God already has all things under his control - we don't need to pray for 'things'. Our prayer is that we - individually and collectively - will walk steady in his grace and trust in him. He alone is God and he is true to his Word.

when polyphonic was EVIL!

There was a day worship music was a chant. Monophonic voices, without harmony and often without accompaniment. It was believed harmony was evil.

The chants were eventually incorporated into polyphonic music and over time, entirely new polyphonic compositions took center stage.

Music has always been a key component in worship and church life. In our life time we have gone from piano and organ to drums and electric guitars, from hymns in hymnals to brand new songs on screens, from suited ministers of music to untucked worship leaders. ;-)

I even served a fellowship where the pastor said the true worship of a believer is how he/she lives, not in the type of music he/she sings. I'm sure we woud all agree. But then he said we were starting a second service and the early service would offer traditional hymns and the late service would offer contemporary music with drums and guitars. How funny is that?!?

Pastor Dave said yesterday, "love is as love does." In like fashion, "worship is as worship does." Worship is giving something or someone worth and value. At the risk of sounding heretical, we "worship" those we love when we respect, honor and serve them over something or someone else.

And our worship of God is the same - we give Him worth and value and presence in our lives when we live the Christ-life, when we live according to the "praxis" of love we read 1 Corinthians 13 ... we worship Him.

There was a day when "Amazing Grace" - a traditional hymn in virtually every hymnal - was a NEW song. The first time it was sung by a minister of music, people in the pews sat and listened because they didn't know the melody and they didn't know the words and they weren't sure if they were going to like the song.

As the love song of your life is played, as you live your song of humility to THE Audience of One, remember there are listeners hearing your rendition of "Amazing Grace" (maybe for the first time, maybe for the 100th time). They may be unfamiliar with the melody, uncertain of the words, and they may even be trying to decide if they are going to like the song.

Worship is as worship does ... on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays ... every moment of every day. So play on!

i'm a dipolmat!

Merriam-Webster says an ambassador is a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government as the resident representative of his or her own government or sovereign and appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment.

2 Corinthians 5.20 says we are "ambassadors" for Christ, that God is making His appeal to the world through us.

God wants so badly for all His creation to know His love, forgiveness, grace and friendship. But how is a God who can't be seen or touched or audibly heard going to convince a living human being of all these things? By sending resident representatives for a special and temporary assignment; by sending us as His ambassadors.

Last Sunday was our highest attended Sunday morning in MONTHS! We could celebrate that but I would rather celebrate that we received response cards with some of the deepest needs I have seen in a while...and they weren't from newbies, they were from regular wb'ers.

We are not only ambassadors for Christ to a lost world, we are amabassadors for Christ to one another.

no hurry

One barrier to full intimacy with the Savior is hurriedness. Intimacy may no be rushed. To meet with the Son of God takes time. We can't dash into his presence and choke down spiritual inwardness before we hurry to our one o'clock appointment. Inwardness is time-consuming, open only to minds willing to sample spirituality in small bites, savoring each one.

Intimacy with Christ comes from entering his presence with inner peace rather than bursting into his presence from the hassles of life. A relaxed contemplation of the indwelling Christ allows for an inner communion impossible to achieve while oppressed by busyness and care.

Holy living is not abrupt living. No one who hurries into the presence of God is content to remain for long. Those who hurry in, hurry out.
~No Hurry, Calvin Miller


Are you in a hurry this Christmas?
For that matter, are you in a hurry any given day?
How often do you use the word "busy" or say "I'm sorry, but I really have to go?"

Do you ever blow off your boss? (probably not)
But do you ever blow off your spouse? your kid? your friends? your God?
Who is more important? (think before you answer that)

Are you in a hurry this Christmas?

when was the last time you...

...invited someone to your home for dinner or dessert?

...brought something freshly baked to your neighbor (or just said HI to your neighbor)?

...invited your pastor over your house?

...invited someone to church?

...intentionally made someone smile or laugh?

...gave someone a big hug and whispered in their ear, "I love you."

...did something to help someone without being asked or without them noticing?

...listened to someone's story and offered to pray with them (on the spot)?

...introduced yourself to someone you didn't know at church, then asked if you could sit with them?

...prayed for your ministry leadership? (can you name each pastor and elder?)

christmas presence (little play on words there)

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. ~luke 19.10 Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve. ~matthew 20.28 I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ~john 10.10 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. ~john 1.14

These are significant verses to me because they speak of why Jesus came. The final verse shares what I believe to be the most significant reason: he came to be with us.

I remember learning as a young pastor that one of the greatest ministries is the ministry of presence. I was coached to push aside fear, uncertainty and even other commitments in order to simply be there when people needed a pastor and friend. Being unsure of what to say and do is natural but not being present precludes any opportunity to say or do something. And sure enough, it didn't take long to see the amazing and supernatural effect of simply offering my presence, even if only for a few moments.

We, the Church, are the substitute flesh and blood Body of Christ on this planet; we are Jesus (with skin on) to this world. That means it is each of our privileges to seek people that they might find Him, to serve others that they might be blessed, to share life that others might be inspired...to be present.

Isn't that why we join churches and groups, plan parties and socials...to be with one another?

Presence is powerful and often speaks louder and more poignantly than our words ever could.

So, as you consider your gifts this year, be sure to remember your greatest gift just might be your Christmas presence.

Jesus in, through and even AS

Jesus said he came to serve. So, the closest thing we can do to be like Jesus is serve.

EACH of you serve our Lord and give of yourselves through the faithful use of your gifts, skills and all that makes you "you" week-in and week-out. By doing this you also serve your church family and our guests.

