The new year is technically only moments away here. It always confuses me as to when we are to celebrate today. Most news channels say the new year starts in the eastern time zone. Our friends on the west coast have a few more hours left before midnight. We could also mention that January 1 arrived hours ago in Europe. Seems like a decent idea to just take the hour when it happens in your local time zone. The whole idea of going overboard when changing the calendar is something beyond me. I am sure that is is just my strange mental wiring that sees it that way. It is true that I will be glad to get 2010 behind me. Some years stand out over the course of time. My last year will be right at the top of that list.

Resolutions are the norm about now. People are making promises so their next year will be an improvement. Health clubs are about to see a spike in business. There will be a lot of new customers with every intention to get healthy during the year. Most of them will fall away as the winter progresses. I won't get on a soapbox here. This is just human nature. We tend to make all manner of promises for the future that tend to lose its luster over time. Getting better at being a human being requires much more than resolve. You already know this so my repeating it may ring hollow. One can only hope for the discipline and perseverance to make any resolution a reality.

You may also see lots of news programs and the like making predictions for 2011. We like to think about what the future holds. Some of the articles are meant to be on the humorous side. Some of the predictions tend to take a very serious approach. Looks like our President has some big decisions coming up. Odds are good that he will fail to make anyone happy. Congress should be a fascinating place for awhile. Fireworks may signal the end of the old year but they should be prevalent in politics for the next one. I don't take predictions with much serious thought. They have about the same effect as the weather forecast. Life tends to happen beyond the scope of even the best predictions. My best advice is to remember no one truly knows the future but God. Learn to expect the unexpected to keep your life in balance.

May we draw near to God while moving through this year. Let's keep in mind there will be obstacles for us to face. Try doing at least one thing during each day for another person with no thought of any reward. Attempt some new project that may be out of your comfort zone. Tell those closest to you that you care about them on a regular basis. Refuse to carry grudges or hurts that bring you no closer to God's purpose of life. Spend time with children so you can remember the awesome power of curiosity. Life is really not that complicated when you think about it. May your 2011 be the very best one ever. I hope to end this year still trying to say something here worthwhile. Have a safe and blessed new year all year long.

Bro. Trey

This website is telling me that this is blog post #400. My guess is that most of my writing here happened over the last six months or so. Most of this recent activity centered around my illness during the summer. Putting my thoughts here was a way to communicate what was going on during that journey. I will be happy if there are at least ten decent posts out of all that is here. Sometimes my opinion of my writing is much higher than its reality. Thank you anyone for whoever may stumble upon this site whether on purpose or by accident. Maybe the future will find better material here. I really don't know or keep up with traffic to my blog. But one of my new year resolutions will be to make this a better place of insight or inspiration.

Let me sum up what I wrote yesterday. My point to writing was to offer some perspective on how ideas for sermons come together. Most of this week is devoted to more than just being ready this Sunday. I am also trying to think into the next few months as to what topics will be covered. You should know that it is easy for the minister to get into a rut with preaching. All of us have favorite passages or issues to talk about. Some ministers use the church lectionary as the guide each week for sermon preparation. This is a church calendar tool that assigns a particular subject for each week. I use the lectionary on occasion. Much of my Christmas and Easter messages come from this tool. It is a great resource in avoiding the temptation of the familiar. But my tendency is to combine this aid along with personal study and reflection.

Another thing that is relatively new in preaching is the use of sermon series. Pastors began about thirty years ago or so to really major on tying messages together. Some of these are simply bible studies in a given book of the Bible that are delivered over a period of time. My pastor during the college years used this approach. He would preach over an entire year over one book such as Acts, Romans and other places. Contemporary preachers often use more topics as the focus of their series. Very few pastors of the more informal worship experience will tackle an entire book for a year. This is not to say that they do not teach the Bible. Their goal is to relate scripture in a more modern fashion. I like to do both of these methods. It really seems to be a both/and situation to me.

Praying about the direction of the sermons is a given. Nothing good happens without that divine nudge to guide you in preparation. I know how I am however. Odds are good for me to revisit the same passages or themes that make me tick. This is why it is good discipline for me to spend time looking at other sources for creativity along with praying. You can only talk about John 3:16 so often even though it is a great verse. My mind needs to be challenged to stretch past its limits. The heart also needs to be confronted with the process of being fresh with scripture. It is very possible that all of my efforts still fall short of my intent. Preaching is till a daunting task after all of these years. Perhaps this will be the year to get it right. That is my goal heading into 2011.

Bro. Trey

We are going to try to fit this blog in before my computer goes kaput again. It still amazes me how dependent we get on technology without knowing it. First it was learning how to use a computer years ago. My first awareness of one of these came while in college. I thought such machines would always remain locked away in the science department. Now you can do most of your computing right on your cell phone. Then it was becoming accustomed to having a cell phone within reach. We lived for centuries without such a thing but we could not exist in our society without one now. Cell phones were once used for calling people but now they work primarily for people to text one another. I really do wish we had a longer life span. My mind is fascinated by what technology will come up with next.

My original thought was in considering how I am trying to get a handle on ideas for sermons and such in the new year. There may be some blog posts related to this somewhere in the past but it seemed a good time for an update. This is a good week for thinking through topics that may serve as possible material. Some ministers can block out an entire year of studies as their road map. My efforts at doing that usually fail miserably. Then again, some may tell you that any of my efforts fall short. Regardless, that approach is usually beyond my reach. My childhood pastor didn't do many if any series of sermons that I recall. I do remember some of his messages but they didn't seem to follow an approach of relating several together. Most, if not all ministers today tend to use series of sermons of one sort or the other. Some of these are tied by a single topic. Some of these may be based on a single book of the Bible. I enjoy doing both types during the year.

One thing for me to do is to decide what not to do while planning sermons. This is why I keep a record of the texts and some of the topics covered in the past. Keeping this list began back in 2004 during the summer. I usually consult that list first to insure that my thoughts are not being redundant. My next move is to write down topics or books of the Bible that would be new to my current listeners. Not everything that gets jotted down makes the final cut. But it does serve the purpose to get my mind working. Another way to get direction is to reflect on the needs of the congregation. It is true that many of those needs will remain a constant. However there may be different facets of those issues that call for a fresh approach in the message. This does not mean being obvious when preaching. It is one way to relate scripture to the current conditions of the church.

So where does this leave us at the moment? One of the predominant thoughts is to use the Old Testament more as the new year unfolds. Isaiah is right now at the top of my list. Odds are good we will use that book to guide us at least through January. I am still working on an overall theme but perhaps that will come soon. Another idea for Sunday nights is to do a study on how to get more out of your Bible. This would not be exactly a verse by verse outline but it would deal with principles of interpreting scripture. This idea honestly came to me while having my port removed the other day. I overheard some of the assistants discussing biblical stuff as I laid on the table. Seems to me that my role is not just expounding the Bible but also trying to help others be comfortable with theirs.

We should return to this topic perhaps tomorrow evening. Feels like there are ideas being left out as we move along. Just do not read tonight's post and think all of the preparation is mental or academic. Listening to God's voice is essential in all of the above. He knows what needs to be said on any given Sunday long before I do. He also knows what you need to hear before you do. Both of us need to cooperate with Him for maximum benefit. My promise is to do my part. Will you do yours?

