Squinting

Have you ever been in a place in your life where you just want to understand what's next?
That's where I am right now, squinting hard to see the next step to take.
What I don't want to do is push so hard to find this out that I miss what's around me right now.
I'm starting to wonder if like I'm the disciple who says to Jesus: "Show us the father." Christ could have been frustrated in his answer. "Duh! Been there, done that, ya dope!"
But he was more constructive than that.
So I'm going to rebuild that list. You know, the one where you have preferences and trigger points, with the hope the Lord confirms these or shows you new ones.
It could be he shows me status quo is where he wants me to be. And if that's what I see, then I have to be OK with that.
Cuz I'd rather not keep asking dumb questions if I REALLY already know the answer.

A reunion of hearts

I hope this blog will serve several purposes – to express to some of my favorite people on the planet how much they mean to me, clear the air about my frame of mind when I saw some of them this past weekend and express where I am now with a number of things.
I went to a youth and college group reunion at Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Ala. this past weekend with my daughter.
Given a number of factors, I got about four and a half hours of sleep the morning before the reunion, then drove about four hours – with stops – to Montgomery.
On the way into town, I passed the area of the city where I “cut my teeth.” I'd been by there hundreds of times in the last 10 years after my Mom's death but I cried this time.
I cried:
For what – and who – was no longer there.
For a past I couldn't change.
And, possibly, for a difficult-to-see future.
This past week, certain aspects of my life got tied into a huge black mass of frustration, fatigue and bitterness.
I spoke from this place of negativity at times while interacting with some of the people I saw at the reunion but I didn't fully realize it until my daughter and I were on our way to where we were staying for the night.
I'd hoped I hadn't alienated anyone because of my – at times – sour attitude.
Aside from my tendency to want to be liked anyway, this particular group of people is important to me because they were part of the place where God laid a significant foundation for me in a couple of areas – spiritually and socially.
Many of the folks in the college group helped me learn how to experience genuine social interaction with others. My time there also gave me a serious root system in the faith.
Additionally, I believe the Lord forged and inspired in us – men and women alike – a bond which goes beyond routine friendship.
Two days removed from the reunion, I feel like I've had something extracted which was in dire need of removal.
I feel refreshed, revived – like I've had layers of caked-on dirt washed away.
I know this is just what I needed.
If I got to see you this weekend, please know I do care about you, regardless of how lost in my own sandbox I might have seemed.
If you were part of this rag-tag group of folks and didn't get to come this time, see what you can do to attend next time.
It's hard to say what the future will hold, but I know going to back to see old friends from the college group did more than just revive memories.
It jump-started my heart.
And that's always a good thing.

They call it Pap's Place

My wife and I moved to northeast Mississippi about five years ago. One of the first television ads we saw in this area was for Pap's Place, a Southern-style buffet restaurant in Ackerman, Miss.
To move toward understanding it, I think you must see some of these ads. Here's one of the early ones. And here's a more recent ad. (I intend no copyright infringement in sharing these ads; I just want more people to see them!)
From early on after seeing these ads, I've wanted the rest of the world to enjoy the good craziness which takes place in these videos and I tried to figure out how to get them captured and uploaded.
I'm glad someone else did.
One of my short-term life goals is for the Pap's Place ads to go VIRAL!
I have several reasons for my twisted pursuit.
The food is great, though not necessarily part of a heart-approved diet. We usually don't go there more than once year.
The atmosphere is just good-ol' down home. Elvis shares a place on the wall of trinkets and goodies along with Jesus.
The folks who run the place are sweeter than the desserts on the bar. They love their customers, regardless of color, age or station in life.
So I would appreciate the help from anyone who's either been to Pap's or is just as intrigued by these ads as I am to lend me a hand and get as many people as possible to see these commercials!
And if you can ever get to Ackerman to see the place, just trust me: It's worth the trip!

Should church serve as a political forum?

