In this season I have recognized a pattern in me that I have also seen in others and in many Scriptural stories. I’d like to share it with you.

The Dream Process from Andy Addis on Vimeo.

Here’s the process…

1. God plants a dream in you

2. Hope is you believing in what is yet unseen, and you go public with the dream

3. Faith gets you through the hard times as you trust the arm of the Lord is not too short

4. Reality comes when the dream arrives

Don’t bailout in any part of this process! Its too important to give up.

Numbers 11:23 The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”

Isaiah 59:1 Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

Isaiah 50:2 When I came, why was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Was my arm too short to ransom you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you?

Many think that because I am a public speaker and a leader that that I am a bold individual. They assume the stage persona that delivers the weekly message is the same guy wandering around my house.

Well, I hope I am the same kind of man with the same kind of character both in and out of the spotlight. But, truthfully, my persona on stage is not the same as it is when “the switch is off.”

That’s why it always cracks me up to have people say to my wife, “Wow, it must be a real blessing to be married to him. You’re probably laughing all the time!”

Her response is usually a very dry, “Yeah… he’s a real riot.”

In fact, one of the secrets to my message/sermon preparation is that 90% of the lessons I teach, I am delivering to myself. I feel them because I need them.

So, what about this confession I need to make?

I am not as bold as I want to be, or even as I should be. Often, I am afraid to take risk.

In fact, all through junior high… and high school… and college… I guess my whole life… I never asked a girl out. At least not the first ask.

Way too afraid of rejection!

Consequently, I didn’t date very much and you may be wondering how I ever got married. Just let me say arranged marriages are wonderful!

Just kidding. My parents could never have afforded the dowry on Kathy.

In our history Kathy asked me out first (lunch at Long John Silvers, we’ve always been classy), Kathy kissed me first (extremely romantic and no, you can’t know anymore than that), but she did draw the line at the marriage proposal. Apparently, that was my job.

Even then, after years of friendship and dating, and knowing this was God’s woman for me, I was still chicken.

I took several dry runs in the month or two preceding our engagement asking questions like, “So, if I were to ask you to marry me, what would you say?”

Ah, I can still remember the love and pity in her eye each time I’d ask.

I think I made up for it though when I finally did ask, it was in front of her whole family (all 97 million of them) at the annual Oklahoma Christmas gathering.

She was impressed. And, my thought was, “She can’t say no there!”

What is it about the vast majority of us that we struggle to take the necessary risks that make life worth living? Not stupid risks, or risks for the sake of risk, but risk that is pointed in the right direction with a real chance of getting us where we need to go.

The best stuff in my life has come from those white-knuckled moments, griping the railing while your stomach does flip flops and your mind races faster than words can express just before the jump.

• Risking marriage when both of us came from broken homes and the success of marriage was highly questionable.
• Risking career when I switched from journalism to ministry and all of the rolled eyes that told me I was crazy and it was just a phase.
• Risking everything from financial hardship to decades of stress to potential heartbreak as we decided to become parents.

All of these were terrifying at the on set, but after taking the leap, I cannot imagine my life without these and a thousand other necessary risks.

I was challenged by this fact again at a conference I attend annual called The Creative Church Conference (C3). Although there were a hundred moments of potential life change, there was one in particular that I could not shake, and I really don’t want to.

Dr. Sam Chand spoke on the 7 areas of capacity we have to enlarge if we want to get out of ourspiritual, mental and emotional ruts. We literally have to work on expanding our capacity for these seven things, if we are going to have the capacity to do anything of consequence.

I don’t have the time, space or desire to completely rob Dr. Chand of his material, to discuss all seven areas, but the one that really hit me… you guessed it: risk capacity.

Leaders (and I would say anyone who wants to be a liver – not a bodily organ, but someone who wants to live) have got to intentionally increase their risk capacity.

How many times have I second-guessed myself, my friends and co-laborers and even my God because I feared rejection, failure or embarrassment? Worse, how many times have I missed the greatest of opportunities, or wasted some serious mileage by circling the airport instead of taking it in and landing that sucker?

I’ve already seen that the greatest things I have in my life have come from risky decisions, so, why wouldn’t I want to increase my risk capacity? When I do, I increase my capacity to be blessed, move quickly, take new ground and do something with the few years I’ve been given!

Dr Chand said, “If you’re 100% sure, you’re already too late. Go play in traffic!”

When he said those words I felt a fire in my bones. I could look back in the last year or two and see several places where as a pastor I have let my risk capacity shrink to a debilitating place.

Our church has grown from 140 to 1,700+ in seven years and moved from one campus to a multisite ministry with six campuses in five cities. It’s been awesome, but here we sit 6 weeks before Easter with a huge problem.

We’re looking at the biggest number in the history of our church headed our way, and we don’t have anywhere to put them. We’ve known about it for months and have talked, prayed, studied, reported and done nothing.

I feel like a scientist standing on the beach watching a tsunami come in while looking back at the crowd around me only to say, “See, I told you we were all going to die.”

Thanks Captain Helpful. Why don’t you take your sidekick Boy Obvious and come up with another brilliant statement of utter fact.

I can pinpoint at least two times in the last year that we should have taken the risk. But, we didn’t want to offend, move to quickly, not be smart, or… take a chance.

Man, I sure hope God gives us another, chance that is. I am so ready to take it.

Dr. Chand said, “Aim, Aim, Aim… pull the trigger man!”

I’m ready, are you?

The Bible is replete with stories of God’s blessing being poured out on those who take risks, or are limited by the too-small capacities of those receiving it.

• Luke 5 – the miraculous catch of fish was awesome, but the nets broke and the boats were sinking. There were a lot more fish in the ocean, but these guys were at their capacity.
• John 4 – the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. It’s not about the harvest; it is about the capacity of the harvester.
• Isaiah 54 – “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 54:2–3.

Dear God, may You forgive us for the times we looked at the wind and waves when we could have been walking on water. And whether its in our career, our ministry or our personal life, please help us to increase our risk capacity so that we may see more of You in us.! Help us to say yes to the things You’d have us say yes to when everything inside of us is screaming no. In Jesus name!

