Page 481 of 497

No One Leads Alone

October 12, 2007 / Allan / 0 Comments

God’s call is never misunderstood. It’s not vague or ambiguous. The question in Scripture and in our own lives is never in discerning God’s call. It’s clear.

He tells Abram, “Go!” He tells Moses, “Speak!” God tells Joshua, “Lead!” He tells Gideon, “Fight!” He tells Samuel, “Serve!” God tells Isaiah, “Prophesy!” He tells Jeremiah, “Preach!”

And none of it’s easy. None of it’s appealing. And they balk at first. They throw up excuses and reasons for not answering the call. And every single time God tells them, “Hey! It’s not about you. It’s about me.”

“If I call you to do something,” God says, “I’m the one who’s going to do it. Not you. Don’t be afraid. I’m with you. We’re in it together. I’m God. Trust me.

The question in God’s call on our lives and in the life of his Church is never “Can you hear me now?” It’s always, “Can you trust me now?”

Sunday morning at Legacy we’re looking for 100 men and their families to sign up as Small Groups Church co-leaders. We’re establishing 50 Small Groups to meet weekly on Sunday evenings beginning in January. Each group is to have two co-leaders — no one leads alone — and so we need 100. Building up to those sign-ups, we’re going to explore God’s call to Moses here at Legacy Sunday morning.

But let me point out this today. If you’re a member at Legacy, think about this in terms of your place here in the body and your role in the opportunities the Lord is setting before us, specifically as it relates to our clear mission as the church to Apply the Word, Connect as a Family, and Evangelize our Community. If you’re reading this from somewhere else, chew on this in terms of whatever it is God is calling you to do right there wherever you are.

The task Moses was given to confront Pharaoh was not to be undertaken alone. Rather, he and the elders were to go to Pharaoh and demand the release of the Hebrew slaves (Exodus 3:18). At the same time, God provided Aaron as a helper to carry out God’s plan. Both Aaron’s role and that of the elders emphasize the role of the group in carrying out God’s will. Moses doesn’t do any of it by himself. He works for the group by working with the group.

Moses’ problem is that he looked at God’s call on his life only in terms of what he, Moses, could accomplish. Instead of viewing the call in terms of God’s power and will to accomplish the task, Moses saw only his own gifts or talents, or lack thereof.

Consider the call of God to serve the body of Christians and the community in the name of Jesus. And if we reflect on God rather than ourselves, we’ll approach that call with a peace that passes all understanding.

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We’re less than 24 hours away from Legacy’s 21st annual Give Away Day. And it looks like everything’s just about ready. The concourse is crammed with rows upon rows of racks loaded with clothes, sorted and sized for whoever needs them. It looks like we have more blue jeans than ever before, most of them brand new! We’ve had dozens of volunteers up here for the better part of two weeks sorting through all these things. But it’s still beyond me how it all comes together.

Every one of our downstairs classrooms is a designated “shopping” area. Some for shoes—again, most of them brand new—some for dishes and household appliances, and the others for more clothes.

We’ll have over 2,000 folks from our community in here tomorrow morning before 7:00. Everything’s given away free of charge. Everyone’s welcome. No questions asked. So many people will be touched by the love of Jesus. The stories we’ll be telling and re-telling for the next few weeks will be heart-warming. And I’m certain, just like last year and all the previous years, we’ll be impacted for the good much better than the ones we serve.

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As always, I’m not cheering for the Cowboys Sunday. But, at the same time, I can’t root for Bill Belichick and the Pats. It’s a combination of never wanting to root for the overwhelming favorite and current dynasty and some of that wanting to see history thing at work. It’s like rooting for the opposing pitcher in the 9th inning when he has a no-hitter working against your team. It probably would be really cool to see the Cowboys do something NOBODY expects them to do.

But I’m not rooting for them. I just want to see a good game. Part of me thinks the Pats will win 45-10. But I’ve been wrong on most things so far this season.

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Our dear sister in Christ, Sue Godwin, passed away at her home yesterday afternoon, surrounded by her family and great friends. What an inspiring picture of Christian perseverance and character. What a truly wonderful model of faith in her Lord. The times I visited her and prayed with her, she always told me she was ready to go, but scared. She knew exactly where she was going, but she was worried about getting there. In the name of Jesus the Christ, we again commit the care of her body and soul to our God. The One who calls us is faithful. And he will do it.