Bro. Trey

Life is strange when you don't have a vehicle to drive. My daughter got her car repaired so we started the day down one car. Then she left to run errands in town so my mode of transportation became walking. It is an odd feeling when you know you don't have something to drive. I left out the part where my need for driving was minimal for most of the day. We did go pick up her car late this afternoon. There still wasn't a need to go anywhere but it did make the nerves calm knowing it was possible. Amazing how being just a little off the norm can change how you feel.

Returning to life without my port is a tad different from the last few months. My incision still hurts some but it gets better with every hour. The whole bath process takes some adjusting for me. Orders are to avoid getting my bandage wet so the usual shower thing is out of the question. There is the benefit of getting some more exercise with bending or moving around more while cleaning up. I know all of this is probably more than you want to know but hopefully there will be a point to this. Another good part of today was getting to enjoy morning coffee. Fasting until my procedure was my instruction for yesterday. None of the above is anywhere near difficult. But even the smallest alteration in a routine can cause emotional restlessness.

I honestly believe that one reason some people avoid following divine guidance is simply due to how it makes you feel. We human beings do cherish our comfort. It's my opinion that we don't even mind learning tons of bible stuff as far as information or doctrines. Churches always have those people who are eager learners but that is as far as it goes. Few if any of the biblical characters lived with comfortable conditions. When you listen to God with a view to obedience you will be nudged into new realities. You may go as far in your faith as you are willing to allow God to set you directly into His will.

Moses is sent right back into the land where he was a fugitive when he answers the call of God. David will begin his job preparation by living in the same house with a mentally unstable king. Simon Peter will be forced to deal with his failures so he can become God's man to lead the early church. God's direction will lead Paul into all manner of danger. None of these men would be granted comfort in their routine while following God's voice. You will have to let go of old attitudes that short circuit your maturity as a believer. You may face changes in your day to day activities as you let God stretch the horizons of your world. If we cannot remain faithful even with small changes then how will we expect to be all God wants us to be?

Bro. Trey

I did try to rest early last night. The morning still arrived way too early. My time of birth was around 1:30 in the morning many years ago. Being a night person must be the result of that first experience. Even going to have my port removed wasn't enough excitement to get me fully awake by departure time. But we can report that my temporary guest within my body is now out. This part of my journey is at an end. The procedure went smooth once under way. It was a different story getting to that point.

Arrival time was 7:00 this morning. Registration was prompt and on time. Things broke down right after that. For some odd reason it appears that I got lost in the system. Someone finally called for me about twenty minutes prior to when my operation time. Everyone moved in a hurry at that point. Yes, my attire was indeed the wondrous hospital gown that always threatens to be a tad revealing. Rolling down the hallway is an interesting time. Gives a guy time to count all of the lights in the ceiling. The actual experience was easy for the most part. Discomfort did occur at times but it was never anything overwhelming. My nurse even showed me the port once it was out. It really is not a large thing but there is no doubt it was invaluable to my recovery. Sutures were last on the agenda as the doctor sewed up the incision on the inside and the outside. My recovery was good enough to allow for lunch nearby before returning home. Not eating for awhile does make one a little grumpy. Most of the rest of the day was spent resting. I did move around some but the soreness tells me to remember my limits.

There is some pain tonight. It is nothing that is remotely close to unbearable. I will have to use caution when cleaning up for a few days. But I do promise to continue bathing even with the precautions! Not sure we will aim for any deep spiritual meaning to all of this. My mind still has limits of physical fatigue. Tomorrow should be better for making some sense of this. Just know that right now my health is good. Some of this is due to good medical care. Some of this is due to the spiritual aspect of this adventure. All of this gets a big thank you to God from me. Yes, I will thank God for His goodness no matter His role in my illness. My thanks also goes to anyone who prayed or wished me well. It is something that will never be forgotten.

Bro. Trey

My hope is to get to bed early tonight. The alarm clock will sound around 6:00 am tomorrow morning. I have an appointment to have my port surgically removed at the hospital. One last reminder of my journey through cancer should be gone by lunch. Mine was implanted back in June so chemo would flow directly into places where it was needed. A wrist band wraps around my right hand to let medical people know there is such a device within me. I guess it would be bad to zap me with electricity with a port buried inside. My youngest knows that dad will be having it removed tomorrow. He seems to be ok with that. I also think that he knows the port is something that most people do not have. Now he will get to stare at my scar from all of this.

Being in remission is still a strange adjustment to me. Part of me just wants to move on as if nothing happened. The other side of me knows that is impossible. I do notice that some people around me are already past this. Maybe this is a good thing. I really don't know since this was my first experience with life or death disease. Moving on is easy on some levels yet still very difficult in others. I wonder if we are really supposed to just slide into life as it was. One of my lessons is that nothing can ever be the same. We wrote on this before so being redundant is a danger here. My one hope is that this past summer will change me for the better. God knows I want improvement for whatever years are left.

Maybe it is a good thing to not just go along as if nothing happened. There were some things learned during this time for a reason. Perhaps even my personality can take a turn for the better. I would like to smile and laugh more. I would even like having a greater sensitivity to other people. One of the temptations in ministry is to become so numbed by crisis that you learn to go on autopilot. One thing that would be good for me is to be tougher when doing church stuff. My personality tends to lean toward the avoiding of hurt feelings in others. This is not all bad but it can be a problem. Tough is not nearly the same thing as being mean. We have enough mean people to go around in our world. The list could go on and on but you probably get the idea by now.

God does work in mysterious ways on occasion. At times my wish is for Him to not be quite so mysterious. But we can still grow in unlimited ways if we turn our heart to Him. His grace is never dependent on conditions. Scripture is just as profound in times good or bad. Praying in the dark hours will build a depth for when you reach the light. We will probably endure some scars along the way but we can also know what each one teaches us. Let's not forget either the scars or the lessons they bring.

Bro. Trey

Being away from home means not as much time to write here in the blog. I will leave it to whoever reads this to decide if this is good or bad. My hope is all had a good Christmas this year. Fort Worth was one soggy town on Christmas Eve. I still got out in the rain for the last minute shopping spree. Traffic was awful with the rain. You learn to just go slow while watching real close for the other drivers. Everyone around my house had a good holiday it seems. My daughter got some good stuff along with things to be used in college. They may be odd gifts to receive but they will come in handy later. My youngest is the one who did really well. He got everything that was on his list. He also gave me a gift.

My son waited all day Friday for 6:00 to roll around. We knew that he would not make it much past that before his patience level would be exhausted. There were three major requests from him for Christmas. Dad took care of all of those. We gathered together to open presents at the appointed time. Seems like he took me by the arm when it was time. Opening presents for him is less an art form and more a hurried task to take the paper off the boxes. We all waited and watched him go through each of his gifts. He was very excited upon finding those major things for him. After opening his stuff he stopped to take in his haul. Then he looked at me and said, "Dad, thank you! This was the greatest Christmas present ever!" I didn't need to open anything at that point. He gave me the best gift I could ask for.