I am hopeful that God’s hand of blessing will not have to leave our faith community because we/I lacked the courage to follow God in the past year or two. I am hopeful that He is still waiting for us feel our heart race, our hair raise and for us to leap into the uncertain! Right where He has been all along.

A few years ago leaving a men’s conference I had been speaking at, all the guys were shaking hands, packing up and heading out. I heard a hundred times, “See you soon, be safe.” But, there was one guy (there’s always one guy, isn’t there?) who set the bar a little higher.

As he said goodbye he kept repeating, “Drive fast, take risks.”

Do it baby! It’s time to take that risk.

__________________________

For what it’s worth, here are some of the highlights from the C3 conference we attended. It was beyond fantastic. Enjoy.

Bishop TD “Hear God & who cares what anyone else says.”

Leon Fontaine “We don’t need to pray down the power of God, we need uninsulated hearts, bare wires exposed to Him & His power for.”

Ed Young Sr  “Anybody that’s available all the time isn’t available any of the time (Dr Trueblood) & come apart before you come apart.”

David Hughes “Pastors need to have a big “ask.” Ask people to show up, be generous, the mature to self feed, be loyal, work hard, etc.”

Ed Young  “If we have been radically rescued, we should rescue radically & the church’s target is not sheeple but lost people.”

Sam Chand “Risk Capacity: when you’re 100% sure you are too late! Go play in traffic. Aim, aim, aim.. pull the trigger already man!”

Young John Cross “You can get there too soon. Your gifts can take you where your character can’t keep you. Don’t despise small beginnings!”

Ed Young “Haters always run in packs, like dogs & don’t put the negative/opposition on the rotisserie grill of your mind.”

Ed Young “When you have opportunity you’ll have opposition AND in a leadership vacuum the wrong people always rise to the top.”

Ed Young “When you go to a whole nutha level, you unleash a whole nutha devil.”

Ed Young Sr “A leader is someone who steps out and others step out behind them. If this happens alot, then it’s the gift of leadership”

Ed Young Sr “You always get the loudest boos from the cheapest seats.”

Ed Young Sr “All are called to fulltime Christian service, some in the church and some outside the church.”

Jentezen Franklin “Hell has done nothing to you that God cannot work out for you!”

Jentezen Franklin “God is greater than any circumstance, so, I have not come to give you leaders a pacifier. Learn to fly!”

Jentezen Franklin “Some days you’re the big dog, some days you’re the hydrant, but don’t give up! You were made for this!”

Just kidding. We’ve already ruled out divorce as an option, but homicide… well.

Once again, just kidding.

Seriously, it really peeves me when my wife and I are engaged in passionate discourse (aka fighting) and in the midst of the battle it becomes abundantly clear that she is right.

The one time that happened was really rough on me.

You know that feeling that you have been missing the obvious? That the answer has been right there all along and you’ve just been too blind, busy or bored to pick up on it.

No? Just me? Hmm.

I get that feeling a lot while reading Scripture. I know its ‘living and active’ (Hebrews 4:12) so we shouldn’t be surprised when we read, reread and rereread and find something new at each approach.

This spiritual peekaboo is sometimes a blessing, sometimes a warning, sometimes refreshing, but always right. And, it happened again today.

I don’t know how many times I have read and preached/taught through the book of Exodus (I’ve even seen The Prince of Egypt like a hundred times), but there it was right there in front of me.

God added a new verse last night while we were sleeping!

Okay, you know He doesn’t do that, right?

Regardless, I was slapped in the face by the newness and freshness of a thought from a verse I can’t recall seeing before. I found it as I was reading through the Bible in a year.

By the way, you can create your own reading plan at www.yourversion.com and I highly recommend not only this site, but reading your Bible.

So here’s the verse. In the middle of the Exodus story, God has just brought the thunder down on Pharaoh and the Israelites are finally being set free to head to the Promise land.

It’s here we find this jewel:

Exodus 13:17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”

Wow, does this explain a lot about my life. Probably yours, too.

I think the normal tendency for humans is to look for the shortest and easiest route to the places we need to get. Whether it is in our career, relationships, finances or even spiritual issues.

Honestly, I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. In fact, looking for the hard way and putting yourself in the path of most resistance would probably bump you up a couple of notches on the stupid meter.

But, what God is saying is that what is smarter, shorter and easier was not necessarily better. And, His plan is to move us in the direction of best!

How many times have I fought with God because the path we were moving down would be slower, cost more, or just generally be harder. The whole time I am kicking and fussing that this can’t be the will of God!

I even justify my objections by saying we need to go this other route and trust in God because He is able.

Problem is, this was true for the Israelites too. God could easily have used them to defeat any enemies in front of them. In fact, in just a few short years they will repeat the David and Goliath story again and again and again and again.

But, God knew something: Even though He was ready, they weren’t.

God has the advantage of knowing the past, the present and the future completely. He has a firm grasp on who He is and who we are. And when He does the math on any given situation, He will always make a better call than we will.

Sometimes the harder route, the longer path and the lesser choice is just what we need, and thank God (literally) He loves us enough to move us in the right direction.

We are all in different situations. For some of us the key should be, “Don’t rush it.” For others, we should say, “I’m in for the long haul.” For all of us, we need to commit to, “God’s way, not my way.”

Whatever you are dealing with and working on right now, continue to walk through your desert without looking back. Trust the hand of the God that is leading you and wait for the battle until God says you are ready for the fight.

It may seem like the long way around, but God has your best interests in mind. Don’t worry, the fight will come someday.

Until then, just keep on walking.

Every time I think, or hear, the phrase “You’ve got to pray,” I envision MC Hammer pants. That can’t be healthy.

But, here we go… You’ve got to pray (just to make it today… wow, it is an illness).

Communication is essential to any relationship, and without it the relationship will wither and die. Or, at least go into a period of hibernation until the spring thaw.[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

What is communication? When we think about prayer this is the bigger question, because I think we have too often pigeon-holed our definition a prayer to being a close-eyed, bowed-head recitation of our forgiveness requests followed by a listing of our most common wants disguised as needs.

