Heart Soul and Might

For the last couple weeks, I’ve been showing my five-year-old Josiah a few basics on the piano. Basically using three fingers starting on middle C… I still think he’s too young for formal lessons, but it’s been fun to see him picking up some things at such a young age.

This morning we had an interaction that reminded me a lot about life.

A few weeks back, I decided to resurrect some Scott Joplin material, so I’ve been practicing “The Maple Leaf Rag” here and there when I have a few moments. I’ve gotten it to where it sounds great, and it’s a lot of fun to play. It’s one of those classics that most people would recognize if they heard it. Not the easiest song, but of course practice delivers results, right?

Well, this morning I sat down with Josiah to have him play his 3-note scale and he did so well that I added fingers 4 and 5 as well, so now he can play a 5-note scale up and back down. He picked it up quick! I asked him to practice three times - and I welled up with excitement as I saw him negotiating his fingers on each key. He did it perfectly the first time! So, I said to him “Ok, two more times, Jo-Jo.” His next comment floored me, and I knew we were moving into a teachable moment.

Sitting on the piano bench, he turned around to me and said, “Now I wanna do some hard stuff, dad.”

I said, “What hard stuff?” and he said “The song you were just playing. Show me what to play, and I’ll play it.”

I got down on my knees and looked him in the eye and said “Josiah, you have to learn the easy stuff first and keep working on it before you can learn to play the hard stuff.” His eyes deflated, and he leaned his head down on the piano keys and said “But Dad, I really want to play the hard stuff.” So we spent the next couple minutes talking about how Daddy needed to work hard for years on the “easy stuff” before he could ever start to play the “hard stuff.” He wasn’t too excited about that prospect in that moment, so he jumped off the piano bench and went back to playing with his rubber crocodile.

It reminded me of life and growing to maturity in Christ… I’ll let you make the connection as it relates to you personally…

Our family prayer times are some of the funnest and most fulfilling times we have as a family. And just before our meals, our prayer can get pretty interesting. We’ve adopted a pretty familiar prayer that we sing - you may be familiar with it. It goes like this:

God our Father, God our Father
Once again, once again
We bow our heads and thank you, bow our heads and thank you
Amen, Amen.
Thank you, Jesus!

It’s the “Thank you, Jesus!” that usually shocks people around us at restaurants, because every one of us throw our hands up in the air and with much vim and vigor, shout those words… Sometimes I wonder about our ritual because a red-headed three year old can have some serious volume on that part.

Well, every now and then, we spontaneously break out into at least a 3-part harmony - sometimes its 5-part harmony - as we sing our prayer. And, I have to admit that I’m usually the one to start it, often choosing either the tenor part, or even getting up into my falsetto alto range. At that point, any reverence in our prayer-song goes out the window, and we all break into our wide-ranging operatic vibratos. Sometimes, I must admit that I’m a little convicted that I’m the one influencing our three boys to be irreverent during our family pre-meal prayer. But it’s so fun watching the faces of Josiah (our 5 yr old) and Jonathan (our red-headed 3 yr old) as they express themselves to the Lord. (or at least to each other!)

Well, in the last few weeks, Jonathan has gotten a kick out of watching me try to hit either the really high notes, or the really low notes (that I never actually get to) and he imitates my face. His face is so contorted I’d actually like to think I don’t really look like that, but he’s looking right at me when he does it, so he’s probably right on.

And following our “Thank you, Jesus!” he turns to me with eyes full of anticipation, and asks, “Daddy, did I look like you?” I can’t help but get a kick out of his enthusiasm, and he’ll only be happy with ONE answer. So of course I say “Jon-Jon, you looked JUST like me! You looked just like your daddy!” And then, satisfied that he accomplished his goal, he rips into his food…

But, it got me thinking. My little boy wants to look just like his daddy. He wants to try to sound like his daddy. He looks up to me, and tries to imitate me - even in something as silly as our operatic family prayer… And he’s teaching me a lesson when he asks me this… Because this is the question I need to be asking MY Father. My heavenly Father. “Daddy, do I look like You? Do I sound like You? Do I act like You? When people look at me, can they tell that I’m YOUR child?”