None of this is said to be selfish or self promoting. It is said to remind us that what counts are relationships. Years from now I would expect that my memory will fail in trying to remember what material gifts I received. I will always remember that excitement in his voice when he said thank you. That one moment was more reward for any stress of being out searching for his gifts. It is the experience of his joy that I will cherish most. Christmas along with daily living is about knowing when to say thank you. It is about knowing who to thank as well. Maybe we can learn to thank God every so often for His incredible gifts. It may make His day as much as it did mine.

Bro. Trey

My youngest really has the Christmas spirit this year. His excitement is right off the charts. It's a good thing to watch as he tries to contain his impatience over the next few days. That enthusiasm may not be for all of the right reasons but it still makes life fun. He knows exactly what is on his list. He also knows exactly what to expect when it is present time. Many of us get a little stale over the holiday experience. Sometimes we may not even look forward to Christmas. I am grateful to be reminded of just how thrilling it can be as a child. His joy does my heart good.

He almost carried all of our presents to my vehicle tonight in anticipation of travel. Getting him to collect his video game stuff was not difficult at all. I don't even have to go into the whole naughty or nice routine. His bag is packed and ready to go. One thing he did tonight was a little peculiar. He got out of bed to come take a look at my port which comes out next Monday. I told him that I would need to go to the hospital tomorrow to sign papers for the procedure. My best guess is he wanted to be sure Dad would not run late tomorrow. So we had a brief conversations where I reminded him that the actual operation is next Monday. This seemed to put his mind at ease.

Adults can lose that overwhelming sense of anticipation for Christmas. Maybe some of this is because we also have the bills to pay for our purchases. Another reason is we are the ones who handle all of the details of transportation. Perhaps part of our coolness lies in the harsh reality of life both pre and post Christmas. We just simply get worn down by trying to get through another year. Christmas becomes another thing to survive rather than an explanation for why we do what we do. Christmas spirit must run deeper than the sentiment of the season. It is often described as magical but there is far more to the holiday than manipulating the facets of our celebration. Media depictions often aim for the emotions without taking into account the broad scope of Christmas. We may gain a small buzz from other stories but still miss the depth of the season.

Christmas is all about that incredible phrase telling us that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." God genuinely enters our world in human flesh. Jesus is more than a special baby. I am sure that to Mary and Joseph that he was an incredible gift. I think we tend to miss out on how a mother would feel for her son. We believe that Jesus was uniquely both God and man. Just don't overlook the man side of the equation. This is why our faith becomes thrilling. We trust God knowing full well that He understands us. Ours is not a distant deity who demands thoughtless service. Jesus knows what real life is like. He also lives in that mysterious capacity as God. A good friend is one who knows all about you yet accepts you as you are. Sounds just like Jesus to me. Christmas is about Jesus coming into the world to be more than a cute baby in a manger. Excitement rises out of our understanding of Jesus in the world. It is a timeless truth for young and old alike. My we recapture that hope for the holiday as well as the remainder of life.

Bro. Trey

Absolutely nothing is rolling through my brain tonight. Creativity is on short supply after today. I will chalk it up to the holidays. If anyone outside of local people read this blog just know that our biggest town is a regional hub. People come from all over East Texas to do their shopping. Looks like everyone waits until my arrival in town to begin. You always expect traffic in a big city to be hectic. My shopping town is just as crowded but without having enough roads. Stress is not just about buying presents but includes dodging oncoming vehicles. Thank goodness that I arrived home safely. The bad news is the need to make another trip into town on Thursday. At least that journey is a good one.

My regular doctor visit was today. My doctor wants to see me about every two months for awhile. All reports are coming back clean. Even my bone marrow biopsy shows no sign of cancer. Blood pressure numbers were even very good for me. One drawback is dealing with the weight gain. Fifteen pounds or so need to be lost sometime in 2011. The reason for my Thursday trip is to do all of the paperwork to have my porta cath removed. Removal is scheduled for early next Monday. This is another sign of how well treatment worked. Right now there is a square lump up near my right collarbone. It is where the chemo or other drugs were inserted over the last six months or so. Taking this out will be another step toward moving past this crisis. I do know that my disease may not truly be eliminated completely. Now we move to managing my health so perhaps this illness will not reappear.

Thank you to anyone in my congregation that may sneak a glance at my writing. Christmas this year seems better than ever thanks to you. So many people worked very hard in musicals, meetings and other events of the season. I also received some great cards this year. One of my hobbies is to sit down to read these cards again as we take down the decorations. We also got some goodies to eat this time. Let me confess that many of them are gone. Sharing is a good thing but chocolate is essential. So let me just say thank you again in this public setting to all who help make the season bright.

People ask me sometimes if this Christmas will be better than usual with my remission from cancer. I really don't know the answer to that. It is still as hectic as usual. Most, but not all presents are under the tree. Music of the season is my constant companion wherever I go. I am sure there is a new appreciation for this time of year. But there is also an awareness that my health is not the single defining issue for me. I want my focus to be squarely on God for all of His goodness. Not every one hears good news while dealing with this disease. God is still good no matter the prognosis. Celebrating this unique holiday should be about more than circumstances. Don't get me wrong. I could not be more grateful for this physical expression of His kindness. But what makes life good is God's presence no matter what the conditions of life may be at a given moment. Perhaps my opinion seems odd but it is one of the lessons learned during this past year. May we all reach the point where God outweighs our situation.

Bro. Trey

One of my favorite sermons is "What do you want for Christmas?" The idea is not original to me but was adapted from another person. Points for this message change as the years go by. I guess my first time to do it was around 25 years ago. My original ideas are still valid but are shaped by the passing of time. Development of the sermon rests on brief descriptions of characters around the first Christmas. You try to identify aspects of their character that you would want for a gift. As long as you keep discovering what these people are like then you can continue to build new ideas into the message. So, what do you want for Christmas?

I would like to have the faith of Joseph. He reminds me how our faith is much more than what we believe. There is far more to this part of our character than just being biblical. We must continue to allow our heart and mind to be shaped by fresh guidance from God. This will not always be easy. Risk is a common thread for anyone who builds a trusting relationship with God. We will be challenged to walk in paths that are new to us. This is why I would like to have his faith. Too often even my life becomes the sum total of that which is easy or comfortable. Real faith will confront that tendency to nudge us further into God's presence.

I would also like to have the courage of Mary. Here is a young woman who is called into a task so amazing that scholars continue to debate it. Hers will be a task the size of God. We do tend to overlook Mary in our evangelical heritage. Perhaps we flee too much from her role due to how our Catholic friends view her. No matter how you see Mary the reality is you cannot dismiss her courage. She will accept the destiny God has for her with amazing courage. Her first born will be more than just a baby. He will be the Savior of humanity. Don't let the elements of His birth blind you to the greater truth. This child who is born in a Bethlehem barn is indeed the promised Messiah. Mary will spend her life as both mother and follower in His journey. Her courage would be something I wish for anyone who hears God's voice.

