Play Nice

Acts 2:44
And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common.

The church would really like to live like this.
Problem is, the church tends to create a need and then ask everyone who attends to join in and support the common need.
I believe that needs come up without someone pointing them out saying, "Look we need to funnel our energy or money (or both) into the is area. God creates a common purpose and a common thought among believers.
There is such a thing as unity and purpose in the real-deal church of Jesus Christ.
I'm not talking about the professing church. The denominational group that meets at a certain time in a certain building. I'm talking about the free-flowing church made up of believers who belong to denominational churches. There is a unity that binds them together with others. I have several good brothers and sisters who belong to other denominations. When we get together, there is a common thought and vision that is given by God. We find out through our conversations that God is doing a work across the board that has a common destiny or purpose to it. Even though we may not have had contact or talked about  it, we find out that we have all been on the same page, so to speak, and have been following God's directives.

The big view in our country today is that "we have strength through out diversity." To me that is absurd. How do you gain strength through being separate and divided. There are calls to be tolerant of each other. That works fine until you declare your allegiance to Jesus and then your branded a right-wing radical extremist fundamentalist and about a gazillion other names. It is the Holy Spirit that lives in us that creates this common view, common purpose and common life that we all share.

In the true church of Jesus, when we declare that we have all things in common. We are declaring that our lives  (1.) are not our own. We are under the Lordship of Jesus and, as such, we are given to following his direction and his directives in our daily lives. No longer are we swayed by the darkness of addiction. We are free to pursue the life laid out for us by Jesus.  (2) we declare that the needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few (No..this isn't scripture...I stole it from STAR TREK II Wrath of Khan). It's no longer all about me, me, me. It's about Jesus.........my love for Him, my love of my neighbor based on how much I love myself. The hardest part of addiction is turning from a self-centered life to a life a giving away to others. But here in the giving is where we find the return from God. Whatever I possess, I can never truly out give God. He returns to me as fast as I give it away. Now that I've said that, please don't equate the "giving" with material things, or the receiving as to material possessions. God returns to us that which money cannot buy nor any man able to lay a price to.
Peace of  mind. Assurance of salvation. Contentment for today. The love of friends and family. Laughter. Healing. His Grace and mercy. The list can go on and on and on.

Having all things in common means that Jesus Christ is center to everything in our life.
He is Lord over my life.
He is the Savior and giver of salvation to me.
He my brother and calls me friend.
I am His child and sheep.
What more could I ask for?
Nothing.

God on you....
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I'm An Immigrant To The Culture

Before you get into the heart of this posting, you need to realize that I am not an angry man or one of those people (it's always "those People" that are the problem isn't it?) who are anti technology. In other words, I'm not against gadgets and widgets. At the same time, my life is pretty simple so I really don't feel the need for gadgets. I have a phone, but I use it ..........(Gasp!) as a phone. Nothing more.
I don't do texts...
I don't play games....
I don't download mp3's onto my phone.
I call people....
They call me back.
Sometimes people try to text me and when I don't respond they become angry (well, maybe angry isn't the right word........how 'bout perturbed).
They will call and say, "Yo...I texted you. You're suppose to answer me back."
Sorry I don't text.
Then I receive a 10 minute speech of how I need to move into the 21st century.
I need to be current in my technology because life is passing me by.
Really?
I don't feel passed by.
I feel content. I am confident that I possess the place God desires me to be in.
I haven't missed anything....
That is beauty of being content.
Today is the best day you've had so far. It doesn't mean your satisfied, it simply means, "I'm o.k. with this day."

A cleaver man I know (Yes...it's you Jim!) once made the comment in a message he was giving one Sunday that "If you are over 50 then you are no longer a current member of the present day culture. You are considered to be an immigrant. You are here but you really don't belong." Now when I first heard this, I was mad as a wet worm. How dare you call me an immigrant. But you know what? He was right.
The idea of not being a citizen to the culture, but rather an immigrant, meant that I was old and that my time had come and was on the wane (so to speak.) You know what? That is true with any generation. We all have a moment in the sun where our very existence seems to matter and has purpose. Slowly as the years add up, we are moved to a new location in this culture. A place where our voices don't carry as much weight as they once did.

