GROWING FAITH

thirsty

kentuckyfaithful — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:30:56 +0000

This week I visited a man in the hospital who had not had anything to drink since before his surgery 2 days earlier. Well, that’s not entirely true. He did sneak a long drink of water when his son walked out of the room for a minute but was quickly reprimanded and all drinks were removed from reaching distance. Due to the nature of the surgery, he was not allowed to have anything to drink because of the complications it may cause. Even the ice chips that he was given to moisten his mouth had to be spit out before he could swallow any melted water. And it would be a couple more days until he would be allowed to drink anything. As I visited with him, he shared repeatedly how thirsty he was. He could not stay focused on any other conversation because the dryness he was experiencing was so intense. He talked about how rough his mouth and throat were and how overwhelming his NEED for water was. And I felt so helpless because I could not give him anything to satisfy that thirst.

As I listened to him express his desperation, I could not help but think about the words of Psalm 63 . . .

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

I cannot imagine what the thirst this man was experiencing actually felt like. And I cannot imagine the thirst that the Haiti earthquake victims who were rescued after 8 days experienced. The first drink of water for these people was probably the most amazing thing they’ve ever experienced.

Yet all the water in the world cannot satisfy a thirsty soul.

music monday . . . WHAT DO I KNOW OF HOLY?

kentuckyfaithful — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:54:32 +0000

WHAT DO I KNOW OF HOLY, Addison Road

my friend Mary

kentuckyfaithful — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:49:49 +0000

My friend Mary lost her battle with cancer and passed away 2 weeks ago. I only knew Mary for a few years, but I always looked forward to the time I got to spend with her. Mary’s daughter was in my youth group and when we began a ladies basketball group at the church, she came and brought her mom. Mary could outplay everyone who even thought about showing up and I often felt bad for not providing enough competition for her with my limited skills. But Mary came every week. In the beginning, she didn’t talk too much . . . but she laughed alot at the rest of us (some of our players spent a lot of time on the ground or with the ball hitting them in the face . . . there was a good mix of skills in our group!) And she always smiled at us and listened to our stories and encouraged us – - and we never felt like we didn’t belong on her team.

As Mary opened up to us and began to trust us, she began joining in our conversations and we learned what was important to her. Mary got a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction from playing hard and playing well, giving 100% when only 50% would have been needed. Though she loved to join us any time we had an athletic event or game (and she helped lead our adult team to many flag football victories over the youth team!), she would stay home if our event fell on a day that her husband didn’t have to work. Mary loved her family and she valued the time she got to spend with them. She went to all of her daughter’s basketball, volleyball, and softball games and she often helped the coaches with records. She placed priority on raising her daughter to be a tough athlete and person of character.

And then about a year & a half ago, Mary developed a cough that she just couldn’t shake. For a couple of Monday nights, she continued to come and play basketball thinking it was just a cold. But I still remember when she called to tell me she had gone to the doctor and they decided to do a chest scan. And I remember when she called to tell me they had “found something” on the scan. The doctors told Mary that she had cancer in her lungs. Within a few weeks, we learned that she also had cancer in several other areas and she was scheduled for surgery on her colon. Little did we know that this was only the beginning of a painful struggle. Throughout the last year & a half, Mary went through a variety of treatments for multiple types of cancer . . . lungs, colon, bone, brain . . . her whole body was affected. Mary and her family struggled. They struggled physically. They struggled mentally. And they struggled spiritually.

Two weeks ago, my friend Mary died quietly in the middle of the night with her family by her side. Five days before that, Mary placed her faith in Jesus Christ as her only hope for salvation. Mary died resting in the grace of God that comes through faith in the risen Christ who died on a cross in OUR place, taking the punishment for OUR sins. Though I wish my friend Mary had found enjoyment in the glory of Jesus throughout her living years, I praise God that He called her to a new life in her death! That’s Amazing Grace!

evidence

kentuckyfaithful — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:29:57 +0000

Evidence that I do not fit with pop (or indie) culture America 2009 . . . the short list:

I don’t wear toms or crocs or sperrys.
My primary source of music is still CD’s and I have never used iTunes.
I think jeans should still be 100% cotton (not stretch) and that they should last more than a season.
My preferred method of communication is face-to-face conversation, not facebooking or texting or twittering.
I have to look up the meaning of words like rofl and btw.
I do not own a video game system and I have never played Wii - actually, I miss ATARI.
I have NOT abandoned my evangelical roots for a faith full of unexplainable mysteries, I DO believe biblical doctrine matters, and I KNOW that Jesus came for a greater purpose than just being an example of how to love others.