I came across a circumstance today where someone distributed fliers for an upcoming politically-related event. As I understand it, the distribution of these fliers was not sanctioned or authorized by church leadership.
Regardless of whether church leaders were knowledgeable or not, I personally think church is not the place to promote or endorse political activities, regardless of party affiliation, platform or agenda - not any Sunday, but especially not Easter Sunday.
Anyone agree, disagree or otherwise have a thought?

Embracing Easter

This weekend, I've been trying to absorb the impact of the three days between Christ's death and his resurrection, maybe more so than I ever have.
It's so easy to get caught up in the preparation for celebrating Easter that we miss Him - and what he went through - in the process.
Emotionally and mentally, I'm trying to place myself in front of the cross and get a sense of the pain and grotesque physical state he was in as he died. This was not a death where the person fell asleep one night and didn't wake up the next morning. We shouldn't understate how much he suffered; it wouldn't do his death justice.
What's so great is that the story isn't over on Friday afternoon. It resumes on Sunday morning with his resurrection.
As I've mentioned, Amanda and I have been attending and volunteering with LifeChurch.tv. This weekend, Craig Groschel talked about the path of his life and how the Lord was there, but often we're not in a position to see it. At times, it's taken a while for me to understand it.
But he's been there, and I do see it now.
I pray that everyone who reads this will embrace the truth of Christ's death and resurrection and learn to love and grow with him.

An amazing but trying day

I apologize to those who've recently come across my blog through Twitter or other means that there hasn't been much to look at lately. This'll give you something to read for now.
Today was one of those life-changing days - it came with its share of problems but it was also so rich with blessing and goodness, it's too amazing not to share some of it.
The condensed version is that we heard a message at church which seemed at least in part to validate a course of action we'd been considering for some number of weeks and was almost like the swift gust of air needed to get a stationary sailboat moving. We felt a sense of relief as we shared some of these details with some of those closest to us, compelled by the message we'd heard.
We also watched a couple who'd been married 25 years renew their vows - an equally moving and thrilling experience. Earlier, I'd seen two people who'd been at opposite ends of an issue work out their differences in a short, love-filled conversation. I truly saw a reconciliation happen and it was very cool to see.
The trying part came in the form of facing nearly immediate challenges after we'd left church. Yes, I understand the verse which says "the rain falls on the just and the unjust."
I get that.
But it seemed like it couldn't be a coincidence that we were getting resistance so soon after we'd heard these redeeming and heart-stirring words of truth.
At its core, the message was simply that following/trusting Christ carries with it no actual (as in no clearly calculable) risk, but it isn't safe to follow him. His followers, scripture warns, will face all manner of trials and tribulations. Our church, the messenger said, is to be a place where it is safe for those who don't know Christ to come, learn about Him, ask questions and generally find out what our faith is all about. It is also a place where once someone commits to Christ it is no longer a "safe zone."
So we've got our hearts open to hear more from the Lord about how best to follow this path He's laying out for us. For those of you inclined to pray, please do so and ask Him to help us hear and trust Him as walk in the direction of the sound of His voice.

Internet church - yes you read correctly

If you've never seen or heard of it, Internet church sounds strange.
It would have to me had I not experienced it myself.
Though a long series of circumstances, Amanda and I have found ourselves hanging out at least once a week together and Amanda on her own at least two other times during the week as a volunteer at Life Church's Internet Campus.
Yes, it's church on the Internet in the sense of a worship service, an offering and a message.
But it's so much more than that.
We've connected with people from various parts of the country, including people in the area where Life Church is actually based - Oklahoma.
And we're having a blast with it!
My initial concern about the idea of online church was that it lacked personal, human connectivity.
I'm quickly learning that this is remedied with phone conversations, video chat and other forms of contact. Of course, nothing beats an encouraging hug or a pat on the back in a tough time. So, there's that to work out. But I think it will in due course, though I'm not exactly sure how.
And there is the actual expression of faith that must happen, but I know they have mechanisms for that and I think that will just happen naturally.
Amanda and I met on the Internet, as most of you know, so it seems natural that we would feel comfortable experiencing fellowship and other interaction through this medium.
I guess the best thing I can suggest is stay tuned!

