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Down The Sendero
We are all called to do something in life. There are some in the Christian walk who talk in terms of being “called of God” when they make changes or adjustments in life. I’m not knocking that, just trying to explain this post. Most often a Christian is called of God to do something greater or bigger than what they were doing previously. For instance, a pastor may say that they were “called” to go to the bigger church. Or one might say “I followed God’s call to the new job – which pays more.” In my life I have followed God’s calling to new jobs, new churches. It seems that in each of these callings God had something to teach me or stretch me, or get my attention. This post is about a new call that I am answering.
In June of this year my family and I will be relocating to the small town of Charlotte, Texas. We’re moving in with my wife’s 91 year old grandmother. It has been a long dream of ours to move to Charlotte and make our home on the family ranch. That word ranch sounds fancy, but mostly it really means hard work, sweat, dust, and fighting South Texas brush.
Here is where the “calling” part comes into play. When I was 13 or so, I accepted God’s call to the ministry. I don’t think at that time I really knew what that meant, and still struggle with exactly what it means. So in the past few years I have thought long and hard and struggled, and this is what I have come up with.
When I took my beautiful bride’s hand in a fancy ceremony and said I do, I accepted the call to love and cherish her, to support her, and to be there for her in every way imaginable – physically, mentally, spiritually. Then a few years later my oldest son was born. At this time I took on the tremendous responsibility to raise a Godly son who would grow up in the truth of God’s word. He would need to learn to be a young man and then a man, and how to be a leader spiritually and in the real world. Then my youngest was born and that started over again.
Might I say that I have failed in life tremendously at these things. The past three years have been night and day different because I was open to what God would teach me, and I allowed God to “break me.” I have no doubt that that is not over and try to remain faithful to His guidance and discipline. I have learned so much in the past few years and there is so much more to learn.
All of that to say this: For me, I am answering God’s call to family. My only legacy. Might God prove me faithful as I raise a Godly family that loves and fears God. Might it be said of me “Well done good and faithful servant, you did not waste or squander what God gave you.”
Wednesday night in community group we discussed John 7:37. What a bold statement Christ would make about being the living water in the midst of a feast and ceremony that celebrated the future Messiah who would bring fertility to the land, freedom and salvation. The only problem was that Jesus didn’t meet the criteria of the Messiah, at least he didn’t fit the mold the Jewish leaders were looking for. Towards the end of chapter 7 in the book of John we find the religious leaders complaining about this. He wasn’t from Bethlehem, we don’t really know who he is, he doesn’t fit our mold. it’s interesting to me that the same thing happens today. As I have told many of you, I come with a tremendous background of religion. Unfortunately that has been more of a hindrance than benefit (there is some good tucked away in all that though). In my own life I have judged based on appearance, little fact, and very little investigation. I run into many people who have done this same thing. Some of them are proclaimed Christ followers, however, you must follow Christ by their rules and standards, and if you don’t – Shame on you. And I mean literally shame. They will hold you under the shame thumb until you break or go away, and it’s usually the latter. Some continue today to judge Christ on very little investigation. At some point in their life a Christ follower or groups of Christ followers “hurt” them. Or just maybe in their life, they haven’t found time to search or investigate because they are busy doing the only thing we as humans do well – building cisterns that don’t hold water (check out Jeremiah 2:13-14). I wanted to post here tonight to tell you about the joy in my heart as I watch people at our little church start – Sonterra Fellowship. I am so joyed to see men and women begin to investigate. In fact a few of them were at community group last night. There is something awesome about watching someone begin the search, and precept by precept come to an understanding of who Christ is and the change that He brings.
When you get a chance, check out Ezekiel 47:1-12. This is what Jesus was proclaiming. Briefly, it’s a passage about living water flowing from the temple and creating life in the Dead Sea. That’s what Christ brings to our life. Living Water that brings forth life out of a dry and parched land. This land is you. Will you drink up Christ?
It’s time to begin thinking about when and where we are going to take some shots at a few doves. We will be discussing a more detailed plan in the next few days. I just wanted to post this picture to get you excited. I’m not sure that we’ll find them this thick this year, but I have seen it like this in South Texas – but only once in the last 13 years.
Sunday was an incredible day at Sonterra Fellowship. Might I add that most of them have been very incredible. God is doing some amazing things at our church. I was challenged by Pastor Bill’s message about character, and I wanted to share a few thoughts that I had. God has taken me on a tremendous path over the last few years. There has been much pain and suffering – mostly inflicted by my own personal choices, but nonetheless they hurt. They hurt others as well. We looked at Romans 5:3-4, the word suffering really stood out to me. This is a word that I have often had a hard time figuring out. I have often tried to figure it out in biblical terms – let’s change that to “churchy terms.” You know those definitions of words that all have a positive and lovely answer. Suffering doesn’t. I have tried and tried to bend it and make it into some sort of missionary who because God has called him to the mission field suffers by not having A/C or Starbucks or Dr. Pepper. In a counseling session one day (yes – I have and do go to counseling, and if you have an issue with that you should probably go yourself) I went round and round about suffering in a different verse trying to make MY God out to be one who would not allow hardship or suffering to happen. You know that is the whole fallen man thing. Pain, sin, suffering, hardships all come about only because of sin right? They have nothing to do with God. At least that was my case, and I pushed really hard too because if there is one thing I am good at, it is justifying my inability. All that to say just this. I have no earthly idea why these things happen (pain, sin, suffering, hardships, death). Why would God allow such things. The very simple answer is the fallen state of man. Ok, I get that, but the ones around me as I made my choices that led to these things (pain, sin, suffering, hardships) Why should they also have to endure?