Peace,

Allan

Imago Dei

October 11, 2007 / Allan / 0 Comments

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:26-27

What does it mean to be created in the image of God?

The question has been debated since almost the day God breathed life into Adam’s nostrils. And I can’t pretend to have the definitive answer. But chew on this for a while……..

If you take your clues just from Scripture, it’s clear that “image of God” does not mean man has an eternal soul. Or, I should say, the fact that man will live eternally is not the reason he’s said to be created in the “image of God.” The Hebrew term in the verse about God breathing life into Adam, Genesis 2:7, is “nepesh.” And it just means “life.” Period. It has nothing to do with a soul or a spirit. It just means man is able to breathe air. Just like the animals. No difference. In fact, Adam is formed from the dust by the hands of God, exactly like all the birds and animals. It seems that the way Adam is created and the physical or spiritual qualities he possesses have nothing to do with this “image of God.”

What sets man apart from the animals in Genesis is that God has given him dominion over creation and that God has given him a woman to live in community with him. Those two qualities or characteristics make man exactly like God.

God is only described in the Bible by what he does. We’re never told what he looks like or what he’s made of or where he comes from. God is described by what he does, by his activity in and with his creation. He creates. He sustains. He provides. He controls. And he lives in community.

Wrap your brain completely around the doctrine of the Trinity and get back with me. I don’t think it’s possible. But our God lives in community with himself. I can’t explain it. I don’t even understand it. But John makes it clear that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit give life to each other.

And when we participate in that creating, sustaining, providing, controlling, and living in community, we are participating in what it means to be God, to be made in the “image of God.”

Man and woman are brought together by God to live in community with each other, to need each other, to sustain each other, and to create new life together. We can make kids! Generating life through reproduction is the way we participate in creation. And our existence together in community — in fellowship — ministering to one another, sustaining each other, providing for each other, and protecting each other is the obvious way we all participate in the “image of God.” And the more we do those things, the more like God we become.

God is described in Scripture by what he does. And to be “in his image,” we must do the things he does.

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***Legacy Construction Update***

The work is all focused right now on the two story youth and benevolence center off to the west side of our fellowship hall. The steel is being lifted into place by a huge crane. And it seems to be progressing very quickly. The new parking spaces should all be available for us this coming Sunday. Lance Parrish took these latest pics, several of them from the roof of the fellowship hall.

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There’s a reason Terrell Owens isn’t talking to reporters this week. And it has nothing to do with Randy Moss. It has everything to do with his numbers. That’s what he doesn’t want to talk about. He knows the questions this week would revolve around the fact that in the past two games he’s had more drops than catches. He has five catches for 58 yards over the past two games and no touchdowns. In fact, he hasn’t scored a TD since week two. He’s also on pace right now for his worst season since 2000. He trapped a catchable ball on that last drive Monday night. He dropped the potential game-tying two-point conversion. We all saw him yelling in frustration and throwing his helmet around on the sidelines against the Bills. He’s not Tony Romo’s go-to guy. That guy seems to be Jason Witten. And that’s what Owens doesn’t want to talk about.

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Interesting story by Evan Grant about the Rangers’ interest in the developing A-Fraud situation in New York. Not that they’re thinking of bringing him back. Goodness, no! But if Rodriguez opts out of his deal with the Yankees, it would save the Rangers about 21-million dollars over the next three seasons. Again, not that Tom Hicks would spend that money on a proven power hitting free agent or a good starting pitcher. At the same time, if A-Fraud jumps ship in New York, he could easily wind up with the Angels or M’s and playing against Texas 20 times a season.

I’m not worried about that.

But if he leaves NY, won’t that be because he can’t hack it? He can’t handle the pressures of playing with those high expectations in the Big Apple. His playoff numbers the past three years prove it.

And finally, this sobering news. The Rangers are one of only two teams in Major League Baseball history to have never won a playoff series. Tampa Bay is the other.

Great company.

The DevilRays just finished with the worst record in baseball and have placed last in their division nine of the past ten years.

