The Faith of Trees.

There's a field by my office where some of the last big trees in "Broken Arrow, OK" live. Tulsa's a big town as far as Oklahoma's concerned, but it's still small enough to not feel like you're actually in a big town. I wonder sometimes, if they know what they're doing? Did you ever see something not only stand , but reach up towards the sky as far as it could...tiptoes and everthing? Just a little more...a little more...

That's kind of a crazy statement when you think about it. (If I could reach the sky?) Can't we? Where does the sky start? If we were bugs looking up at humans, we'd be pretty saticfied to say that they touch the sky...or at least hang out there. If a bird fly's (no matter how close to the ground...) as long as he doesn't touch it, he's in the sky right?!

I suppose our feet touch the ground, but everything else (our hearts, hands, head, etc...) operate already touching a vastness that goes on forever. You know it's funny.... Even when I fall, some part of me is still touching the sky. Maybe that's why God made us the way he did? If the sky was the hand of God and the ground was the foundation of his love...(huh...) with that perspective, faith doesn't seem all that hard anymore.

Clarifying the Madness...

In my last blog, I was asking myself..."Am I?"...under the guise of something being wrong with that picture....


My buddy pointed out to me that we're constantly asking that question. "Steve, why is that a bad thing?" Well, it's not. I don't always say what I mean clearly. (that's obvious) I am famous for the whole... "What's that look like?"...question. If we don't ask, how will we ever grow? This particular "Am I" question (...as asked in-The Church in My Mirror) was not one I ask myself in response to growth...it's in response to truth. If I am a child of God...(I don't mean how good or bad, or to what degree...) I mean, if I believe it at all. My level of maturity, spiritual or otherwise is debatable. But if I believe that I am saved...if I believe that God is who He says He is...if I believe that I am his son...and that makes me part of the church...and that nothing can remove me from the hand of God....then why do I so often treat Him like it's a pipe dream?


You see...if I Am...then why doesn't the world see me (the church) differently? Why don't I look like I am the child of someone named Jesus? Lots of guys mentioned in the bible had struggles. (Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Israel, Joseph, David, Solomon, Bathsheba, Ruth, Mary, Jerimiah, Mary of Magdellah, Noah, Job, Peter, Paul, Thomas and so many others...) All of these people had issues, flaws, defects, failures, sins, mistakes, mess-ups, doubts, you name it...

No matter what they questioned, they didn't question that He was God and that they were his people. But their lives and the lives of those around them, still changed the world. (Even ours) At times, those people (like us) acted like total contradictions of his love. Yet when they failed, they knew whom they had to go to for restoration. They knew that they needed to be on their faces before Him. No matter their faults, it was their relationship with God and their love because of it, that defined them....so should mine (...shouldn't it?). Maybe it's more than just me...If it's not, let me know and we can just tell 'em to stear clear of the short guy...

The Church in My Mirror???

Standing in my bathroom staring in the mirror:
I can hear the saying...the local church is the hope of the world, and I believe that it should be. I believe that I should be. Father, I can't always match what I'm seeing in my mirror to that statement. I believe that you, Jesus are the hope of the world. I believe that the church (including me...) should be family of God...it should be me...the believer and my brothers and sisters. I am part of, what the bible calls, "the body of Christ". I am Your hands and feet, reaching out to a lost and dying world. Or am I? But then, that's really the question isn't it..."Am I?"

Remember your shepherd on the hillside....Moses? When he asked you who should he say sent him to the Hebrews, You said, "Tell them that "I Am" sent you." So if You are the "I Am", and I have to ask "I Am"...."Am I?"...Then some thing's wrong with this picture.

Being your church isn't about being perfect in every way. It's about You, God...perfectly loving me no matter who I am or what I've done. I am your child. (no matter my age) Children fall and get some bruises learning to walk. I should have expected that. Sorry Steve, nursing the scratches won't lead people to Christ. You don't have time to lick your wounds. There are those out there who don't know that they're your children yet. I have to tell them, show them, and love them. Brennen Manning said in his book, The Importance of Being Foolish - "The church must be Christ's love raised up to the poor."

