The Kingdom, The Kids, & The Cowboys

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My Life Story in 15 Minutes

October 23, 2007 / / 0 Comments

Instead of taking 15 minutes to read a long blog entry and all the comments today, I’d like you to click on this link, click on my picture at the bottom left hand corner of the screen, and watch a 15 minute video.

This is me giving a speech last month for Austin Graduate School of Theology. Austin Grad is raising money to fund a new campus and an M-Div degree and the extra professors and space they need to accomodate that and the increasing enrollment they’re seeing.  President Dr. Stan Reid had asked me to speak at the initial fund-raising dinner, to tell my life story, especially as it pertains to Austin Grad.

 And here it is.

I covered all of it — from my childhood to where we are right now at Legacy. In just 15 minutes.

I watched the video last night after receiving an email from Melissa at Austin Grad alerting me that it was online. And it served as a wonderful reminder to me — like we discussed in yesterday’s blog — of who I am and why I’m here and where I’m going. If you’ve been involved in my life at all over the past 40 years, you’ll find at least parts of the speech interesting. Hopefully.

To everybody from Pleasant Grove, Memorial Drive, Mary Ellen & Harvester, Saturn Road, Marble Falls, Cordova, Edgemere, Mesquite, Pleasant Ridge, North Davis, and Legacy; Dallas Christian, Oklahoma Christian, and Austin Grad; my immediate family, my extended family, and all of Carrie-Anne’s family; to all the good people our Lord has put directly in my path to encourage me and push me and teach me and lead me:

Thank you.

Allan

What's Driving It?

October 22, 2007 / / 6 Comments

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, (I would paraphrase Paul to this point by saying ‘if you’re breathing!‘) then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”     ~Philippians 2:1-4

 As followers of Jesus, our calling is to be just like him. As disciples of Jesus, we’re committed to being just like him. That’s out goal. That’s our aim. That’s what we desire to do and be more than anything else. It’s what drives us. Being just like Jesus. Thinking like Jesus. Acting like Jesus.

And Paul says that means putting aside your position, putting aside everything, to become a servant to others.

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross.      ~Philippians 2:5-8

If being a Christian means being like Jesus, if following Christ means acting like Christ, then Christians are called to serve, not to be served. Christians are called to minister, not to be ministered to. Followers of Jesus are called to think of others, not themselves.

Why are we Christians? Why?

Are we Christians so we can belong to a group of successful, well-dressed people who meet in a nice, large, modern building? Are we Christians so we can do things our way with our people at our time? Are we Christians because it’s comfortable for us to be Christians?

If so, that’s not Christianity. It’s something else.

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Our oldest daughter, Whitney, is undergoing her MRI at 1:00 this afternoon. We’re meeting with the doctors at 1:00 Thursday to hear the results of all of her tests on her eyes and her optic nerves. Please continue this week to lift her up to our loving Father in prayer. Our trust is in him. Our faith is in him.

I’ve told Whitney most of her life that she suffers the things she suffers because God knows she can handle it. He’s equipped her with a special spirit and a special endurance that others don’t have. Other kids couldn’t handle everything you’ve had to handle, I tell her. And I try to give her a vision of how God’s going to use these things she’s overcoming to minister through her to other people for the rest of her life. She’ll forever be able to assist people and encourage people in ways that you and I never will. God shows us his strength in our weaknesses. He reveals his power in our infirmity. His might is shown in our feebleness. Praise God for his wonderful love and provision for his children!

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OK. We only know this one thing about the Cowboys. All we know about the Cowboys is this one thing. We know absolutely nothing else about the Cowboys except this one thing. Other than this one thing, we know nothing. Everything we know about the Cowboys is summed up in this one thing. At this point, nothing else is known.

Against really lousy, awful, pathetic quarterbacks, the Cowboys look pretty good. Against very good quarterbacks, the Cowboys get shredded.

That’s all we know.

Anything and everything else is merely speculation.

Peace,

Allan

The Cup of Blessing

October 19, 2007 / / 1 Comment

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

The central image in the great 23rd Psalm is the prepared table, an obvious symbol of provision and honor. The fact that our Shepherd / King provides for us and honors us “in the presence of my enemies” paints a beautiful portrait of our God’s protection and blessing while we journey through life on earth. A life lived in the presence and power of God is still a life lived in a world not yet restored to the wholeness God intends. So, even though we presently experience divine presence and reward, we are still among the enemies.

We should recognize that being in Christ doesn’t mean the troubles, cares, pains, and dangers of this world are removed from us. We remain “in the presence of” our enemies. However, we should ask ourselves and reflect on the ways, day after day, our Father is setting a table for us in the presence of those enemies.

One of the ways our Lord protects us and provides for us is in acts of love and service done for us by our Christian brothers and sisters. When the culture and the world seek to taunt us and tear us down, we find comfort and strength in the handshakes of friendship, the caring hugs, the community of fellowship, and the unity we share in the blood of Jesus.