Peace,

Allan

A Kingdom of Priests

October 10, 2007 / Allan / 0 Comments

One of the things I tend to emphasize in my preaching and teaching is that we are all, every one of us, ordained ministers. We’re ordained at our baptisms to minister to each other and to our neighbors in the name of Jesus Christ. I love that imagery. I love the way it shapes us as a church family, sharing and meeting each other’s needs and having all things in common. We minister when we put the interests of others ahead of our own.

During last night’s congregational informational Small Groups meeting here at Legacy a different, but related, thought came to mind. We claim to be a Kingdom of Priests. We’re a priesthood of believers. But what does that mean? Does the priest image communicate to us a different concept than the image of Christians as ministers? Is it deeper? How is a priest different from a minister? Have I been using the wrong image to communicate the way we, as believers, are to act with one another and within the community?

I think the “priesthood of all believers,” which actually comes straight from Martin Luther and the Reformation, has probably been distorted by a lot of us. As a concept, I think we see this “priesthood” in terms of individuals functioning as our own priests. We assume — or even worse, insist — that, “I don’t need a priest. Jesus is my priest. It’s just him and me. I can do OK on my own.”

That distorts the true nature of the Biblical concept. “Kingdom of Priests” (Biblical term) and “Priesthood of all Believers” (Reformation term) means that we are all priests, not for ourselves, but for one another. The idea should be more like, “I need you for my priest. And while we’re at it, I’m available to you as your priest, too.”

Eugene Peterson puts it this way in his latest theological work, The Jesus Way:

“The priesthood of all believers is not an arrogant individualism that, at least in matters dealing with God, doesn’t need anyone. It is a confession of mutuality, a willingness to guide one another in following in the way of Jesus, to assist and encourage, to speak and act in Jesus’ name. In the community of the baptized, there is no one, absolutely no one, who is not involved in this priestly function of leading and being led.”

Oh, man, does that work well with what we’re trying to do here with Legacy Small Groups Church.

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***Legacy Construction Update***

The steel beams are going up. Two floors on the new youth and benevolence center are clearly established. It looks like this may be the quickest part of the construction process. Or it may just be that it’s the most visible.

Peace,

Allan

The Watershed Game?

October 9, 2007 / Allan / 3 Comments

OK. At the end of the game, as Nick Folk’s second 53-yard game winning field goal split the uprights, I was standing up in my living room, two feet away from my TV, laughing.

Laughing.

It was the craziest game I can remember watching. Ever. And regardless of what this game means to the Cowboys from here on out (more on that in a minute), there’s not a person who watched it who will ever forget it.

Tony Romo throws five interceptions and fumbles three times. And still wins the game. Four of his five picks were thrown right to the Bills defender without a Cowboys receiver in sight. Two of them were returned for Buffalo scores. Late in the fourth quarter, right after Terrence Newman had given Dallas some hope with his own interception deep in Bills territory, Romo responded by throwing his fifth pick, this one in the end zone. At that point, as I was visiting with a friend over the phone, our conversation turned to what this was doing to Romo long-term. Should a coach take him out of the game because every pass he makes is a disastrous one? What lasting damage is he doing to his own psyche and confidence and to the relationship he has with his 52 teammates? Should they pull him or keep giving him the chance to win it?

And as funny as I think it is when the Cowboys lose, I hated seeing Romo play the goat. He seems like such a great kid and he’s a genuine joy to watch. I hated that he was the one obviously giving the game away. But then Terrell Owens started dropping more balls. Roy Williams started missing more tackles. And it was clear that there was plenty of blame to go around. I can enjoy a Cowboys loss a lot more when T.O. is the one who drops the two-point conversion.

And look at how this thing was setting up to really implode. This loss to the Bills could have triggered the avalanche of despair that would drive Dallas straight to that 8-8 finish I’m hoping for. Owens was stomping on the sidelines in the fourth quarter. He was ripping his helmet off and cursing when he thought he was open and Romo didn’t get him the ball. They lose that game last night, go on to lose to the Patriots Sunday, and suddenly they’re 4-2 with a two-game losing streak and the finger-pointing begins. Doubt creeps in and sets up a tent. The bye week forces the media to create stories about the team, and they’d all be negative. The tough part of the division schedule is coming up and all the positivity is gone. Maybe they really were just playing lousy teams at the beginning. Maybe they’re not as good as everyone thought. Maybe Romo really is playing over his head. Maybe Phillips doesn’t know what he’s doing. Maybe.