Real problem or teapot tempest?

This story greeted me this New Year's Day morning and I just have to ask for opinions on this, regardless of perspective.
Let me put a framework on this first.
If we'd asked the late George Carlin to offer the invocation, it would have probably been bleeped often and sounded like an atheist's plea for the Christians to shut their pieholes, but it would have been inclusive of those who do not share the Christian faith and no one would not have asked him to sway from his bent. Or if they had, he wouldn't have listened.
Yet, there is an expectation - in some circles - for Rick Warren to "tone down" his expression of his faith by not naming the name of the One in whom he professes to have faith and whom he encourages others to call upon when he delivers the Inaugural invocation 19 days from now.
Sure, I think having Warren present is an attempt on President-elect Barack Obama's part to do what he said he would do election night - and that's try to be the president of those who did not vote for him. Millions of evangelicals did not vote for Obama, for a myriad of reasons. He should be given credit for acknowledging them. It sure beats the alternative - ignoring the millions who voted red instead of blue.
So all this said, is it fair for those who are not fond of Warren's expected presence on the dais on Jan. 20 to expect him to exclude Jesus Christ from his prayer? Should he be mindful of the fact that not everyone in this nation professes faith in Christ and offer some form of generic, all-inclusive prayer? Or, should he stay true to his faith and not waver one iota? Please opine!

What do you think?

I saw this bumper sticker and decided it would be great online discussion fodder, so I snapped a picture of it.
Regardless of whether you are a believer in Christ or not, please take a look at this bumper sticker and offer your response.

Friends

A touch on a shoulder. A genuine hug. A sincere inquiry about how one is doing.
Lately, I've been reassured that I have friends in my life who care. Though not everyone goes to our church, most do. Some, unfortunately, are many miles away.
I'm very glad to know that we have friends who love us unconditionally - often in spite of our obvious and even not-so-obvious flaws. I find myself caring intently about people who I've not always seen eye-to-eye with and knowing the feeling is mutual.
This isn't touchy, feely stuff - it's real-world.
And I think it's a true picture of God's grace.
As I try to reflect on what I'm thankful for, this is definitely something which fits in the category.

Thanks!

To all who have prayed for and supported us over the last 13 weeks during Amanda's unemployment, we say thank you!
She accepted a position today with an established employer in the area and overall we think this is a good step for our family. Thanks again!

Keeping it real, Part III

Blogger’s note: This is the third and possibly final installment on the subject of being real. It is in response to posts by my friend Kim. Her blog is: Innocent Lamb.

'Connection - In an isolating age'

As I began to think about how to craft this post, I found myself embarking on a journey through what felt like a maze of narrow rows of thorns. No matter which way I turned or shifted, I risked getting cut – offending or, even worse, alienating one group or another. I also tried to weigh how much I needed to explain about my positions on the things which made this navigation tricky. Of course, that too could make the trip more difficult.
Ultimately, I am trying to look at how we turn our efforts to connect and be real with those outside the church, especially those seen as outcasts.
So I’ve come up with what I see is the best way to address these issues, both with the following disclaimer and a moderate amount of explanation along the way.
This post is neither an endorsement of the behaviors described or depicted below, nor is it intended as a condemnation of those who would engage in these behaviors. It is certainly not intended to violate the copyrights of the late Jonathan Larson or others who now hold these rights.

With that out of the way, let me introduce to you the following people:

Mark is a struggling filmmaker who has awkward interactions with his ex-girlfriend - a performance artist named Maureen - and her new significant other, Joanne.
Roger is a frustrated songwriter who is afraid to get involved with a stripper and IV drug user named Mimi.
(Tom) Collins is a technical genius who develops a relationship with Angel, a transvestite street performer who helped Collins in his time of need.
Collins, Angel, Mimi and Roger are all HIV positive.
These are the majority of the central characters in “Rent,” a dynamic, challenging, fantastic rock opera – now both in stage and screen versions - written by Larson.
Here are some of the questions they ask or realizations they reach:

From “Rent:”
How can you connect in an age
Where strangers, landlords, lovers
Your own blood cells betray
What binds the fabric together
When the raging, shifting winds of change
Keep ripping away

From “What You Own:”

Connection - In an isolating age;
For once the shadows gave way to light …
For once I didn't disengage

From “Finale B:”

Will I Lose My Dignity
Will Someone Care
Will I Wake Tomorrow
From This Nightmare
There's Only Now
There's Only Here
Give In To Love
Or Live In Fear
No Other Path
No Other Way
No Day But Today

Here's a key example of what I'm talking about from "Rent."

"Rent" is an amazing work I simply don't think we should dismiss because of its content.

On the subject of connectivity, to quote a work referenced in one of Kim’s posts, “Sacred Companions: The Gift of Spiritual Friendship & Direction” by David G. Benner:

“The hunger for connection is one of the most fundamental desires of the human heart. We are like immigrants in a new land, with no family or friends and no sense of place. We seem to have lost our mooring. Or perhaps we have lost some part of ourselves. Like pieces of a puzzle seeking their adjoining pieces, we long for connections that will assure us that we belong.”
Without giving away critical plot details in case you have never seen “Rent” and want to, these six outcasts from both the church and the culture at large form an inseparable bond that at one point is referenced as a “family.”
In talking over this post with Amanda, she made a very valid point: Sometimes those outside the church are better at creating community than those inside it.
Why is that when we are supposed to be work and exist as a body and inherent in that is connection? I don’t have an immediate, safe answer. I do know that I don’t think much of what we do in American Christianity is what we’re meant to do. Again, I’m not sure I have a formula or strategy as to how to get us to a modern form of the authentic church, but I do think it’s something to which we should strive.
How do we make Christ and his church attractive to people like the central characters in “Rent” without compromising the values we find in scripture? Does it really matter if we compromise dogma for the sake of “leaving behind the 99 to save the one?”
How can we make the church relevant to people who wind up finding family and connection in their own ways, seemingly making the church irrelevant?
How do we meet what I see is the standard, which is preaching Christ and him crucified and meeting the standard of Matthew 25:34-40 - helping those seen as the least.
How do we interact with those outside the church, who, by virtue of Christ’s commission, we are directed to reach, especially in today’s culture of fragmentation and often isolation?
I think we have to use Christ as the standard.
In scripture, we are directed to be in the world, but not of it. Somehow there is a balance to being relevant to and interactive with the world we find ourselves in and yet distanced from attitudes and behaviors contrary to Christ’s example.
If you’ll recall, Christ is seen by some as associating with the wrong crowds, something of which most of us in the modern church could never stand accused.

So how do we do this – interact with those would be seen as outcasts by the church and yet not follow their habits and patterns? It’s a perplexing question I think will take a lifetime to answer.

We have to get our own houses in order and make sure we are walking with Christ and are living out the things we say we believe among those closest to us first if at all possible. It’s a tall but necessary order. I used to think it was a “once and done” thing, but it’s really a daily process. However, we shouldn’t let fear of something being discovered being out of order in our own homes as an excuse not to follow Christ and his leadership in our daily lives as we engage the world outside.
As we proceed to look and act externally, we can start by looking at how Christ dealt with people seen as “sinners” and compare them with how he handled the religious elite of the day.
An example of the former can be found in John 4:7-26 – the story of the woman at the well.
It’s safe to say that while he was direct and truthful with “sinners,” he was not overly harsh or abrasive toward them.
He was a whole other person with those who thought of themselves as holy and righteous, but yet permitted unholy activity in sacred places, as seen in Matthew 21:12-16.
In response to these two passages, I think we should continue to study the character and nature of Christ and follow his example, treating people by the Golden Rule (treat others as you would want to be treated) and tackling the things with which Christ would take issue.
So then, at minimum, people seen as outcasts from society and the church would least have a chance to interact with the church, and possibly, learn to love Christ and his teachings. I pray the Lord will lead all of us who read this post to come to this conclusion and that people like those who live like the folks in “Rent” will somehow learn to have hope for more than just today, though today is all we have for the moment.
To borrow words from “Rent:” for once, maybe none of us will disengage.