I never been the best at it. But I'm trying...maybe if, tomorrow, I try again...I wonder what tomorrow could look like? So right now, in this moment and all other moments after it....(Galatians 5:6b) "The only thing that matters is faith expressing itself through love." I have a purpose! I have set out to see (in each knew moment) where this might find me. If I am really being your child...would I ever really need the word "missionary"?

Sand Castles

I wanted to continue the idea and thought about storms in our lives. I recently spent a week with the family at the beach. We spent most of our time on the beach building sand castles and riding waves. Steve and I had talked about a series I was writing called storms so this topic was fresh on my mind.
Cody, my 7 year ball of energy wanted to build a sand castle with a large hole in the center. We discussed or building plans and what this structure would look like. Once we decided on the structure then it was time to chose the location. This is the point when Cody and I started butting heads. I had more knowledge and experience in building castles on the beach, but that did not seems to influence Cody at all. I decided to let Cody have this battle.
So the construction began. When Cally or sweet 9 year saw us building she joined in with great joy. As we began to build, the plans grew larger and larger. Cally and Cody talked about how they would build a wall with the sand to hold back the water. We worked on the castle for at least two hours. This castle had tunnels,a wall surrounding it, and a hole that Cody felt good about hiding in. Two hours may not seem long but to a 9 year old and a 7 year old that was an all day job.
As we were building this thing I could not help but see myself in my two children. I know our father is here with us building families, careers, businesses, and so much more. I loved the time I spent with my kids building the castle. For me, it was not about the castle but about the time I spent with them in the process.
There was one huge design flaw. The castle was built in a location that when the tide came in, it would over take the castle. Cody and Cally did there best to try and stop the waves, but that was not enough. I knew this was going to happen from the time we made the first pile of sand. Was I wasting my time to help build something I knew would be destroyed? I would do it again tomorrow if I had the chance to spend with my kids.
You and I both know it is going to storm and the waves are coming in, so what are you going to do when the waves finally make it to your castle. I stood beside them and watched the waves piece by piece take the castle down. Should I have made them build in a better spot? What do your "sand castles" look like?
I want to leave you with A few verses:

24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."

During The Hard Rain...

Today I was listening to Casting Crowns (I Will Praise You In the Storm). I immediately began to reflect on the storms in my own life. Some more recent than others.... I know how difficult it is to simply trust that God's got a plan. Every once in a while things happen that don't look like they're anybodies plan! How do I trust God through that? Exactly how far away is God when I can barely hear him calling. During those brief moments when I can hear him..."it's still rainin..."

Where did he go? Why didn't he fix it...whatever it was? .....I don't know. But just like the song says, "you are who you are, no matter where I am.....I will praise you in the storm."

Years back I saw an interesting episode of OZ. (A prison drama on HBO)I've never been able to shake this. In it, a gang member had been lead to Jesus by a priest (the prison chaplain). The inmates girlfriend was about to have a baby. The priest got permission for him to go and see her...hopefully just prior to the birth. She's having the baby...he's on the way...and just before he walks into the hospital room, his son dies. The next scene is a few days later. The priest comes by to see the young man in his cell. The inmate says something like this..."I want to thank you father for showing me a better life and introducing me to God. I just have one question...Where was God when my son died?" The priest didn't miss a beat and said, "The same place he was when his son died."

Kussshhht!

One of my best friends in the world is a guy named Mark Stubbs. He and his family have been more to me than I could ever explain here. One of the verses that he taught me (early on) was Proverbs 27:17. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." But what does that mean? It means that you need someone in your life that is a little further along in their relationship with God than you are. (a little more wisdom & maturity) Someone with which you're building a best-friend realtionship. (Can you hear it?...Kusshht!) That someone is going to be there through anything, and you're going to do that for them. (Kusshht!) They aren't meeting with you periodically or just doing some kind of 8 week bible study...you're living life together. (Kusshht!) They know that they're not your personal "Jesus police". What they try to be, is someone who loves because they are loved.(Can you hear it?....Kusshht!) And knows that they're problably closer to where you are than any of us are to being like Jesus....so if we're going, we might as well go together. (Kusshht!)

