9-11-13

As we make our way through September 11, 2013 I am reminded of the specific context I found myself on September 11, 2001. I was a recent college graduate from Mercer University, the Harvard of the South, as one of my professors use to say. I chose two majors, both within the liberal arts school, which meant that I was largely unemployable without more schooling. After continuing to work at a bookstore I worked at as a student, I was able to get a teaching job at a small private school in the south part of Bibb county. It was a blessing. I was primarily hired to teach Government/Economics part-time, but I was given more courses to justify paying me full-time. I taught students in the 6th, 8th, 11th, and 12th grades. They were all unique with different challenges and joys. I distinctly remember receiving the news of an attack then watching with students as the second plane struck one of the towers. 

The rest of that day shifted from being about accomplishing lesson plans to counseling students about fears, hopes, dreams, and the role of faith in this event. The ones who orchestrated this tragedy were motivated by their own theology, albeit an incorrect theology in my opinion. Perhaps one of the great tragedies that ensued after 9-11 was that Christians produced a plethora of bad theology in response to the attacks. What I found myself doing was providing comfort, hope, and a truer biblical perspective of all that was unfolding in the world in relation to God's word and his work in the world. 

I have sense encountered several of those students I taught, both in person and through social media. I dare say that I would have remembered them regardless of the events of 9-11, but perhaps because of that day they are indelibly pressed into my brain and my heart. Now many of them are married with kids of their own, hopefully making a difference in the world around them. 

Like an Old Friend

Sometimes it's good to steal away from work, life, and the stresses of your day with an old friend for a cup of coffee or a quick bite for lunch. Definitely a good thing to do as often as you can. The trouble is that you usually just have to stop and say, I'm not going to do x, y, z, at least not right now, because for my own sanity I need a break. I need to sit in a friends presence...words aren't even necessary just being in their company has a way of reframing your life and giving you some much needed perspective. So thankful for my best friend, who also happens to be my smokin' hot wife and the quick lunch or moment together that helps bring clarity and a small measure of sanity.

Photos and the Stories They Tell

I have several photos in my office at the church. I keep several group shots of camps, retreats, and mission projects in different areas of the office in addition to pictures of my wonderful family. I also have a few that I found in boxes when I came to FBC 5 years ago this summer that found a spot on one of my bookshelves. It's very nice to have the old church library as your office...plenty of shelf space!

The photos are special to me for various reasons, but aren't most photos that way. Pictures tell a story that words sometimes can't convey. One of these pictures is my friend Matt and I at an RUF (Reformed University Fellowship) Fall Retreat. If I remember correctly this was taken the morning we were getting ready to head home. Matt and I grew up together, were roommates in college, in each others' weddings in some capacity and continue to stay in touch, mostly through our wives who are best friends. I keep the picture in my office because it reminds me of the true value of friendship. There are friends that each of us has that we can call on in a moment's notice for help, encouragement, and support no matter where life takes you. I believe that Matt and I have that kind of friendship. There are others that we have those kind of relationships with as well. It's a reminder to me that relationships are important for us as human beings, as Christians to have because they give us strength and encouragement when we most need it.

Matt and Tony

Another picture is of a group of guys from high school at youth camp the summer after we graduated from high school. Included in the photo are our youth minister at the time, David Maginnis and one of the worship leaders for the week, Jimbo Bass. Both of those men had a tremendous impact on my life as well as the lives of those in the picture and countless others because of their faithfulness to the gospel. My life is truly better for knowing both of them.

Jimbo, Jason, Me, David, Jay, Matt, Robbie

The last picture is the the first group I took to a FUGE camp when I served as the Youth and College Minister at Liberty Hill Baptist Church in Clanton, AL. It was a small group, as many adults as youth but it was a great experience for all of us. For most in the picture it was their first experience of having a summer youth camp experience. Many of the students are now in college or almost finished with college. Each of them has had their share of trials and difficulties but God has always been at work in their lives in some really incredible ways. I think I keep that picture in the office because it is a reminder to me of why I do what God has called me to do. It's not about paychecks, offices (my first one at LHBC was basically a closet), books on the shelf or sermons preached...it's about real lives changed by the power of the only real gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ!

LHBC Centrifuge 2004?

An Interesting Blog

So one of my former students, Bethany started a new blog that promises to be exciting. I really think you should check it out at 
http://foodlifeandlovebethany.blogspot.com/. 