I would also like something to shout about like the angels. You remember the angels? They will appear during that first evening to proclaim the arrival of the Messiah. Don't miss the fact that they will announce this good news to shepherds. These guys were the lowest of the social ladder in their day. God sends angels not to the elite but to the most common people of all. The news is just so good that all need to hear it. We do tend to shout in church but it's not always a good thing. Far too much shouting is of the negative variety. Those of us changed by the good news have authentic reasons for letting others know. Angelic excitement would go a long way in our communication of the truth.

I would last like to have more of the love of God to make this all happen. His entire purpose in the birth of Jesus is born of His love. This is not just love for a big world but one that is bad in way too many areas. It is not a love that is just emotional but is as real as we are. God shows the depth of that love by loving us while we were still sinners. It is a living, breathing love all the way through the cross. It is still the kind of love we need for changing the world. Love is an active verb much more than it is a noun. We need that at Christmas. We need it all year round.

Bro. Trey

All of our major Christmas celebrations came to a close tonight. We wrapped up all of the singing, gathering and the like with our Candlelight service. It never ceases to amaze me how many people come out for this service. This probably speaks more to the pessimist in me than anything else. Our bottom floor was fairly full on this occasion. We have children or students read parts of the original Christmas story to us from Luke 2. Mixed with the readings are familiar hymns of the season. Kids continue to grow up and out of the reading part every year. Some of the ones who once read are now moved off to college. We then experience the Lord's Supper together. I added this part to our service years ago. Spending time going through this celebration reminds of all this season means. Ending the service is about having candles lit one by one throughout the auditorium. We then walk out to the front yard singing "Silent Night" together. All of this is a fitting climax to all we do for the holidays.

There are still a few days left until we hit the big day. Church activity slows down quite a bit this week. My view is that these last few days can be devoted to family and friends. Some will be traveling. Some will have company next Saturday. I would imagine there are those people who have last minute plans for shopping. Catching our breath will have to wait for another week or two. We will begin 2011 possibly worn out by all we do at the end of 2010. Starting a new year will be a welcome thing for some of us. I certainly hope that next year goes much better than this one. Maybe a full head of hair will last me an entire year this time. Some people will say that the next year cannot be worse than the last one. I avoid that totally. I see no point to add aggravation to any time now or in the future. Besides, there is more to life than the conditions of any given moment.

Even the birth of Jesus is not without difficulty. Think about the response of those who would hear a young woman claim that God conceived within her. Joseph seems to have trouble with that news and he knew Mary well. How can we imagine that others would feel with that story? There is also a long trip to Bethlehem which could not be easy on an expectant mother. Plus, upon arrival the family can only find shelter in a local barn. We seldom stop to think upon the physical, emotional, financial or even spiritual stress of that first Christmas. God was indeed at work in their lives but it was not always comfortable. Jesus would be born in a most common place to people just like us. They do experience an awesome miracle that changes the course of history. I also suspect there was a need for ongoing miracles of all sizes to keep them going when times got rough.

Our worship tonight was warm with all of the comforts of modern life. Reality is that we seldom get to live that way on a consistent basis. I like to say that life is a full contact sport. I don't mean to say that we are devoid of God's blessing as we move along. But we tend to forget that the origin of our faith is just as real as contemporary living. Jesus comes not to be divorced from every day happenings. He models for us what it means to tie our God side to our human side. This is when we really begin to catch on to the entire Christian journey. He is our constant in the ups and downs in life. One of my hopes for 2011 is we can discover how to be biblical wherever we are. Let's make our faith less a matter of our conditions and more about anchoring to the very real presence of God.

Bro. Trey

Conflict is trying to run errands in North Longview at the same time schools are letting out for the holidays. This is my big lesson of the day. No shortcut seemed to work for me while trying to get home. Too many cars on too little road just ends up being a huge mess. No one is happy. Everything gets stalled in traffic. Nerves become frayed. It is a given that one will lose some of that Christmas spirit in such times. But my paternal responsibility is fulfilled for this day with only a slight loss of holiday cheer.

If you are one whose life is tainted by conflict just know that I understand. I honestly believe that far too many people are affected more by the negative actions of others than the life giving power of the Spirit. This is why some seem to live in constant pain. Unless you take steps toward healing you will carry around the bruises of bad behavior. Let me add that these injuries will color your entire being. Damage will affect you emotionally, spiritually as well as physically. You may not even be aware of how it works in your life. Some become so accustomed to how they go about life that they never realize it may not even be healthy. I am convinced that dysfunctional people will keep multiplying in our world along with in our congregations unless God intervenes. I constantly pray that He will.

Scripture is the best place to find out where you stand with damage in your life. You absolutely must be genuinely open to let God speak to you. Remember that if you do have bruises you will probably also have blind spots. Never forget to pray for Him to show you the truth about you and your pain. Recovering from conflict is hard work. You cannot just glance through scripture yet expect to become healthy. Keeping a journal so you can write down what God says is essential. It never ceases to amaze me how God consistently reveals truth to us. Writing down what you learn helps you see where He takes you in the journey. You may end up having conversations about the process of renewal. Take the risk of opening up with a true friend so you can let your feelings out. Letting the poison of pain out of your system will always leave room for God's presence to take up residence.

I honestly do believe that even the most damaged heart can be healed by the truth. God's purpose if for those who know Him to live life to the fullest. Some conflict will leave deeper scars than others. You may have hurts that shake you to the core of your being. These cannot be taken lightly. Jesus expresses how far He will go to heal you by dying on a cross. Even that act is a reminder of the cost of pain. Immerse your mind and heart in Him in real hope of grace and mercy. This journey will not be easy but it will make the difference in all you are and do. It's a path my life remains fixed on daily. I cannot be healthy by living any other way. My hope is you will find that divine healing for your hurts. It is there if you seek it.

Bro. Trey

Being honest about conflict is something we usually don't do very well. Sometimes the topic gets swept under the rug since it can make us uncomfortable. Other times it seems like we enjoy it way too much. Avoidance is a behavior that makes sense. What disturbs me are those few people who appear to revel in conflict. Every congregation will have at least a few individuals who act as if they enjoy stirring up trouble. Scripture tells us that being obedient may lead us into trouble of a divine nature. I do not live with great anticipation of those who think that rocking the boat is a spiritual gift. There has to be a better way for us to deal with this.

Don't think that my words here will give away all of my secrets for dealing with conflict. Some of my approach needs to be kept under wraps. I will tell you that no one can deal with fussing and fighting without a biblical foundation. No person can live in line with God's word yet be comfortable with this behavior. Jesus will tell us more about relationships with each other than He does most any other church matter. He places the responsibility squarely on our shoulders to live with kindness, patience and grace. There is no doubt that our life will have more than its share of people who are difficult at best. Some people may move beyond difficult to being destructive. But we are not allowed the option of disregarding the biblical truth in our relationships. You cannot select only those scriptures that fit into your personality. Being a follower of Jesus covers all our life. It also makes that life easier to understand.

