Because of my commitment to post regularly to my various blogs across the web (though not well-evidenced on XANGA, Blogspot or MySpace!), I am always on the lookout for topics of interest or lessons that God might be teaching me so that I might use as post topics. This week I encountered several things that I thought were worthy of note, but as I started formulating this entry, I whittled it down to one: faith. In a devotional reading a few days back, the writer quoted a modern paraphrase of Oswald Chambers with this:

“When God gives a vision and darkness follows, waiting on God will bring you into accordance with the vision He has given if you await His timing. Otherwise, you try to do away with the supernatural in God's undertakings. Never try to help God fulfill His word.”
--My Utmost for His Highest: An Updated Edition in Today's Language,
ed. by James Reimann (Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers, 1992)
entry for January 19 (emphasis added)

I love that statement … We talk about waiting on God and trusting in Him. But what if it gets difficult? What do we do when we’ve been as faithful as we know to be, when we are willing to be completely obedient to whatever He asks of us, and yet He is silent? I’ve had that conversation with more than one ministry colleague just this past week, and, to be honest, I don’t have an easy answer.

It was helpful this morning, however, to read the following thought from popular financial columnist, Mary Hunt:

I'm learning a lot about myself these days, specifically that I'm one… who needs to know what's going to happen. I want to see everything that lies ahead… No matter who you are, what your circumstances, where you live and what you do, every morning each one of us must step out in faith, moving forward into the unknown to experience what life has for us.

Years ago, my husband and I were driving through California's Mojave Desert at night on our way across country. It was my turn to drive while he slept. What struck me in the black stillness of the night was that my headlights were not lighting the entire way. Those two beams of light lit up the area just in front of us, only about 50 feet. As I moved into that light, the light moved ahead just a little bit more, lighting the way to our destination, a little bit at a time… As we move through the days of our lives, we receive just the amount of insight we need for the next step. It's because of faith that we can step into the darkness of the future, knowing that the light will always go before us…

Whatever your circumstance, you have to move forward and into the darkness, knowing with certainty that God will give you just the amount of light you need for that next step. Then you take another step, and another, all the way into and through the darkness. That's called faith--stepping out into the darkness, knowing we will have just the amount of light we need for the step we're on.
--excerpts from The Everyday Cheapskate, October 1, 2008
(emphasis added)

“Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” –Hebrews 11:1

Olympic Madness

I read the following excerpt on a college classmate's blog last week:

Just so you know...that feeling of tiredness, irritability and the excessive need for caffeine actually has a name during the Olympic Games. It's called Olympic fatigue! So there ya go! Happy fatigue as I watch the women's finals in gymnastics at 11:45pm!

I laughed at the note because, for the first time ever, my family and I are actually engrossed in the Olympic Games. Anyone who knows me at all is keenly aware that I am not much of a sports enthusiast. (Pastor Derrick argued with me last week that the Summer Olympics weren't really sports anyway, because nobody can get hurt.)

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy any sporting event, if I'm there... I even play racquetball on occasion, but I've never been much for the sports scene. Other kids played football... I played piano. That's what makes this whole Olympic infatuation seem like some sort of "out-of body" experience for the redhead and me.

Nonetheless, I've genuinely enjoyed working my way through the recordings on our DVR, seeking out the greatest moments of the last couple of weeks. In fact, I realized that maybe I'd watched one too many medal ceremonies when this past Saturday evening at Starlight Theater I was momentarily stunned to hear a different arrangement of the national anthem than the one I'd been hearing on television so many times in the last several days.
So what's the reason I share all of this?

1. It's Monday morning and I needed a blog topic. ;-)

2. I wonder who else is finding the games to be a source of interest... Share some comments on your own Olympic thoughts... I'd love to hear them.

Blessings,
jph

Count your blessings
name them one by one;
Count your many blessings
see what God has done.
-Johnson Oatman, Jr. 1897

To be honest, though I've sung it literally hundreds of times, that old gospel song has never really been one of my favorites. So, why do we keep singing it? Because it helps us gain perspective. It's like the old saying, "You can't see the forest for all the trees..." Sometimes I find that God has been so actively at work that I must make a conscious effort to step back and see exactly what it is that He's been doing.