Where’s the interplay? Where the dialogue? Where’s the relationship?

That definition of prayer would never fly as real communication in marriage. Guarantee you. Try it. Wait, don’t try it. I don’t have any counseling slots left, and you’d need it after that.

Granted, it’s difficult to have a conversation when God does not respond verbally, but if you listen, He does speak.

The Psalms are great expressions of human prayer. About every other Psalm begins with God hear me, listen to me, or I cry out. Then there’s usually a verse or two about being ignored by God, but always ends up with, “My bad, guess you were listening.”

By the way that verse is in the NMACSV, otherwise known as the New Middle Aged Cool Speak Version. Get a copy, all your friends are doing it.

That pattern in the Psalms may be a little oversimplified, but it is a very real motif that connects quite accurately to the human condition.

I recently encountered this pattern in Psalm 5, and found an incredible help for my personal prayer life in verse three:

Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait in expectation.

While this is not the end all, be all of lessons on prayer, it is a great beginning.

First, the Psalmist says, “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice.” The key to good communication is to know you are being heard.

I’ve heard the expression before “My prayers were bouncing off the ceiling.” Well, when we say that it’s like we’re saying of God, “It’s like talking to a brick wall!”

Note: not a good relational tactic… questioning God’s attention span, that is.

Sure, we all struggle with the material speaking to the immaterial. It’s hard to connect our flesh to His Spirit, but we’ve been given a promise.

• If we ask, it will be given.
• If we seek, we will find.
• If we knock, it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-12)

He is listening.

As tough as it is sometimes, we need to approach our times of prayer with the confidence to know, and believe, “you hear my voice.”

We’re not just talking to ourselves… God hears you.

Second, the Psalmist says, “In the morning, I lay my requests before you.” It’s important that we make the big ask. Scripture says you have not, because you ask not (James 4:2).

But, too much of that and it all seems a bit mercenary. Any relationship you have where each encounter involves someone asking you for something, spells trouble.

You don’t feel like a friend or ally. You end up feeling like a resource.

So, even though the Psalmist laid his requests before God we need to understand the nature of requests.

Sure, there will be times we request help, funds and direction, but learn to be in a relationship and make the ‘other’ ask.

• Ask for opportunities to serve.
• Ask for Him to use you.
• Ask for eyes to see the need.
• Ask for strength to grow more like Him.
• Ask for things bigger than you, or your little world.

Now, that’s the big ask.

Third, the Psalmist says, “And wait in expectation.” It would be easy to focus on the concept of ‘wait’ here, since patience is a virtue. Even though it stinks.

But, the better focus is on the quality of waiting we are encouraged to have… expectancy.

True we need to lay some requests before God and then leave them alone. Why? That way when He responds our faith is built and He gets all the glory.

More importantly, during the waiting we should experience expectation. Like kids under the Christmas tree shaking, rubbing, weighing and sniffing each present (my kids sniff… big deal). It’s no wonder they can’t sleep on Christmas Eve, they are so full of expectation.

There is no doubt in them. They know that when they get up the next morning, it’s going to be awesome!

Waiting on God in expectation is not just hope that He might do something; it’s the belief that He will do something.

Heal my marriage, restore my body, fix my finances, protect my children, change my heart.

True, God will often require us to take action on what He has already instructed, but as you walk through your spiritual paces never forget to keeps your eyes future-focused eagerly expecting that God is coming through!

Make your prayers a conversation, real communication.

Believe that He hears. Make the ask about more than just you. Trust your God can and will respond.

But, as for me, I have to get moving.

It’s Hammer Time!

It’s just natural at the end of the year to look back and remember before we press on into the new.

I hate this time of year.

Not just because it contrasts with the Christmas Season (the absolute best time of the year), or even because I don’t like looking back. In fact, it’s just the opposite.

I hate this kind of looking back, because it doesn’t do anything for our future. It’s a waste of time and energy.

I love looking back, but as a ruthless evaluator. I believe there is such a thing as constructive criticism, especially when invited.

This is probably why my circle of intimate friends is so small… hmmm, I’ll have to evaluate that later.

Appreciating and seeking criticism is an art. Unwanted critique, from people who don’t know anything and consider their own opinion too valuable to be kept to themselves need to embrace every human’s capacity to, shut it.

However, trusted relationships with a certain amount of connectivity and some ‘smartness’ about them are invaluable.

For example, I preach the same sermon five times every weekend, and what I start off with on Saturday night is usually not the same thing I end up with on Sunday morning. It’s more refined, figured out and effective (but, at least on Saturday they get the raw unedited version… usually more poo stories).

How does that happen? I watch the video and critique myself overnight, but even before that, I will ask a few people in the first service to listen with a critical ear and meet me between Saturday night services.

It took a while, but they finally started getting honest:

• “Good message Andy, but with regard to the second point, uh, did you have one?”
• “Quit moving around so much, you look like a constipated wiener dog”
• “Don’t ever, ever… ever, use that word again… but, it was funny”
• “So, have you tried that powder stuff to get rid of the forehead shine, yet? No reason, just asking”

Then the most important step in the process, over Saturday night dinner I ask my wife, “What would you fix?” I don’t put her in a position of “If you love me you’ll think its perfect,” but phrase the question with the expectation that I am looking for some help here.

Over the years she has lovingly encouraged, critiqued and help shape my ministry.

Before the weekend is over slides have changed, illustrations are dropped, new points are created… the sermon is different.

It is important to look back, but only for the purpose of making forward progress. I’ve never been more reminded of that than when I read this verse

Ephesians 4:1 (NIV) As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

 

I want to live a life worthy of the calling I have received, but probably like you I often let day slip into day, month into month and year into year with making any real progress.

