The Magic Of Love

The top three ways, ten best practices, or five golden rules. These numbers and titles generate traffic to blogs everywhere. They're catchy and generally easy to absorb and implement. But, how many top three, ten best, or five golden exist? All together...the three quickly become the three hundred. Kind of hard to absorb and implement the three hundred. Isn't it?

But, we continually cloud the clear and create the complex. Let's face it...we all want to know these numbers and titles. After all, aren't we steps from the peak? Getting ready to ride the wave of glory and success?

A fellow once had similar thoughts. He decided to vocalize these thoughts and ask the Master. What is the most important principle? Forget the top three, ten best, or five golden. Give me the one! The answer? Love God and love people. Huh? Seems too simple.

However, let's set aside the numbers and titles for just a moment. Not to sound like a love song...but, a little love may generate the traffic we're truly seeking. What about your husband, kid, neighbor, or wife? What would happen with love as your guide and partner? There's no need to answer this question. You already know the answer!

From my good friend, Wes Bell, love is spelled SHOW and TIME. Good advice and good truth for us all. Until next time. Jed.

Dirty Laundry

A church and a pub just a few blocks apart. How do these worlds interact and intersect? Better yet...do these or should these worlds interact and intersect?

Let's travel back a few posts. Perhaps it's time for a reverse Jericho...with the church blowing their trumpets and allowing their walls to crumble. Sounds poetic. But, what does it mean? What does it mean for this church and this pub?

For some reason, these questions are craving my attention. Jumping up and down and waving their hands within my mind. So, I'm letting my walls crumble and venturing out into the world of what ifs...

- What if my church eliminated the word orphans throughout my county?
- What if my church opened a coffee house, counseling center, or laundry mat?
- What if my church provided attorneys or physicians to those without means?
- What if my church united with area churches on any of the above?

These what ifs engage the community and reach the lost. Take the simple laundry mat. The relationships and opportunities. The life change through simple soap and water. Potentially, bringing this church and this pub together.

Or...providing the attorney or physician to the struggling dad or mom. Helping preserve families and kids instead of despair and distraught through secondhand tales.

My church functioning and operating downtown next to the flower shop and insurance agent. Joining the Chamber of Commerce. Waving at the barber across the street. Loving every chime of the front door.

How much more does uniting with area churches impact and improve these what ifs?

So, what should my church be doing beyond their walls? These questions will likely jump and wave throughout my life. What I do know? Don't glance over. Rather buckle down. Break the rules. Stretch the thoughts. Who knows where God will lead! Until next time. Jed.

Steeple Transformation

No thank you. I'm simply too busy and not in need of any additional business. These words were recently spoken to me. Pretty much leaving me speechless. I thanked him for his time and then hung up the phone.

Let's call this guy Hank. Hank owns a business and I was offering referrals with virtually no investment from Hank. Potentially generating thousands in sales for Hank. From my perspective, it was a huge win win. From Hank's perspective, it was simply additional noise in an already noisy world.

Huh. Shortly after this experience, my head started to spin. I was amazed, astonished, confused, and puzzled. What just happened? What went wrong?

The church and the lost instantly popped to mind. The lost are everywhere. The car behind us, the cubicle next to us, the house next to us, or the seat in front of us. Ironically enough, the church is everywhere. Across the bridge or down the street, a steeple is likely around the corner.

But, does the church ever relate with Hank? Looking at referrals, the lost, as simply additional noise in an already noisy world. The lost walking past these steeples. The church huddling underneath these steeples. Only drywall and lumber separating the two. Yet, this drywall and lumber appearing as mighty walls. Perhaps it's time for a reverse Jericho...with the church blowing their trumpets and allowing their walls to crumble.

I'm not here to condemn or convict. I love the church! I'm part of the church. But, I cannot ignore the stirring of God. Telling me to roll up my sleeves and get dirty as reaching and saving the lost is dirty business. It will stretch our comforts and customs. It will remold and reshape our steeples. It will not only change the lives of the lost...but, it will change me and you.

I can only speak for myself. But, I'm ready...ready to...

- Let go of my me mentality.
- Stand behind the leaders God has lead my way.
- And...short of sin, do whatever it takes to reach and save the lost.

Anyone with me? Let not Hank infiltrate our steeples as these steeples cost God the life of Christ. Until next time. Jed.

The Destiny Of Death

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

The destiny of death provokes emotions, fears, thoughts, and questions. Such as the why, where, when, and what if. However, this handful quickly fades and slips from within our grip. No matter the perseverance or strength. Only fading and slipping with the passing second, minute, hour, and day. So, all fairly irrelevant. Right? But, let's not underestimate the what if. This one only drops and falls. Dropping and falling. Breaking and shattering. Why? Because we simply let go!