You both experience a friendship and a bond that cannot be explained. You find yourself learning more about Jesus than could ever be put down in a lesson plan. The bible becomes a handbook for loving both God and your neighbor. You see it...you get it now...because you have the practicle example of your own relationship. You feel more and more aware of who Christ is every day. Everytime you get together you can hear the kusshhhht of iron against iron! ...and when you've forgotten that God was even there...(trust me, it happens...) it's that same sound that echos through your heart...and turns your head around.

That being said, what's it sound like when you & your friends get together?

Toler-a-tience....

Greg posted a blog the other day, (floating or swimming) and as always, forces me to engage and not just absorb. Greg asked me to consider my perspective. Perspective got me thinking about something I had to face recently. I was talking with a friend and telling him to be patient with a mutual acquaintence. He stressfully said that up til now he'd been tolorating him. Then he asked me, "What does that mean?" I told him that it was what Jesus does with me. He sees in me more than I see in myself. He sees that I can change, grow, ask forgiveness, and allow him to change my heart. Patience is standing, pecking on my shoulder and waiting for me to realize that my Daddy's right there. It would seem that patience is definitely a love thing. I realized that I was givin some great lip service, but that wasn't what my heart looked like in that same situation. My problem (I believe) was perspective. I wasn't being patient at all. I was tolerating. Websters says those two words are the same...but maybe websters' wrong? Tolerating someone is what I do when I HAVE TO ENDURE....whether it's work, play, or whatever...it's when I grin and bare it. (but would light you on fire if I had a match....) When people are in the weeds...they act like there in the weeds. Well, what'd I expect? Ducks typically act like ducks. But, that's not a love that waits for them to see it. That's not seeing what a different person he might be if he knew Jesus. That's not giving them a chance....it's writing them off. One could say it's the act of my heart and mind seeing them as the enemy instead of a prisoner, and demanding an abortion. When it comes to you....is it patience or toleratience?

Hey...What happened???

Post your story. God got to you or used you to get to someone else? What happened? Maybe you're working on someone or got totally disrepected while trying to be Jesus. (They're not all ready when you are...) We'd like to here about it....You may be checking this out and be really put off by the (so-called) christian you met.... Give me that to!

Who's Really There...???

I've shared a few things with you guys. Most of these things have been a product of some close relationships that God uses to grow me and them. But, this blog isn't for the churchy to be churchy somewhere else. Most people, when it comes to God (even the ones who profess to be followers) are stuck in the weeds. It's hard to see over the high grass.(take it from me...I'm 5ft 3.) If I'm really going to reach out to those around me...I've got to be willing to get in the weeds, to stretch out my hand. Am I living life in this loosly held religious fascade, or am I reaching through the high grass? If I can see the grass but I'm too far off to feel the blades. I may never know the joy of seeing someone be changed by Jesus Christ. When I'm standing by the weeds around my circle....do I know who's really there? If I can't answer that...then I need to look in the mirror...and ask the same question.

Painting...Rand McNally

Several years ago, one of my biggest struggles was that I wanted to see the... "down-the-road". I knew God had a plan and had called me to certain things, but I was childish and impatient. I desparately wanted to be livin my life according to whatever plan he had for me. The problem came in getting side tracked with asking Him to show me a little of that plan. I'm not talking about a vision that God wanted me to share and accomplish. I'm talking about where exactly to step. I didn't want just know about the bridges I was to cross, I wanted to know exactly when i would encounter them; what they'd look like and how to get past them. Unlike Abraham, who took a journey to only God-knew-where...based on a promise...
I wanted to promise I'd take the trip if he'd show me a little of the map. That doesn't sound like the canvas of a walk -by-faith...it sounds a little more like a paint-by-numbers. I had to learn (thanks Greg) that giving your life to God is not a stop at some cosmic gas station, to pick up your personnal Rand McNally map of life. It's an adventure and I have to trust that God's plan will come through. That's faith.

What'd he say that looked like?