The greatest temptation in conflict is to take our emotional cues from another person. Obedience enables us to respond to God more than we do to an unhealthy individual. This is an act of freedom for our spirit. I do fully realize more than you may know just how damaging people can be. I also know this can include your family as well as your friends. This is why conflict is so painful. Our entire heart is at stake in these times. The closer you are to the one who hurts you will determine the potential damage that occurs. We tend to expect people in church to act like followers of Jesus. Bad behavior disappoints us as it begins to take a toll on the relationship. Trust is lost. Words disintegrate into the expression of our pain. We lose sight of God's truth. No wonder church conflict is so poisonous.

God's word offers healing for the heart that is bruised. Many times you will find insight for not just your pain but for what God can do that is bigger than the hurt. I often will read through the Psalms for my benefit. The writers speak often to personal battles between the evil and the innocent. They tell us that these events happen even to the best of us. They also tell us that God can restore even our worst brokenness. David knew what it is like to have even close friends commit awful acts of betrayal. He will still write toward the end of his days how God restores his soul. Forgiveness was possible not because he had it easy but because he knew God. His answer is our answer. There really is no other way.

Bro. Trey

Let me start by saying that there is no particular reason for the last two posts as they relate to conflict. I know that sometimes people can start looking for hints or clues into a topic that seems off the wall. These ideas came to mind just out of reflection about church life. They are not directed toward any one congregation. Life tells me that this is typical for too many churches at any given point. It may not matter what size or denomination a church is or is not. Several very large Baptist congregations are recent survivors of church wars. One drawback to all of our technological developments is now anyone and everyone with a computer can create a public forum to air criticisms. Perhaps there is no better sign of our sinful tendency than in how we take brand new tools to utilize them for our personal gain. My original point was just to say these thoughts are the result of lots of years spent in the congregational trenches.

Conflict will always be the outcome of two different people or groups competing for the same place. We said that this can be emotional, spiritual, or even physical in nature. It is also less about issues and more about personalities. Let me explain. Some churches can recycle conflict on a regular basis. You will find that the topics may change but the individuals remain the same. Here is when the same people are fighting the same battles but finding new excuses to do so. Positions are staked out in such times which force some innocent bystanders to choose one side or the other. This again is often less about an issue and more about personal connections. Most of the time these crises are given spiritual or religious labels. You have to do this so you can claim that God is on your side. After all, who wants to be the one fighting against the Almighty or His messengers? This is why the majority of conflict is not theological but about who a person or group likes and who they do not like.

People matter very much to me. My personality may not seem oriented that way but they do matter much to me. This is why dealing with conflict is vital whether in private or in public. Way too many believers carry around damage from what is called "friendly fire." Innocent people can be swept up in the skirmishes of others. Scars remain for a very long time unless the person finds authentic healing from God. Some described the church as the only organization that shoots its wounded. My question is why do we wound them in the first place? Too often our zeal to be right brings our behavior into the exact opposite of what our Lord taught and modeled. Jesus goes about offering forgiveness and wholeness to those with real needs. Church members will often go about dismissing those who are not in their corner with their agenda. No one ever asks if any involved are truly accountable to God with their actions. This is how we wind up with good people who truly believe in Jesus but can never trust a church ever again.

Being brutally honest with God is the only valid pathway to ending conflict. You will need to recognize behavior as both dangers and even evil. Again, this is a reason for not being obedient in this area. We find it difficult or impossible to admit our heart is in need of renewal. Better to excuse our actions as something beyond our control than really take ownership of our life. Easier to blame another person for outbursts or other harmful deeds than own up to what we are doing. Without this step of transparency with God we will never do any more than tone down behavior. We may be content with a momentary truce but still be at the mercy of the darkest places in our heart. Jesus healed the blind, raised the dead along with many other great miracles. He can restore us to a place of compassion and grace. We will have to first admit our need for Him. That will not happen until we recognize the growing distance between His will and our heart. One can only hope we will remember that His guidance leads us to healing. It's a healing for our life as well as any we injure along the way.

Bro. Trey

I was in college still when my first church conflict erupted. Details are a little fuzzy since its been nearly thirty years ago. Seems like one of the members was about to make a mountain out of a molehill. Oddly enough this was only one of the times in that church where what little I knew about conflict resolution would be needed. I do remember that it was a Wednesday night when all was to come to a head. My role was as interim pastor of a small congregation in North Louisiana. You pretty much went to the middle of nowhere then turned left...or right. There was not much time to prepare for this clash. It was sink or swim and by all rights the option left for me should be to sink. How did I handle such a moment? I prayed. What that means is I prayed for almost an hour non stop. This was not private prayer but in the beginning of the service or whatever gathering it was. I began my prayer and did not stop for almost an hour. We did indeed get a grip on whatever the problem was but that began my journey into the strange but real world of disagreements in church.

Praying for an hour may not always be an option in facing conflict but it worked back then. Maybe it should be our choice more often than we think. Experience tells me that far too much of such trouble are not about issues but about personality. Even people who are saved are very much able to allow the sinful self to shine through. Conflict can be defined as two people who desire to take up the same space whether that be emotionally, physically or even spiritually. You usually have individuals who perhaps feel slighted or sometimes carry other baggage around with them. There is usually some trigger that creates the spark to initiate the conflict. What never ceases to amaze me is how ugly things get even while people keep quoting scripture or reciting religious sayings. I know this first hand. Unfortunately even my family carries the scars of "friends" who said and did things that bleed into the area of betrayal. Later many of these same people will smile, be nice in trying to move past that behavior without any grasp on the depth of the damage caused. One does not become a minister without knowing little is ever what it appears.

I say all of that as a foundation. Curing such issues is something that often escapes me. Nothing can ever improve unless genuine repentance or renewal happens with those who become angry. You cannot wait for feelings to improve as often these emotions only lead you to further anger. Obedience is hard but essential in times like these. It is more than being the bigger person. This means choosing to take scripture seriously so it can heal your heart and then your behavior. We often fail in taking another person as valued in God's eyes. We can allow our words to contain the direct opposite of blessing. We may believe that the other person is the one acting wrong without ever having the guts to be honest about our actions. One of the real tragedies of this scenario lies in our blindness to our bad character. We eventually wind up being Christian only to those we feel deserve our kindness. Notice this attitude is far from biblical grace.

Jesus knew about our human tendency in relationships. It is the reason I think that He says so much about love. His understanding of that four letter word is not casual or shallow. Love meant suffering while being obedient to God. It also meant choosing to risk loving those who might not return that feeling. We will have to do the same if we want to break the cycle of conflict. We probably need to say more on this yet again. Just know that if we have every spiritual gift or ability yet miss love that scripture says we are nothing. That may sound harsh but you have to admit it is right on target. This will take more than an hour of praying. It will call for a lifetime of obedience to the one who loves us in spite of ourselves.

Bro. Trey

Most if not all of my career is about church. One motivation of my calling remains to try to help congregations be better at being instruments for God's purpose. That does sound a bit idealistic but it is the truth. Time will tell if this was successful. I would like to think that at least some of the churches in the past improved from my efforts. A church that matures and grows is a terrific thing to see. Seeing people discover God's best for them still boggles my mind. Joy comes in all kinds of ways when a church begins to move into the promise of God. I am grateful for those occasions when it was my honor to observe this.