What if I continually run from God's calling and leading?
What if I never healed or mended the relationship?
What if I never said I love you or I'm sorry?
What if I was wrong?

My wife's aunt passed away this past Saturday. Wrestling, struggling, and losing to cancer. The why, where, and when fading and slipping from within her grip. But, the what if firmly within her grip. She had the what if nailed. You see...she never let go. She trusted Christ with her life.

Perhaps you're thinking...so what? You're not alone. I know some family thinking the same. This thinking does not change the reality of Hebrews 9:27. Your destiny of death. Your judgment. Your reality. So...forget the why, where, or when. But, let's never let go. Let's nail the what if. Not tomorrow or even later today. Rather, right now! Before the sun sets and the what if becomes a has been.

Eternal Or Tacky

What grabs attention? Perhaps something shocking? Do you slow to peek, peep, or peer at whatever debacle sits roadside...usually encompassing someone's misfortune. Yes, this misfortune is shocking at times. But, is shocking always better?

More than shocking...I love to preach engaging. Engaging grabs attention! An engaging conversation, culture, painting, people, picture, piece, etc. Engaging will accomplish just that. It engages people, which cracks the doors for true conversations...for soul conversations. These cracks are the significance of life. These cracks are what thrusts doors open for eternity. These cracks are an engaging concept.

To risk some silliness...this engaging concept is why Mickey Mouse poses within my watch. Sure, I love Disney. But, this watch is also a great conversation provoker and starter. Provoking and starting and hopefully leading to the significance of life...these cracks. Sounds silly, right? But, conversation tends to flow and grow quickly beyond a cartoon mouse. I recently applied this philosophy to my iPhone. A picture of my new case is below...my wife hates it. I tried to explain my engaging concept. But, we seem to lack a kindred spirit. Instead, she goes straight to...what was it again...oh ya, tacky. Your thoughts?

The Bottom Line

Camp's Rants & Raves

We just got back from Family and Youth Bible Camp. What a great week! I tagged team the senior high with my friend Nick Marcoux. And…as always, we had a blast!

Here are a few glimpses…

- Serving the Lord with your all in the ordinary will result in the extraordinary. “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” (1 Samuel 16:11). This is Jesse talking of his youngest…David. David was living an ordinary life…serving God with his all. The rest of the story speaks for itself.
- You might not make it across the street, home, through dinner, or whatever. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man, the living should take this to heart (Ecclesiastes 7:2). Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog - it’s here a little while, then it’s gone (James 4:13-14).
- Knowing you might not…what are you going to do with Jesus? Forget all the other questions. This is the only one that truly matters.
- Listen to the Paul within your life…there’s likely more than one. Paul advised them saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul (Acts 27:9-11).
- What is it costing you to follow Jesus Christ? Then King David said to Ornan, “No but I will surely buy it for full price, for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing,” (1 Chronicles 21:24).

Also, here are some questions asked by the senior high…all eye openers…

- If you feel as if God is calling you to do something bigger than what you are capable of doing, how can you feel the confidence to do great things for God?
- Why does God not let something happen that you have worked hard for and would be able to praise Him through?
- Other than an accountability partner, what are good ways to break a habit, as in a habit nobody knows you do?
- How far is too far when it comes to dating? When does it become a sin? What’s the most advisable way to resist the physical temptations and sexual temptations from the opposite sex?
- What do you do if you have a friend who is a believer, but doesn’t attend church?
- My dad is probably not a believer. Besides praying, what are some other ways to also influence him?
- How should I begin to talk to someone about Christ? What should I say first?

Camp was a huge success! God moved in mighty ways and I’ll forever be grateful…for we serve an awesome God. Until next time. Jed.

Jesus Between Our If Then

Do you remember the if followed by a then? But, as noted, Jesus must come between our if then. If Jesus, then…

Today, I seem to be nostalgic. You see…I’m on the move. Off to a new career. A career that has been rooted within my heart and soul for nearly a decade. A career where the past roads have paved the way. And who paved these past roads? God and God alone. Without doubt or question. Although I had doubts and questions more often than not. God still paved. God is and was faithful.

I look around and then turn inward. Who am I? A wretch. A sinner. Deserving unto death. But…don’t forget that Jesus falls between my if then. As the Psalmist notes, “What is man that you are mindful of him?” I know. Do you? Simply put…we’re blessed and loved. John 15:15 notes, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends.” Wow! Don’t you feel blessed and loved to be known as a friend of God!