Keeping it real, Part II

Blogger’s note: This is the second installment of what will likely be three posts on the subject of being real. It is in response to posts by my friend Kim. Her blog is: Innocent Lamb. Also, there is one reference below which is of a graphic nature. As you read you'll hopefully understand why I included it. Just a heads-up.

Being real - obstacles, challenges and boundaries

To examine some of the reasons why being real is so difficult, I want to pick through the cultural challenges, starting with the broader scope.

The culture as a whole - A strange gumbo of superficiality and reality

In today’s American culture, we see a strange gumbo of superficiality and reality. We get limited glimpses of those we hold up as celebrities, and for some reason, the ones who appear more vain and vapid tend to rise to the top. Yet, there are television shows such as “How to Look Good Naked” and “Celebrity Rehab.”
The first show helps real women feel good about themselves by helping them see the good in what they see in the mirror. This public service can help other women erase years of self-doubt and even pain about what they perceived as a weakness.
The second gives us a glimpse into the world of drug rehabilitation and everything that goes with trying to kick the habit. It lays out all the dysfunction and destructive patterns which lead people down the path of addictive behavior, all the traps which create obstacles for those trying to get clean and gives a clear picture of just how tough but necessary it is.
So in what we see and read in our culture, this strange mixture of sobering reality and gagging superficiality can leave us wondering just where the markers are.
How much truth can and should we stomach – about ourselves, about others – and yet how to do we live so we are genuine human beings who are real and yet are following Christ and attempting to help others do the same?

The culture in the church – “I don’t believe I’d have told that!”

The late, great Southern humorist Lewis Grizzard once told a story about a church leader – possibly conducting a revival – encouraging those in the congregation to “tell it all, brother, tell it all.”
I don’t recall what the first few instances were, but I do remember the third one – Someone confessed to an act of bestiality.
The leader responded, “I don’t believe I’d have told that!”
Of course, I believe that confessing our shortcomings and sin can lead to healing and reconciliation with God and other human beings, but should something as (rightfully) taboo and illegal as bestiality be shared in public? My tendency is to say no, but I do not think that we should hold the attitude of “tell it all,” then be shocked when someone takes us up on it.
We’ve been taught, either directly or indirectly, that putting on a mask and being someone we may not be naturally is the right thing to do – in general public and in the church setting.
Revealing things about ourselves can be troubling, misleading or even off-putting, or it can draw unnecessary attention to ourselves when we should be trying to bring attention to Christ. Yet, there are times when we share something openly, someone else can relate and realize they are not alone. Often, that is where our enemy tries to ensnare us – he makes us think we’re the only ones with a particular problem, so we are beyond help and repair, even beyond the grasp of God. Sharing something openly can also bring healing to ourselves and others.
Generally speaking, I believe that as we grow in fellowship with other believers, we should have safe places and safe people in our lives where no matter what the issue may be, we can safely share a hurt or pain and extend a hand to a friend who’s hurting.
Instances of open, public sharing should be with the leading of the Holy Spirit and, when possible, the support of those close to us.
Is there a hard and fast rule about what to share and when? No, I don’t think so.
But it is my firm belief that the church should be last place where we find judgmental stares, snickers underneath the breath, backbiting and complaining. I speak as one who has participated in my share, and asks the Lord for his forgiveness, but one who believes that if the church is to fulfill its role, it needs learn how to love people where they are, because that’s exactly what Christ did when we first came to know him. How can we treat others any differently?
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35.
And we can’t just love those who love us. That’s easy and our natural inclination. We need to learn to move beyond this by his grace.
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. … But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” Luke 6:32, 35 (NIV).
I think in scripture there’s no mandate that we make every contact intimate, yet we still need to allow the Holy Spirit to do what he needs to do to touch a life, even one we would not ordinarily want to touch.

Where do we go from here?