music monday . . . SUSTAINER

kentuckyfaithful — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 03:39:31 +0000

SUSTAINER, Dave Hunt

music monday . . . I WILL RISE

kentuckyfaithful — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:39:42 +0000

I WILL RISE, Chris Tomlin

There’s a peace I’ve come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There’s an anchor for my soul
I can say, “It is well”

Jesus has overcome, And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won, He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name, No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings, Before my God, fall on my knees
And rise, I will rise

There’s a day that’s drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome, And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won, He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name, No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings, Before my God, fall on my knees
And rise, I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
“Worthy is the Lamb”
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
“Worthy is the Lamb”

I will rise when He calls my name, No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings, Before my God, fall on my knees
And rise, I will rise, I will rise

personal mission

kentuckyfaithful — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:40:14 +0000

About a year ago while I was serving on staff at a church, I was asked to write a formal statement of personal mission. The following is a portion of what ended up on paper:

I exist to glorify God as I am being conformed into
the image of Christ and as I am representing Him in this world.

First, “I exist to glorify God.” I was created for and called to that purpose. I live in His world and within His plans. Glorifying God includes acknowledging His presence and work in my life and in the world around me as well as praising Him for all He is and all He does.

Next, “being conformed into the image of Christ.” Because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, I not only have a salvation with eternal hope but I have a salvation with intentional identity. God is continually shaping me to look more like Jesus through His Word, the work of His Spirit, and the influence of His people.

Last, “representing Him in this world.” My life is to be lived in a way that is the tangible expression of God’s love and grace. From helping people with everyday needs to simply offering words of encouragement or prayer, my actions and attitude should lead others to know more about God and point them to Him as the Source of all things good.

pretty destruction

kentuckyfaithful — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:40:27 +0000

“It’s scary how destruction can be so pretty.”
That was the comment I recieved from a friend when I posted this
picture on my facebook profile recently. So very true in so many ways.

music monday . . . CLEAR THE STAGE

kentuckyfaithful — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:53:18 +0000

CLEAR THE STAGE, Ross King

Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze if that’s the measure you must take to crush the idols — Jerk the pews and all the decorations too until the congregation’s few then have revival — Tell your friends that this is where the party ends until you’re broken for your sins you can’t be social — Then seek the Lord and wait for what He has in store and know that great is your reward so just be hopeful

‘Cause you can sing all you want to, yes you can sing all you want to, you can sing all you want to but don’t get me wrong . . . worship is more than a song

Take a break from all the plans that you have made and sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper — Beg Him please to open up His mouth and speak and pray for real upon your knees until they blister — Shine the light on every corner of your life until the pride and lust and lies are in the open — Read the Word and put to test the things you’ve heard until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken

‘Cause you can sing all you want to, yes you can sing all you want to, you can sing all you want to but don’t get me wrong . . . worship is more than a song

Anything I put before my God is an idol
Anything I want with all my heart is an idol
Anything I can’t stop thinking of is an idol
Anything that I give all my love is an idol
We must not worship something that’s not even worth it
Clear the stage, make some space for the One who deserves it

I can sing all I want to, yes I can sing all I want to, I can sing all I want to and still get it wrong

You can sing all you want to, yes you can sing all you want to, you can sing all you want to and don’t get me wrong . . . worship is more than a song

Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze if that’s the measure you must take to crush the idols

shelter from the storm . . . part 1

kentuckyfaithful — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 03:48:27 +0000

At the beginning of the last week of January, we were hit with an ice storm that has since been reported as the largest natural disaster in Kentucky history. The entire National Guard for the state was called up for crisis management and is still active managing the clean up efforts and making sure people are safe in their homes. Many MANY families are still without power and expect to be for the next couple of weeks. Our city experienced 100% power outage for the first 2 days of the storm; the extent of damage to the power grid here is equal to the damage in New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina. I spent a week in a Red Cross Emergency Shelter housed at a local church. There were about 200 people there with me (35+ are still living there) living with no heat or electricity and only a few lights powered by a generator. I don’t know that anyone there would say it was easy or even pleasant, but we were blessed to be safe and cared for. And regardless of difficulties experienced in that place, there was an incredible reminder in our face at all times . . .