I guess the good thing in all of this is that God isn't really concerned with culture (At least not as much as many would have Him be.) He is more concerned with willing heart and I don't see an age limit place on hearts who are true to Him either.
Realizing this truth, it has served me well over these many years since that message of being an immagrant offended me.
I no longer have to race around for the perceived "next best thing" God is doing. I remember that last year a series of meetings were being held at a local church, and the expectations were humongous for God to show up. One of the people involved came to me and asked if I were going to attend. "Naw...I don't think so." This really shocked this person and they could not grasp why I would not want to be a part of such an event. I smiled and said, "God hasn't told me that I really needed to be there." I blessed them and prayed for them, but I wasn't released to go and be a part. "But it's God....He's going to some really cool stuff!" This person replied. "Good, I'm glad. Go be blessed and enjoy every minute of it." They simply could not fathom the fact that I was not going because God had not released me to do so.
I found out a long time ago, we get mixed up in things that God hasn't really gave us permission to participate with. I have to be very careful to always seek out God's approval and release for me to go and participate in meetings, events and groups. Early on in the days of our recovery meeting at the Vineyard, I grew discouraged because of the number of people who called Vineyard home didn't seem to have a heart for working with those in addiction. I could not understand why they didn't want to come and pray and love and listen to these folks who were trying to get their lives straight.  God, in his wisdom and love, answered my prayer by saying..."I didn't call all those other people....I called you." So really ever since that time, I have been very loving toward others who want me to  join their cause.
I found out that if God has called you to a work, He will supply everything you need (including people) to help you succeed. Isn't that just like God?

So I'm very content to live out my days at the pace God set for me.
I'll use my antiquated phone that only allows me to call others and talk "voice to voice".
I'll put my hands to the plow for the part of God's kingdom that has been given to me.
I bless the new and improved parts of God's kingdom where the rivers are flowing and the Spirit is moving. I will till the soil He has told me to place my plow in.
God is good like this, isn't He?

God on you....
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Why?

This week begins a new page for me at Rapha.
I have taken over the daily teaching duties.
Our program is a 6 month program that has, for the first 7 weeks, an intensive class room course that each man must go through.
Since I first came to Rapha back in 1998, I have done various teachings and classes, but starting this week, I moved into the full time teacher.
What's even more exciting for me is that we have returned to our old curriculum Conquering Chemical Dependency which is a Christ centered 12 Step look at recovery.

The teaching is where God plants the seeds of truth in each man. There aren't many things that I truly know, but I know this......the seed we plant at Rapha is good seed. It produces fruit in the lives of those who come through the program. It may not produce while they are at Rapha, but somewhere down the line, there is remembrance of things that were said, prayers that were prayed and things that happened. It causes a man to turn back to God.

II Timothy 2: 25-26 reads: They should gently teach those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will believe the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the Devil's trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
Here again we see the workings of God's kingdom.
It is predicated on truth. Not a relative truth that seems to permeate our society, but rather the divine truth that comes down from above. Truth that exists to guide and correct, lovingly turning the hearts of sinners to God.

I don't lay claims to having all the truth. I have and understand some truth.
Jesus is Lord.
Only the blood of Jesus can destroy the presence of sin, the power of sin and the penalty of sin.

Time moves ever quickly to confirm the truth of Scripture. We truly are in the last days or, as John Wimber use to say, "We are laster than we've ever been."

The same Holy Ghost that raised Jesus from the dead, now resides in me to bring about God's will in my life.

There is no hole or pit so deep that God is not deeper still (Thank you Corrie Ten Boom for saying this).
Not even the pit of addiction.

Daily I am thankful that God has allowed me to be a part of Rapha. To be able to watch His hand touch and heal those who the world had given up on and tossed onto the garbage heap of humanity. To take from that pile and clean up, love and place His Spirit inside, giving them new life.

We serve a good God....
Amen?
Amen!

God on you....
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Lay-Burr Day!

Is it just me.......
or do you find it strange that we celebrate "WORK" by taking a day off.
Seems like we would celebrate work by maybe......working a double shift.
Or
working for free. Nah! That would never catch on.
Anyway, I am taking the day of from posting anything that might be worth reading.
We will grill huge portions of meat this afternoon.....
Watch football....
and, in general, just be slug-a-beds.

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Psalm 119:1-11

Step # 11
We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contacts with God, praying only for knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out.

There are a heap of nay-sayers out there who love to hate on the Twelve Steps.
They have every reason why it doesn't work.
Why it's supposedly a bunch of hooey-balooey.
But how can you argue with someone whose life reflects the goodness of God through the salvation they received from following these 12 steps?
Seems to me that a person with an experience will beat a person with an argument every time.

Psalms 119:3 reads: They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.
Imagine that.
Someone who was once trapped in sin that manifested itself through addiction now is not compromising with evil. Has nothing to do with evil. Shuns evil. Lives for God not just through words, but deeds. Deeds steeped in faith. Deeds that come because of a heart change and not an intellectual decision.

I like Step # 11 in that we are asking God for direction and, when it is shown to us, the power to walk it out to the fullest. Not half-steppers here. It is all in for this new way of doing business with the world.