Thank you for being Jesus to them.

EACH of you also serve me. You encourage me in ministry, in life, in love, in family, in faith, in staying on the journey, in ways you will never know or see (or probably understand - I can be a little quirky, so I hear).

Thank you for being Jesus to me.

When we share a glance, flash a smile, offer a hug, recognize an entrance, offer a word of encouragement, say "thank you"...it's more than Jesus being in us or working through us. As odd as it sounds, it is really Jesus as us.

It's our eyes and our smile they see, it's our arms they feel, it's our voice they hear. Of course, we know it's only by God's grace we can do anything - but all they know is YOU did something.

Thank you for doing something.
Thank you for being Jesus.
Thank you for being you...because no one does "you" any better than you! ;-)

Camille and I are going to see my family in Florida (Tue-Sat). Wahoo!!! I pray that each of you has an amazing week of giving thanks!

'tis the season to be

Next week is THANKSGIVING! Wahoo!

I can't tell you how much I have to be thankful for...there is so much. And let me tell you, this email is not some manufactured "wahoo" kind of email - it has taken me the past few weeks to get through a very difficult emotional funk. I know...me? Emotional? (be nice)

I am SO thankful for my God and best friend; without you, Lord, I would be nothing.

I am SO thankful for my precious princess, Camille; there's nothing better than snuggling up with her, eating popcorn and watching "Phantom of the Opera"!

I am SO thankful for Willow Bend; without this church family I could still be wondering and wandering! You guys keep me hopping and I love it!

I am SO thankful for ALL the friendships I have through the years; from high school, from previous churches, my pastor, this team, the newly deepend friendships through my involvement with children's ministry transition, the old willow benders and all the new (and still to come) willow benders.

The list could go on and on... my parents, my brother, my past and MY FUTURE!

God is amazing and the coolest thing I've discovered about Him is that in all of his infinite-greatness, He really enjoys the simple things... like sharing life with His kids.

Spend some time this next week looking for ways to thank Him. And while you're at it, look for ways to thank your spouse, your kids, your friends, your co-workers, your pastor (let's all rush him after service!)... just be thankful. It could revolutionize your life!

just remember to breathe

Folks, there's a lot going on in the life of the wb right now... a lot. Maybe there is a lot going on in your life right now, too?

You know what though?!?
God is still in control! How cool is that?!?
I know, I know...it's crazy isn't it?!?

No matter how much the world throws at us or - to be honest - how much we throw at ourselves, God is never caught by surprise.

We'll never hear God say, "Oh crap! I didn't even think about that!" Nope, not from my God!

And you know what else?!?
No matter how much we learn and how much experience we gain, there are just a very few things that are life-worthy-sturdy. Everything else in life rests on these, one way or another.

*ahem*
Here is my life-worthy-sturdy list:
1) God is in control (I know, I already said that)
2) God loves me
3) God has a plan that includes me
4) Though His plan includes me, it is not always about me (but He still demands my obedience)
5) I GET to walk with Jesus and follow Him wherever He leads... sometimes we're in the mountains, sometimes we're in the valleys and sometimes somewhere in between... but He's always with me... always.

There's a lot I don't know but these are the things I do know and that I refuse to let anyone or anything take from me.

You might even hear me say,
"Oh crap! I didn't even think about that!"
But my heavenly Father just chuckles and says,"LaRue, you trip me out! But don't worry, I got ya covered."

And how cool is that?
What a great God and what a great family, ya know?

Life is good.

stewardship

Pastor Dave spent the month of September on stewardship and in light of current financial trends, I think we need to evaluate our stewardship as a lead-worshipers.

A steward is a person who manages another's property or financial affairs. As members of the Body of Christ, we are stewards of God's property and financial affairs here on earth. And part of our stewardship as members of the Body of Christ includes stewardship as members of Willow Bend.

If you keep up with your bulletin, you are somewhat aware that we have met our monthly budget only 4 months this year. As a result, by the end of September we had dipped into our savings for over $35k in expenses.

My personal focus is to get out of debt. I designed a budget plan and asked God to help me achieve his best - being debt-free. But, I realized I was not being faithful in the amount I was consistently giving to the ministry of wb. How can I ask for more of God's blessing if I'm not being obedient to what He has already asked me to do? Do I reward Camille for her disobedience? Don't think so (ask her).

Not only that, I wasn't being very cheerful about giving either!

So, I increased my tithe and started giving cheerfully and consistently, according to what God spoke into my heart, and turned it into a form of worship and faithful trust of His promise of provision to me. And you know what? Life didn't get any easier! BUT, God's economy of giving and receiving continues to amaze me because the bottom line reality is this... I'm not in need.

Are we being faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us (which is everything, by the way)? Are we being faithful & cheerful givers?

These are questions I am asking myself as a man, a father, a member of wb and as a pastor (in that order). I'll be talking to some of you over the next few weeks about some changes I'm considering in the CA Ministry to keep us faithful stewards.

It may cost us a little bit of comfort but I would much rather be obedient.

plastic is OUT!

A long-time friend of mine from the high school days is now a wife, mother and custom photographer (and blogger). She has such a sweet spirit and I want to share one of her latest entries and photographs. This is from my friend, Heather:

One of my favorite things in the world is when my girls picks flowers for me. I think it's because I vividly remember walking around the block to pick flowers for my mom when I wanted to express my love for her.

Emily, my youngest daughter, loves dandelions; I love how excited she gets when she finds one. Yesterday, she brought two dandelions to me as if they were the most cherished posessions on earth.