Whether it is in the spiritual, emotional, mental or physical arena, the best life we can live is one where we make progress. One of my favorite authors is Erwin McManus and he makes this point in two of his books:

“There’s so much talk about potential in our culture, as if it’s the end-all of success. Has anyone ever said about you, “He has so much potential”? If you’re under twenty – let’s give you twenty-five – consider it a compliment. Potential – your untapped or unlocked capacity. Potential – the hint of greatness not yet developed. “He has so much potential” – a statement of praise and maybe even adoration. And, then you’re thirty, and you still have all this potential. Pressing forty and you’re still full of potential. If you’re forty-five and someone looks at you and says, “You have so much potential,” pause, excuse yourself, step into a closet and have a good cry. What once was a statement of promise is now an assessment of lost opportunity. There is a point where you’re not supposed to be full of potential, you’re supposed to be full of talent, capacity and product. Potential is a glimpse of what could be, yet there must be a shift from where we have potential to where we are potent.” – Erwin McManus from Chasing Daylight

 

“You’re not supposed to die with your potential. A life well-lived squeezes all the potential placed within and does something with it.” – Erwin McManus from Uprising

 

Maybe these quotes impact me more than most because I am knocking on the door of 39, but for whatever reason I don’t want to have potential anymore. I want to be potent.

So, how do we get there? How does 2010 become a year ‘worthy of the calling we have received’?

Whether you are needing to whip your body into shape, change your financial direction, move out big time in your career, or need to take some spiritual mountains, here are some simple Biblically based steps to doing something with our lives.

1. Evaluate - this is essential. Look back with a critical eye, and even involve others if its helpful. Be brutally honest with yourself and about yourself. We tend to grade ourselves on  curve, and when we do we often grade out higher than we ought. There is nothing wrong with failing yourself in certain areas. It doesn’t mean you are a failure, it means you are smart enough to know what to fix. The Apostle Paul did this:

Acts 15:36 (NIV) Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”

 

After re-reading this verse, take a minute and think about the letters he wrote to those churches. Some were encouraging, some were instructional, and some chewed out the churches nastier than Coach Mangino in the locker room at half time. Ok… maybe not that bad. Paul, and Apostle of the Living God, evaluated his work.

Grab a notepad, some prayer time and a bottle of “Real Honest, Real Quick” and ask yourself the hard questions: What am I doing right? What am I doing wrong? Where have I stalled out? Do I already know what to do? Why haven’t I done it? What do I work on right now?

2. Seek God - the key component. Quite honestly, this is probably the link in the chain that keeps snapping on us. No plan, no strategy, no wisdom will work for us if it’s not God’s plan for us. Let me be clear, something might be good, right and beneficial, but if it’s not God’s plan for YOU, it’s not what you need.

Psalm 20:4 (NIV) May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

 

This is often read in a way that God endorses you and makes your plans work, but that’s a backwards entrance into this verse. More aptly translated, may you seek God so that He will give you the desires that are in His heart. In other words, seek Him and His desires will replace your desires. Then its a no brainer, He’ll make your plans succeed. For example, my kid wants a pop with dinner, but I want him to have milk. He’s going to get what he wants as soon as he starts wanting what I want for him. Only then will he succeed. Milk… does a body good.

3. Plan - without it, well, that’s just stupid. Two main mistakes in this area. One, some want to be so open to the Spirit of God and flexible to follow His leadings they don’t follow Him in the plethora of verses which say, PLAN! Two, we are so full of good intention and desire that we fail to plan because we are preparing to plan.  Example: we want to loose weight so we pray about it, google it, read about it, and talk about it, but never pick a course of action. We have so much information and desire that we are afraid to make the wrong plan. It’s called paralysis by analysis.

Proverbs 13:16, (TLB) “A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t and even brags about it!”

 

You’ll probably never have the full story or all the best resources, but what you do have, use! Take everything that you’ve got and make the best plans that you can.

4. Set Goals - don’t be chicken. Many avoid this because they are afraid of failing. I have two significant help for you in this area. One, you might fail, big deal. This will give you something to evaluate before 2011. Failure is so much better than doing nothing, just make sure you fail-forward. Failure is actually a success when you fail in the right direction (credit to John Maxwell). Second, make your goals are God-Sized goals (credit to Rick Warren). If you actually make your goal you probably set it to low and where is the failure in that.  Life is about progress, not completion. The latter can also be defined as death… not it!

Luke 14:28-31, (TLB) “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?”

 

Even Jesus encourages us to have a plan and set goals. Without it you get nowhere and have nothing to evaluate. To live without goals is to establish your life theme song as ‘Hakuna Matata’ and who wants to live with a warthog and a meerkat for the rest of their lives. It’s a great philosophy for a Disney cartoon and a horrible way to live a life.

5. Activate - the final frontier. I love almost all things sci-fi and even enjoy the variety of shows connected to the Star Trek genre. But, my absolute favorite one-worder from the show is from Captain Jean Luc Picard. The course is plotted, the crew is alert and the mission before them. It’s at this moment the captain says, “Engage.” Yes! Enough with the planning and prepping, it’s time to do something even if it is a trip into the scary unknown. Where does the Bible back this up? Where doesn’t it:

Jesus said “Go” (Matt 28:19)

Jesus said “Make”(Matt 28:19)

Jesus said “Teach” (Matt 28:20)

Jesus said “Take Up” (Luke 9:23)

Jesus said “Follow” (Mark 2:14)

Jesus said “Love” (Mark 12:30)

I believe Jesus says, “Engage.” It’s important that we evaluate, seek God, plan and set goals, but it’s all pointless if we don’t do something.

Take that first step, the rest get easier… sometimes. Either way, it’s worth the trip.

May 2010 be a year of no regrets as you live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Remember, if you make an impact, you’re going to leave a mark.

I’ve been a asked a couple of times where to get it, so, I thought I’d make it available here at the CrossEyedLife.

It comes in five sections as a progressive story and many thanks to Sam Wilk who narrated for us… great job!