I love the lessons I learn from my kids. And, I don’t think I’m going to stop our 5-part harmony prayer anytime soon - because I have to admit: now I actually look forward to hearing that question from my son. And I have to believe our Father likes hearing that kind of question from us, too.

Long ago, I gave up on the traditional “New Years Resolutions” since it was usually the third week in January that I gave up on my New Years Resolutions. So, a few years ago I started doing something different: I began asking the Lord in December what word He’d want me to focus on in the following year. This would be a word that would focus my thoughts, shape my goals and give me something to think about during the entire year. No longer did I have a set number of pounds to lose or a fixed number of times per week I would work out - these always led to failure. My word for the year would give me something to meditate on, to think about, to live by - it would bring me to certain books to read, messages to listen to, websites to check out… No failure. Only victory!

This word always inevitably comes from something that is already a theme in my life in some way - but maybe something I want to challenge myself with over the course of the next year. In 2004, I knew I needed to get beyond my self-focus, so my word was “others”. In 2005, He actually gave me three words: purity, humility and dependence. In 2006, it was church history.

A few weeks ago when I began to think about my “word for 2008″, I was thinking about my boys. I thought about the fact that they get jazzed at just about everything they see, no matter how common or simple. Jonathan still looks up at the moon sometimes and says “Daddy! The moon, the moon!” Unfortunately, I’ve looked at the moon so many times I hardly see it anymore and have gotten bored with it. It just blends in to the night sky now. I’ve forgotten that it’s an amazing orb 240,000 miles away from earth whose lunar pull actually affects ocean tides here on the earth! And it struck me that somewhere between the age of five and me, humans tend to lose the childlike wonder and awe that my boys have. Many people trudge along just trying to get through life, unaware of the incredible things in, around and above us that can inspire that same childlike wonder. I don’t want to be one of those people.

A few years ago, I read my favorite book of all time The Pleasures of God by John Piper, and he introduced me to a fascinating man - his mentor, Clyde Kilby. Kilby lived every day by his “Eleven Resolutions for Staying Alive to God’s Glory.” His seventh resolution said this:

I shall open my eyes and ears. Once every day I shall simply stare at a tree, a flower, a cloud, or a person. I shall not then be concerned at all to ask what they are but simply be glad that they are. I shall joyfully allow them the mystery of what Lewis calls their “divine, magical, terrifying, and ecstatic” existence.

I love where these resolutions take me. They make me open my eyes and my heart - and they take me to the glory of God - to His mystery and wonder. I too seldom live according to these resolutions that I adopted as my own a few years ago, and I know God wants me to recapture His glory by opening my eyes to His wonder. The wonder of all that He has made, the wonder of how He’s redeemed me, the wonder of the relationships He’s blessed me with…

So, it is with great expectation that I live 2008 with my word for the year: Wonder.

I looked up “wonder” on dictionary.com and here’s what it says:

One that arouses awe, astonishment, surprise, or admiration; a marvel:

I look forward to seeing what God brings my way that will arouse awe, astonishment and surprise - as I open my eyes to the wonder of all that He is and all that He has made - staying alive to His glory. And I invite you as well, to keep your eyes and ears open to experience the wonder God has in store for you.

As many now know, the world lost one of it’s most passionate animal advocates yesterday in the untimely and freakish death of Steve Irwin, known as “The Crocodile Hunter.” Today, I received this from my dad, written by Alvin Reid, a prof at Southeastern Baptist Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. I couldn’t have said it better, so here it is in its entirety:

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that
they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they
realized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13, NKJ)

I have always had an interest in snakes and other reptiles. I have a
python in my office, my son has a corn snake in his bedroom, and my
eight-year-old daughter loves to play with her little ball python who
dwells in her room. My wife has no reptiles, but she does possess a
great amount of patience! I am most proud of my newest addition, a
five-foot-long, black-throated monitor lizard named Goliath. We like
to take him for walks on a leash - he does draw a crowd! I often quip
that as an evangelism professor who likes herps (that is, reptiles), I
actually teach soul winning and snake handling. Don’t worry, we do
not handle serpents in church!