I usually put the flowers my girls pick in a little plastic cup, mainly because of the size ratio. But yesterday it occurred to me the size of the gift was in relation to Emily's heart, not the flower.

I decided at that momemt to start using the nicest vase I could find for all of the fresh-picked-for-Mommy flowers. It doesn't matter anymore if they fit or not.

I pray I might be like these tiny little flowers in a big vase. I am so small and weak but my heavenly Father is my vase. He makes me beautiful, He sustains my life and makes my smallness great. He can even take a weed like me and make me something to behold.

Thank you, Heather.

I pray we each learn to place our lives in the crystal vase of God's Spirit rather than the plastic cup of this temporary world. Even more, I pray we see each other as the fragrant Bouquet of Christ.

interdependence

Right after writing about spiritual gifts, Paul wrote:

...just as the body is one and has many members,
and all the members of the body,
though many, are one body,
so it is with Christ...
...God arranged the members in the body,
each one of them, as he chose...
...if one member suffers, all suffer together;
if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ
and individually members of it.
~ 1 Corinthians 12.12, 18, 26,27

The ability to be many, yet one, is a supernatural kind of thing. God's math is other-worldly, to say the least, and two of His most beautiful manifestations of this supernatural math are marriage and the Church.

Marriage is described as "one-flesh" - two people that supernaturally become one. The Church is described as "one body" - many members, each with specific and necessary functions, yet one body. This is interdependence. No member can function independent from another member, yet no member can function completely dependent upon another.

We have the amazing privilege to experience, learn and model this supernatural interdependence every Sunday morning. We need each other because there is not one thing that any ONE of us does that ALL of us aren't somehow connected to.

I have seen many of you on many occasions serve one another in order for the team to make it through a Sunday - that's interdependence, that's being Jesus. Even this past Sunday, Debbie left her seat to serve Cherie as the computer demons reared their ugly heads! Props to BOTH of you - and ALL of you - for serving one another. THAT is what the creative arts MINISTRY is about.

When one struggles, we all struggle together.
AND...when one rejoices, we all rejoice together.

And so it is with Christ...

synchronize

The word "synchronize" dates back to ~1624 and means "to occur at the same time" or "two or more processes that depend upon the occurrences of a specific event". In 1929, the word was used in a shortened form, "sync", with specific reference to the synchonization of soundtracks and pictures in the movies.

If life were only that easy to synchronize. Think with me for a second . . .

God is not bound by or influenced by what we know as time. When He looks at creation, He sees all; things we would call past, present or future He sees and knows as now (Jer 29.11, Ps 139.16). Jesus' death on the cross occured at a specific moment in time yet his sacrifice was for all sin, all humanity, all creation. Though I had yet to be born and exercise my free will, my sins were included in His grace. And, at the very moment I recognized God's existence and gift of salvation, I was transformed and made anew though no outward (or inward) disciplines and patterns had been changed.

So, if this is all true, it begs the question if WE are bound by time? If today we are redeemed and perfect children in the eyes of our Father, are our lives bound by time?

No, we're not but we are influenced by time and this is where we depart from being on the same plane as our Creator. Though I currently live a life that is eternal, I still count hours, days and years. Though I am cleansed, my feet still get muddy (John 13.10).

The challenge for us is to synchronize our spiritual eternal reality with our physical temporal situation as they are both dependent upon a specific event.

Remember, we are not human-beings having a spiritual experience but spiritual-beings having a human experience.

Think about it.

labor day

Do you know what year Labor Day was originated?
Do you know what year Labor Day was declared a federal holiday by congress?
Do you know why you labor?

Let's employ some logical thinking skills... everyone have their thinking cap on?

First, think about what you do that makes you labor. Then ask, "Why do I do that?" Then ask, "Why do I do THAT?" for each thing you do until you reach the ultimate cause of your labor. This could be a pretty interesting exercise!

Here, let me share one of mine.
I labor around my house. So I asked myself, "Chris, why do you labor around your house?" To which I replied, "I labor around my house because I plan to sell it next year and want to get top dollar for it."

So, this means I am putting more labor into getting rid of my house than I was to keep it for myself. How crazy is that?

What are some areas you labor? Do you labor in your walk with Christ? Do you labor at work? Or how about your marriage? With your kids? In your friendships? Do you labor paying your bills?

Labor is an unfortunate reality of life. Actually, it's part of God's curse on humanity as a result of the fall. I guess from that perspective, labor is the constant reminder that we need God.

Ooh, hang on...so, why do we labor?

remembering curtis (pt 2)

I'm home.

Curtis is in heaven.

I got to sit on the couch and love on my daughter.

Troy and Kim got to pack the bedroom of their son.

Doesn't make sense, does it? At times like this there isn't much to say other than "I love you." There isn't much to do other than just be there. And how blessed am I that I was able to do both. Thank you for giving me that honor.

This is the Body of Christ. This is the fellowship of believers. If one member suffers, we all do. If one rejoices, we all can.

Even if they go to another church. Even if we have differences. Even if we struggle with their personality, their spouse, their humor, their lifestyle.

We get love. We get to stay in this. Together.

What are we but former targets of the stones we are so often tempted to pick up and throw. How can we see each other or anyone as brother or sister unless the Lord removes the plank from our eyes? What can we offer - what do we have to offer - other than the grace Jesus has offered us?