I love Philippians 4:8.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Such has been my own experience for the last couple of weeks. July 22 marked the one year anniversary of the day I met the congregation at Blue Valley Baptist Church, and yesterday gives me a full year on the platform as BVBC's Pastor of Worship. In that time I've seen God do so many things in my own life and ministry that it serves me well to stop and think about them.

At home:
All of my girls have found Kansas to be a wonderful place to live. God has blessed us not only with a wonderful house to rent, but with good neighbors, great schools, close friends and many new experiences... things like having four distinct seasons (not something we had in Texas!). I've said often over the last year that while Melinda and I have been blessed with many wonderful opportunities in life, neither of us had ever really considered living outside of the Lone Star State. Who knew a group of died-in-the-wool Texans could make such a happy home in Kansas?!

At church:
I have to admit, I've never worked so hard in my life as I have since coming to Blue Valley, but I must add to that statement the fact that I've never seen God do the things He's doing here. The explosive growth of our church has presented challenges beyond my past experience, but God has been faithful to guide and instruct us in navigating the course He's marked. Many church members have shared with me over the last year that they had concerns about what corporate worship would look like under the direction of a new leader. Most of those people went on to say how blessed they are to see the growth in our ministry and the diversity of our worship experiences. Testimonies like these affirm that God is up to something good.

The days ahead bring the promise of even greater things. This fall we'll be adding another staff member to the bvbcWORSHIP Ministry, and that person will begin leading new facets of our program with the first priority being church orchestra. As has been the case for many years, the goal of our ministry is always to empower individuals to be effective worshippers and effective worship leaders. Broadening the ministry creates new places for people to serve. Perhaps you need to be serving with us. I'd count it an honor to visit with you about the opportunities you have in the bvbcWORSHIP Ministry and hope you'll consider how God might be calling you to participate.

I've learned that when God does things, they don't always look like what I might have expected. That's part of what makes it so much fun. I thank Him for the opportunity to serve here and I thank you, my church family, for making my first year in Kansas so full of great experiences.

Blessings,
jph

The Story of My Life

No cynicism implied, but I've been REALLY busy the last couple of days, uh weeks, uh... So this Mark Schultz song has been on my mind. It's from the album Stories and Songs (a GREAT album by the way!) Don't take the song too seriously, but I believe we can all relate!


Running Just to Catch Myself
I am driving
I am late for work
Spilling coffee down my whitest shirt
While I'm flossing and I'm changing lanes
Oh Yeah

Now I'm driving
Through the parking lot
Doing eighty, hey what the heck why not
Watch it lady, Cuz you’re in my spot once again,

It's early to work
And here's a surprise, I got a
McMuffin for just 99 cents today
I think they ran a special

CHORUS:
I can't stand still can I get a witness
Can you hear me, Anybody, Anybody
I think I am running just to catch myself

Maybe someday I could fly away
Go to Key Largo or Montego Bay
Sport my Speedo, maybe grab a tan
DREAM VACATION, WILD ELATION

Now I'm running
Straight into my boss
And he's angry, Oh and he calls me Ross
Which is funny, ‘cause that ain’t my name
And that’s lame

I'm still running
Running very late, For a meeting
Wait, that was yesterday
Guess I'm early for the one next week, Oh how sweet

I get on the ladder, I corporately climb
I wave at my life as it passes me by everyday
My name's not Ross!

CHORUS
I can't stand still can I get a witness
Can you hear me, Anybody, Anybody
I think I am running just to catch myself

Life in my cubicle’s discreet, Life in my cubicle is neat
I've got some pictures of my friends
Some sharpened pencils...where's my pen

Ten O'clock I'm in a meeting
Paper cut I think I'm bleeding
Check my hair it's still receding,
Hey what a life

Break for lunch, there's nothing better
Run outside and don my sweater
Like Fred Rogers let's be neighbors
I've lost my mind

I'm over worked, and underpaid, and unappreciated
It's just a perk of being of being middle class and educated

One... spinning circles in my chair
Two...win a game of solitaire
Three... And I ponder where my stapler's gone, till

Four O'clock and I stare at the door,
And I stare at my watch, then I stare at the door
I stand by my desk like I'm going to war
There's just one thing I'll be needing
Grab my paycheck as I'm leaving

Oh oh oh oh oh oh ohhhhhhh

Five O'clock it's time to go
There's crowds to fight and horns to blow
It's talking fast on my cell phone
Hey, watch out that’s reckless driving!