With this in mind, you might guess my favorite television show - you
got it - The Crocodile Hunter. It has been a long time since I was as
excited about a television show as I am about The Crocodile Hunter, or
the shorter Croc Files for kids.

Whenever I speak to young people, I ask how many of them know who the
Crocodile Hunter is. The response is telling. Nearly every one of
them knows who he is, although his primary show, The Crocodile Hunter,
appears on the cable network Animal Planet. The show’s star, Steve
Irwin, has jumped from “just another host” of a little known program
on this smaller market cable network, to the host of primetime
specials on network television and an occasional appearance on movies
and commercials.

Steve Irwin’s incredible rise in popularity can teach us some things.
The enthusiasm of young people from age 5 to 25 for the show is
obvious. They know his sayings: “She’s a beauty!” (I have to admit
even a snake lover like me has a hard time calling a salt water
crocodile beautiful!) If a particular python attempts to bite him,
you will hear him say, “Oh, you’re being grumpy, mate!” “Danger!
Danger! Danger!” is another of his popular sayings.

Believe it or not, I think Steve Irwin’s rise - from a man running a
zoo in Australia to internationally known figure - can teach us some
things about how to make an impact on this culture.

First, he is passionate. Have you ever seen anyone so incredibly
zealous for a bunch of lizards and snakes? On several occasions he
has said, “I would give my life to save this crocodile!” Now that is
passion! Oh, that we as believers would have such a passion for
Jesus, who is of infinitely greater value than a reptile! Our lost
culture desperately needs people who will live for Jesus with a
passion. Great movements of God in history, from the First Great
Awakening to the Jesus Movement, have been led by people ablaze with a
passion for God.

Second, he is real. His videography is inferior to what you see in
National Geographic specials, but no one cares! We live in a society
today where reality is in, and synthetic is out. Look at the
popularity of shows like Survivor, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and
The Weakest Link, all of which feature everyday people rather than
phony Hollywood actors. The primary way The Crocodile Hunter has
grown to reach the masses is not through marketing. Rather, it has
touched a chord in the lives of many in the culture, especially the
coming generation of young people, who are sick and tired of slick
approaches to push a product. This culture wants real, not slick.

The best way to witness in this postmodern, increasingly radically
unchurched culture is to be just like the early believers. They did
not make an impression by their background, or their position, but by
their genuine, obvious, and deep love for Jesus. Acts 4:13 gives one
of many examples of this: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and
John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant, they
marveled; and they realized that they had been with Jesus. The most
remarkable aspect of the early believers was that they were
unremarkable. That, and they were real.

Third, Steve Irwin takes risks. No, that is inaccurate. He loves
risks. His first show that put him on the map concerned his adventure
to capture the ten most venomous serpents in the world with his bare
hands. It seems he spends his life trying to get as close to being a
crocodile dinner as possible. He would not be happy unless he were
chasing down a wild pig by foot, or grabbing a cobra with his bare
hands, or jumping in a river on the back of an alligator. He will
make sacrifices to save an animal. Oh that we would make sacrifices
for the salvation of the lost! Could God even use a Crocodile Hunter
to spur us to take risks to reach the unchurched at any cost?

I teach at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a school known
for its doctrinal convictions and evangelistic passion. We are
uncompromising theologically, but we have some unusual people -
besides me, I mean. One of the members of our prestigious Board of
Visitors, Richard Headrick, sports a long ponytail and loves to wear
shirts with logos like “Hellfighter” on them. I like to tell people
that our theology is black and white, but our approach to ministry is
in living color. In other words, while we must consistently contend
for the faith once delivered, we must live in a way that demonstrates
the radical, passionate, total abandonment of our lives to Jesus.

