“The road goes ever on and on,
down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the road has gone,
and I must follow it if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
until it joins a larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.”
- Bilbo Baggins
Archive for August, 2003
Tonight, a little past my bedtime, I’m speaking at ACU’s candlelight devotional. I think this is the seventh time in the last eight years. (I decided not to speak at the devotional Matt’s freshman year. Seemed like he ought to have SOME break from his dad’s preaching!)
It’s an amazing thing to stand before 1400ish new university students who are holding lit candles and singing praises. I try to imagine their parents back home praying for them . . . and the transformation that will happen in the next four years . . . and the ways that God will use them to accomplish his purposes in this world.
Yesterday we had a meeting for parents who have children in Highland’s children’s ministry–from birth through 5th grade. It’s a meeting we became qualified for in March 1982. And we’re still–barely!–qualified (as Chris enters the 5th grade). Very interesting to look around at the other parents, though, and realize that we could be THEIR parents!
Got to spend a couple hours today with Lynn Anderson. I always walk away from conversations with Lynn with more joy in my heart and more commitment to the work of God in this world.
So many people who follow larger-than-life ministers wind up disappointed in what they learn. For me, it’s been just the opposite. Since taking over “Lynn’s pulpit” in 1991 (after he was here 19 years!), I’ve found him to be even more authentic. Oh sure, there are the humorous stories about how he could never find his keys. But as a minister, shepherd, and friend, his tracks are genuine.
Lynn is exactly my dad’s age, and he has “fathered” me in ministry, just as he has so many others. To see what he’s up to these days, check here.
Idi Amin, the “Butcher of Uganda” who referred to himself as “Big Daddy,” has died. (See CNN article.) His name sits next to Hitler, Stalin, and Pol Pot: evil men who were responsible for the massacre of the masses. It’s estimated that 500,000 were brutally killed under his reign of terror.
Our friends on the Jinja, Uganda mission team once took us to the place where the Nile River begins. At that spot where Lake Victoria dumps out to begin the long journey of the Nile, Amin once dumped truckloads of cripples to drown and be eaten by crocodiles.
Some are upset that he never received the punishment he deserved. I’m just reminded that not all punishment comes from human courts.
One of Jimmy Buffett’s most popular songs is “Son of a Son of a Sailor.” I was thinking about that this week as I was writing a sermon on the church as a family. I thought about all the family members (Copes and Bushes and other relatives) who have helped form my life.
Echoing the song’s title, I’m the son of a son of a carpenter. I remember these things about Forrest Cope:
1) He was a hard worker. People described him as a carpenter who did good work, kept his word, and crossed racial barriers (before others were willing to). His rugged hands were testimony to his long hours.
2) He loved to study the Bible. I remember how he loved to fill out those old Gospel Advocate quarterlies! He knew each of Paul’s missionary journeys by heart. (It isn’t fair they he knew WAY more about the Bible than I do about carpentry. I didn’t get that carpentry gene.)
3) He loved my grandma and all his kids and grandkids. I think he had a nickname for almost all the grandkids.
4) He loved to eat . . . a good match for Grandma’s culinary skills.
5) He never lived in a large house or drove a fancy car or received an advanced education. He was content with a simple life of faith and family.
My life has been shaped by two carpenters: one, a hard-working grandfather in SW Missouri; the other . . . well, you know.
Spoke last night at Otter Creek in Nashville. What a joy to be there on the home turf of most of the Zoe gang. We’ve worked together several years now at Pepperdine and at the Nashville conference (as well as scattered other worship conferences), and I love worshiping under their leadership. What an incredible sound! Wait until you hear CD #7!
It was amazing to look out last night and see all of the familiar faces–people for whom I was their preacher while they were in college (either at Harding from ‘84-’91 or at ACU from ‘91-’03). Of course, the new bunch of students we’ll meet this Sunday will still just be 18 years old. That’s the odd thing about ministry with university students. You age . . . while they remain 18-22!
We just got around to watching “Bruce Almighty.” (For helpful parental information, see “Screenit.”)
After Bruce (Jim Carrey) gets overlooked for a promotion and then fired, he screams at God (Morgan Freeman), “You’re the one who should be fired!” So God invites Bruce to take over his job for a while.
The most theologically insightful moment comes later when Bruce’s girlfriend (Jennifer Anniston) walks out on him. Bruce cries out to God, “How do you make someone love you without affecting free will?” And God answers, “Welcome to my world. When you figure that one out, let me know.”
Now there’s a discussion starter!
What is spirituality? Even people worn out by burdensome or irrelevant religion have spiritual yearnings. But what does it mean for a Christ-follower to be spiritual? One of the best short responses comes from my dear friend Darryl Tippens.
Darryl points out some distinguishing marks of Christian spirituality: (1) it entails a specific way of life; (2) it is God’s work, not ours; (3) it is trinitarian; and (4) it is concrete and communal. Link to the article and soak it in!
This month is the beginning of my 13th year preaching for Highland. That means Highland has only had two preaching ministers since 1971! On mornings like this, full of prayers and blessings, I look out amazed that God lets me be a part of this herd.