THE NEED

 Dark and barren, a formless void
Our universe an empty nothing
No light, no warmth, no life to be enjoyed

A vast and endless stretch of nothing to be had
From beginning to end,
A hole in sheer blankness, neither good nor bad

Then from the darkened chaos, a voice both strong and true
“Let there be light!”
Echoed through the blackness, words powerfully breaking through

From where there had been nothing, a something soon appeared
Rays of light now came to show
Galaxies were forming, and a God to be revered

And through the frenzied action of a universe being born
A spark of life
Mountain, tree, bird and whale, even man this world adorned

“It is Good” a declaration the Creator’s voice proclaimed
Over all that had come to being
There was nothing for which to be ashamed

“The world is yours to live and love and enjoy forever more
Now go and play and live today
And always remember this one simple chore

“As you run and reign this world made for you
Avoid one tree not meant for man
To show your love for Me is true.”

But a world so perfect and filled with good
Felt the sting of deception
Betrayal and greed as before the tree, man’s only man stood

Broken and torn, sin entered in and death marked this place
A universe, which knew only good
Now cold and naked awaiting judgement’s embrace

“Guilty as charged” cried the actions of man as tears filled his eyes
“We’ve taken this precious gift of life
And made it something to despise”

All creation cringed and moaned a cry of desperation
Awaiting the just destruction
But wait… why the Creator’s hesitation

Still strong and true boomed the voice that spoke it all
“My love for you is far too strong,
For I will save you from this fall.”

Judgment was stayed, by the Creator’s own hand
Though punishment was just
He told this man of His plan

“One Day all this will be made right, One Day this world will change
Through the seed of man
My Son will come your guilt His life exchanged

“Though My heart breaks for my Son your debt to pay
Paradise restored, wrongs made right
This I will do, One Day.”

And though this man had feared the worst, awaiting death’s sting
He turned his tear stained eyes toward heaven.
Realizing he’d been given everything.

One Day… hope… One Day

THE WAITING

One Day a hope to come for broken man, One Day
But in this mess of sinfulness
Hope seemed so very far away

Weeks turned to months and months to years
Though the waiting was long
Hopes and prayers calmed the fears

For the Creator had promised One Day to send a Son
And the fallen, dirtied, chaos
Of this world be undone

Millennia crawled by as the faithful watched the skies
Looking for a sign of Promise
That One Day’s hope would soon arrive

From time to time, upon the scene a messenger the Creator sent
With words of love and yearning
The hearers pondered what they meant

A babe would come some starry night just like a lamb
Into a small, nothing town
The locals there call Bethlehem

Another claimed the birth, a miracle to see
For the mother of this child
A virgin she would be

This messenger continued on before his words did cease
A child be born
Wonderful, Counselor the long awaited Prince of Peace

Hopes grew high as waiting grew but messengers still they came
Stories of hope and light and faith
Each different yet all the same

A messenger spoke, “This child will come and all will be revealed
For a Suffering Servant He will be,
By His stripes we will be healed.”

Man understood only in part, for these words were hard to hear
Their sins cast upon this perfect Son
Would then draw the Creator near

Man cried out through anguished prayers and somber songs of praise
“We cannot stand here all alone
Like fire burning in our chest, our heart it is ablaze!

“Creator God, please send Your Son, upon this earth to dwell
We need Him more than anything
O Come, O Come Immanuel.”

As centuries past waiting prolonged man’s eager expectation
Of the hope that One Day would surely come
And finally bring Salvation.

One Day… the waiting to end… One Day

THE DOORWAY

400 years since last they spoke, the messengers now gone
The Creator silent, the world await
Listening for a Savior’s song

From long ago the hope was cast for all humanity
But the promise now will come to pass
Through two near Galilee

A sweet, young girl one starlight night awoke to words so scary
A babe, Our God, The Christ to bare
“Your will be done” said Mary

And then a man, with heart so true, and righteousness his way
Called to raise a child not his
Joseph to Mary he pledged to stay

A King to reign, the Lord of all, into this world to come
Not through some door of majesty
But a carpenter’s step son

The world waiting, watching, praying for a sign of something real
But hidden in the most common home
Through peasants our Hope concealed

For this young family a difficult road of fear and trepidation
Scoffers would scoff and laughers would laugh
At their unique situation

Listening to wise men and running from kings their lives a hefty price
Down every road and pathway lead
The burden of sacrifice

And in their baby’s eyes they see a sacrifice deeper still
Life poured out, a body broken
And blood for all will spill

His tiny cries like echoes ring through all eternity
“My body and my blood to give
Do this in remembrance of me”

But not tonight, it’s not the time, that suffering is years away
Tonight this couple hold their babe
And in a manger stay

For many roads are yet to walk and other lessons learn
For thousands of years mankind has looked
And for this Savior yearned.

Tonight one of many beginnings, with a doorway open wide
The wrong made right, and healing come
To Bethlehem’s hillside…

One Day, has come… this One Day has finally… come

THE COMING

One Day, One Day, one long awaited Day has finally come to be
Man’s broken eyes open wide
Their Lord and Savior, Immanuel to see

No politicians, priests or pompous people heard the call
For the Creator’s winged warriors
Announce to shepherds, an end to the Fall

A brilliant flash on midnight black the sky aglow with angel light
Voice thunders out, “Town of David,
Born to you… Savior, Lord and Christ”

Sleepy shepherds waked that night like frightened sheep within a pen
As angelic chorus thundered
“Glory to God and peace to men”

Then back to night the sky grew dark as angels bid retreat
But rushing, running these shepherds went
A king in stable they would meet

And there they found a baby Boy in what became silent night
As each man’s heart raced because they knew
Creator had come, to the world a Light

Mary spoke both sweet and true, Jesus was this child’s name
Messiah, Healer, God… with… us
Bringing end to all our shame

Filled with joy, the shepherds left, and never were the same
Taking the place of angelic voice
Proclaiming that He came

And then began, from that very moment, a change in humanity
Lost and torn and hopelessness
Replaced now by certainty

Our path now changed forever, no more condemned to die
For shepherds gave good news to all
Angels we have heard on high!

One Day is ours, Good News has come… One Day has arrived

THE CHOICE

From time begun to present day so much has come to pass
And now we know our Savior’s song
A tune you can’t surpass

For generation after generation man was a broken clan
But made it right, and sealed it tight
The Son and Great I Am.