We are the flesh and blood substitute of Jesus on this earth. The Son of God works in us and through us; He even works as us.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Gal. 2.20 esv

remembering curtis

From The Confessions of St. Augustine:

I tell you a great marvel. Amazement seizes me to think that men go abroad to admire the heights of mountains, the mighty billows of the sea, the broad tides of rives, the compass of the ocean and the circuits of the stars. Yet they ignore the wonder found in themselves.

One of my most beloved friends, Troy, lost his 15 year old son Tuesday night due to a head trauma.

As much as this news broke my heart and threw me into a mixture of sorrow for him and the humblest of gratitude for the life and health of my daughter, I know Troy knows the wonder of God in himself and even more, in the unparalleled blessing of being a father to his son, Curtis.

There is so much we pursue, so much we assert value upon and therefore assume necessary to achieve; yet God still holds all things finite in his infinite hands. Regardless of our perspective or belief system, he remains Creator and we remain created. It is he alone who is in control, whether we agree with him, appreciate his choices or even like him - he remains God.

Life and death demand we face such truthful realities, superimpose our life over them and be transparent enough to see the result.

If faced with the decision to sacrifice your job or your spouse, your home or you child, your hobby or a deeper intimacy with your spouse - which would you choose? Or, maybe I should say, which DO you choose?

If your spouse, child, friend or anyone you dearly love was snatched from this life and your world, would they know everything they were to learn from you? Would they have experienced the wonder of God in you? The love of God from you? The grace of God as you?

Curtis did. I have no doubt about that. He knew the God of his father and he learned the character of God through his father. Curtis was in wonder of his dad and the God his dad served, but Curtis never wondered about either.

salt, anyone?

I'm in a bit of a contemplative mood this day. Could be for several reasons, of which I will spare you the mind-numbing details. I find myself meandering through the "why's" of me, ministry and associate pastor-ship - I know, a bit weird but hey, that's what I do. So, this email will a bit more like a stream of consciousness - or as Jill calls it, blogesque. ;-)

My desire is not to expand church activity but for us - the Body of Christ - to join together in God's tangible ministry to our church family and beyond.

My intent is not to write emails for exercise but to connect, communicate, laugh and spur us all on to good and better things in Christ.

My passion is not to coordinate volunteers but to serve with fellow disciples of Christ who are growing in their understanding of God's love for them, God's grace in them and God's ministry through them.

My hope is not to ask people to do things for me or for a Christian organization, but to share in the blessings of our amazing God as we serve one another according to the gifts and callings He has sovereignly placed in our lives and woven together in our families and church fellowship.

Lofty? Idealistic? Unrealistic? Maybe.

But if I ever grow complacent - if I ever lose my saltiness - then please, fire me. Really, I mean it. (then again, a preemptive conversation might well be appreciated)

I cannot accurately or fully express to you how much I truly love serving the Lord AND how grateful I am that I get to do it with each of you.

perceived images

St. Augustine, when writing about his memory, wrote this:

[Here] is a picture of that great harbor of the memory, which has numberless secret and inexpressible windings, where things are kept tobe brought out at need. Each enters in by itsproper gate and is laid up. But it isn'tthe things themselves that enter in,just their perceived images, for thought to recall.

Perceived images...there is a lot of truth to that, isn't there?

Experiences, by nature, are subjective and are therefore remembered as "perceived images" rather than objective truth. A very important thing to remember when it comes to how people remember their last experience with you... or your church.

stump the old man! (answers)

So, how did the old man do? How did YOU do?

Here are the answers (but you will need to refer to last week's email for the questions).

1. He should choose the room with the lions - if they haven't eaten in 3 years, they're dead.

2. The woman is a photographer and "shot" a picture of her husband, developed it (held it under water) then "hung" it up to dry.

3. Charcoal.

4. We were looking for yesterday, today and tomorrow.

5. The most used letter in the alphabet, "e", does not appear in the pragraph.

stump the old man!

Here are 5 questions to stump your old man (or anyone else for that matter)...

1. A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?

2. A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water for over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But 5 minutes later they both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together. How can this be?

3. What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and grey when you throw it away ?

4. Can you name three consecutive days without using the words Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday?

5. This is an unusual paragraph. I'm curious as to just how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so ordinary and plain that you would think nothing was wrong with it. In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is highly unusual though. Study it and think about it, but you still may not find anything odd. But if you work at it a bit, you might find out. Try to do so without any coaching!

Work on your answers and I'll fill you in next week!!!

i'm done!!! (oh...)

Do you remember graduating high school...I'll wait to give you a moment to think back. ;-)

I remember. I remember family, friends, ceremony, parties and feeling free!

It was much the same when I graduated college: family, friends, ceremony, parties and feeling free!

It was much the same when I graduated seminary: family, friends, ceremony, parties and feeling free!

Why do we feel free (or maybe why did I feel free)? I would assume it is because after attaining a new level of achievement, we anticipate a new level of freedom or reward. Seems logical. But what was that thing our parents always said?

With new freedoms come new responsibilities.

Yeah, nothing would ruin a happy moment better than parental statements like that, right? But that admonition was real and good and timely, because when I graduated all wanted was to be free and do nothing! At least for a little while. Didn't I earn it?

I find myself in that same mental process after God blesses me in life, even at the ripe old age of 35. I work hard at something, I pray and seek my Heavenly Father's wisdom and the counsel of my spiritual family, I walk through a ceremony of intentional thougt and decisions then experience the amazing grace of His hand moving in me and around me. Sometimes it's slow and difficult, and sometimes it's fast and obviously clear. Yet, after HE chooses to bless me (and it is HIS choice), I still find myself thinking I earned some new freedom or reward. Am I alone here? I sure hope not.

