Being on the "A" Team

Mark 16: 15   He said to them, "Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people. 

Here’s a memory from the past that continues to impact me today.  Lynnette and I were at the Ocala movie theater and as we sat waiting for the movie to start, memories began flooding through my mind. It was not the movie we were watching but instead it was recalling the excitement of seeing this theater become a church. When I first discovered The Church at the Springs, they were preparing to become “portable”. In fact, the first time I attended was the first day they held services at the Hollywood 16 Theater. Imagine sitting in a rocking chair seat with my Diet Coke to give praise, worship, and learn a life lesson. It was a great new experience. At first it was great getting to know the Lord again but at a movie theater?   Yet it was not very long before I couldn’t be just a spectator.

Waiting for the movie to start I remembered the “A Team”? This was a group of people who helped each week by opening storage crates, setting up equipment, running the power lines, practicing with video and slides, previewing the music, arranging the toys in other sections of the theater, setting up tables in the entry way, and preparing the literature for distribution.

Then I thought about the greeters! Those were the people who gave the first impression of our church to visitors. The most exciting task of the day was sometimes the 15 to 30 minute breakdown after church was over. The theater opened for regular business by noon, so if the Pastor talked too long, the “A Team” became the “Super A Team” by getting everything packed, cleaned, and hauled off to storage before they opened.

 Funny how waiting on a movie to begin can bring back wonderful memories of a church family united for one purpose. Reaching those far from God!  We need to remember that our purpose of reaching those far from God has not changed over the years. The reality is that there are numerous “A Teams” at work each day. They may not be called that but they are all focused on the same goal.

Just as it was back in 1998! No matter where you may be located in the world, you have the obligation to do what Jesus tells us in Mark 16. Not every situation will be the same because the needs of people are different so we just need to find out what it is that we can do to encourage people to have a personal relationship with the Lord.

We will find that for most people it can be just meeting their needs and to share with them that God really loves them, no matter what they have done. The most important part is to not limit where and how God works. You never know, you may even find God in a movie theater.

Do not sit on the sidelines any more but get on the “A” Team and give your life away.  It will be the greatest memory you’ll ever know! 

Peace Shaken

Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ . . . Romans 5:1

 

Each Saturday for  twenty some weeks in 2004 we have entered our home under construction and had known the peace and security that is part of a gated community.   But this week as we walked around the house, something was different. Something was missing. 

First it was that the door to the bathroom was gone. Looking around again we saw a closet door was missing. Upstairs another closet door and bathroom door were taken right off their hinges. Now I was getting concerned. 

Peace was gone and then a sense of invasion enveloped all my thoughts. Looking further I noticed a weed whip was not to be found. This was serious. Our search everywhere brought more puzzlement to us. There was no sign of a break-in. Some very expensive tools were still there, in plain sight while others were gone. Why just these doors and a select number of other items?   All other doors were still in place. The plumber knew the doors were there just a couple of days earlier and the only time he left the house was during lunch.  IN an area we thought was secure, we were violated.

We have no idea what has happened, but I immediately installed dead bolt locks to give us more protection. Some of the peace that was there just a week earlier is now filled with apprehension. 

What doors do we have in place in our lives that can give us a false sense of peace? Some may be physical or emotional doors that keep people out. We believe we are at peace. No one can bother us. Satan has other ideas for our lives. Just when we think we have a wonderful peace in our life, he steals the doors that protect us and we are exposed to the potential dangers near us. 

An old friend of mine once said, “When life is peaceful and everything is wonderful in your walk with the Lord, watch out! Satan will always try and stop you from being close to the Lord.” Where are you on your journey? If you are at peace with everything and have a great daily relationship with the Lord, be on guard. Satan may be ready to shake your peace. Just focus on the Lord more during those times and He will lift you up. Higher than you have ever been before.

Walking on Water

Matthew 14: 28-30 “Lord, if it’s you, “ Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  “Come,” Jesus replied.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord save me!”

Directing a Christian camp for students was a great experience and gave me an opportunity to stay young through interacting with the teachers and leaders each week.  The facility had a ¾ - acre lake located next to our dining area and evening campfires and worship sessions were held on its shore.

This lake was a little different because it had been rebuilt to twice its original size.  There was a concrete dam about four feet wide across one end when the lake was first built.  But with the lake being doubled in size, the new dam which was built increased the water table about three feet higher than the original dam.

One evening the dean decided that he would portray Jesus by walking on the water. The heat of summer had lowered the water table so the top of the dam was only about four inches under the water. With three hundred junior high students gathered around the shoreline campfire, the dean, dressed like Jesus, walked out on the water.  The students were amazed to say the least.  As he spoke to them he casually continued to walk across the lake. However, in his lack of concentration he forgot about the “gap” in the dam.  That gap was cut to allow fish to move from one side of the lake to the other.

As a “wet Jesus” took his place in front of the campfire, the staff couldn’t help but laugh quietly in the back of the crowd. He had taken on the appearance of Jesus, but he too had lost his focus. 