Go ahead, you know you want to!

What is it that you are THANKFUL for?

Not to be to typical of the holiday week, but I have found that periodically taking inventory of the people (past and present), things, and opportunities that I am thankful for gives me a proper perspective of what life really is all about. Last night, Claire, Charlotte and I watched White Christmas together for a little bit, my favorite song is actually "Snow" but I was struck by the one that Bing Crosby sings to Rosemary Clooney when they encounter each other in the kitchen for a late night snack. "I count my blessings instead of sheep," my that's something I could do more of in my life. God has so richly blessed me with life, health, and salvation through the person and work of Jesus Christ! He has showered me with people whom I love and who love me, like my beautiful wife and beautiful daughters! That doesn't even include the fortunes of a great, although slightly dysfunctional at times, family. I couldn't forget the wonderful friends that I have particularly, my colleagues in ministry at FBC Statesboro and others involved in ministry at different places. Something I have become even more grateful for is the wonderful church family, especially my students and youth parents that are so incredibly gracious to my family and a blessing beyond words! Certainly I would be remiss without acknowledging the blessing of a home and at least one car that works!

What is it that you can thank God for today? This week? Next week? Each day?

To Love and Be Loved

I had a conversation this week, with someone I consider to be a friend although life finds us at vastly different stages of our faith and life journey. As he was sharing his thoughts about a few things he remarked that we (humans) have this innate desire to be loved and to love. Jesus reminded the religious expert what the sum of all existence was in Luke 10, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.  And love your neighbor as yourself." Mark Heard, a pioneer in Christian music said, "All she ever wanted was to love and be loved."

How are you and I doing with these two things in our individual lives? What about our churches? What about our small groups/Sunday school classes? What about in our marriages and our families?

Perhaps when we realize that the greatest thing we can experience in life is God's rapturous divine love, expressed most clearly in the cross and the empty tomb can we begin to live life as God intends for us to. To love our God and to love others...deeply!

Losing a Friend

This week I learned that a dear friend in Alabama passed away. Todd Chambers was the dad to two of my students at the church I served while Cyd and I were in seminary at Beeson. The Chambers family quickly became close to our hearts, partly because Todd was the College and Career Sunday school teacher, which was the class that we went to if we weren't teaching ourselves.

There are many things I remember about Todd...he loved to ride motorcycles, in fact he and Renee would go on weekend trips together just riding on their Harley-Davidson. Todd worked for Alabama Power, which meant he often got called out when there was severe weather in the area. I also remember his quiet, gentle style of leadership. He was an incredibly humble person, who always thought of others, especially his family and church family before he thought about himself. Todd was a gifted teacher, though he never really thought that himself. There are few teachers that I have sat under in Sunday school class that have made a significant impact on my life, but Todd Chambers was one of them. He wasn't flashy, but he studied, prayed, and prepared like he was speaking to 90,000 people at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. He was faithful to scripture and faithful to life. He didn't always know the answers to all of life's questions (and in my experience anyone who does is usually fooling themselves and others)but he genuinely believed that those answers could be found in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

One of the things about Todd's life that impacted me the most wasn't any of the things mentioned above...rather it was a deep love and affection for his wife, Renee and their two girls. Todd was a great source of wisdom for me in my own marriage and as I began those early days of fatherhood. The model that he set for others was truly a testimony to how he had grasped God's love for him and the necessity to pour that same love out into the lives of the people around him.

Cyd and I wanted desperately to try to make it back to Clanton for Todd's funeral but we just couldn't make our schedule and the girls schedule work. In fact, the Chambers were among the last people we spent time with at our home in Alabama before we moved to Statesboro. We still have pictures of all of us sitting around talking and playing with Claire in our den that pop up on the computer from time to time when the screen saver comes on the monitor. My mind has been utterly preoccupied with his family the past few days... I hurt for them and with them. Todd was a man who touched many, many lives for the sake of the Kingdom!

Todd, thank you for your friendship, your encouragement, and your example of a godly life, a godly husband, and a godly friend. You will be missed!

St. Patrick's Day in Savannah and Charlotte's Birthday

A Word About Blogs

If you peruse the whole site you might notice that I list other blogs that I think are worthy to be checked out by people who read my blog. All of these are people who I know, friends, collegues, etc. who write about their corner of the world and who offer me encouragement, the occassional laugh, and extend grace to me through their own writing. There is no limit to the number of blogs I could list that I read from time to time or subscribe to, but as much as those are informative and helpful for me and my journey, I enjoy knowing about people that I actually know and what's going on with them. All that to say that Allison Stroud, a long time friend started a new blog that I added to the list. Check it out here.