So, God - in His infinite wisdom and borderline annoying sense of humor - reminded of when His eldest child spoke of this. Wanna know what He said? Go get your Bible and read Luke 17.7-10.

Talk about being humbled...

walk around the block(head)

I just got back from walking around my block. Not my neighborhood, but the block of life in which I live. Ever have God take you for a walk around your block?

This is what happened: I've been facing a fairly big life situation that spills over into several arenas of my existence. I've been doing pretty good at acknowledging Him rather than leaning on my own understanding and have even been holding myself accountable by seeking wise counsel. Yet, obstacles were still presenting themselves and I just wasn't sensing peace; but I knew God was trying to show me something. I just couldn't see it yet, so my heavenly Father decided to take me for a walk.

On this walk, I was still processing, discussing and even pursuing; however, God put some "unexpecteds" in my way to jolt my brain, to get me out of my mental rut. As we continued to traverse familiar yet somehow new terrain, these "unexpecteds" started to impact my thinking and served to remind me (or teach me) of Him. It's not that I was wrong but that God wanted to share this leg of the journey with me, to reveal to me that my better was still short of His best.

As I said, I just got back from one of these walks and God was so amazing and faithful. Imagine that. This walk was about a 9 month walk - pretty big block, huh? But you know what? God is an affirming God. Each step I took was received with affirmation. Not affirmation like, "God job, son!" but affirmation of HIS best, even in the aftermath of my worst. If my step was in line with His best, He affirmed with peace, joy, sometimes tangible blessing and always with the opportunity for another step. If I stepped off-center to His best, He still affirmed but used difficulty, frustration or confusion to slow me down.

I'm learning more and more to enjoy walking around the block with my Lord. It's a lot better than be a block-head.

oh to be a beggar

Passing through the streets of Milan, I observed a poor beggar. Evidently he had a full belly that day, for he was laughing and joyful. I sighed and pointed him out to the friends around me.

We were burdened with all the sorrows of our frenetic lives. We were goaded by our ambitions to keep up. While I worked I drug along the baggage of my own dissatisfaction, which was only feeling heavier. We hoped one day to arrive at the same state of joy that beggar was showing in front of us. He had obtained, with a few coins he had begged from others, the same state of satisfaction I was planning to gain by many a toilsome turning and winding.

It was all the joy of temporary comfort. What the beggar had gained was not the true joy, but it was just as real as what I was trying to get with my ambitious plans. Certainly he was happy and I was anxious. He had no fears, while I was full of them.

If the beggar had asked me whether I would prefer to be in his merry state or my own fearful one, I would have answered that I would rather be merry. On the other hand, if he asked whether I would rather be a beggar like him, I should say that I would choose to be myself, even though worn out with cares and fears. But was that poor judgment? Was it the truth? Shouldn't I prefer to be like him? I had more knowledge than he but no joy in all my pursuit.

This new understanding was a bone-cracking blow from the club of Your correction. Certianly it makes a difference where a person finds joy.

~ from The Confessions of St. Augustine

innocent vs. not guilty

This morning in my small group Bible study we were asked the question, "What does the declaration of 'not guilty' found in Romans 3.22 mean to you?"

Romans 3.22 now God says he will accept and acquit us - declare us 'not guilty' - if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. (TLB)

One response was "freedom" and another was "I'm not innocent but I have been declared 'not guilty.'" And another was this, "God's willingness to do everything necessary to cover my sin is like Him saying to me, 'I love you too much to be without you.'"

God says that to all creation - I love you too much to be without you.

God says that to the entire Willow Bend fellowship - I love you too much to be without you.

God says that to you - I love you too much to be without you.

And the amazing privilege we have is to allow that love - His love - to flow into us then through us so we can say to one another - I love you too much to be without you.

excellence (for who?)

As we continue to give our best and serve our church family and Heavenly Father, I want to remind you of the awesome privilege we have to serve and the equally awesome responsibility we have to be lead-worshipers in all we do, especially from the stage.

We strive for excellence but not for excellence's sake. Listen to the words of Augustine (written ~400AD):

I have observed that a portion of the people will be suspicious of truth and [refuse] to accept it, unless it is delivered in a sophisticated and exuberant presentation.

I was saved from the speaker's charm because You, O my God, had already tuned my ear to truth in wonderful and secret ways. I believe You taught me, so that I could discern what is the truth...

From You I [have] learned that nothing is any more true because it is eloquent. Nor anything any more false because it is explained through inelegant lips.

I have seen people caught up in excellence, including me. I have seen people distracted by poor preparation and poor execution, including me. What I have never seen is God unable to work despite either. And what I have always seen is the amazing grace of God able to penetrate the heart of a true worshipper - whether that worshipper was standing on stage or sitting in the congregation.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
~ Colossians 3.17

We are lead worshippers to an audience of One.

i am subject (to change)

You light my candle, O Lord my God.
You cast a beam through my darkness.
You gave us of all that You are, and You are the true Light.
You blaze the way before every human that walks the earth.
In You we see no shades of gray.
In You are seen no shadows of change.

I pressed toward You, and was pushed back that I might taste of death. You resisted my haughty spirit. But what could be more conceited, than that I had the strange madness to imagine that I could be what only You are? That I was subject to change should have been obvious. I wanted to change...But I preferred to argue that it was You who were subject to change instead of me.

- The Confessions of St. Augustine

maundy thursday?

In the Christian liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday (or Holy Thursday) is the holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Disciples.