As with so many things in life and as a Christian, there is a balance. We must not say or do things which will inflict long-term harm to a person or a relationship. Yet, we must be wise and sensitive to share things to another person and about ourselves to be of benefit to the other person, even if what is said or done isn’t pretty or fun. And we should be willing to be open and truthful with people about ourselves in a way that is pleasing to the Lord and of value to others.

Keeping it real, Part I

Blogger’s note: My friend Kim recently started a series of posts about being real. I was so struck by her initial post that I thought I would develop my own responses in the blog world. This is the first of at least three intended posts on the subject.
Kim’s blog is: Innocent Lamb.

A ‘Band of Brothers’

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother." – William Shakespeare from “Henry V”

One of my favorite projects developed for mass consumption is the HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers.” It’s an insightful, detailed and graphic look at the men of Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, who fought in some of the critical battles of the European Theater in World War II. I personally think every one should see it. One of the beauties of living in a relatively free society is that we aren’t required to do everything, but I think seeing what these men did will help us appreciate the freedom we do enjoy.
The miniseries is based on the book by the same name by the late historian Stephen Ambrose. Its title, from what I can tell, has its origins in the Shakespeare quote above.
While a majority of the miniseries consists of a dramatic retelling of the stories of Easy Company, several of these real men who experienced both the horror and kinship of warfare share their experiences and feelings openly for our benefit.

Here are some excerpts from what some of the men said above:
Dick Winters – “It’s a very unusual bonding.”
Carwood Lipton – “We knew we could depend on each other, and so we were a close-knit group.”
Donald Malarkey – “Just brave, so brave it was unbelievable.”
Bill Guarnere – “I’m just one part of the big war, that’s all - one little part. And I’m proud to be a part of it. Sometimes it makes me cry.”
Babe Heffron – “The real men, the real heroes are the fellows that are still buried over there and those that come home to be buried.”
Shifty Powers – “Seems like you figured that you thought you could do just about anything. And after the war was over, and you came back out, why, you lost a lot of that, or at least I did. I lost all that confidence.”
John Martin – “Well, you was hoping to stay alive, that’s all.”
Dick Winters (in quoting a letter from a fellow soldier) – “Grandpa? Were you a hero in the war? Grandpa said ‘No, but I served with a company of heroes.’”
Confidence. Bravery. Staying alive. Selflessness. Humility. Unbreakable bonding.
I believe these things have their application for us as believers in the context of a group of believers whose lives are forged together by following Christ’s lead and interacting with each other.
This following video goes to the core of what Kim refers to in her first post about a “band of brothers” as referenced by John Eldredge.