Examine yourself: what are you doing for the sake of the Kingdom of
God that could compare to the zeal shown by Steve Irwin for the sake
of a pile of snakes?

This was written in 2001.

Technorati Tags: Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter, Crocodile Hunter

Rich Kirkpatrick tagged me with one of these things that goes around the blogosphere. So, here is my reading list.

One book that changed your life: John Piper’s The Pleasures of God. Hands down, this is the most God-saturated book I’ve ever read. I might be called a “Piperite” but I could be called worse. Though not overtly a book on worship, there is more worship in this book than possibly any other book I’ve read. A tour de force on the study of the character of God and how ultimately He finds His greatest pleasure in Himself. Sounds arrogant, but read Piper and you’ll find out why this is the only way it can be.
One book that you’ve read more than once: The Seeking Heart by Francois de Salignac de La Mothe-Fenelon. I think I’m on my third or fourth reading. I try to read a letter a day along with my time in the Word. His letters are very short, but profound and life-changing. Fenelon was a 17th century Bishop in France and played a major role in helping to reform the Catholic Church. On Heart Soul and Might, every Friday is Fenelon Friday.
One book that you’d want on a deserted island: Gosh, how could I answer this with anything but my ESV Bible? I’m guessing that deserted island implies no other people and only one book. In that case, there’s only one choice. Couldn’t do without those precious ancient words…
One book that made you laugh: Death in the Long Grass by Peter H. Capstick. We’re going on a safari when we travel to Kenya in October, so one of my “teammates” Mark Hammond recommended this book to get ready for the safari. Actually, its a very graphic book about man-eating animals like lions, tigers, elephants, etc. Honestly, there’s nothing really funny about people getting eaten by lions, but I’ve found myself laughing out loud at the crazy circumstances of some of these attacks and how unbelievably ferocious these animals are - saying things like “Oh my word!” and “Oh man! What on earth?!?” Don’t read this book if you’re looking for a laugh… it’s just the only thing I knew to do when I was reading some of the descriptions as my eyes were bulging out of my forehead!
One book that made you cry: I’m sure I shed a tear when reading Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliott by Elisabeth Elliott. I’m not sure I’ve read a more inspiring book. Jim Elliott’s undying passion for the gospel and his unquenchable thirst for the Word of God have so influenced my life. Reading this a few years ago no doubt has had an impact on my journey toward the Global Outreach position I just recently took.
One book that you wish had been written: 10 Ways to Beat Insecurity in Your Teens - I wish I could have dealt with insecurity better as a teenager, because it would have helped me figure it out and deal with it better now. I think we all have insecurities… but I know I’ve been plagued by them in a big way and they’ve shaded how I’ve acted and reacted even to this day. Get over it!
One book you wish had never been written: The Da Vinci Code - I actually really enjoyed reading this book, but I do believe it has done some damage to weak hearts and souls who might be swayed by it’s irreverent and blasphemous claims about Christ. The movie probably didn’t do as much damage as the book, because the movie was just plain bad. But the book made such erroneous claims of fact, woven with true history, art and architecture, that it no doubt caused many people to seriously question the claims of Christianity. For that reason, I wish it hadn’t been written.
One book you are currently reading: Jonathan Edwards: A Life by George Marsden. This is a continuation of my 2006 church history reading focus and I’m looking forward to teaching a church history Equipping Center class in the spring, Edwards being one of the historical figures we’ll focus on.
One book you’ve been meaning to read: Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. I heard him speak a couple months ago, and it reminded me that I’ve had this book for years and need to read it. I appreciate that he lived in a cave at one point and eventually got out of the Catholic Church. He’s led an intriguing life and has some great insights…

And, now this tagging thing means I’m supposed to tag 5 others to post the same information from their library of reading. So, Samuel Rainey, Chad Jarnigan, Reid Monaghan, Carlos Whittaker and Matt Pregont - you’ve been TAGGED!