On this day four events are commemorated:

• the washing of the Disciples' feet by Jesus Christ
• the institution of Communion at the Last Supper
• the agony of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane
• the betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot
  

The celebration of these events marks the beginning of what is called the Easter Triduum (or Sacred Triduum). The Latin word triduum means a three-day period, and the triduum here is the three days from the death to the resurrection of Jesus.

For Jesus and his followers, a day ended and a new day began at sunset, which is still the case in the modern Jewish calendar. The Last Supper was held at what most consider to be the evening of Thursday but what was then considered to be the first hours of Friday. The annual commemoration of Maundy Thursday thus begins the Easter Triduum of Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. Collectively, these days of special devotion celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ, which are the central events of biblical Christianity.

So there ya have it...

but he was not there

...then I was told, "Go, stand in the sanctuary in expectation before God. God will pass by."

The band played a rocking tune, complete with a rippin' electric guitar solo; then they played a magnificent love song to God, but God wasn't in the music.

When the band was finished, the preacher got up and delivered an amazing sermon, with heart-wrenching imagery, but God wasn't in the presentation.

Then people walked to the front, knelt and prayed, and they led the congregation in communion. It was beautiful and captivating, but God was not in the ceremony.

After communion, there was a moment of silence - kind of an awkward transition, if you ask me - like the people on stage weren't sure what to do for a second. And in that moment I heard a gentle and quiet whisper.

The quiet voice asked, "Tell me, what are you doing here?"
-adapted from 1 Kings 19

Our response to that question is critical as it just might reveal what we really believe about God. Are we looking for a worship-fix? A sermon delivery worthy of being on TV? A ceremony that flows flawlessly?

God may choose to use music, a sermon, a ceremony. He may even choose to use something we would never expect.

Or, he may not.

Either way,the question remains: What are you doing here?

Will our worship ever allow Him to be enough?

FAT tuesday

This past Tuesday was Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday which begins the liturgical season of Lent. "Liturgical" simply refers to the church calendar which consists of the cycle of seasons within the Christian church.

The season of Lent is the 40-day season of fasting and prayer that leads up to Easter for the purpose of preparing the believer for the annual commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The 40 days is representative of the time Jesus spent in the desert where he was tempted by Satan.
Lent is primarily a season of self-denial, as in "What are you going to 'give up' for Lent?" The irony is that rather than discerning what to "give up" for Lent, I fear many people decide what to "hold on" to.

Fat Tuesday is French for "Mardi-Gras" and is the day set aside to indulge the flesh prior to denying it - it is also called "Shrove Tuesday" and "Pancake Day". Fascinating, isn't it?

Though I realize some of us (including me) were not brought up in a liturgical environment nor do we attend a church that observes the liturgical calendar, I wonder if we still hold personal observances of Fat Tuesday and approach spiritual disciples in a backward and ironic way.

Paul warned Timothy of people who will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, who will live in a form of godliness but are actually denying its power (2 Timothy 3.4-5).

And Peter challenged the church to live in the freedom of Christ but to not use that freedom as an excuse to do less than our best for God. Instead, we should, in our freedom, strive to live as servants of God (1 Peter 2.16).

let me die

Not really...I recently started reading "The Confessions of St. Augustine" and it has been pretty cool. So, this week I thought I would simply throw a quote your way and let you meditate and ponder its theological and life-practical significance.

In his article entitled "Confession of the Greatness of God", Augustine wrote:

Oh, have mercy on me and tell me,
O Lord my God, what You are to me.
Say to my soul, "I am your salvation."
Say it loudly enough that I may hear.

Behold, Lord, my heart lies exposed before You.
Open the ears of that heart and say unto
my soul, "I am your salvation."

After You have spoken,
allow me to quickly grasp You.

Hide not Your face from me.

Let me die, so that I will not only die.

light bulb days

There was this afternoon in Georgia when I wanted to change the headlight light bulbs in my truck to those new fangled super bright light bulbs. Long story short, it took me almost an hour and absolutely ruined my day! It was so amazingly frustrating!

A couple days later the Holy Spirit replayed that event in my mind then promptly reminded me of a verse:

No temptation has overtaken you that is not
common to man. God is faithful and he will not let
you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the
temptation he will also provide the way of escape,
that you may be able to endure it.

I was quite humbled when I realized the best I had to offer my God that day was changing a light bulb. How pathetic is that, right? Then the Holy Spirit chimed in again and said, "LaRue, God knew the best you had to offer that day was changing a light bulb, that's why He picked that day for you to change the light bulb."

Wow. How cool is that?

So, when you have a light bulb day (or if you have a day with a "real" challenge) remember that the challenge you are facing isn't catching God by surprise. Nope, his grace is sufficient for even that.

remember when's (w/ roc larue)

Do you ever get caught up in "remember when" talks with friends or family? It can be so much fun and sometimes, so embarrassing! It happens every time I go home for a visit. This past visit was no different...except for one thing.

I took my dad out for dinner one night for the primary purpose of getting him to share stories. He didn't know that was my goal which, of course, made it much easier to achieve. The fascinating part was that I didn't realize how much I would learn nor did I realize how much it would mean to him.

As he told stories of playing with people like Eddie Cochran and Carl Perkins (and others whose names I never remember), meeting Sammy Davis, Jr., playing at the Apollo, his band "Roc LaRue and His Pals" being the house band at The Wagon Wheel (located at 45th and Broadway, just off Times Square), meeting numerous movie and music celebrities, being on TV 6 nights a week and the radio several days a week, having a hit #1 single in a large portion of the northeast market and on and on... I found myself thinking, "Wow, do you believe this? My dad did all of this?!?" But the truly amazing part to me was that as he retold these stories, even HE was saying, "It's still hard to believe this really happened."