If you ever went through the experience of a congregation going bad then you know how much better is the alternative. Nothing is more depressing than seeing people miss out on God for whatever reason. What is sadder is how often those reasons seem valid yet completely miss the mark. Believers can end up in conflicts that rob a church of its power even as both sides claim to speak for God. Meetings disintegrate into personality clashes that may be born of self interest rather than spiritual principles. Before long it bleeds over into worship experiences where you feel more tension than you sense God's presence. Some congregations slowly come apart while fighting for causes that are not very Christian.

Experience tells me that such troubles are usually not the fault of theology. Most competing factions tend to be as conservative as others. It is true that there can be theological problems that will sometimes derail a church. There may be occasions where a leader or a group of leaders become self consumed to the detriment of others. The vast majority of issues are due to personality conflicts that overtake a congregation. I came to a conclusion recently that the cure for this is almost impossible. We allow a treatable problem to become terminal. Even worse, it becomes contagious to others who are not in on it at the start. Sides are chosen up just as we once did at the school playground. Then it evolves into a winner take all contest where reality is that everyone loses.

Words cannot describe my sadness over such behavior. A leader may try to talk, pray or even take other action to halt the slide but it again often seems impossible. Maybe those involved have to realize the cost of their actions. Perhaps it will take a genuine act of God to get the attention of those at odds. There is a reason why forgiveness costs so much. It truly demands a significant act of both humility and obedience. We are too often unwilling to pay that price. Our decision usually becomes just to continue in a self centered direction rather than step into new depths of spiritual living. You have to remember that those in the midst of the moment are unable to do much else than continue toward self destruction. Sadly, this often means others are swept up in the wake of the damage.

Pardon my venting for the evening. I do owe the effort to offer solutions to this issue. At least I can try to offer some possible answers on this. God is the only one who can ultimately heal this condition. We can be channels for His goodness to be sure but He will have to be obeyed for real healing to happen. That choice is totally up to us. I hope we possess the capacity to choose wisely.

Bro. Trey

You may remember that Sunday night is among my favorite times of the week. Most times it is very quiet while wrapping up the day. Stress over what to say next week is not kicking in just yet. Hopefully the day can end with some level of satisfaction in my efforts. There are of course those occasions when my night is spent wondering where things went wrong. When you have good services along with good meetings then you can rest knowing things went well. Count tonight as one of the evenings with peace over the day's activity. One can only hope this good will continues into the new year.

We now enter the final week of school prior to the holiday break. There is enough going on this week to keep me busy. Some of my duties revolve around being a dad. Work related stuff will also weigh on my mind. You cannot beat a Baptist business meeting for the potential for excitement. I could tell you some real horror stories about those but let me spare you the gory details. I still need to make time for exercise in the attempt to lose some of the weight gained from my past steroid use. At least fifteen of my 230 pounds are unwanted and unnecessary. Holidays are not the best time to think of losing weight but perhaps we can hold our own. Nothing like having a full week to get you in the Christmas spirit. Let's just hope that it isn't the spirit of the Grinch.

So what expectations do you have at Christmas? We talked today of John the Baptist as he wrestled with his ideas on the Messiah against what Jesus was doing in ministry. John asks if Jesus is the one or should he keep looking for another. One of my discoveries this past week is that no single biblical scholar can pin down all of the reasons for the inquiry. Most say that John is being taken by doubt or disappointment as he sits in a prison cell. I can understand that approach. Seems like our difficulties often cloud our judgement. The molehills tend to look like mountains when we are in a crisis. We may even wonder if our faithfulness is worth it when things go south in life. One area of agreement is that Jesus never scolds his relative for wanting to know an answer. Take comfort in knowing that an honest, searching question of God will be given a response even if it takes time.

One commentator writes that John asks his question less from doubt and more from a desire to know the truth. You may find that disappointment may lead you to deeper questions than you might normally ask. Times arise in life when we are down so our heart becomes increasingly eager to uncover new truth. Not all people reach this point. Far too many believers seem content to allow the status quo to become the new normal. If John is moved by disillusionment then he is met with new insight. Jesus reminds him that His ministry falls right in line with the biblical expectation. Those who are in great need are having new life made possible by the presence of Jesus. It may not always be what the masses would expect of the Messiah but it is exactly what God wishes to be doing.

Expectation is well and good. Just be sure you allow God room to display His purpose in your life. It may not always match up to what you want but it always falls in line with what you need. When you allow God to be God then you leave space for your faith to expand. It is little good to be conservative yet keep a closed mind. Faith always has the capacity for hope and growth. John learns that by asking a question. How will we discover it?

Bro. Trey

Blogs should be about more than a record of the activity within a single day. There should be depth or substance to what is written. One should find great inspiration or food for thought while reading a post. My mind obviously does not work that way. One blog that I read on occasion is all of those things and more. You find deep insight while taking in what is said. I just know that my brain doesn't work quite as smart as others. Reflecting on the day or recent events usually gets me to thinking. Since this blog is usually just noticed by a handful of people there is less stress in terms of being academic.

Dad got to come to the rescue of his daughter today. Her car would not start when she was ready to leave school. You may not know this about me but I know less about automobiles than I do computers. My capacity for mechanic skill goes greatly downhill after putting my key in the ignition. But today was one of those occasions when the answer was very easy. Thanks to our local auto repair guys my task was aided by a portable battery charger. It wasn't until after the car started that I realized how even that small effort could go amiss. We did not need to call in a wrecker or an ambulance so it was a successful endeavor.

Fathers are supposed to have all the answers for their children. We do get the bulk of the interesting questions as they grow up. The dads who resist doing even the small things in child rearing never make sense to me. My greatest joys in life are all related to being a father. You know about our connection to baseball. I also share in the pride of a daughter who is doing so well academically. There are also the times spent with my youngest that continue to be highlights of my journey. We may make a trip tomorrow to check out any other items that could be on his Christmas list. This may be arduous but no doubt it will be yet another adventure. You get the idea by now. I probably shouldn't bore you with more details.

I decided long ago that if God allowed me to be a dad that it would be among my top priorities. This is not written in pride or any sense of self promotion. It is what it is. God knows what mistakes were made even when my intentions were true. My prayer is for Him to do even more than I can in their life. My work and even my writing may never gain much recognition. But what one can do as a dad is eternal.

Bro. Trey

The holiday season is definitely in full swing. Today was my time to do some Christmas shopping in town. Part of my reason for going was to scout out ideas for my son and daughter. Another purpose in my effort was to pick up gifts for those obscure family members. We have various cousins, uncles and the like that call for our attention. It is usually a good thing to get those presents out of the way so the focus can be on immediate family. This means I hit at least four stores looking for those presents that can be found on sale tables. Along the way I found time to pick up some novels to read over the next few weeks. One should always be prepared for any slow time during the Christmas break. The lead characters in these books are ones that I am familiar with from past exploits. It will be a bit like spending time with old friends who just happen to be on adventures.