This is what I have found. These things happen (pain, sin, suffering, hardships, death). And they happen to the best of us, and sometimes because of our choices, and other times just because they happen. And guess what? I believe that God allows them to happen. WHAT? Not my God! This is where that trust thing comes into place. When life leads us to pain, sin, suffering, hardships, and death – that’s when God shows up in a very real way.
Here’s what the scripture says: “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; character, hope.”
Here is what God has shown me in some very, very dark and turbulent times:
The pursuit of Christ in suffering shows and builds your character – and this character produces a Godly hope, and Godly hope is salvation.
So what’s happening in your life?
Time for another get together. I know Spring has been busy for many of us. I appologize for the lack of post. i will sit down tonight or Tuesday night and put together the game plan for Shoot # 2. Start buying shells!
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19:40
OK, ok – it’s been almost a month without a post. I apologize. Life has been busy. Every time I get ready to post, something else comes up. You know what I’m talking about…and if you don’t your wife or girlfriend does because they have a list of stuff you haven’t done yet.
Confession Time -
I admit it, I watch American Idol, I even Tivo it so I can watch it when I get home from Matt’s baseball practice and community group on Wednesday nights. It’s sad I know, but I have admitted it and I feel much better. Believe it or not, this post is about American Idol. Tonight, in utter amazement, Karen and I watched as the contestants all together with a choir sang “Shout to The Lord.” It’s a song we have done a few times at Sonterra. It was written by Darlene Zschech from Hillsongs Austrailia and has awesome words. As we watched, I realized that here we were watching the most pitiful show in the world, which by the way is being viewed by MILLIONS and had just been on the previous night with all of Hollywood to raise 100 Million for charity. And now, they open with Shout to The Lord. It reminded me of Luke 19:40. Jesus tells the pharisees (as they complain about the loud crowd praising Jesus) that if the crowd keeps quiet, then the rocks will cry out. I couldn’t help but watch those “IDOLS” and wonder about my week at work and on the baseball field as a coach thinking, maybe…..just maybe tonight, the rocks cry out in my place.
So now that I have confessed that I watch Idol, and that I even was moved by a performance on an episode, I am going to go sharpen my knife, or clean a gun to regain my manhood.
I know it’s been forever, but I am planning a new post soon. Hang in there with me and keep checking back!
As you can see, it was very windy Saturday. These guys helped out by holding the chairs down! Actually these guys stepped up, knocked all their clays down, and then left the rest for us amateurs. I’m not really sure how you measure the success of the first ever Men of Courage skeet shoot, but I think it was very successful. Over 20 guys showed up to take part and just hang out as guys. No kids, no females, just men and shotguns (insert that sound Tim Allen makes on Home Improvement). Another way to figure success is this – We threw roughly 630 clays. If each man brought 6 boxes of shells, that’s 3000 shells. We roughly shot 4.7 shells per clay. Ok, so we need some more practice. We’ll do it again. Thanks to all who contributed, showed up and stayed late. I had a blast and look forward to doing it next month. Start prepping your wives and or girlfriends for your trip to South Texas in late September for the opening day of Dove season. I’m going and you’re welcome to come along. I’ll give details later!
Thanks Murphy for the photos!
Today we talked about Psalm 1 at Sonterra. I had previously encouraged you to take a look at it. It’s great stuff about plugging into God’s word and growing your roots deep. This morning I showed you the fake ficus tree. I believe we cover up our shortcomings and our struggles with sin with fake ficus trees in our life. Simply because to be real and authentic with life, would mean the possibility of letting someone know your deepest, darkest struggle. I encourage you to be real. Get into God’s word, and when you find out that you’ve fallen a few steps away from being the healthy real tree planted by the living water, quit covering that ground with the fake ficus life. Take a few steps back, confront your life and plug back into God’s word. It only takes one fire to burn away the fake plastic life and then your life will be laid bare for everyone to see. Day to day authenticity will eliminate the fake……. Let’s be REAL!
(If by chance you missed it this morning and none of this makes since, log onto Sonterra’s web page and listen to today’s talk)
The first ever Men Of Courage men’s ministry meeting is around the corner. Join us March 1st, 2008 at Sonterra Fellowship’s property on CR 313. We plan on starting around 3:00 PM and finishing up around dark or a little later. Whether or not you find your self an outdoorsman or not, please join us for a time to hangout as men with some BBQ and Skeet shooting. Don’t worry about shotguns or shells. Bring’em if you got them, we’ll have ‘em if you don’t. If you’re a man, you’re invited!
Saturday March 1st, 2008
3:00 pm – dark:30
Skeet
BBQ
Hangout time