God is the perfector of the "remember when" talks! You can find them throughout the Bible - people recounting the infinite vignettes of our Lifestory Crafting God.

Have you ever had a "remember when" conversation with Him? A conversation where you remember back to some of the amazing (and embarrassing) stories of your life and journey together?

There is a story in John 11 where Jesus and Martha are having a fairly intense discussion. Martha is esseentially saying "Remember when you did all those amazing things for all those other people? Why didn't you do it for me? For Lazarus?"

Do you remember Jesus' reply? "I am the resurrection and the life. Do you believe this?"

Take time to reflect and "remember when" with those you love...including Jesus. Then take some more time to anticipate, to become confident in the God who has proven his faithfulness yesterday will prove it again as He walks with you today.

And tomorrow.

Do you believe this? Pretty amazing, I know!

even if only a few

I wanted to share a quote with you that I shared at our elder/staff breakfast last weekend.

When I get to heaven, I don't want to watch Jesus spew my sheep out of his mouth. No, I'd rather have a select few behind me and be able to say, "Jesus, these are all I have left but they are crazy in love with you. They sacrificed all of their lives to serve you."
~ Francis Chan, Teaching Pastor at Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA

This quote could be misunderstood to say we can neglect those we feel are less-spiritual or who are less inclined to rise to our perceived level of maturity or expectation. That would be an unfortunate interpretation.

Or, we could understand this quote to convey the reality that God graces us with countless people as we live our lives. Each of those persons is just as valuable as every other person. It's in this amazing equality that God supernaturally creates a unique bond with some. Why? How? Who? I don't know but I've experienced it and hope you have, too. The easy ones to recognize are those that become our spouses or children, parents or siblings. But God also creates this supernatural bond with others we work with, live near, play sports with, go to church with or simply walk by. As we live life - loving God and loving others - His Spirit invades the specific friendships and specific moments to accomplish amazing things.

Here's a simple example: I currently have hundreds of people I am living life with. Of those hundreds, there are somewhere between 200-300 that are associated with Willow Bend, just over 50 who are interested in Creative Arts, almost 30 who are engaged with Creative Arts, about another 28 engaged in my Life Group (including children), about 12 in ministry leadership roles with me, another 9 in church leadership roles with me, about 3 in serious man-friendships with another handful of men in strong friendship, about another 15 that are physical neighbors of mine, about 30 or so people I am blessed to maintain friendships with through my life/ministry travels, 1 personal pastor (who also happens to be our Sr. Pastor), and 1 daughter.

That's a lot of people (and some of you have even more than I). Yet, in all of these friendships, there are few I have sensed God's special annointing to walk with in a unique and beautiful way. Does that mean all the rest are somehow less important to me? or not worth my time? or don't get returned emails or phone calls? Not at all. But it does mean I strive to honor that which I see God doing in me and around me. It means I believe and trust completely that God is a God of organization, not chaos, which translates into my understanding that what He puts in my life to do and experience will fit into a 24-hour day, a 7-day week...my lifetime. If all that I am attempting to do - assuming I am even seeking God's direction for my life - cannot be reconciled into a 24-hour day or 7-day week, then I am not honoring His purpose in me for me or His purpose in me for those He has sovereignly placed in my life.

We may - and I hope we do - touch the lives of thousands upon thousands of people with even the smallest of godly compassion and truth. I also hope we capture the hearts of some, even if only a few.

there's no "i" in church

I've been given a awesome privilege: I will be officiating the wedding of one of my former students next weekend! Wahoo! Her name is Shelly and her beaux is Martin. She was in my youth group when I was youth pastor at Trinity Baptist in Farmersville, TX, during seminary. I just had the chance to reconnect with her over coffee yesterday...we hadn't seen each other in almost 10 years! Cool stuff!



For a while I had some promo's in the bulletin that started with "Life is Better with a Friend" and it's true. Church, when you reduce down, is about friendship. It's not about the Sunday show or "building the program"; no, it's about living in friendship with those whom God has placed in our lives. Then, the benefit (or the fun part) is that we GET to do ministry together, we get to touch people's lives and we get to see God do amazing things in US and through US.

There's no "I" in church...(I know, cheezy)...but it's still true. It's because of God's amazing grace that WE even have a life to live and that life only becomes abundant when it WE realize it's not about ME...it's always about US: Jesus, our biological family, our extended spiritual family and those who are yet to be born into this life WE know and enjoy in Christ.



That's what makes performing Shelly's wedding so cool...I pastored her from 1994-1997, trying to be the great youth guy. I look back and think, "I was SO clueless then!!!" (not that I'm totally with it now, either) But listen to this, she told me she always imagined me performing her wedding. Wow, me?!?

Farmersville wasn't about me at all. It was about us - me and some 40 or so kids, journeying through life, hoping we could figure it all out. We didn't figure it all out - by far - but God gave US what WE needed.

And He still does.

In my Life Group last week we read Ephesians 2.19-22 - the part where Paul writes about us being fellow citizens and members of the household of God. He draws this word picture of a house where the foundation is the apostles and prophets (those who were called to the unique task of proclaiming God's truth pre-Jesus); then he writes that the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple - and this temple is held together by Jesus, the chief cornerstone. We discussed how WE are the household of God. We are being built TOGETHER into the very dwelling place of the Spirit of God. And "we" is not just "me" or "Willow Bend" but all who call upon the name of the Lord. We were humbled as we realized this truth is so much bigger than we live.