These acts of love toward us become tables prepared by God — and his people — in the presence of our enemies who want to ridicule us and shatter our hopes.

God prepares the table of provision and protection and honor. I challenge you, today, to become a caterer at that table to those we know and love who are surrounded by enemies.

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We’re preparing now to take Legacy from a church that does small groups to a “Small Groups Church.” And it seems the biggest hurdles here in making that transition are related to the concept of breaking down the already established larger groups into smaller groups so more people can be invited in. This is a church-wide struggle here. It’s not just one age group or demographic. Young, old, in-between — there are lots of people here very worried about breaking out of their comfort zones and their comfort circle of friends and engaging other brothers and sisters in the congregation who don’t have those kinds of friendships and connections.

In our congregational informational meetings (the next one is set for Tuesday evening, October 23) everyone completely buys into the concepts of applying the Word, connecting as a family, and evangelizing our community through Small Groups. But lots of people don’t seem to understand how it’s up to the established groups, who already see the significance of what we do, to lead the other 65-70 percent of the congregation in the same direction. I keep hearing that they’re afraid they’re going to lose their friends if they begin a new group. I keep hearing that what they already have as a group is so special, so meaningful, so deep and intimate, they don’t want to lose it.

If it’s that special and meaningful and deep and intimate, why in the world wouldn’t you want to share it? Why wouldn’t you want to grab three or four other families in our church and help them experience the same thing? Why wouldn’t you do everything you could — if it’s really that great — to mentor others to help them grow and minister in the same ways you have?

You must read Jennifer Green’s blog post from yesterday. Click here. She and her husband Aaron see the benefits of Small Groups. And while they’re deeply connected to an existing group in our Young Families Class, they’re determined to start a new group in January so they can involve other people in our church who need it just as badly as the rest of us. They already have in mind a couple of neighbors on their street they’re going to invite and involve. They’ve been praying about it for weeks. And they can’t wait for January. They’re already inviting people to join them. They’re encouraging the entire class to follow their enthusiastic example.

If you’re nervous about commiting to a new group or leading a new group or breaking your existing group up in order to minister to others, Jennifer’s blog will inspire you. Read it.

Thank you, Aaron and Jennifer. And thanks to all who are jumping in.

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The Cowboys’ last two games have been decided in the 4th quarter. In both of those 4th quarters, combined, all 30 of the closing minutes against the Bills and Pats, Terrell Owens was thrown to five times. He’s seen five 4th quarter passes come his way in the past two 4th quarters. He dropped one. Two were intercepted.

For the entire season, Owens has only three 4th quarter catches.

And here’s T.O. from Wednesday:

“That’s all on the quarterback. All I can do is run my routes. Look at the film and there’s some situations and opportunities for me to get the ball.”

Let the turmoil build.

Minnesota has the league’s worst ranked defense against the pass. You think Romo’s going to be throwing the ball all over the place Sunday? The Vikings also have the #1 rushing offense in the NFL. I’m thinking the Cowboys are going to lose the time of possession battle as badly as they did against New England. And if they’re throwing 75-percent of the time, that’s not going to translate into a win.

Peace,

Allan

Living as an Individual in Community

October 18, 2007 / / 1 Comment

Almost everything I do from the pulpit I do in the context of community. The Community of Faith. The Church. The Family of God. I believe that God creates us, he brings us together, and he sustains us to live in community. I believe part of being created in the image of God is in our living in community the way he does. We give each other life and support each other and share in relationship just as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit do. And I think this way of thinking is critical. I think it’s paramount to our Christian walk.

I believe it takes a village to raise a child. I believe the business of the Church is to create a culture that is counter to the culture we experience in the world. I believe nobody is saved by himself. No one gets to Heaven alone.

I believe that and I teach that because the God of Heaven and Earth, the God of Holy Scripture acts on behalf of people. He intercedes and interferes for people. And when he acts with and for and through individuals, his purpose and his mission is focused on a much larger group. Of people.

Christianity and discipleship is done in community.

But then the Sermon on the Mount reminds us that the standards of our community — even our church community — will not save us. As critically important as they are, the conduct and behavior and beliefs of the Church will not redeem us. What is paramount in that regard is our individual and personal commitment to walk in the ways of God.

Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount that our Father sees what we keep secret. What we don’t show to anybody else, he knows. It doesn’t matter what other people think about me, my Father knows if my religion is just a show. He knows if I’m just performing for the people who hear me preach. He knows if I’m just faking it for the people sitting next to me on my pew. He knows.

Jesus tells us that the day is coming when people will present themselves to him in judgment and show him all the great and mighty deeds we’ve done in his name. We preached Jesus. We defeated Satan. We helped people. And we did it in the name of the Christ. I preached. I baptized. I ran the shoe department at Give Away Day. I visited the sick. I cooked for that family. I co-led a Small Group. And I did it all in the name of Jesus.