I’m going to hear Os Guinness speak at a Porter’s Call event tomorrow morning at Fellowship, so I grabbed my copy of his book The Call from my shelf to remind myself of his thinking and writing style. This is from page one of chapter one:

As modern people we are all on a search for significance. We desire to make a difference. We long to leave a legacy. We yearn, as Ralph Waldo Emerson put it, “to leave the world a bit better.” Our passion is to know that we are fulfilling the purpose for which we are here on earth.

All other standards of success - wealth, power, position, knowledge, friendships - grow tinny and hollow if we do not satisfy this deeper longing. For some people the hollowness leads to what Henry Thoreau described “as lives of quiet desperation”; for others the emptiness and aimlessness deepen into a stronger despair. In an early draft of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, the Inquisitor gives a terrifying account of what happens to the human soul when it doubts its purpose: “For the secret of man’s being is not only to live…but to live for something definite. Without a firm notion of what he is living for, man will not accept life and will rather destroy himself than remain on earth…”

Call it the greatest good (summum bonum), the ultimate end, the meaning of life, or whatever you choose. But finding and fulfilling the purpose of our lives comes up in myriad ways and in all the seasons of our lives…

Os Guinness, The Call, pp. 1-2.

I’m immediately reminded of what the Psalmist says in Psalm 138:8: “The Lord will fulfill His purposes for me.” I agree that we are all on a quest for significance - to make a difference and to find our purpose. And when we can trust God and HIS purposes for our lives, we can find true biblical contentment no matter our circumstances. I certainly haven’t arrived yet. The journey has a lot of ups and downs…peaks and valleys. But I have found its easier to have peace in the journey as I trust God for His purpose for my life. When I push too hard with my own self-driven agenda, I spin my wheels. But finding and walking in HIS purposes means patience, perseverance, suffering, humility, steadiness, discipline, pain, time, trust, faith, trials, refining, testing, breaking, serving, dying, loving, giving…

How dark to walk in emptiness or aimlessness that leads to despair. I pray that I don’t get to that point - but if I do, to trust in God’s sovereignty and hope in His goodness and purpose.

I want to live for something definite. That something is God’s glory as revealed in human relationship, the Church, God’s Word, Jesus Christ, the Gospel, creation, truth, beauty, love, eternity… That’s my purpose. Right now it’s being fulfilled in the Church and in particular in Global Outreach, worship, equipping, etc. As long as lives are being challenged and changed, I feel I’m walking in God’s purpose.

Do you sense His purpose for your life? Are you doubting it? Are you questioning it? That’s perfectly normal and OK. Give it to Jesus and let Him carry it. He already knows anyway! The question we all need to ask ourselves is: “What do I need to do or change to know I’m walking in ‘the call’ on my life - God’s ultimate purpose for me?” If we are prayerfully dependent, God will make it known. Trust in Him. Stay saturated with His Word…

I’ve got an issue with my fantasy baseball team because Barry Bonds wants in the starting lineup, but despite obvious doping, his production is suffering. One guy not suffering in the production department, but clearly theo-doping, is Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church in Seattle. Challies.com reveals the sordid truth here. No wonder Driscoll’s sermons are so stinking powerful!

There are some exciting new changes in ministry that the Lord has recently led me to pursue! A few months ago, one of our staff elders and good friend Maridus Kinder asked me if I’d consider taking the position of overseeing Fellowship’s Global Outreach ministry. We’ve partnered together extensively over the last few years in developing Worship Global, our Worship and Arts Ministry’s interaction with and influence to the world. Trips to Hungary (2002, 2003), Nigeria (2004) and Peru (2005) and our planned trip in October 2006 to Kenya and Nigeria have fueled the flame in my heart for global outreach. I have sensed my heart beating stronger and stronger with the Lord’s for reaching out beyond our borders to the world. So, I told the Elder Board that I’d pray about this potential during my sabbatical and come back with a decision one way or another.

One important factor in the decision was that I’ve been hands-on involved and/or leading worship and arts ministries at some level for 16 years at two churches, and have greatly enjoyed seeing much fruit come to bear. And not merely leading the ministry, but enjoying shepherding a body of believers toward a higher view of God’s greatness and glory, leading to a more passionate and dependent lifestyle of worship. And through much prayer, I know and am confident that no matter what ministry I’m most directly involved in, that will always remain my heart and posture toward God.

