the vintage life

I’m Back

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:39:59 -0500

I was out of commission all of last week as I was diagnosed with H1N1, the Swine Flu. I woke up with a cough last Monday and it was all downhill after that. I did recover enough to come back and preach on Sunday. I am much better now.

Today was Psalm 107 for me (as I am now a full week behind because of last week). This psalm is a great refrain...telling a different groups of people and how they have seen God at work. Then after sharing their particular deliverance story, the repetition of the phrase ‘let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love.’

Each of us who are Christ followers have our own deliverance story. Whether it be from some sort of addiction, sin, or just from an empty life of selfishness, we all understand God’s moving on our behalf.

So, let US give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and wonderful deeds for US.

and the blog continues...

the company i keep

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:55:13 -0500

Psalm 101 has brought a fresh realization to me about how important it is to surround myself with godly influence. Yes, we’re supposed to befriend non-believers (in fact, it is in my stated goals for 2009 to do so). But who I allow influence in my life affects me more than I recognize at times.

We all know this already. Have you ever noticed those older couples who have been married for like 75 years - don’t they look alike? Isn’t it odd that the longer a couple is married, the more they look, act and talk like each other? Well, we’re no different. I listen to sermons as a hobby (I know, I’m a nerd). I find that if I listen to any one particular preacher for multiple sermons in a row, the next few sermons that I preach will have similar turns of phrases, verbiage, etc.

Psalm 101:2 - “I will be careful to lead a blameless life.”

How does the psalmist do that?

Psalm 101:7 - “No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.”

To be careful (diligent) to lead a blameless life involves paying very close attention to who and what I allow to have influence on me.

and the blog continues...

where i’ve been

Sun, 6 Sep 2009 05:35:58 -0500

The last several weeks have been insane for me. I have been preparing for a 10 day missions trip to India. I am teaching a leadership conference to 200 pastors in Damoh, India. They will be coming from all over the country, and even from a few other countries. Great opportunity. So, as I’ve been writing those sessions, along with regular preaching/ministry schedule, time for blogs went right away.

Now, I sit in a hotel in Jabulpur, India. I have a few minutes before we leave to have me preach at a village church here, then drive the 2 hours into Damoh, where we’ll be until Wednesday night.

In the last four days, I have been on an airplane each day - 4 different airlines. We flew out of St. Louis on Wednesday afternoon, headed to Chicago and caught a direct 15 hour flight to New Delhi. We arrived at 8:30 pm thursday night, local time, losing 10.5 hours. First thing Friday morning, Scott (our Executive Pastor) and I flew to Bagdogra (near Darjeeling) courtesy of SpiceJet airlines. I preached at a village service there. About 150 people were there in a little room, having walked several miles to attend, to worship our Lord...and see the Americans. We then went into Darjeeling and I spoke to a new group of pastors, just beginning a 6 month training program at the newly opened pastor training center. I now hold the honor of having taught the very first leadership session the center has ever offered.

First thing Saturday morning, we flew back (courtesy of India Air) to New Delhi and saw the sites. We toured the Lotus Temple and saw some amazing architecture. First thing this morning, we flew to Jabulpur (courtesy of KingFish Airlines...owned by the beer company). We are in a hotel awaiting the service that starts in a few hours.

That was just to catch you up. Needless to say, we are a bit exhausted and can’t wait to get to Damoh to the mission, catch up with the rest of our team, and sleep.

God has already been doing a great work in us and through us. I’ll keep you all posted as I can.

and the blog continues...

just listen

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:40:26 -0500

Psalm 81:8 - “...if you would but listen to me...”

Are you listening to God? How often do you sit down with the sole purpose of listening for God’s voice? Oh, how I wish I did it more often. Especially since this verse, as well as the entirety of the Bible, makes it clear that God will speak and is speaking. We’re just not listening.

So get quiet. Unplug. Turn off the radio. Take the earbuds out. Shut off the TV. Close the laptop. Sign out of Facebook. Don’t Tweet.

Just listen. Open up your Bible. Journal in lap. Pen in hand.

and the blog continues...

only because of a move from God

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:29:54 -0500

The major part of Psalm 79 is Israel feeling great REJECTION from God. It seems he has abandoned them, which is exactly what they deserved. As they sense that REJECTION, they ask God to make a move. To move his wrath from them onto his enemies. To accept them yet again. Here would be the result of that move from God:

Psalm 79:13 - “Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.”

RELATIONSHIP.

Once God makes his move, REJECTION is no more, for it is replaced by RELATIONSHIP. That’s called salvation.

There is nothing we could ever do on our own, no move we could ever make, that could have taken away the REJECTION. Only God can make that move. And once he did (and oh what a move it was in Jesus), the REJECTION was forever changed to RELATIONSHIP.

and the blog continues...