We know the words and believe them, each and every day
God sent his Son, man’s sin undone
His own life He chose to pay

And every year we celebrate a season marked with tinsel and with light
With songs to sing and gifts to wrap
Is there really ever Silent Night?

We’re busy and we’re hurried with this holiday we celebrate
But traditions and fun we hold so dear
To our Savior, do they relate?

From brokenness this day was born, our need to be made well
Creator’s Son sent from heaven
To save us all from hell

A victory chant, a party deluxe, seems right for this occasion
But do not miss what’s important here
Keep Christ in the equation

Let’s sing the songs and have our fun, but we always must remember
Why children laugh and nations stop
On the 25th of December

And why you say does this world hit pause at Christmas time each year
There’s only one Reason, the one for the Season
That we have any need to cheer

His name is Jesus, the Author of creation and the Savior of mankind
The Alpha and Omega, First and Last
He is Divine

Christ, The Firstborn from the Dead and Hope of True Salvation
Great High Priest and Holy One
King of every nation

Lord of Lords and Lamb of God, Passover Sacrifice
Son of Man and Son of God
Resurrection and the Life

This Christmas time we celebrate the coming of The Day
That all men had been waiting for
To take their sins away

The choice is yours and must be made, this we know for sure
Man is still broken, bent and wrong
But Jesus, He is the cure

One Day has come, already now, though 2,000 years have past
The choice is ours this Christmas Day
Choose Christ, choose life, hold fast

One Day has come, The Day of Life… today is still The Day

The picture that accompanies this blog is the right hand corner of my desk that several of my ‘loving’ brothers and sisters have offered to file/clean for me. But, I share with each of them that the corner stack, mound, pile, library (proper usage check) is actually not static, but in frequent turnover.

These are the ‘next read’ books and when one is finished another is added. I love reading, learning and growing, and several times I have quoted, or even taught from significant reads. Never, though, have I reviewed a book here at CEL, so, today we make history.

As always, my first recommendation to you is to read, re-read and re-read again the Bible, but I also want to make this recommendation: Primal by Mark Batterson should be a primary read for you in 2010.

Click picture to order

I received an advanced copy of the book for the purpose of this review a couple weeks ago and I swallowed it up. I’d let you borrow my copy, but it would be hard to read through the excessive highlighting.

As Batterson laid out the plan for the book in the early chapters, I have to admit I was a little disappointed. Primal as a title lead me to think this work would be about essential, rugged, brutal faith issues.

However, Primal is a book focusing on the Great Commandment (it’s the first footnote) from Mark 12:30:

Mark 12:30 (NIV) ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ – Jesus

I know I should be excited about that… it’s the Great Commandment! All I could think is, “What’s essential, rugged, brutal or primal about love verses?”

Seriously, I own half a dozen books with this teaching as the fulcrum. I’ve heard a hundred sermons on these verses. I probably do a series based on these four elements every other year. I felt like the idea is played out.

(Pretty stupid idea when you remember that all Scripture is living and active, Hebrews 4:12, but I though it anyway)

While Primal does stick to this well-known model (loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength), that’s where the similarities to other over-done motifs end. That’s where it gets primal.

Batterson strips down the intention of Jesus’ words to their most simplistic interpretation and brutally asks the question again and again, ‘How are you doing?’

When I answered honestly… not so well.

The breakdown goes something like this (don’t worry, no need for a spoiler alert, it’s just an outline):

• Loving God with all you heart means we need to cultivate a spirit of compassion and respond to the unmet needs of the world around us. Sacrifice, awareness and giving are the major themes.
• Loving God with all your soul means finding a sense of wonder about God and God through His creation. Scriptural meditation, living Scripture and paying attention to your world are the major themes.
• Loving God with all your mind means renewing (or beginning) a holy curiosity in your life about God stuff, but noting that all things in creation are God stuff. Reading, learning, growing and stretching were the major themes. (This was my favorite section, probably because it’s my healthiest area, so, it’s less depressing to think about what I need to work on. For those who choose to read it, embrace the concept of the ‘watchtower’. Sorry, insider stuff here; only for us Prim-ates)
• Loving God with all your strength means applying what we know and turning faith back into a verb. Sweat equity, dependency and risk were the major themes.

Much has been said about the Great Commandment, but Batterson really conveys a life transformed, a church renewed and a potential world reached and changed if followers of Christ would get primal in their understanding.

With regard to the heart of Christianity, Batterson argues that the primal call of God is to be compassionate, sacrificial and giving. And, yes, this includes money.

One of the radical and mind-numbing thoughts related to cultivating this Christ-like heart is a thorough makeover of how believers should budget. In the church we are taught the principle of the tithe where we acquire more and more and give God a small fraction.

That’s so Old Testament. It’s really just giving off the edges.

Batterson, however, suggests we move from quantifying how much we give and instead decide how much we will keep. In other words, don’t decide how much you’ll give to God or to things that God would lead you in, but decide how much you need to live on and let the rest be an offering out of your life.

He calls it an income ceiling.

In this model, a raise at work doesn’t changed your standard of living, thats already been set. A raise then means you have more to impact a world of need because you’ve already decided to cap your income.

In the book there is a great example of this lifestyle. A successful businessman named Stanley Tam, age 93, who hasn’t taken a raise in three decades and he tithes substantially more than he makes. He has set an income ceiling, and makes sure the rest goes where it does some good.

In his own words, “A man can only eat one meal at a time, wear only one suit of clothes at a time, drive only one car at a time. All this I have. Isn’t that enough?” (from Primal, pg 35).

Now that’s primal.

There’s something radically transforming about that kind of primal living. It affects the one living it and those living around them.

This past weekend, between a couple of our services at church a man whom I consider a friend and have great respect for, pulled me aside.

Through a tearful confession and words like “I was wrong”, “I’m growing a lot through this”, and “I just want to be more useable to God” I was blown away.

The issue he spoke of was really a non-issue to me, and  I tried to tell him that.