Hopefully you enjoy what I have to say...even if you don't always agree and you might find some hope for the journey from some of my friends!

Whirlwind Weekend

This weekend has been so busy. We went to see my mom on Friday night. We wanted to take her out to dinner, but she offered to keep the girls for Cyd and I to go on a date. We readily accepted her offer of a few hours without children. Cyd and I enjoyed each other and some good food at Olive Garden before heading back to mom's house to check on everyone. We visited for a little while and watched as Charlotte spilled not one, but two glasses of chocolate milk. We finally got everyone packed and loaded up to come home.

Claire had a birthday party to go to on Saturday, so in between setting up for the GSU tailgate we got the present wrapped and sent the girls off to the party. They then met me at Georgia Southern's RAC for our Student Ministry tailgate. We try to tailgate at two games a season. GSU football is a great part of living in Statesboro! Many of my students and their families attend the games and tailgate before the games, so it was fun to get to finally make it to a football game this year. Claire and Charlotte were dressed in GSU cheerleading uniforms, too cute! Unfortunately the rain showed up before I could get a great picture. I also got to catch up with two friends from high school at the game, two other dear friends that I haven't really talked to in a long time, and enjoyed the view from a skybox for a few minutes at the game.

Sunday of course is always a full day at our house. I heard two great sermons (Dr. John and Dr. Stewart) and was really encouraged by all of our youth Sunday school teachers!

While some in the house have been resting this afternoon, Claire has been talking non-stop while I have been trying to do some work in preparation for some different things coming up this week.

I'm so thankful for good times with my wonderful family and my great students!

Claire's Party

This and That

Rob Bell is the influential yet controversial pastor of Mars Hill in Michigan. His influence through his Nooma Video series and his books has been far reaching. Here is a link to a Christianity Today interview .

I also finished Run With The Horsemen last night. A wonderful contemporary southern novel. It has a similar feel to The Catcher in the Rye. A great read for the summer.

Cyd and I had some friends over for dinner last night. It was a wonderful time, even with two wild children running around at times! We enjoyed getting to catch up with them and reconnect. Tonight we have a Sunday school class fellowship that we are excited about. Hope you have a great weekend!

Charlotte's 1st St. Patrick's Day

It's almost 11pm on St. Patrick's Day 2009 and we have both girls in bed and Cyd is asleep in the den. What an exhausting day, but we had a blast! We got to see family old and new, as well as catch up with some old friends at the parade. Claire isn't a big fan of the loud bands and the swarm of people though, I think she gets that from Papa Ted. Mamanon's was the usual hotbed of excitement this year. My cousin, Brad brought his girlfriend, let's hope they don't break up after she saw his family:) Mamanon's friends are getting older and several regulars for this day have passed away in recent years. In fact, several commented that it was the first year in a while that the young crowd out-numbered the old crowd. By the way, 5 kids all under the age of 4 at 40th Street makes life very interesting! Cyd and I especially enjoyed getting to share in the revelry of the day with Ricky and Susan Allen, evidently we didn't scare them away last year when they joined us. I have lots of pictures but it may be a few days before they get uploaded. It certainly was a wonderful day for Charlotte's 1st Saint Patrick's Day! Charlotte turns 1 on Sunday, WOW!!

Theologian, Professor, Mentor, Friend

Over the summer I received a copy of a book published in honor of Fisher Humphreys upon his retirement from Beeson Divinity School. I eagerly dove in and have long finished the book but wanted to devout a little bit more time than usual for a post to talk about not just the book but the person behind the book. Theology in the Service of the Church is a book that captures the essence of who Fisher Humphreys is and the passion he has for the Christian faith. I first heard of Fisher from a dear friend and former professor, Buddy Shurden, when Cyd and I were investigating which seminary would be the best fit for us. Buddy took us to dinner and gave us some much needed counsel, all of which was wise of course about our future decisions. He did try to convince us to attend McAfee at Mercer, but we weren't convinced that was the best place for us. Buddy did tell us that Fisher Humphreys was the best living, Baptist theologian. High praise from such a student and expert in all things Baptist. At the time I had recently worked in small bookstore in Macon and I stumbled across the first edition of The Way We Were by Fisher. This introduction to a brilliant theologian fueled my growing curiosity for theology and especially of a Baptist variety.