I agree with and embrace the concepts I hear Eldredge relay in this video and in other materials I’ve seen or read of his.
I dare say that this “band of brothers” referred to in the Eldredge video can and should include the fairer sex in the appropriate context.
During a period of time when Amanda and I attended a home church environment, I learned a great deal from a particular female friend of ours who shared her feelings openly with the larger group. Fortunately, this friend continues to teach and challenge me in a positive way when I get to spend time with her.
Knowing that I would have missed out on learning from her that first few times in a larger environment, I long to create and protect the development of such collective sharing.
I certainly understand that there are times when men and women should gather together within gender boundaries to learn from the Lord in a safe environment where hurts, pains and other issues can be addressed on a deep level without any influence from the opposite sex.
But I also know that the Lord can use all of us in a collective environment where we all gather together and help each other walk through life, where men learn from women and women learn from men. I’m not talking about starting a cult or anything crazy like that – just a legitimate, organic collective of people – who honestly may not be friends at first but would eventually be impossible to separate with a crowbar over time – who love the Lord and commit to love each other in spite of each other’s many flaws.
I’ve been privileged to have been in several environments where this kind of sharing between the genders happens and is of no threat to anyone’s marriage, but we are not currently part of anything like this.
I long to return to an environment like this and go even deeper, where two or three couples interact and share with each other on a deep level.
Intimate friendship in the Christian context has its roots in the relationship between Jesus and John, who is referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” on more than one occasion in scripture.
I think this sort of interaction – both at the intimate, four- to six-person level and the creation of a larger group environment - where we can all share and work together openly - will go a long way toward living up to Christ’s words from John 13:34-35:
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Of course, this idea is not to exclude those who are not married, but as with the interaction between married couples, the interaction among singles on the deep level must also be such as not to create inappropriate relationships across the genders.
OK, so where does the reality come into all this?
To go deep, we must be real. To be real, we must feel safe to do so. Confidentiality is a necessary and non-negotiable aspect to this. So is checking a judgmental attitude at the door and letting a person share what is on his or her heart without fear of backlash or ridicule.
Amanda and I recently met a couple who’d walked a very hard road to have a child. We had just talked to them for the first time beyond the introductory level, yet they were so refreshingly open and honest about their circumstances. It was so incredible to meet people who were so real without even being prompted. We both felt magnetically drawn to them.
We know that not everybody operates like this but it just reminded me that I long to be in fellowship with people who don’t give it a second thought to share openly and freely with each other without fear of alienating those with whom we are in contact.
In many cases, this takes time and patience and that’s OK.
I pray the Lord draws together those of us who want to see this kind of “band of brothers” develop and be a permanent structure within our lives.
I envision Christians living in a community – not a physical compound – but a collective gathering of people whose love for each other mirrors that of the natural family but goes beyond that in supporting each other in growing in our faith and living our lives more closely to what Christ envisioned.
To relate these concepts back to the overarching theme of the miniseries and the origin of the term “band of brothers,” it is because of Christ’s shed blood that we even have the foundation for such a collective of believers. And, this fellowship can and should produce the result Christ speaks of in John 15:13-14:
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”

Changes

Sometimes, change happens in incremental, barely noticeable steps as we watch, like a bathtub being gradually filled with water.
Sometimes, it happens all at once - like a tornado.
About a week or so ago, I started listening again to the song "Changes" by Yes from their fantastic album "90125." While it's mostly a song about a relationship which appears to be at an end, it has some lines relevant to change in general. They've become more real to me as we are undergoing some changes in terms of Amanda's employment.
Some of the lines from "Changes" I find particularly meaningful right now include: "I'm moving through some changes; I'll never be the same; ... Capitalize on this good fortune; ... Only through love changes come."
The video to a live version of "Changes" is below.

The change began to unfold for Amanda Thursday around the same time a storm system bearing a tornado - which ultimately created tremendous damage, but fortunately only limited injury, to a community about an hour northeast of where we live - began its path through the area. The irony is simply too apparent to me to pass over.
A very well done video about the tornado's aftermath can be found below.

Speaking for myself, I'm sensing a peace about the road ahead. Though it is fraught with uncertainty, I'm trusting what happens in the future will be the best for us, even though the first few hours after the news hit looked and felt awful.
The losses experienced by the people of Caledonia, Miss. are in no way compared to the change we are going through (our house is intact, our cars are drivable), but the timing of both events taking place almost simultaneously seemed incredibly poignant.
Our hearts go out to the people of Caledonia. We pray they will get their lives back together and the Lord will provide for them the peace I'm sensing, that he will do a whole lot more with our lives than we can ask or imagine, even though it may be hard to see it in the first window of time after a life-altering event takes place.

The Man in Black

Early in the morning of May 11, 1965, officers in Starkville, Miss. arrested Johnny Cash for public drunkenness. As he told it in the song "Starkville City Jail," he was just "pickin' flowers."
Organizers are planning for this weekend in and around Starkville the first-ever Johnny Cash Flower Pickin' Festival in honor of the late country music legend.
Cash was tough enough to empathize with the hard-boiled characters in his songs and play for those in prison, human enough to struggle with addiction and connected to his faith and His Lord and Savior enough to live well his own story of redemption. He remains one of my favorite musicians.
Starkville is a little over halfway between Interstate 55 and the Alabama line along U.S. Highway 82 within a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Memphis, Tenn., Birmingham, Ala. and Jackson, Miss. It is also accessible by air at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport just east of Starkville.
Entry to the festival is free, though organizers suggest a $10 donation to support the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum and the Starkville/Oktibbeha Boys and Girls Club.
Information can be found at www.myspace.com/pardonjohnnycash
or www.pardonjohnnycash.com .