He tolerated no softening on my part. He was committed to holding fast to Scripture, relationships and spiritual growth and he was not looking for an easy way out.

I’ve been haunted by that all week. It was powerful. It was impacting. It was primal.

This kind of response is what Batterson is calling readers toward as they embrace the Great Commandment. A no-holds barred, in your face, unrelenting love of God with all our heart, soul mind and strength.

No free passes.

Do I suggest the book? Absolutely. In fact, I just ordered two more books previously written by Batterson: In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day and Wild Goose Chase.

I bet we talk about them soon.

Let’s turn to the first Psalm and see what God’s answer is for a life that thrives!

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Psalm 1

¹ Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

² But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

⁴ Not so the wicked!

They are like chaff

that the wind blows away.

⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

⁶ For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Almost anything.

Anything is better than that.

Still, that was today for my bride and I as the kiddos slept in at Grandmas. We spent a small fortune (as opposed to the large fortune it could have been) and got about 90% of what we hunted.

We dominated Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target Mart and Home Depot Mart and even squeezed in a romantic breakfast for two at IHOP Mart.

While we were wolfing down some pancakes (actually, I was wolfing… Kathy never wolfs… she delicately cuts, slowly eats and cutely chews… she never wolfs) we were discussing how crazy some people were.

Every year we see stories on the news about how two soccer moms nearly clubbed each other to death with a Christmas ham and an extra value pack of jumbo wrapping paper at a discount store over some Tickle Me Elmo.

Oh, pardon me. This year it’s a robot hamster. My bad.

So over breakfast we recounted tales of inappropriate human behavior.

I shared how the wicked witch of Wal-Mart put a hex on me for not having an ESP-like knowledge of her desire to purchase a card table and chairs. “There are only twelve of these and 16 of us have been waiting longer than you!”

And a happy 4:45 am to you too, my dear.

I wanted to respond, “Yeah, but I’m bigger than you, so, if you don’t want a broken nose, I’d head over to Target before I get done here and move over there to take more stuff away from you.”

Instead, I opted for, “Oh, I’m sorry.” (You can envision me meekly pushing my cart away, just like the Apostle Peter would have if he were hitting Black Friday… aren’t you proud?)

I crammed some pancake in my mouth, with sugar free syrup cause that makes it all better, and let Kathy recount what happened on her end of the store.

With those “you’re never going to believe this” eyes, she started in: “I was lined up to get this oversized doll for your niece right next to this woman, and just before 5 when they released us, her husband started coaching her. He was saying, ‘Elbows, baby. Use your elbows.’”

Now, I have to tell you.

You really shouldn’t mess with Kathy. One of her favorite expressions for talking about difficult people is, “Oh, they better be glad I’m not married to them. He’d been buried in a shallow grave in the back yard years ago.”

I always laugh, but when we fight… I sleep with one eye open.

All kidding aside, she got through her episode with the Karate Girl and Kansas Miyagi with her witness intact.

She rocks.

I pushed away from the breakfast table with a full belly and with more than just a little haughtiness that we didn’t act like those animals that were shopping with us.

A little later in the day, after the shopping was starting to fade into memory I had to put on a suit and go perform a small wedding at the church.

When all was said and done and I was making an exit from the building as the last guy there, which happens a lot, something very quiet, yet illuminating happened.

I turned off a light only to see the warm glow of a room at the other end of the hall in the opposite direction I was heading.

I ignored it and hit the next light on my route out and saw another room aglow just a few steps away. This time I walked over and turned it off.

Then in the last few steps I noticed the main hallway lights still burning, and even though those switches were further away than any of the  others I had flicked on my exit, I headed over to turn them off.

For whatever reason, the Lord had me process my decision making on this exit. You know we all process and calculate our decisions for the mundane things faster than we actually understand them, but here is what came out of my light-flicking illumination:

• Why am I turning off lights anyway? It saves the church money. It’s being a good steward. You’re the last man out, so the responsibility is yours. And, though it’s not in the official personnel description (chief light flicker), it is your job.
• When I noticed the first light on at the end of the long hallway I chose to ignore it. Why? “Dude, that’s at the other end of the building. I’m supposed to get two days off for this holiday and I’ve worked both of them. One light isn’t going to kill anybody. I’m gonna make like a tree and disembark.”
• When I noticed the second light closer, I turned it off. Why? “Well… they still owe me, but this one’s close. I’ll get it.”
• When I noticed the main hallway lights on I turned them off without hesitating. Why? “Duh? It’s the first thing people see when they come in the building, and if I leave these on someone will call me on it.”

So, let’s recap.

• I left the first light on because I’m selfish and feel the world owes me something, I’m just that good. That’s a gross sense on entitlement.
• The second light I turned off because I’m lazy, just not that lazy.
• The third light (main hallway) I turned off almost as a reflex because even though I am self-focused, self-pitying and lazy… I still want to look good in front of people.

It was in that moment I loosened my tie a little and realized my behavior isn’t much better than those department store barbarians from earlier in the day. I’ve just learned how to sanitize my image for public consumption.

Maybe you do the same thing. If you so, here’s some Biblical advice for us both.

First, when we start operating in that sense of entitlement when we think someone owes us something, or we deserve better, remember this:

Job 38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm.

He said:

² “Who is this that darkens my counsel

with words without knowledge?

³ Brace yourself like a man;

I will question you,

and you shall answer me.

⁴ “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?

Tell me, if you understand.

⁵ Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!

Who stretched a measuring line across it?

⁶ On what were its footings set,

or who laid its cornerstone—

⁷ while the morning stars sang together

and all the angels^a shouted for joy?

⁸ “Who shut up the sea behind doors

when it burst forth from the womb,

⁹ when I made the clouds its garment

and wrapped it in thick darkness,

¹⁰ when I fixed limits for it

and set its doors and bars in place,

¹¹ when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;

here is where your proud waves halt’? ^[1]

This goes on for two full chapters before:

The Lord said to Job:

² “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?

Let him who accuses God answer him!”

³ Then Job answered the Lord:

⁴ “I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?

I put my hand over my mouth.