You are so right Doug! Hopefully, when we wake up in the morning we can ask ourelves..."what's that gonna look like today?" I don't think people aren't put off by God, I think they're put off by me when I don't live what that looks like. Check out Isa. Chapter 58...then let me know what you think.

If I claim to follow God...am I live, or am I memorex?

The F-word.

Hopefully you've read some of this blog and know where that comes from. If after lookin around, the F in our name doesn't look like Freedom, Faith, Father, Fun, Ferver, Forward, or F-e-nomenal then hopefully you can see & exercise some Forgiveness. When I ask myself if I'm awake....these are some of the F-words I look for.

The biggest one I try to avoid is Fake. (I really wish judgemental and religious started with F)

...All the Numbers.

About a month ago I was taking my daughter (Kaylee) to school. By the way, she's just turned five. She asked me..."Daddy, what's the biggest number in the world? What do you think it is? Thinking really hard, she guessed..."69 GAGILLION!" As lovingly as I could, "...Now add one". I could see that the light was coming on. I felt proud and smart. Then just as I was about to apply to teach at the Sylva learning center...she turned...."Well, since I can't think of the biggest number in the world...I just love you all the numbers!" That is without equal...my greatest -I love you Daddy moment to date! I hope one day I can love you God, as much as she loves me. After all...you made all the numbers.

...The Right Questions?

If I asked you what love was...what words would you use to describe it? Would you try to recall what you heard someone else say? Would you give me an example of someone like mother Teresa, Gahndi, Mamma, or maybe Jesus? Would you describe their lives,...or something from the History Channel? The question could really be about anything. Most of us describe things, especially, attribes or admirable traits like that. Some people answer with "...well it's when you..." When we use words like this, it sounds like vague generalities. It's not personalized, and so not something we take personal. I used to be great at this. That kind of conversation kills the time, but doesn't change lives. Love changes lives! People don't want lectures or concepts when it comes to love. Love is not a concept! It's a verb...an action word. Love is not something you fall into, it's something you do! When you don't do it, it is not visible! Did you get that? That means that as far as you are concerned,(-as an example) you are not included. When Greg and I talk about stuff, the first and last question asked is always, "What's that look like? What did that look like in Jesus' life? What's that look like in my life" I want to ....OK. What's that look like? I want to be someone who reaches out to....OK. What's that look like? I want to reach all of the plates in my cabinets. OK. (Steve...without a ladder, that doesn't not look like you. Sorry.) You get the picture. Everyone that knows me, knows that phrase. They usually know when my answer should be...it doesn't look like me right now. God doesn't place his love or wisdom, just out of reach. Everything applies! All things are possible...If I'm giving each day to God, I have ask myself...what's that look like? If we are the hands and feet of the God of the universe...what's that look like?

Floating or Swimming?

I was chatting with a friend the other day about life in general. The question came up, "Does it seem like some people just float through life with no problems?". We asked each other, "Are you floating?". I have been thinking about those two questions for the past two days.

I had the chance to spend some time with my small group this past Saturday on Lake Lanier. One of the small group members has a house boat and invited the group to come hang out for the evening. The boat is very nice I might add. At one point in the evening the boat was drifting in a cove, while we were floating on life jackets. One of the guys floating was trying to get to the boat, but every time he swam toward the boat the boat would drift the other way. This went on for about 15 min. with all of us laughing a going on about how he should swim harder.

When I look back at what an awesome time we had on the boat that day I can't get the picture of my friend swimming for the boat out of my head. You know i feel like sometime I am swimming but getting nowhere. It seems that sometimes the harder I swim the futher away from security and rest and refuge of the boat I get. It gets trying swimming for the boat. Some people make swimming to the boat look easy.

Finally the driver of the boat yelled to my friend to just hangout and float he would swing the boat around and come pick him up. You may be seating on the boat watching others swim or you may be the one swimming which ever it is Jesus says hang out and float I'll come pick you up.

I want you to do a little exercise for me. This may seems silly but it works. Take your index finger and point toward the sky. Rotate your finger clock wise in a circle. Start to bring your finger down still rotating clockwise. Once your finger has reached your stomach look at which way it is turning. Yeah freeky, try it again if you want. What changed? Just think everytime you think someone may have it easy just try the finger trick and remember that perspective is everything.