I view shopping during this time of the year as a full contact sport. No one who is faint of heart needs to run amok in the crowds who pack the stores. You will always end up hearing a few children break out in tears upon hearing that they have to wait for the toy they just identified. Maybe I just never understood how any good could come out of letting my two join me in my serious endeavors of shopping. Always felt cruel to take them along with me knowing my answer would inevitably be that they need to be patient. This is not a common attribute of young children who are surrounded by aisles of possibilities. Surely they feel a bit like Cindy Lou Who when she spies the Grinch taking off with the family celebration. I can only hope that the joy of Christmas morning more than makes up for the dismay of being in Target.

Luckily for me the day went smooth without any incidents of physical confrontation. I was able to locate my items without interference. Even the salespeople in the various stores were helpful. We will see if they remain as cooperative as the days draw closer to the big reveal. Gotta love a holiday when our human frailty tends to shine forth just a bit brighter. We stress over getting the absolute perfect gift for others. We can even snap at people we know or even those we don't know. This often makes me wonder if the angelic announcement of "peace on earth, good will to men" is relevant in our modern world of shopping. Our intention is to celebrate the "Prince of Peace" even when we get a tad unhinged with all of the demands around us. I often question why we allow our preparing for this holiday to conflict with the character of our Lord. Answers to this still escape me.

Allow me to wish you good luck as you travel through the next few weeks. I can only hope that you make time to read for yourself again the original Christmas story. Linus from Peanuts nailed down what all of this activity is all about. He tells Charlie Brown the biblical story from Luke 2 about the birth of Jesus. This put our round headed friend onto the path of expressing what he calls the true meaning of Christmas. You may find that it will do the same for you.

Bro. Trey

Today evolved into one of those occasions where I learned of various crises with people who crossed my path. Several of my facebook "friends" wrote of grief and anxiety causing events. This afternoon I discovered two people were also dealing with grief as well as illness in the family. Some days it just pays to listen and be open as you interact with others. One can only hope all of these situations will conclude in the best way possible. My prayer is for God to be involved in all of this to reveal His power along with His comfort. You know that this time of the year brings enough stress on its own. Every trouble gets magnified greatly amid all of the music and lights.

Here are real life examples of some ideas we mentioned recently here. Difficulty does not take a holiday as we march through December. We cannot simply wish these heartaches away. It's not my purpose to be a messenger of bad news. My goal is to simply remind us that we should be on guard continuously so that our faith remains alive. It would be far too easy to just let the mystique of the season to lure us from our anchor. Movies and other media will tell us how magical is the time of Christmas. Do not get me wrong. These are indeed very unique days to celebrate the birth of our Lord. But we also keep our eyes wide open to uncover all the meaning of the holiday.

Jesus comes into the world not as an escape from its harsh reality. Never forget that even His birth occurs in a very real setting. A manger is much the same as a barn. Does anyone today really choose to give birth in a barn where animals gather? Jesus enters our world by declaring that He is one of us. His entire life will revolve around the stark truth of those in need. He does not hide from our troubles but displays a willingness to alter our human condition. His death only adds to the validity of His person. He will be betrayed, denied, mocked and then killed in a violent fashion. God surely understands the pain of humanity. Also recall that Jesus chooses to spend time following Easter with those very followers who performed so poorly only a few days prior. He does not just check out to return to heaven. His choice is to let those disciples know that there is a better way both now and in the future.

Be sure that you capture all of the beauty of the holidays. Winter will soon lose some of its wonder as we slip into the start of a new year. Cold weather may not slow us in our Christmas shopping but it does put a damper on activity once the bills come due. Know that our Lord will still be longing to be involved in life no matter how harsh or even cruel it may seem. He can handle our reality. But the question becomes can we handle Him as we struggle along? He may not fix our life to be easy but He will fill our life as me move toward eternity.

Bro. Trey

Each day begins waiting for its story to be written. Some of that story is the result of our decisions and actions as it unfolds. There will always be parts of that story that will be out of our control. You simply get to do your best while trusting God to invest His presence in our journey. Much of what is recorded here is an effort to reflect on any given day. I am still fully aware you can find many blogs far better in terms of grammar or topics. Sometimes we get lucky with some amount of coherent thoughts to put on this site. Honesty is a valued trait in such blogs but too much of it can be a detriment as well. Maybe the word honesty is not the best description. Vulnerable is closely related to that idea. Chances are very good that your response to raw writing here would be unfavorable. Many of my thoughts or feelings will remain secluded so there is less room for misinterpreting those ideas.

Each day ends as we rest up for the next day's adventure. Some tell us that we get a clean slate every morning. I suppose this is true in some regards. We do possess the freedom to make new decisions on a daily basis. But there are also many areas of our life that limit the effect of that clean slate philosophy. Constantly building a good life requires the ongoing discipline of choosing wisely. Our past as well as our future can shape the outcome of each day. It is true that we can live beyond the mistakes of yesterday but this does not mean those errors just disappear. We may even take the option of not worrying about the future but even that decision can put off the future forever. Tomorrow morning we each receive the gift of the new day. How do we make it the best it can be?

The best advice that comes to mind is to make each day one of discovery. God can and does offer us answers concerning even the smallest details of our existence. It could very well be that on one day that guidance will offer healing for the failures in your past. Another day might find God at work to bring you into the future of His creation. Still another day could be focused on the present tense as you hear Him speak. You will have stuff that fills your calendar to be sure. Work, family, leisure and so many other aspects of human reality calls for constant attention. Try to recall that the eternal God is extremely interested in each role of your life. He is not just concerned about your religious area of you as a person. Divine interaction contains as many possibilities as you have facets as a person.

Tomorrow will begin very soon. Some will move through it without any thought as to its meaning. There will be those who face excruciating stress that will make it a moment by moment struggle. Others may breeze right on into the next day without a care in the world. God gives us this special gift not so we coast by unsure of our heading. He is still and always will be the one to make our days count. Don't let guilt or anxiety steal the joy out of your world. Learn to make every day matter with His help.

Bro. Trey

Growing up in Texas means you are raised in Dallas Cowboy country. You do not have to be a fan of football. You may not even root for them on a weekly basis. You surely may not become one of the rabid fanatics who decorate entire rooms in Cowboy regalia. But you do not get a choice in living in the midst of those who do some or all of the above. My journey began over forty years ago upon my arrival in this state. Just understand that I still do not grieve over every game nor is any room in my house dedicated to the team. Some of my interest today relates to the fact that our present school has a player on their roster. But there are still memories of the team from when I was a kid. Maybe this is one reason today was sad for me.

There are a few images in my mind from the 1968 Cowboy season. I know that the last game of the season carries some recognition. What I did not know back then was how this would be Don Meredith's last game in the NFL. Meredith grew up not too far from my hometown. He would play at SMU and then those Dallas Cowboys. He retired at the age of 31 before what is normally the prime years for a quarterback. Eventually his career would take him into broadcasting. He would be one of the first celebrity announcers before such became prominent in our world. You may know all of this already. You may also know that his skills as a player were greatly underrated in his time. His breed of gunslinging quarterback skills don't exist much today. Meredith died last night in Santa Fe at the age of 72. He will be missed.