⁵ I spoke once, but I have no answer—

twice, but I will say no more.” ^[2]

Truth is God, this world and those in it owe us nothing. We should act out of our own sense of what God’s word says is right or wrong, regardless of the circumstances.

Second,  when our actions are lacking due to laziness, remember this:

Proverbs 6 ⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard;

consider its ways and be wise!

⁷ It has no commander,

no overseer or ruler,

⁸ yet it stores its provisions in summer

and gathers its food at harvest.

⁹ How long will you lie there, you sluggard?

When will you get up from your sleep?

¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest—

¹¹ and poverty will come on you like a bandit

and scarcity like an armed man^[3]

Apparently, God does not tolerate laziness and we shouldn’t reward it in others or in ourselves.

Third, when we do what we do because of the people watching, remember this

Matthew 6 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^[4]

This really is the point, isn’t it? Why we should do what we should do.

So that your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Not rewarded by the public, not rewarded by yourself, but by the One.

May this holiday and every season be the season of action as you do what you should do, for the right reason.

^[1]The Holy Bible  : New International Version, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984), Job 38:1-11.

^[2]The Holy Bible  : New International Version, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984), Job 40:1-5.

^[3]The Holy Bible  : New International Version, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984), Pr 6:6-11.

^[4]The Holy Bible  : New International Version, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984), Mt 6:1-4.

You’d be amazed at the harsh things people can say to each other… or, maybe you wouldn’t be. I guess that’s even sadder.

Some of the barbs that get thrown include:

• If you cared about me at all…
• I don’t think I can love you anymore…
• You’re an idiot…
• I just wish I was as important to you as your sister is…
• It’s me or the XBOX (seriously, I’ve heard this one)…
• I can’t stand to be around you anymore…

Ouch! After a few of those, it’s a little awkward trying to schedule the next meeting. I never know if they are planning on being together in a week, or if I’ll have to visit one of them in the county clink where they now reside for stabbing their mate.

I can almost hear my voice change as I ask them when they are available to meet: “SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY! Seven days from today let’s come back to this battle arena for another family smack down. Vicious verbal fists of destruction will be thrown. Powerful pundits will pound each other over the smallest disagreements and mountains will be made out of molehills! Bring the kids for the family fun. BE THERE!!!”

Yeah, we can say some pretty rough stuff to each other. Although it may not seem as biting in an outright sense, one of the most difficult things I have ever heard said to one another, or to God, is “Thanks for nothin’.”

Hmmm… things might be tough and current circumstances may not be favorable, but to say this is really going off the deep end.

When spouses say it, they are implying that because we are fighting over money right now, I’m not thankful for the 12 years of learning, loving and growing together.

When family members say it to in laws, they are communicating that because I don’t like the way you are handling the holiday schedule right now I see no value in the love you show my children or the years of history your poured into my spouse long before I knew them.

When children say it to their parents, because they’ve been grounded from the TV… well, that’s just stupid and you know it.

When people say this to God, they are telling Him because I am going through a rough patch I DO NOT appreciate all You’ve done for me, the life You’ve given and all the unseen/unknown ways You have protected and sheltered me over the years.

Thanks for nothin’ is really one of the most destructive and thoughtless attitudes a human possesses.

Conversely, one of the greatest signs of spiritual maturity and relational stability is thankfulness.

Again and again Scripture equates growth and maturity with thankfulness.

^{1 Thessalonians 5:16} Be joyful always; ¹⁷ pray continually; ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Being thankful is not something we teach our kids to do because it’s polite. It’s an outward sign that you have grown up, think right and have any hope of being happy, healthy and functional in the days ahead.

Believe me, I am not there yet. This became exceedingly clear after sharing in small group last night that I tend to be a glass half empty kind of guy, and then reading this from one of my favorite authors in my devotional readings this morning:

“Have you ever noticed that two people can have a dramatically different perspective on the same situation? It’s the old adage about whether the glass is half-empty or half-full. The distinction is more than just a difference of personality types. It’s more significant than simply whether a person is a pessimist or an optimist. Perspective is not shaped in a vacuum; it is formed int he context of gratitude.” – Erwin McManus, UPRISING

For the second time in one blog… ouch! That one really hurt.

Too many times I have seen the downside and expected the worst because my immaturity both relationally and spiritually has lead me to places of thanklessness.

So, this Thanksgiving week I am really attempting to give thanks in all circumstances.

Let me be a little transparent with and share a prayer I offer between myself and my Heavenly Father:

God, thank you for the doctors catching Noah’s illness before it was too late, and we are believing his kidneys are healing themselves and You have saved him. Thank you for the horrendous medical bills because they are evidence there was a place to take my son. And, oh yeah, thanks for insurance. Thanks for the daily frustration of what to do with a church that’s out of space, over stretched and running a 100 MPH. I’d rather be in this mess than in on of the many others our church could be in. This is at least fun stress. Thanks. Thanks for my wife and all the little things that drive me nuts, because I know that she’d have been fully justified in hitting me with her car several times this past month alone… but, she didn’t. Thanks. Thanks for my Nathan who is so quick witted he’s already out thinking me at age 8, which ticked me off and cracked me up just yesterday. I’m scared to death of his teen years, but God thanks You made him just like You made him. God, thank You for this dysfunctional bunch I call my extended family, both inlaw and outlaw. Several times they have made overseas missions look enticing, but the truth is I couldn’t raise my kids, navigate my life or bear the thought of living without them. Thanks God. Please help me not to see the half of the glass thats empty and all thats been drained away, but help me to only see the half that’s full, and let me be poured out for You. May I grow up and learn what real thankfulness is. In Jesus name, Amen.

Well, I’ve gone public, and I hope you will to. I am praying that every single reader of this article will post a comment of thankfulness. This Thanksgiving holiday week I think it would be a great gift to God and our friends/family to create a huge string of comments that are a stream of thoughts and notes of thankfulness.

Leave one to God, to your family, or about anyone/anything you can think of.

Happy Thanksgiving my friends. May your half full cup be enough to overflow from your life to every other life you touch!