I want to leave you with a verse I have been fighting with while I swim. Phil. 4 ¹¹Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be ^R)">(R)content in whatever circumstances I am.¹²I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going ^S)">(S)hungry, both of having abundance and ^T)">(T)suffering need.


Wake up you may be floating away from the boat and not know it.

Fire.

"Every great move of God can be traced back to one man on his knees." (-famous dead guy) Sorry I used to do a lot of high-school small groups. You' d be suprised how much longer you can keep a teens attention by dropin names without actually dropin a name. How do you know that it's from God? How do you know when your passionate about something... and that something is a passion that God put there? I can't tell you how God may speak to you. If we were really listening, I'm not sure that we could count all of the ways he speaks to us. What I can tell you is that passion is a fire. Have you ever started a fire? There are a lot of ways, but usually it done by getting on your knees and lighting something that burns easily...but needs continual feeding. When a passion (fire) in your life is truely from God it will have started on your knees. If your passion (fire) isn't from God, it will eventually burn out...and there's no telling what else it may take with it.

Jesus, if you'll teach him to count...

Thanks for checking this out! You won't be sorry. Oh, by my count, we've been friends for 12years Greg. Ha, ha. While his math skills may be lacking, Greg has a gift that shares God in the ways that you don't forget. My friends f statement may have been less than spiritual...but it was real. The reality is that we are all looking for something "real". We don't always know what it is and when the gift of God's love is presented...we refuse to believe that we're worthy of such a gift. God is shaking us...trying to wake us....Convinced we're dreaming, we just roll back over.

Waking up in Oklahoma

Coming home from work, I stopped by the pool to see my wife & daughter. I sat down and began talking to a guy who commented on my little girls fearlessness. (She really is...)Seeing me with her reminded him of his own children, living in Texas. Anyway, we talked for quite a while, and mostly about how God had created that relationship for she and I. 2 days later he showed up at my door with a bible in one hand & a unopened beer in the other. He had questions and needed some answers. He said he hadn't slept and after 10mins, I knew that he'd been all over that book. He had great questions and prefaced everything by repeating to me that I'd told him not to change anything , but to come and see what God would change. We each have lives capable of telling a great story. Coming to this place and these questions was part of his. My friend wasn't looking for religion, he was looking for something real...and was begining to believe that was God. "What does God have for a man like me? How do you begin to see God as a father instead of a fairytale?" He said he wasn't looking for a miralce like Moses, just something real. In case you don't know, he was refering to a shepherd who could have ruled Egypt but meet God on a mountain. He was shown a bush on fire...but the the bush was not consumed by the flames. If you ever stumbled past a sunday school, you've probably heard of the burning bush. "Moses was a great man, Steve. I just want something real..." He was ready to settle for mediocrity, as long as it included him. He didn't consider that maybe God would pursue him with the same vigor with which he pursued Moses. I told him that what made Moses great was not the burning bush, but that God said," I will be with you."(-Charles Stanley) The burning bush was just an attention-getter. " You mean...it's kind've like God saying, wake the "f@*#" up...right?"
Yep. Exactly. (granted, a little less colorful, but exactly...)I told him not to change a thing...and that was where he was. The bible often refers to those who are asleep. Jesus woke a guy named Lazarus, who'd been dead for 3 days. God woke Moses on a hillside to a life of service and freedom for an entire nation. He woke me, maybe just for a conversation with a stranger. Are you awake?

There is always a starting point.

I want to start by saying thanks for stopping by and maybe reading this post. I have a dear friend of mine who now lives in Oklahoma. This is one of those guys that when you hang out with him, he makes you want to be a better person. He and I have been friends now for about 10 years. this blog was created so he and I can share our stories with you about the people we meet and the thoughts we have about God, church, and lots of other things. The title of our blog comes from a guy Steve (my friend in Oklahoma) meet the other day at his community pool, I will let him tell the story. To all the folks out there wake the f up and look around the world is passing you by everyday.