And the answer Jesus will give to so many that day is, “Who are you? Have we met? You must have been calling on somebody else all those years. I don’t have a clue who you are. And those things you did were actually evil.”

If we seek Jesus and Jesus alone, if we purify our hearts and take care to devote ourselves only to the Father, we will never have that fear. It’s in that we become truly his.

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I’m happy to direct you to “Talkin’ The Walk,” a daily blog now being written by our Youth Minister here at Legacy, Jason Brown. I’m more impressed every day with Jason’s love for our Lord and for the young people and families of this congregation. He and I struggle with the same things as far as culture and Christ, youth ministry versus family ministry, and a host of other related dilemmas. He’s passionate about walking in the Jesus Way. And about taking as many people with him as he can. I thank God for Jason and his wife, Cori, and their precious daughter, Rylee. I’m blessed to know him. You’ll be blessed to read him.

Peace,

Allan

Whitney Update

October 17, 2007 / / 0 Comments

The tests at UT Medical Center in Dallas only took about an hour and a half. It seemed like the same kinds of tests Whitney’s already done. But they also took a couple of vials of blood for some other testing. An MRI is being scheduled for either Friday or Monday. And we’re set to meet with doctors one week from tomorrow, Thursday the 25th, to go over all the results. So it’ll be at least one more round of tests — hopefully only the MRI — and maybe several days before we know anything at all about Whitney’s swollen optic nerves.

The neuro-opthamologist did tell Carrie-Anne today that Whitney’s eyes, her actual eyeballs, appear to be normal and healthy. So that’s pretty good news.

 Whitney appears to be in her normal good spirits, as well. Please, keep our oldest daughter in your prayers. And I’ll keep you updated here.

May our God bless us and all our kids.

Allan

THE Call to Discipleship

October 17, 2007 / / 1 Comment

As disciples of the Christ, what we want to know — what we need to know — is not what this or that man wants us to do or what this or that church wants us to do. What we want and need to know is what Jesus wants of us. When we assemble as followers of Jesus and listen to a sermon, we want to hear the Word of Christ; his Word, not man’s.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in the introduction to his The Cost of Discipleship:

“The real trouble is that the pure Word of Jesus has been overlaid with so much human ballast — burdensome rules and regulations, false hopes and consolations — that it has become extremely difficult to make a genuine decision for Christ. Of course it is our aim to preach Christ and Christ alone, but when all is said and done, it is not the fault of our critics that they find our preaching so hard to understand, so overburdened with ideas and expressions which are hopelessly out of touch.”

I’m teaching a Wednesday night class, beginning this evening, on the Sermon on the Mount as recorded by Matthew in Matthew 5-7. It’s so rich and it’s so deep. It’s so broad and huge and meaningful and life-changing. And it’s so simple. And it’s so demanding.  And it’s straight from the mouth of our Lord and Savior.

And it’s not some list of unattainable high ideals that are neat to talk about and hope for but ultimately impossible to achieve while we live in this world. The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ call to discipleship to him. The Sermon on the Mount, when internalized and taken for what it is, the teachings of our King, transforms us into his image.

Again from Bonhoeffer:

“When the Bible speaks of following Jesus, it is proclaiming a discipleship which will liberate mankind from all man-made dogmas, from every burden and oppression, from every anxiety and torture which afflicts the conscience. If they follow Jesus, men escape from the hard yoke of their own laws, and submit to the kindly yoke of Jesus Christ. But does this mean that we ignore the seriousness of his commands? Far from it. We can only achieve perfect liberty and enjoy fellowship with Jesus when his command, his call to absolute discipleship, is appreciated in its entirety.

The command of Jesus is hard — unutterably hard — for those who try to resist it. But for those who willingly submit, the yoke is easy and the burden is light.”

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                          ***Legacy Construction Update***

Welding  Welder  WorkScene

Sparks are flying! Here are some pictures of all the welders and welding today at the Youth and Benevolence Center here at Legacy.

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At 12:30 today our oldest daughter, Whitney, will see a neuro-opthamologist in Dallas regarding her swollen optic nerves. They’ve promised three or four hours of tests. And then, who knows what?

I know Lance and Keith and Tonia and the entire Legacy Junior High Youth Group lifted her up in prayer at last night’s Bible study. Our brothers and sisters here at Legacy are also praying. I know so many of our dear friends in Marble Falls are lifting her up to our Father. And all of our family and friends from Austin to Fresno and everywhere in between are doing the same. Thank you. Thank you for all the prayers and cards and kind thoughts. It means a lot to Whitney and it means the world to us.

Cynthia, thank you for the comment you left this morning. And for the passage of Scripture that speaks so perfectly to us today. “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” Psalm 68:19.

Peace,

Allan

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