I took4 courses with Fisher and instantly fell in love with Fisher's teaching and his genuine character. Over the course of our time in seminary, Fisher became more than a professor or a theologian to be admired from a distance, he became a mentor, helping to guide and shape my own pursuit of God. Most of all though, he became our friend! I don't think for a minute that the friendship is equally reciprocated, I have benefited more than I am sure he has from our relationship. Fisher is an incredible theologian who has a gift for making the most profound theological truth and make it readily available to the most non-theological minded person, perhaps that's why I like it so much!

Theology in the Service of the Church follows the same trajectory of Fisher's own work. The thing that stood out to me most, and I think is the most fitting thing considering Fisher's personality, is the expression of warmth, gentleness, and friendship by every contributor. Indeed, the one thing in common other than Christ, is the friendship given and received with Fisher. The contributors are eclectic at best. There are Baptists of different stripes (SBC and CBF), a Presbyterian minister, and a Catholic priest who all contributed. Perhaps the most telling thing about Fisher is that despite differences that he may have with someone, he doesn't allow those differences to be a source of contention.

In September, I was able to attend a conference in Birmingham for a few days. Fisher and I met for coffee at Starbucks and visited for about an hour, just catching up and enjoying each other's company. It was a time of refreshing for me in many ways. Fisher has taught me many things through his books, in the classroom, and through our friendship, but the greatest thing is the art of friendship. I am the first to admit that I am not the best about calling, writing, keeping in touch with friends from different stages of my life, but I do love and care for them immensely.

Living Unloved

I have been reading, experiencing, and contemplating numerous things in the last few weeks all with good intentions of sharing some thoughts here, but time hasn't been my friend lately. I have found myself using the few extra moments to soak up time with Claire and Charlotte, which is definitely a good thing. Perhaps this week I will have some time to catch up on my blogging. I did want to share one story that I read in e-mail preaching journal sent out by Walter B. Shurden, Minister at Large, Mercer University. Buddy Shurden was the chair of the Christianity department when Cyd and I were at Mercer. He holds a special place in our hearts as a teacher, a mentor, a pastor of sorts, and a friend. The following is actually his response to a section of The Shack. His thoughts on living unloved spoke to me when I opened the e-mail last week. I have already used a variation of it twice in preaching and teaching, it's that good!

Years ago when I was a very young pastor, I encountered a college student who had been sent my way “for counseling” by a member of my church who was also the dean of students at the local university. I know of no other way to describe the college student: she was a wreck of a human being.

For an hour I made absolutely no access to her soul. But as she grabbed the door handle to leave, I said, “Let me ask you one more question.” “Shoot,” she arrogantly shot back. In as pastoral a way as I knew how, I quietly asked, “Who loves you?” “That’s a stupid damn question,” she countered; “Why do you ask?” “Because,” I said, “My business is to tell people that they are loved.” I pressed the issue: “So tell me who loves you.” Long, long pause with obvious pain and then sadly: “My brother . . . maybe.”

When we live unloved lives we end up overreaching like Adam, lying like Eve, manipulating like Jacob, being fearful like Saul, living unbuttoned like David, amassing like Solomon, denying like Peter, boasting like Paul, and killing ourselves like Judas. Living unloved, we end up puking in alleys, bed-hopping, living self-destructive lives, buying till it hurts, climbing ladders made of others’ heads, building barns too big to live in, confusing ambition with vocation, hoarding rather than sharing, hating folk who don’t look like us, driving by Lazarus, and using rather than serving people. To tell the truth, we end up on trash heaps on the southwest corner of Jerusalem. They called it Gehenna. We call it Hell! We end up as waste, and we waste the only life given to us. That is hell: waste.

But here is the Good News: God is for you! God loves you! You don’t have to live your life hating yourself! To believe all of that is much harder for most people to believe than doctrines of the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, etc. God welcomes you! God accepts you! And Fred Craddock closed his sermon on this theme with: “Can you BELIEVE THAT?”

Powerful thoughts indeed!

So Long, Farewell

Sunday night we said goodbye to Kate Foil. She's not leaving Statesboro quite yet, but she is stepping down from her role as Assistant Student Minister at FBC Statesboro. I have been blessed to watch the past two years as Kate has invested in the lives of our students. Kate was a middle school student at a church I interned at during college. Her parents, David and Gina, were some of my Sunday school teachers in college. Kate, you will be missed! Thank you for allowing God to use you at FBC the last two years. May the Lord continue to guide your journey and bless you.