But the Cowboys score 9 points in the final 20-seconds and win the game. When’s the last time you saw an onsides kick actually work? Hasn’t it been years?!? Do you realize that if Buffalo’s offense could have scored more than just three points they would have won? The Cowboys first lead of the game came with 0:00 on the clock.

And now this horrible nightmare of a game for everybody involved could turn into the very thing that propels this team to greatness over the next four or five years. Who can’t they beat? What can’t they do? Somebody joked with Jerry Wayne afterwards that he should have sent his contract proposal to Romo’s agent during the third quarter. And Jerry said, “he just went UP in value in my opinion.”

Of course he did!

The Cowboys gain more positive energy and confident vibe from last night’s miracle than they would have if they’d drummed the Bills by 17 like they were supposed to.

And what about the Bills and their fans? They live in that awful city (sorry, Bob Matuszak) with that horrible weather with all those factories and plants. The Bills and their hatred for all Dallas sports teams are all they have. And for 59:40 they completely control that football game. How do you get six takeaways in the NFL and lose? Come on. You gotta feel for those poor folks today.

And, (last thing on the game unless somebody else wants make an observation) the NFL probably won’t have to wait until this coming spring to change the rule on allowing a head coach to call a timeout a split-second before the ball is snapped on a game-winning field goal attempt. Just wait. Pretty soon some coach is going to pull that stunt and the opponent’s kicker is going to slice a 43-yarder into the benches. And then he’ll split the uprights on the second try and win the game.

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I can’t allow the Yankees to go away without another observation on A-Fraud. He’s #1 in the American League this season in RBIs, homeruns, and runs scored. Yet he goes 4-15 in the four game playoff series with the Indians with six strikeouts and a total of one RBI. I don’t have time this morning to look up his performance in the four games with runners in scoring position or how many runners he left on base against Cleveland. Somebody else look that up for us and let us know.

But it’s typical.

He’s a very good baseball player. I think anyone who uses the word “great” in reference to Rodriguez hasn’t done his homework.

Peace,

Allan

Happy Birthday, Stan!

October 8, 2007 / Allan / 5 Comments

There have been several of our assemblies together at Legacy in the past year or so that have inspired me and moved me and humbled me. None so like what happened yesterday morning.

Stan Stafford first came to Legacy seeking food through the benevolence program here about four months ago. He’s 99 years old, confined to a wheelchair, and just as pleasant and sharp as anybody you’d ever meet. That very first day Kenny Smith invited Stan to worship with us the following Sunday. And, sure enough, Stan showed up. He parked his wheelchair with the big orange flag on it three-quarters of the way back, next to the sound booth. And to my knowledge, he’s not missed a Sunday yet. He’s starving for the Gospel. He’s thirsty for the knowledge of our God and his love and grace. Alvin Jennings and Kenny have been studying and praying with Stan. Over the past four months we’ve all befriended Stan. We’ve shared with Stan. We’ve listened to Stan. And we’ve come to love Stan.

And yesterday morning, during the third verse of the invitation song, that wheelchair came flying down the aisle toward me with Kenny and Alvin close behind. 16 days shy of his 100th birthday, Stan wanted to experience the new birth of a new resurrection life in God through Jesus Christ! Alvin shared a few stories about their time together over the past four months and then Stan confessed Jesus as the Son of God and the Lord of his life.

But how in the world were we going to do this?

In order to enter our baptistry at Legacy, you have to walk up four steps and then back down three into the water. And while Stan, when he has to, can go short distances by shuffling his feet, there’s no way he’s going up and down stairs. I hurriedly introduced a new family to the congregation and then hustled back to see if I could help. But I wasn’t needed. Jesse Villareal, whose physical size and strength is only surpassed by the size of his compassionate heart, was already suiting up in a set of waders that were way too small for him. He recognized from his seat what needed to be done and had jumped up to help. And when they were ready, Jesse lifted Stan and carried him up and down the steps and into the water. Jesse’s about a foot taller and a hundred pounds bigger than Alvin (that’s probably much more a statement about Alvin’s size than Jesse’s). And it was quite a sight — both of them baptizing Stan. And then Jesse carried Stan back up out of the water after we all shared in his new birth in Christ.