Allow me one short point to all of this. Life may have its rough patches but God equips us to make a difference while we have breath. I cannot tell you about whether or not Don Meredith was a believer. But what I can tell you is if people can affect others in a positive way then that is a good statement about life. Shouldn't we as believers find our niche in being a healthy part in the lives of others? We cannot allow the lack of publicity for our efforts limit us in doing our part. Just because we may not be famous does not mean we can't be faithful. Jesus never tells us to be a celebrity but to be a channel for His presence. Don Meredith was a larger than life character. He found his talent then used it to the benefit of fans of the game. Let's be sure we find our eternal gifts and abilities to extend God's purpose in our world. Not many may take notice when our life ends but we will be sure to leave divine impressions behind.

Bro. Trey

There are some Sundays that just don't go according to script. This is especially true during the holiday season. Panic was a common element of these days when I was younger. Experience allows you some freedom to take it in stride. We had a terrific morning experience today. Our students along with younger kids presented their musical in "big church" today. I think it may be the best effort ever out of this age group. I knew we would have an unusual crowd with family and friends attending to see the performance. I also knew that my prepared sermon might not be one to fit in after the songs. Age does have some benefits including being flexible with changing conditions. You usually cannot deliver a full message with a gathering of kids in attendance. This is why we switched gears this morning.

Last night was out last ballgame of the season. Our football players had a great year but just didn't have enough something to win last night. The game was over in Ennis which is just south of Dallas. There is no easy way to get there. Google says that it is 140 miles or so from our town to the stadium. If that is true then it is the longest 140 miles on the planet. I left pretty fast after the game but still did not arrive home until well after midnight. My point is that there was a lot of time to listen to the radio on the return trip. I already had misgivings about my sermon before that ride. Luckily there was a moment of divine intervention while listening to Christmas music on one of the Dallas stations. A moment of clarity presented itself while listening to an old Gene Autry song. Here is how my new Sunday morning sermon came to be.

The song is fairly familiar though I am not sure of its title. What struck me were the lyrics about the presents that reached the top of wish lists of children. Now understand that this song is probably at least fifty years old if not more. My clear idea was about how much those words would change if written today. Kids often want more than dolls or simple presents. Today the mad rush carries on as we look for the latest electronic gizmo for our children. Every big item on my son's list is computerized or digital. He would really have a blank look on his face should he receive stuff like mine when younger. Our motives at Christmas may remain the same but the objects of our desire surely change over time. Whoever wrote the song that got my attention last night would be shocked at how much the gifts are very different now.

My very short sermon now revolved around John 3:16. Herein lies a gift that lasts for more than a generation of time. Just about everything you need to know about God and the Bible is contained in these timeless words. Gift giving can be a risky proposition. This is also true about God's best gift. People can reject out right or just resist taking seriously His offer. Another option is to receive His gift with simple trust. I know that it is no guarantee of a comfortable life but it does anchor our times to the heart of God. No one goes through life unloved by God. The question to us is what are we doing with that love? It may be the biggest question for all eternity.

Bro. Trey

I was reminded today of my illness. It's a good thing to have happen every so often. Thinking about it was already going on in my mind. No, the cancer is not back. Perhaps it is lurking somewhere in some small cells but remission continues. I participate some on an online forum specific to my disease. People write or ask questions related to what we face. There are individuals from all over the world who communicate with each other in this setting. The "leaders" of this forum are not doctors but former or current patients. Much of my learning about my cancer grew out of interacting with others with the same diagnosis. I still go daily to read some of the posts or even sometimes write my opinions.

My first personal note came this afternoon on the forum. A man in Texas is dealing with his cancer now but his is being more aggressive. The subject deals with aspects of the bone marrow biopsy most of us have during diagnosis. I discovered in my reports that any presence of cancer in my bone marrow was greatly exaggerated. Somehow that fact escaped my attention in the early days of my journey. The point is that one of my promises to God was to always be willing to do what I can to help others in their fight. Here was an opening to follow through on my decision. I responded as honestly as possible to him. I also promised to add him to my prayer list. My heart truly does want God to bless him with remission. If any facet of my journey can help another person then it is one good thing to come out of this.

This is the definition of evangelism in a nutshell. Sinners who are forgiven get to tell other sinners about God's grace in their life. We are indeed wondrously transformed by the love of God yet we can neglect sharing our story. It is even a good thing to tell other saved sinners of God's activity in our life. I like the idea that evangelism is telling others what God is doing in your life since you woke up. No one can argue with your particular story with God. You own that as your life history. Other people need to hear that there is hope even in the worst of situations. This is one of the very real gifts we can give away. You can be a channel for authentic change in others. So speak up when you get an opening. Let your grace play a role for others in need.

Bro. Trey

Where did this week go? Seems like we just got started but it's almost Thursday into the weekend. Maybe writing on time issues last night was a bad idea. Looks like all it did was make the day move even faster. The decorations are slowly going up in the house. Tomorrow will be a day to take out old or empty boxes in order to see what else needs setting out. Today was yet another day of trying to exercise. My blue jeans appear to be shrinking so my goal is to get as small as them. Tonight was my time to pay bills. I can fully sympathize with those who are trying to get a handle on our national debt. While writing this my body is sore, my bank account is smaller and the calendar says the week is almost done. How can anyone want anything more?

Let me revisit one of my core holiday ideas yet again. Stress and crises do not take vacations just because it is December. My philosophy is that these even grow more potent simply because we can expect the days to be merry. Even the fact that it is the Christmas season is a big stress inducer. We talked enough about those reasons the last few days so just be sure you write that down somewhere. The point of all of this is to remind us that even if the holidays are expected to be happier just know that the negatives can feel even worse than usual. If you feel like you have the blues this month do not despair. It is just a sign that you are human.

I know that some believers would not even consider thinking about feeling sad during this holy season. My experience says that approach may be born more of denial than a devotion to truth. It seems abnormal for us to not feel some sadness if we are human. The key is in not allowing those blue moods to descend into despair. This is when all hope seems lost in our vision of life. The causes are very real and painful. But we have to learn how to live with hope without buying into the lie of despair.

Realize that hope is the byproduct of knowing God. It very well could be that He seems absent in the present tense but we know that isn't true. One of the agonizing methods of spiritual growth is hanging in there with God when every circumstance screams at us to just let go. We can be grateful that He doesn't use this approach often. I do believe that God is trying to get us into a depth of relationship with Him so our hope reaches beyond our situation. Some people will ask God for direction even if they have no intention of following Him in all of life. There are those who simply want God to fix life so it is easier or less painful. I cannot see those examples as evidence of real hope. They can be starting points for despair.

Can it be that we feel like God lets us down when it was our desire that was incorrect? We end up blaming God for our situations when we are the ones who created it. Mature faith will come to grips with impure motives in praying. It will be patient in order to fully discover all of God's blessings. Maturity knows that fixing blame is no solution to despair. The only valid answer is to anchor your life to God no matter the issue. This is something for us to reconsider on another night as my time is about gone here. Should you sense the oncoming pangs of despair just set yourself squarely in God's goodness. Be prepared to surround your heart with His truth. Don't become a casualty of your conditions. You may weep now but be assured joy will always arrive on time with God.

Bro. Trey