In Verse 11 we read: I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
How can I hide the word unless I know the word?
It is important that we read the Bible....Study the Bible.....Get it all down in us. Memorize verses.
Let the Bible become as much a part of our recovery (if not more) as the steps are.
The Bible is truth, and I have found that I flourish when I am surrounded by it rather than the darkness addiction brought.
If you read in Matthew 4, the story of Jesus' wilderness temptation, you'll read where the devil came to tempt Jesus. With each temptation, Jesus countered with Scripture. It wasn't a big "who-is-the-most-powerful" type of fight. Jesus simply "out-truthed" the devil. Amazing how powerful the truth is, especially when it is the truth of God.

Think on these things........
God on you.......

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1986 - 1989

Three years I spent with a group, a band, named HIS BAND. Started out calling ourselves "Sons & Brothers." Every time we played, people would ask, "Which one are sons and which one are brothers?" They didn't get the subtle message that we were sons of God and brothers to each other, hence the move to HIS BAND.

Billy Anderson played Keyboards, guitar and vocals. Truly as talented an individual as I have ever met. Billy was the unofficial spokesman and leader of our band.
Devan Jackson also played keyboard and guitar along with singing. Devan and Billy co-wrote several of our songs we played. This was the first group I had ever been a part of that wrote their own material. There was such a diverse sound that came from HIS BAND. Blues......Rock......Really good ballads and love songs to Jesus. Being a part of this group brought me into the song writing circle. I had tried my hand at writing and wasn't very good at it, but felt the desire to make a real effort. I think eventually we wound up playing about 5 or 6 of the songs I had written. I listen to the tapes and some of the music is really 1980's sounding, while others still hold up today.

David (the snake) Tucker played bass. And could David Tucker play bass or what? He was incredible. Just for the record we gave him the nick name "the snake" simply because we liked the sound of it. David was never really crazy about it when we would introduce him that way. Talk about laying down a groove or bottom, Dave was Mr. Bass man. He is, without a doubt, the best bass player I have played with lo these 46 years of my musical whimsery (is that a word? Well, it is now). We even thought changing the name of the group to Captain Dave and his Renengade Riders of The Dessert Night!
Catchy huh? We went through all sort of names.............Chrome Dog Bone..... Unborn Linoleum....Poo Nanny and the Barn Stormers. Not really, these are names I made up for bands that I never played in. Confused yet?

The main purpose or calling that we felt as a band, was to take the music into places that did not have an opportunity to see or hear Contemporary bands. Small churches and fellowships seem to be the focus of where God was directing us. We began to travel all over the state and into part of Florida as one group told another about us. Funny thing is all of this, we never charged anyone for us to come. We didn't even ask for a love offereing. We simply went knowing that we would be the beneficiary of God's grace and love. We never had visions of grandeaur or fame. We simply wanted to play and share Jesus with whomever would listen. We had no false pretense about our ability or considered ourselves to be a great band. We were just four guys who loved Jesus and music. Put the two together and that was His Band.

For the record, my good friend, David Finlayson, designed the card you see at the top for us. Always the consumate artist, David is hero. David writes songs on a scale that boggles the mind. After my days with His Band were over, I found myself connected to David playing under the name DREAMER. I could go on and on about who I've played with and such, but I won't. Suffice it to say that here, today, September 2, 2011, God still continues to pour out the gift of music and worship to me. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I'd still be playing today. Each time I get to strap on my guitar and join in worship unto God.................well, it just doesn't get any better than this.

Thanks for letting me wander through memories for a while...

God on you....

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39 And Counting!

There she is.
The first face that I see every morning.....
Hers is the last voice I hear before I go to sleep.
My wife.
Today we celebrate 39 years of marriage.
We spent this morning talking over coffee about the years we have been together.
She still doesn't believe that I feel in love with her the first time I ever saw her.
She said it was hormones or infatuation.
I said, "Nope! It was LUV!"

I still can't wrap my head around the "39 years" part. That sounds so long and people who have that many years together should be old. In some ways we are old (or at least...Older). In other ways, it feels like we are just now hitting our stride in knowing each other.
I can truly say that I have been well loved by her, and she by me.
There isn't a day that passes that we don't share a laugh together. Actually it's my life's goal to make her laugh at least once a day. So far so good.

Vicki is more than just my wife.
She is my best-est friend.
I'd rather be with her than anyone else I know.
There is a comfort that we have kindled in our relationship with each other.
A comfort that allows us to be in a room together and not feel like we have to fill up the air with conversation.
She can speak to me with her eyes in a way that words never could.
Her smile...
Even the way she says my name is unlike any other person I know.
I have been truly blessed to be married to this incredible lady.
So here's to Tall Boy Vegetable soup......
Bacon, Lettuce and tomato sandwiches......
Not knowing how to burp......
Smelling something electrical that might or might not be on fire.
To 4-way stops and counting, "One, Two, Three, my turn!"
To "Something" by the Beatles.....
Ralphie......
and many other memories that have become a part of our life and language....
I love you Vicki.....

God on you.....
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