Blackout!!!

I’ve been having some interesting bouts with my health over the past few weeks. Of course, I didn’t need anyone – like a doctor – to check me out, I could handle it myself, right? Wrong! It came to a dramatic conclusion this past Sunday evening when, for the second time in a week, I totally blacked out and smacked the floor with my head – ouch! After 15 stiches in my chin and another 9 in my right eyebrow, the doctors told me what was wrong. I had a very low magnesium count. By not taking care of myself and due to some intestinal problems I’ve been fighting, I managed to become very dehydrated. After about 4 hours of IV’s, things were back to normal and I was fine – except for the pain and stiches in my chin and eyebrow!

It’s amazing to me how something as small and seemingly insignificant as magnesium could cause such a tremendous negative effect on the body. One little chemical had thrown my entire system out of whack!

That’s a lot like sin, you know? Sin that we tolerate in our lives and justify it by saying, “It’s just a little thing.” Can so easily trip us up and throw our spiritual system out of whack as well. Is there anything that you’ve been tolerating in your life that you know is wrong? Some sin that you may think, “Is not hurting anybody” could be hurting you in ways more significant than you realize. Paul said in Romans 12:1,2 “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” I’m not saying we have to be perfect – that’s impossible. But when we tolerate sinful living and get tangled up in the web of sin, even if it seems “just a little thing”, we can trip and fall. Don’t get banged up spiritually because you have something out of balance in your walk with the Lord.

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Honoring my Buddy

Every now and then you meet someone that has a significant impact on your life. They’re more than just a friend. You connect with them on a much deeper level than you do with most other people. They’re the kind of person that you always trust, never doubt, and you know that they will be there through thick and thin. I’m talking about that special someone who has the unique ability to shape the rest of your life. I count myself to be blessed to have known such a man – Howard Carico. Howard was probably my most trusted confidant. A true warrior – both in the literal as well as in the spiritual sense. A retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant, Howard met the challenge of spiritual warfare with as much determination and tenacity as he met the enemies he faced in Vietnam and Korea. Underneath his “hard” exterior, Howard had a tender heart. God gave him a burden for the lost and hurting, and it showed in the way he lived his life. He was always reaching out to others and sharing the love of Jesus with everyone with whom he met. I loved his expression about the church: “It’s a hospital for the hurting, not a country club for the comfortable”. And that was truly the way he viewed his church. Howard didn’t have a “consumer” mentality when it came to church life. He was a giver – a man who believed that Christians should be about ministering, not just being ministered to. And Howard ministered to many – including me. My life is much richer. My walk with the Lord is much deeper. And my love for the lost is much more passionate because of his influence. I will miss my buddy greatly, however, I know we will meet again “in the sweet by and by”. Rest in peace my brother!

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Some Thoughts About Aging

As I stand at the edge of 2012, I have a few new thoughts about life. January 7^th, I turn 51 – an age I never would have believed I would reach when I was 21. Things change when we realize that we are more than ½ of a century old! Some of those things for me are:

1.    If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself. Even though in my mind I think I can still do the things I did in my 20s and 30s, my body is quick to tell me something totally different.

2.    I realize that I am living in the last days of my life. But, that’s okay. I’m not depressed about it, just more aware of the preciousness of each day. And like one person said, “The game is won in the second half, not the first half”. It’s more important how you finish than how you begin.

3.    Some folks think that age equals righteousness. However, I have found that the longer I live, the more I realize how far away from God’s righteousness I truly am. And that awareness makes me more grateful for the grace of God in my life.

4.    I now value the input of others in my life more than ever before. At a younger age, I didn’t quite believe that I needed others. I felt as though I could do everything myself. Looking back on the numerous mistakes I have made – and they are many – I now realize the importance of the wisdom, advice, and guidance of others.

5.    I am much more appreciative of my wife. After 28 years of marriage, I realize that I have spent more time with her than any other person on the planet. Without her, I would be lost! She completes me and I am thankful to God for blessing me with such a wonderful soul mate.

6.    I think less about how much I want to get accomplished and more about how I can pour my life into younger people so that God can accomplish what He wants to do thru them.

7.    I value my church more than ever before. I can now see that God has surrounded me with people with whom I can truly experience life. Things haven’t always been all fun and roses – in fact, some years have been like hell! But thru it all, I am beginning to realize that the people of the family of faith were put in my life by God as part of His plan to shape and mold me according to His plan for me.

8.    I can see more clearly than ever before, that God doesn’t put us in any church so that we can get our religious entertainment. But rather that we find the part He wants us to play in reaching those who have no hope or relationship with Jesus Christ.

These are just a few thoughts. I’m sure there are many more things you could add. Lynn and I pray that you all have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year! I’m excited about what God has in store for us in 2012!

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You Have A Story

I never cease to be amazed by the stories flooding in about how God is transforming the lives of the people at MVC. This week, I had the opportunity to listen a couple of folks that have greatly impacted my walk with the Lord. One of them is a local leader in our community. His take on “church” has been “religious” in nature rather than “relationship” in nature with others and with God. He shared about how MVC has been like “a breath of fresh air” for him and his family. He has never experienced such unbridled worship or outreach to the down and out of our society. And his impact on the people in the circle of his influence has been exemplary. Several of his employees and associates have began attending the church and their lives have been significantly impacted by the welcoming, loving, caring reception of the MVC family of faith and the ministries with which we join. His words to me this past week were, “My wife and I have shared about the great outreach of the church and how “we” are reaching this community. If there church were open for a service 7 days a week, we’d be there. We so enjoy the fellowship and atmosphere that it’s become a requirement for our weekly lives.” He also added that, “We can’t believe that this is an organization that’s not all about “me”, but it’s about “we”, and how we can change the world in which we live.”

I met with another person this week that wanted to share about how MVC had helped him face the disappointments of his past. He shared with me about how his childhood had been such a failure in his eyes. His parents were divorced when he was a young tot about 2 years old. At the age of about 12, he was sent by his father to live with his grandparents. During those formative years of school, he missed out on many of the opportunities for children to experience life with their mothers and fathers. He made various excuses for why they could not attend functions centered around mothers and fathers. And for many years, he carried a huge burden of anger against his parents, that greatly affected the decisions and choices he made in life. However, just recently, by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, he saw how God had sovereignly directed the events of his life, and used every challenge to form him into the person he is today. Although for years he regarded this as “fuel” for the anger he carried, he now saw it as God’s redemptive power in his life. Now, he uses that which was once anger, to be the catalyst for ministering to those who may have experienced the same that he experienced as a child.

Now, that’s the power of our Lord! That’s the influence of the Holy Spirit thru the lives of those whom are a part of the redeemed! Glory be to God! He is our “relentless Redeemer”. The One that is in control of all things! If you’re not already joined with a family of faith that is moving forward in this movement, join us for an exciting adventure toward Christ and the Glory of God as we “Exalt Him and share His love”! Be a part! You have a story that intersects with the stories of the people in your life, and has been perfectly fashioned to shows them how their stories intersect with the story of God – the Good News of Jesus Christ!

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