Life will be life. Hurdles and trails will come. Doubts and questions will follow. But, God will still pave. God will still be faithful. Put your life and your trust in Him…into His hands…the author and perfecter of our faith.

I hate to burst the bubble. But, we’re ordinary. Me and you. However, place Jesus between our if then and we remain ordinary with an extraordinary God in tow…as our friend. How cool is that! Until next time. Jed.

The Grand Curtain

There is a time for everything as Solomon says. A time to build, dance, heal, laugh, mend, speak, refrain, and so on. But…what would these words look like today? A time to blog, email, message, post, surf, text, tweet, and twit. We’re flooded with information and often driven by technology. Last night, I had to chuckle and somewhat frown all at the same time. I walked through the door and waited for my running hugs. You know…the ones that all fathers cherish. Instead, my five year old asked for my phone. Why? She wanted to play a game (Super Monkey Ball). Little red parent flags started to waive and she is now fasting from my phone. Fortunately, my two year old did not let me down. Man…I love those hugs.

Time is given to all. Employees, families, friends, kids, parents, spouses…me and you. So, are we present in the present or propelled by the if only? Ever play the if only game? It’s a fun little game. Let’s give it a shot…

- If only my car was way cooler.
- If only my commute was a little closer.
- If only my knowledge was somewhat sharper.
- If only my house was a little bigger.
- If only my muscles were a tad larger.
- If only my office was a few floors higher.

Now, what follows the if only? The then. You fill in the blank. Then…I’ll be better, happier, healthier, and/or wealthier. Conquer one if only and guess what’s waiting around the next corner. Yep. Another if only. Corner after corner. If only after if only.

Ready for the grand curtain? If only I knew Jesus, then I’ll be blessed. Present in the present and trusting in the Lord. We’ll dig deeper within upcoming posts. Until next time. Jed.

By the way…my sister-in-law has started a blog and it’s great. I’m proud of her. Check it out here.

The Speechless Sin

Ever been lost for words? Tongue tied? Speechless? Perhaps with good news such as the birth of a child or promotion at work. Or…perhaps with not so good news such as a diagnosis or layoff. Your mouth opens and nothing comes out…followed by nothing again.

Forget the good or not so good. What about sin? Wait, wait, wait…time out. Let’s not talk about sin. Who struggles with sin? Not me. Must be you. What’s that verse again? Something about a log in my eye. Right…

Sin often cripples and leaves us speechless with blame and shame. Who wants to talk of that? But, we have a voice. We have an advocate.

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But, if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins – and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. (1st John 1:1-2)

It is not either or. It is both and. We must cling to Christ if we are to experience the free life and when sin hits we have an advocate who will speak on our behalf and has already paid the price. So simple…yet so impossibly amazing!

No more wallowing in silence. Lift your head and praise the Lord. And let’s not forget the world. John Piper says it best. Don’t hog Jesus! Families, friends, and neighbors wallow day in and out. Share your advocate. Share Jesus! Until next time. Jed.

That Mystery Key

Sitting in my driveway…my friend managed to lock himself within his trunk. Keys within his pocket and no other way in or out. Don’t ask. Stupid high school stuff. In the end, his sister came to the rescue. A spare was left behind…just in case history repeated itself. Fortunately, it was never needed.

Just yesterday I went though our keys. Keys for anything and everything. Cars, churches, clubs, halls, homes, and offices. Kind of a mess. I still ended up with a pile of mystery keys. Holding on as if someday I’ll remember. Ya right.

Keys gain access…even through the hardest and toughest of doors. A simple twist and there you go. Boldly walking across the threshold.

People so often lug and tug the baggage and luggage of life. Searching and seeking for the mystery key. The key that will open, unlock, and free. Perhaps a counselor or doctor. Perhaps our friend Google. That key is out there somewhere. But…these people still lug and tug. Lugging and tugging past you and your church. Looking up and neglecting or even scoffing. At least never thinking. The church? Do they make keys?

Not the church…but, Jesus Christ who is embodied and represented through the church. Through us. We have that key. That mystery key. Do your relatives know? How about your colleagues or friends? Better yet…how about you?

People lugging and tugging past you and your church. Please stop, pause, and consider. But how? Relationships! After all…we were once lugging and tugging. But, we’re free (John 8:32). Not perfect or even all together. Simply freed and united through the blood of Jesus Christ. Related with the beliefs, experiences, and thoughts of fellow brothers and sisters.