Five O'clock it's time to leave
Hit the couch and watch TV
Set the clock and go to sleep
It's 8 a.m. on Monday morning
Again and again
and again and again
and again

Driving around, nowhere to go
And so I hang with my lady,
Oh, and I chill with my bros
It's okay, in my Cabriolet

CHORUS
I can't stand still can I get a witness
Can you hear me, Anybody, Anybody
I think I am running just to catch myself

When I meet God, I will have a question
I just forgot the question
I think I am running just to catch myself

Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh

Scandalon

"The concept of the scandal of Christ is for most of us so unfamiliar that upon first hearing it we are conditioned to close our minds. Let me encourage you to go to the Scriptures, especially the Gospels, and see if this element doesn't exist on almost every page. Jesus must become for us not merely the provider of answers to our questions, but on an infinitely larger scale, when we are so broken that we don't even know what the question is...then He must become to us...THE ANSWER." - Michael Card

In 1985, Christian singer/songwriter Michael Card released an album entitled Scandalon. The quote above is taken from Card's website in reference to the album and the song by the same title.

The Gospel? Scandalous?

Really??!

Read these lyrics, taken from the song:

Along the path of life there lies a stubborn Scandalon

And all who come this way must be offended

To some He is a barrier, To others He's the way

For all should know the scandal of believing

He will be the truth that will offend them one and all

A stone that makes men stumbleAnd a rock that makes them fall

Many will be broken so that He can make them whole

And many will be crushed and lose their own soul
© 1985, Michael Card

I've known and liked that song for more than 2 decades now, and yet, today it carries new meaning for me. Following the events of Saturday's Shipping Cart Concert (see Derrick's Blog for details), I am reminded of the fact that many will not receive the gospel willingly.

Despite the early conclusion of our event, there is much to celebrate about the events of the past weekend:

Our choir "engaged" in a way that I've not observed since coming to BVBC, but that I always believed was possible... Their investment in this project was truly a sacrifice. They didn't merely sing, but rather they COMMUNICATED.

Our church members came out in scores to share the love of Christ in the community.

Our church learned a valuable lesson in why we need to continue finding ways to spread the Gospel in our community.

So, all in all I call it a success. For over an hour and a half, the gospel was proclaimed and the name of JESUS lifted up. In itself that's a great thing, but perhaps there's even a greater good that things happened as they did. Had all gone as we planned we would have missed out on an experience that will undoubtedly steel us to greater service for God.

I've never really thought myself to be the rebellious type, but maybe there is something lurking deep inside me seeking opportunities to scandalize the world for Christ. Hmmm... I think I like it....
jph

A Moment of Startling Clarity

When I was a kid we used to watch a television show called Diff'rent Strokes. It was about 2 poor brothers who, upon the death of their mother, were adopted by her employer, a wealthy widowed gentleman who lived with his daughter and housekeeper in a swanky New York apartment. Every once in a while, when taken by surprise, the younger brother, Arnold, would blast forth the phrase, "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?!" It always made me laugh. Even now, there are moments, when people around my age toss that phrase out in conversation. (Okay, so we're not cool, but it still makes me chuckle.) The point of this story is simply to illustrate that sometimes we can be speaking or listening to one thing when, in fact, the point is something entirely different. Such was the case for me last Tuesday evening.

I listened as one of my daughters told about a chance she'd had to "witness" earlier in the day. The conversation piqued my interest, but the longer I listened I realized the the bulk of her story wasn't as much about her sharing the gospel with a lost friend as it was about sharing the exciting things that are happening in our church. As her narrative continued, she eventually reached the point where she explained to her classmate about why she trusted Christ and that this friend should consider the doing same. SCORE! That's where the victory is; in sharing Christ. I was proud of my daughter for her willingness to claim her faith and share it with someone whom she knew was lost. I encouraged her to keep sharing with this friend and to pray for her until she trusts Christ.