We then read Acts 2.42-47 which is a beautiful and quite practical picture of the Church (i.e. the household of God). This early church didn't have Willow Creek or Saddle Back to model themselves after. So, they did want seemed good and fun. They devoted themselves (mutually and together) to reading the Bible, inviting each other over for dinner or dessert, and praying together. They even financially supported one another - talk about being transparent! As a result of their service to one another, the Scripture says two things happened: first, they had favor with "all the people"; second, "the Lord added" to their number every day those who were being saved.

These passages have continued to roll around in my head and heart. Please allow me to share with you some of the things God has been saying to me...again...yet as though for the first time:

1) The household of God is huge.
I am a part of His household but only one part. Do I celebrate that huge reality?

2) Jesus is the chief cornerstone.
He is the One who gives me life, ability and wisdom (or at least thoughts). Do I live for His glory and honor? I mean really?

3) The saints loved spending time together.
The fellowship of these believers was more about sharing life than pulling off a program. Do I love to share life with those who live in the same "room" with me in the household of God...beyond Sunday morning talk and responsibility?

4) God is the only One who can and will give increase.
As a result of serving and loving one another, the Lord gave them increase. Do I see God's increase manifest in my life? my family? my ministry? my church?

just a jacked up dad

In the early chapters of Acts we read of the church committing themselves to loving God (prayer and the Word) and loving others (taking care of each other’s needs and sharing the Good News). The result was that “God added to their number daily”.

Here’s the dichotomy of heavenly increase: God is the only One who can increase our “number” yet He will only do it as a result of our individual and corporate obedience. In other words, God doesn’t need our human efforts to accomplish His eternal purpose but He loves us so much that He wants us to be involved in His work.

It’s kind of like what happened today. I had an envelope to put in the mail; sure I could have walked to the mailbox, inserted the envelope and raised the little red flag all by myself but instead I asked Camille to do it. Was I being lazy… well, not entirely but I knew Camille would enjoy being asked to do something for her daddy (like raise that little red flag), especially since she has learned that when her daddy asks her to do something and she does it quick and well, it makes him happy and he lavishes his love on her (yes, I can “lavish” my love, thank you very much). Now, if that’s how it works in my kingdom – and I’m a quirky, frequently jacked-up punk trying to figure out what the heck life is all about – how much more will it work in our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom.

my chest feels funny

As told by Christie, Camille's mom:

We were listening to a Jeremy Camp CD and he was singing the phrase:

Every time I'm on my knees
Pleading for Your strength
I will find You there

Camille asked, Mommy, why is he singing about bleeding?

He's not, Baby. He's singing "pleading."

What is pleading?

Pleading is when you ask for something that you want really badly.

Oh. (pause)

What is he pleading for?

(trying to figure out a way to make this a teachable moment, I replied)
He wants Jesus to come into his heart.

(with near indignation, Camille quickly contested)
Why is he asking for Jesus to come into his heart if Jesus is already there?

Well, Sweetheart, Jesus wants to come into his heart but Jesus won't until he asks Him to.

(pause)

Hang on. (Camille bowed her head and began to move her lips silently, then popped her head up and said) Ok!

Puzzled, I asked, OK, what, baby?

I asked Jesus into my heart.

Utterly amazed, I said, You did?!? Wow! I/m so proud of you!

Camille gave a big grin followed by a brief moment of silence.
Mommy? My chest feels funny.

Curious, I asked, It does? How does it feel funny?

With smirk and silly tone, Camille answered, I think Jesus is walking around in there!

I honestly don't know if Camille fully understands what asking Jesus into your heart means. I do however earnestly pray she continues to grow in her understanding of His love and grace.

I share this with you also to remind us that God is so involved in the details of our lives that He can even use a misunderstanding to open a door, touch a heart and occasionally rock a world.

So, what are you pleading for? Or maybe I should ask, Does your chest feel funny?

when was the last time you were touched?

Willow Bend is my church family and serving with you is my joy.

We are all individuals and therefore we all have opinions, expectations, personal histories and our own lives to live. Behind all our individualities, however, there is a core of our humanity that is much the same.

Do you remember the story where Jesus healed the leper by touching him? It's very likely that leper hadn't been touched by a human in years because he was an outcast, unclean. Can you imagine what that must have felt like? To live your life, day in and day out, and never feel the compassionate touch of a friend? Whether someone's pain is their fault or not, to be IN pain physically or emotionally and be pushed aside as insignificant is brutal.

Unfortunately, I fear we all can relate to that leper. I bet everyone reading this email has experienced feelings of abandonment, being cast out, ignored, even considered unclean. I know I have and to be honest, sometimes I was the one doing the pushing. What;s amazing is that as I look back and replay these moments and seasons in my life, I can see specific times when God heard my cry (or yell) and reached out to touch me. There are a couple times when it felt like He stopped the whole world to focus all of His attention on me. I know He didn't, but that's how He made me feel.

Important.
Valuable.
Clean.

Can you imagine how it must have felt to have the first compassionate touch in years be the touch of Jesus? A touch that would heal you... completely?

I wonder how many people might visit Willow Bend feeling like that leper?
I wonder if there might be some in our church family who feel like that leper?

As we go about our lives, we have the amazing blessing of being the compassionate hand of Jesus to those who come across our paths. Watch and listen.

My life was greatly impacted by someone who took the time to stop and touch me. His name is Jesus.

this is how it's gonna go down...

I've been writing "blogs" for several years in the form of weekly emails to my creative arts team. I am going to sift through them and pick the ones that I believe are better - better being a relative term, of course - and post them here. That's all I know at this point...