  

Sometimes we become very active in our church, and often give our time and money to its work.  We may even help those in need in a variety of ways.  But in our desire to do “religious” things, we lose sight of our relationship to Jesus, the giver of grace.  We take our eyes off of Him and busy ourselves with doing what we think He wants us to do.  It is then that we fall into the water of troubles.

 

Walking on water requires faith and focusing solely on Him. Otherwise, you will just end up all wet.  It's great to be busy and religious but don't lose your focus on the relationship.

What to Look For

All the events around  four torn and  a detached retina has made interesting conversation,  The very first question I get is how did it happen.  Well a light blow on the head  can be as bad as a car accident  when it comes to a detached retina.  A standing compressor that falls over and taps you on the head was all it took.  But that is not the story. 

People want to know, "How did you know to go to the doctor?"  It took about four days for the first symptoms to surface.  First was the small black dots like the floaters in your eyes began moving around in my sight.  I thought hum but discounted  any issue.  Then the next day I had a film develop over the vision of the right eye.  My thought was, "Maybe I should see our eye doctor?"  So we made an appointment for the next evening.   Then I woke up the next morning and saw a dark semi circle in the bottom of my vision.  It was a black circle and restricted my lower vision.  We went to the doctor and they said you have to see a specialist immediately.  So the next morning we were off to the specialist.   The doctor took a long look at the eye and said you need to have surgery.  Then he said, "Tonight!"    Now I was concerned.

So with the black oval moving higher into my vision, I was ready for surgery.  The night I went into surgery and that was an adventure.

First they numb the entire eye area and I was asleep for less than a minute during that time.  Next I was  awake and staring into a bright light.  As I told Jason, the nurse, it was like a was watching the intro to the show, "The Outer Limits" where an eyeball approaches and you see all the blood vessels in the eye except I knew it was MY eye.  Now a tube enters from the right and I see all the floaters that I had had for years being sucked out through the tube.  While the tube is still there I see another instrument enter the eye and see a little red spark and heard a sound.  The doctor noted that he was cauterizing the tears.  I relaxed as the zaps continued.  

Now that instrument is pulled out of my eye and enters another one.  Then I hear the doctors say, "Laser at 150".  I was waiting for him to say, "Clear" (like on a cardiac patient)  but  it never got that far.  I then saw a green light flash throughout my eye several times.  Then the doctors asked for 200 and then the light turns yellow as the doctor worked.  Finally he said, "250 should do it".  Now the light turned orange which was appropriate since I was at the University of Tennessee hospital.

When that instrument was retracted, another one entered and the vision area and light went darker as he inserted a gas bubble in front of the retina so it would hold the retina in place for healing.  After three hours in recovery with my head facing down, we were headed home about 1:30 in the morning.

I tell you all this so you can know the warning signs of a serious eye problem.  We are only given our two eyes and so if you encounter anything like what I describe at the top, see a specialist immediately.  

Next do not be afraid of the surgery experience even though you are awake the entire time.   People think I am strange when I said that I enjoyed the experience because I was afforded the opportunity to seeing the master of eye surgery in action.  I believe the Lord uses these specialists to help save your sight.  Appreciate their talent and do not be afraid.  Do not be stubborn and have the beauty you see around you taken away. 

Even though the gas bubble is going away and my full sight is not back, I look at the leaves turning and the beginning of fall with more appreciation than I have ever before.    Look around you and thank the Lord for seeing all the beautiful colors.  Sight is His gift to you!  Thank HIM!

I'm Not That Important!

Matthew 5: 13-16   "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.  "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.  If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand.  Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.(The Message)

  

It all began with a two hour drive to the top of the mountain to see a clear sunset.   When you are starting the journey at sea level and rising to 13,970 to the top of Mauna Kea Summit, the 360 degree view is beyond your imagination.

Just watching the sun set for the evening above all the clouds gives you a feeling of awe that the Lord concludes each day with a beautiful sunset.  Even when we can’t see it.

Then as dusk turns into twilight we saw our first stars.  The guide told us we needed to move to a lower elevation before watching the stars.  The air was a little thin at the top and turning your head upward could cause you to lose your balance and end up on the ground.

At 9,000 feet the sky was extremely clear and the mountains shielded reflective light from cities forty miles away.

As I turned my head skyward, I could not believe all the stars, planets, satellites, and falling meteors that literally filled the sky.  Our guide noted one star that blew up fourteen years ago and yet we are still seeing the light from that one star today.

The next hour brought tears to my eyes.  The Lord created everything that was in the sky and yet He created our solar system, Earth, and the place we call home.  Then it hit me…He created ME!  Then I wondered, why?

I searched my heart to quietly reflect on the wonder of life which I so often take for granted.

My mind thinks the reality of life is that I am just a speck in God’s universe and cannot be important.  Yet, in His whisper of the night sky, God reminds me of how important I am.

When we feel so defeated or insignificant in life, we should look around and understand that God NEVER makes a mistake.  You were born with a divine purpose and are here today for the purpose noted in today’s verses. 

You are so important that our God, the Creator, sent His son from heaven just for YOU!  No matter what age you might be, there is an important task that the Lord STILL has for your life.

If you stare up watching the stars you may think, like me, you are not important.  If you bow your head and get down on your knees you will then understand how important you really are to Him and everyone you touch in life.