Nonetheless, I started thinking about how often I take an opportunity God gives me to share the gospel and use it not to declare the good news, but rather to talk about the ministry, the church or even the work God is doing in our community. Why do I do that?! The real message of the gospel isn't that Blue Valley Baptist Church is an exciting place to be, even though it is. It isn't that our worship ministry is growing steadily and taking great shape... The message of the gospel is that God sent Jesus to live, die and rise again in order to reclaim us from our lostness and to allow us to be reconciled to Him.

As one who loves language, I pride myself in choosing carefully the words and phrases I use to convey my thoughts, both verbally and in writing. This week God is reminding me that I need to put as much thought into the message I will share as I do in choosing the words I'll use to convey it.

Day of Visitation

Most people who know me "off the platform" know that I'm quick to acknowledge my own inabilities and weaknesses. I mean, I genuinely realize how much of my ministry is positively affected by the investments of others... Some of these investments have come through specific individuals; people like my high school choir teacher, who to this day is a close friend and is one of the most influential people in my life. There are many such people I could name, but once I start I don't know where I would stop. Sometimes however, the influences are less obvious. One such instance has come to light for me this week.

In a long turn of un-relatable events, I found myself speaking with the ministry office of Christian recording artist, Tim Sheppard, considering the possibility of bringing him to an event that I'm helping to coordinate in the winter of 2009. If you're not familiar with Tim's ministry, suffice it to say he is a prolific singer and songwriter and that my first introduction to his music was about 25 years ago. At the close of the conversation, his wife, Kelly, said she'd send me his new CD, Day of Visitation. I was excited about getting the disc, but didn't give it much thought until it arrived later in the week. I put the tracks on my iPod and started listening to them as soon as I got home that afternoon. It was so good to hear Tim's songs ringing through my SUV as I drove around town the next day and I very quickly found myself instinctively singing along with these songs I'd never heard before. After a day or so of listening, I was taking the girls to school, and after dropping the first two at their respective campuses, I was on my way to the last school of the morning. I told my daughter in the back seat, "Listen to this..." and I started playing my favorite song of the collection, I Hear the Lord Passing By. She asked who was singing and I found myself strangely moved as I started telling her who Tim was. I explained, "When I was about the age of your older sister, I first saw Tim in concert. He sat at the piano and played and sang... I remember wanting to be like him..." I paused, and during my silence, while I was grappling for words, she said, "So, he inspired you..."

That was it! EXACTLY! He inspired me... I hadn't thought about it like that, but it was a perfect summary of what I was feeling. Inspired. Then I looked at my life and at how I love to lead worship from the piano, and I was more than slightly affected seeing that God had not only used that concert experience from more than two decades ago to give shape to my ministry, but that He had used my 9 year-old daughter to help me connect the dots. I've thought about that conversation many times this week. One man whose influence helped chart my course in ministry never knew it... (Of course, for that matter, I didn't even realize it until my daughter helped me put the pieces together. It makes me wonder who I might be influencing...)

The key verse for the album comes from Job 10:12, "You have granted me life and favor, and Your visitation has preserved my spirit." (KJV)

The album, by the way, is wonderful. It includes 10 original worship songs that are as good as anything Tim has ever written, and the recordings demonstrate that his talents for singing and song writing have only improved over the last twenty years. On the album cover he tells the story of a pivotal day in his life and ministry... I don't want to ruin it for you, but rather, will encourage you to read his story at www.timsheppard.org . From that site you can link over and hear song clips on his MySpace page, www.myspace.com/timsheppardmusic.
My current favorite, as I mentioned above, is I Hear the Lord Passing By... It might just show up at Blue Valley in the not-too-distant future. Lyrics are below:

I hear the Lord passing by
This could be my day of visitation
Have mercy on me, Lord
Hear my cry of desperation
I hear the Lord passing by
My heart, my flesh
Yearn to be with You
Open my eyes to see Your glory
All the days of my life
I hear the Lord passing by
This could be my day of visitation
Have mercy on me, Lord
Hear my cry of desperation
Have mercy on me, Lord
From the depth of my affliction
I hear the Lord
I hear the Lord
I hear the Lord passing by
Words and Music by Tim Sheppard
© 2006 Tim Sheppard Music