Summer Lovin'

Cyd and I had a dear friend who got married this past Saturday. Casie is one of those friends who holds a special place in our hearts even though we don't see her or talk to her that often. It was wonderful to see some other friends that we hadn't seen in a while on our trip to Augusta. Cyd and I were reminded about our own wedding and the love that we publicly proclaimed for each other 8 years ago. It's funny how going to weddings reminds you of your own marriage and the commitment that you made to your spouse. Marriage is such an important commitment that requires both spouses to decide to love each other and enter a covenant with God and each other that is sacred.

Casie and Graham, thanks for reminding us of our own commitment to God and each other as we got to be a part of yours. We love you and wish you all the best!!

Maverick and Goose

One of my favorite movies is Top Gun. I remember the first time I saw it like it was yesterday. My dad took me to see it in the movie theater. I remember being gripped by the larger-than-life images of fighter jets and macho guys like Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer with their ever cool names, Maverick and Iceman. The opening scene of that film depicts Cougar another pilot getting spooked in a combat situation and turning in his wings. He was supposedly the best pilot on the aircraft carrier. His comments to his commanding officer are insightful to me lately. He said something to the effect of I'm holding on too tight. I've lost the edge. Those sentences have taken on new meaning to me lately.

Don't we do that sometimes? Hold on too tight that is. We just honored 22 high school graduates at FBC Statesboro this Sunday. The danger for parents is always holding on too tight to their children. The role of parent is to nurture, encourage and support their child, but sometimes that support can become stifling. When we hold on so tight that they rebel or it pushes them away from us. Today, as Claire was climbing up the jungle gym at Mill Creek I realized that if I hold on too tight to these precious, younger years that I will miss the ones to come as she grows and develops. That isn't to say that we shouldn't enjoy each stage of development in our children, but if we are clinging too much to that one stage then we neglect the ones that are coming so rapidly at them and us. I realize that before I can blink my eyes twice Claire and Charlotte will be high school graduates, still I can't help but think that God has incredible things in store for them.

Doesn't that scene from Top Gun remind you that there are relationships that we can hold onto too tightly? Maybe a friendship that grows and changes and eventually the things that you held in common and that brought you together are no longer there. The danger is to hold on too tightly to how it was (certainly remember and treasure those memories) that we no longer can hold onto the edge. I'm learning in my own life what that looks like. It's not easy though. It's difficult to let your daughter climb the rings of the jungle gym with the possibility that she might fall flat on her face, bust her head open, get a leg caught, or break an arm, however that is the tension that must be there as my girls grow and mature. It must be there in friendships and relationships. It must be present in our faith as well. If all we can hold on to is the moment we became a believer in Christ and the first few weeks after that, then our faith has stagnated and soured, we have lost the edge because we failed to continue to grow in our relationship with Almighty God.

Relaxing my grip is not easy, but it is so necessary!

Olympic Trials

My friend Josh didn't make the Olympic team, but he said that he was really pleased with his performance this weekend at the U.S. Olympic Weightlifting trials. Josh is an incredible guy with big muscles, but an even bigger heart. Here is one picture of him from this weekend.

Conversations in the _________(you fill in the blank).

Have you ever been in a situation where you were trying to help someone or be there for someone, perhaps minister to someone in need or hurting, but found that you got more out of it than they might have. What I mean is you got as much out of the situation as the person you were attempting to help. That happened to me today...twice actually. The first was visiting someone in the hospital as they awaited possible surgery. The faith and trust evident in that person's life was amazing to say the least. It makes you think about how we get caught up with trivial things all day long, and lose sight of some of the most precious moments and ultimately miss glimpses of grace in our lives and the world around us. The second was one conversation in particular, but really several I had today, some brief, some not so brief, that reminded me how thankful I am to have those people in my life. Conversations shared in the midst of a hectic day, a noisy coffeehouse, through a phone as both parties are working on other things, and at the end of long day after getting children put to bed bring joy, hope, and peace. It's not necessarily the conversations themselves, but the relationships they represent that like the sunrise coming up on the lake on an early morning fishing trip, remind us of God's goodness and love. I am thankful for the conversations, the people they represent, and the God who makes it all make sense.