I don’t have the words to describe the beauty of the scene. I’ve been thinking about it and talking about it for almost 24 hours now. And I still don’t know how to write about it. If you were there, you know. If you weren’t, I’m sorry. I’m incapeable of describing it. The beauty of this tall, strong, young man and this wise older preacher lovingly carrying a 99-year old babe in the faith into and out of the waters of baptism with a cheering, weeping, admiring throng of 600-plus new brothers and sisters was overwhelming to me.

Our God is so wonderful. And his Church is so marvelous. And his people, indwelled by his Spirit, are amazing.

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To all the people who still have Cheap Trick’s “Surrender” running through their heads, I’m posting a bunch of pictures from our weekend at Lake Texoma. Just click on each picture to get the full size. I don’t have any pics of Kevin Welch, the only man to ever wear cleats to a family campout. I didn’t get Tate’s tumble during the kickball game that resulted in a broken collarbone and separated shoulder, nor the wild out-of-control John Deere Mule that Shanna Byrnes drove onto the field during play that started the chain reaction that led to the broken bones. (I’m not accepting any responsibility for the accident. The only reason I missed the throw at first was because I was dodging Shanna!) I did get a pretty good shot of Jennifer Green running the bases while holding Parker, Larry Tolleson and his Jolly Roger, and all kinds of sweet, precious little kids.

Go Bills.

Allan

Be Joyful Always

October 5, 2007 / Allan / 2 Comments

Sunday morning at Legacy we wrap up a ten week series on Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians with what appear to be just random instructions and commands at the end of the book. We’ll look at how those imperatives do all come together to speak to our relationships and responsibilities within the church setting. But I want to focus on one of them today.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16, right in the middle of Paul’s final exhortations, he writes, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

It’s impossible, in the world we live in, to be happy all the time. But that’s not what Paul’s saying. What he’s saying is that the church’s joy comes from God’s activity in and with his people. And that is constant. In chapter 1 he says the joy comes from the Holy Spirit. In chapter 2 Paul says the church itself was a joy to him because of everything Christ was doing there in Thessalonica. Chapter 3 says the joy comes from being in the presence of God. What Paul has learned is to see the hand of God in whatever is happening to him or around him. God is working through and in the shipwrecks and beatings and stonings and prison sentences and pain.

God is working in and through everything that’s going on with me. Regardless of what the doctor says, despite the fact I don’t have a job, although my children are grieving me, even though my husband is leaving me, whatever. I am certain of my salvation from God in Christ. And it’s this stable and deep-rooted joy that enables us to cope with disappointments and see them in their true perspective. In any and all circumstances, God is at work among his people. And that gives us reason to rejoice, reason to give thanks, and that fulfills God’s will for his church.

And he says give thanks IN all circumstances, not FOR all circumstances. You don’t thank God for the dirty dishes at the end of the day, not unless you’re some kind of sicko. You thank God for the food he gives you to dirty all those dishes. You don’t thank God for the car accident. You thank him that nobody was injured. You don’t thank God that Sue Godwin has cancer. You thank God for giving you the opportunities to serve her and her family in his name and for deeming you worthy to minister to them in his name.

Give thanks in all circumstances. Even in the awful reality of death in our number, in our church family, we give thanks. Thanks that death is not the last word. It’s not the final act. Thank you, Lord, that you have the last word and that you always write the final act. Thank you, God, that you give us resurrection and life.

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The four-day weekend is upon us. Carrie-Anne and the girls and I are heading up to Lake Texoma this morning with several other friends and their families until Saturday night. Sunday should be as busy as ever with three worship services amid the chaos that is Give Away Day set up. And we’re planning to spend Monday at the great State Fair of Texas.

Hook ’em!

Allan

The Kingdom, The Kids, & The Cowboys

Page 481 of 497

No One Leads Alone

Imago Dei

A Kingdom of Priests

The Watershed Game?

Happy Birthday, Stan!

Be Joyful Always

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