Relationships. Or should I say…transparent relationships will get those luggers and tuggers to stop, pause, and consider. And when they do…we'll be there with the Key! Opening, unlocking, and freeing. Boldly walking across the threshold. Until next time. Jed.

Jesus Is Watching

A burglar snuck into a house one night. Shining his flashlight on the floor in the dark, he heard a voice saying, "Jesus is watching you."

He looked around nervously, shook his head, and kept looking for valuables. He again heard, "Jesus is watching you."

This time, he shone his light all over, and it rested on a parrot. He asked, "Did you say that?"

The parrot admitted that he had. "I'm just trying to warn you, is all."

The burglar said, "Warn me, huh? Who are you? What's your name?"

"Moses."

"Well, what kind of stupid people would name a parrot Moses?"

The bird answered, "I don't know, I guess the same folks who would name a rottweiler Jesus."

Ha ha. Spending the last few days within a hospital, I noticed something. Jesus. He was everywhere. Every time they moved my dad…you bet…there was Jesus. He was in the waiting rooms, lobbies, cafeterias, and oddly enough the bathrooms. The crucifix was hanging at every occasion.

You know…this hospital is on the money. Jesus is everywhere. Jesus is watching. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever (Psalm 121:5, 7, & 8). How cool is that!

Here’s a pic of Jesus within a waiting room...our temporary home away from home. Until next time. Jed.

The Best Is Yet To Come

There’s hope for today and hope for tomorrow. But…I’m somewhat drained, exhausted, jaded, and whipped. Thoughts are racing and racing fast. Reaching for just one and poof. It vanishes…as countless others race past. There’s no end and I’m out of shape. Nap time anyone?

Guess what? You’re not in this race alone. Sure…there’s doubts, fears, thoughts, and worries running wild. But, you’re not in this race alone. Sure…you may be drained, exhausted, jaded, and whipped. But, you’re not in this race alone. You may not even see a finish line. You ask…what’s a finish line? Do they truly exist? But, you’re not in this race alone. You may hopelessly look for a body…someone to talk to or relate with. But…yep, that’s right…you’re not in this race alone.

The writer of Hebrews says it best. Hebrews 6:18-19 notes, “Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” What does this text mean? Well…Jesus has your back and you’re not in this race alone.

There’s hope for today and hope for tomorrow. The best is yet to come! A simple post…but, one that’s dear and near to my heart. Until next time. Jed.

Fact - Computers Crash

The screen fades. As a precautionary, a box appears with four languages. Why the four languages? Who knows…perhaps for the multi-lingual among us or the simple jollies of a demented programmer? This box says you must restart and restart now! Oh…the bliss of computers.

This box has consumed, haunted, and plagued my last few days. But…never fear! I have conquered this box. That is after a complete reinstall of anything and everything. Followed by a complete restore of addresses, documents, emails, songs, and so on. Which all means that I have lost hours upon hours of my life. Wait a second. Perhaps I misspoke. It appears this box has conquered me.

I envision God looking down at us. Our screens fading. Our boxes appearing. We must restart and restart now! At what cost? After all…a day is like a thousand years to God. So, we should be up and running after just a few seconds of time. Sounds easy enough. Right?

But, God strives for the perfect and not the excellent. The excellent is just enough…giving the appearance of the perfect at first glance. Steve Jobs should take some pointers from God. If so, I wouldn’t have spent my weekend with languages I don’t understand. However, the perfect is too costly. Too costly for even the beloved iMac to achieve (sorry fellow Apple lovers).

Praise God! He reinstalled and restored and got us up and running again. He provided a permanent fix. He provided the perfect. At what cost? His life!

With Christmas on the horizon, let’s not forget Immanuel. God with us. The Perfect!

They Like Jesus But Not The Church

I stumbled upon a guy by the name of Dan Kimball the other day. Actually, I bought his curriculum for the college group.

“They Like Jesus But Not The Church”

It’s very interesting and intriguing. The first session talks of a Christian Bubble. Are you in one? What are you doing tonight or how about this weekend? Hanging out with Christian friends? Going to a Christian bookstore? Going to a Christian concert? Going to a Christian program? Going to a church? Listening to Christian music? Talking with Christian friends?

Do you see a theme? Christian! Don’t get me wrong…all good stuff. But, how does the world learn about Christ if the Christians are caught up in bubbles?

Here’s a list of all the sessions and a promo video…I would encourage you to check it out.

 Isn’t the church just organized religion that is politically motivated?
 Is the church homophobic?
 Does it take the entire Bible literally?
 Does the church repress women?
 Is it judgmental and negative?
 Does it arrogantly think all other religions are wrong?