Over too soon

My wife, who does a much better and more efficient job at this whole blogging thing, summed up what happened two days ago. I will say that this pregnancy reinvigorated us with the idea of being parents again, and while I don't understand why things ended this way, I'm learning to trust that there are many valid reasons why things don't happen the way we think or plan, and by the grace of God, we'll try again.
Many wonderful, kind and generous people have expressed their love and support - including calls, floral arrangements and tears of sympathy and watching Jadyn for hours - for us in the last 48 hours.
We feel tremendously blessed to have the friends we do.
From here, I'll let our letter to the baby speak for itself. She already posted this on her blog.

----
Dear Baby,

We found out today that you are no longer with us. We can't tell you how sad we are that we aren't going to get to experience you growing and coming into the world and becoming part of our family. We know that Jesus has other plans in mind for you, and that your brief time among us will somehow bring glory to God if we let it. We all love you so much and we look forward to one day seeing you when we all get to Heaven. Until that time, we know God will take good care of you.

Love,
Mommy, Daddy and Jadyn

9/11 and AFA

"As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!"
Galatians 5:12 (NIV)
I was at a college ministry conference in Alabama about 15 years ago when I came across this verse and understood how Paul felt about those who were so adamant about circumcision as something that Christians should continue to do.
I was shocked that something so offense found its way into the Bible - I thought we just didn't talk about those kinds of things if we were "decent" Christians.
Sometimes, using or allowing strong language is appropriate under limited circumstances.
In recent days, the American Family Association has threatened a massive action against CBS stations who, in the coming days, re-air "9/11," the amazing documentary filmed as the horrific events of that day unfolded.
In this documentary, there are segments in which some of those pictured use foul language. I've seen much of this documentary and don't remember what words are said and in what context.
I can imagine the most upright of us uttering - uncontrollably - some pretty indecent words at the sights these men and women witnessed.
While I certainly agree our airwaves shouldn't be cluttered with filth, such as gratuitous sex, violence and language, these are genuine people sharing their raw emotions about a real event.
I've also felt the same way about "Saving Private Ryan." Though fictional in its basic storyline, it is historic fiction - a film using the device of a fictional character and set of circumstances to tell a real story - a story about courageous men who bled, fought and died for the freedom of this nation and others.
Soldiers cuss - it's a fact of life. That doesn't diminish their service one bit.
Many of those who answered the call to One and Two World Trade Center - unwittingly - gave their lives so that others may live. Our tendency is to sanitize and make things pretty which aren't.
Sept. 11, 2001 was, simultaneously, one of the darkest and most glorious days in this nation's history.
Frequent disclaimers should be sufficient warning to let "9/11" run as it was first assembled.
I say let it fly.

We didn't see 'Eva,' but ...

We couldn't pass this one up - This is the Arby's on U.S. 280 in front of Wal-Mart in Alexander City, Ala. Usually I cringe at horrid misspellings or misuse of the English language, but somehow this was endearing. Maybe they ran out of "e's." Maybe the manager's name is Eva. But somehow it conveyed the spirit of the holiday in a warm, welcoming, although imperfect way.
It's been a wonderful holiday for us and we're sad it's coming to a close. We thank the Lord for our blessings - the greatest of which is His love for us through His son. Our most precious gift is our sweet Jadyn who we treasure so much. Thank you for sending her to us. She is truly our Christmas miracle.

Prayer requests

Please pray for our friend Rina. Doctors are keeping her in a medically-induced coma while they determine how to treat a postpartum heart condition. She has three children, the youngest of which is 4 months old.
Also, our friend Bobby just suffered a heart attack and is on his way to a hospital about an hour away for treatment. Please pray for him and his family.