Over my sabbatical, the answer became very clear. God was giving me the “green light” to make a monumental ministry shift - saying goodbye to worship and arts ministry directly, and “hello” to Global Outreach! I will still continue to lead worship on occasion, but my primary focus will now be overseeing the relationship with our Ministry Partners all over the world.

This last year, our church sent out over 15 short-term teams to work with our Ministry Partners in Kenya, Sudan, Nigeria, Russia, Peru, Slovenia and other countries throughout the world. Our vision is to provide “Wind and Water” to these various global partners. Wind is resources, equipping, teaching, teaching materials, financial resources, etc. (ala providing wind in their sails). Water is providing assistance to meet basic needs - food, water, shelter, agricultural training… (ala providing a cool cup of water in the desert).

This is all very new and exciting to me and I look forward to direct ministry and partnership with the many talented and gifted servants we work with throughout the world. If my 5-6 mission trips over the last few years are any indication of the influence, impact, life change and fulfilling ministry that are ahead, I can’t wait!

In addition to overseeing Global Outreach and continuing to lead worship, I’ll also continue to provide leadership in the area of prayer at Fellowship and will be helping to lead and teach in our Equipping Center as part of the Equipping Ministries Team. There are a number of other areas of ministry I’ll be involved in as well, and I hope to expand on those in the days and weeks to come.

Thanks for walking this journey with me!

I’ve been a part of a fantasy football league with the same group of 10 guys in Wisconsin for the past 14 years and count it one of the highlights of my year to get together with them for our annual “draft.” Since I moved to Tennessee eight years ago, most years I take part in the draft via phone, Instant Messenger and email. But this year, I took the plunge and drove the 650 miles to Watertown, Wisconsin on Friday for the draft on Saturday and drove 650 miles back on Sunday. But, oh, was the drive worth it!

If you’re wondering what on earth Fantasy Football is, here is the wikipedia definition:

Fantasy Football is a game played by Football fans where one assembles a team of real life NFL players and then accumulates points based on their statistical performance on the field. Leagues can be arranged where the winner is the team with the most total points at the end of the season or by a head to head format (which mirrors the actual NFL) where teams play against each other each week and at the end of the year the team with the best win-loss records wins the league.

So every year, the ten of us get together - most in person with one or two on Instant Messenger - and draft our players for the league - with no shortage of verbal barbs poking fun at seemingly bad picks. And no shortage of emotion when one’s targeted player gets picked by someone else! It can get pretty lively to say the least.

What makes this league so fun is not just the football. I love football and this is a fun way to stay engaged in what’s going on in the NFL. But this league is full of guys I’ve known for many years - I’ve known Matt Anderson for 25 years, Bill Stranberg for over 20 and Jeff Helstad for over 20… Making this trip, albeit a short one, was priceless just to see the friends I don’t get to see much anymore. All the guys in this league are friends at one level or another and we usually combine golf with the draft - as we did Saturday morning with a best-ball scramble tournament. My dad was able to join us - he anchored our winning team!

Pictured above on Bill’s deck for the official draft, left to right, is: myself (a.k.a. “Otis”), Matt “Greeko” Maletis, Ted “T-Dog” Schiess, Bill “Cletus” Stranberg (in red shirt and white hat), Jeff “D.A.” Helstad, Matt “Rufus” Anderson, Dan Muleski (Bill and Matt’s father-in-law, sitting in for absent Gery Woelfel), Tom “Pickles” Polzin and Mark Maletis. Matt and Mark’s brother Mike was sitting out of camera range. Notice how serious the mood seems. This is serious business! Everyone is prepared with draft lists, “cheatsheets” and fantasy football guides…and I had my laptop for up the minute advice.

Pictured here to the right are the golfers: Matt, Dan, Bill, Mike, Tom, Matt, Ted, Brian and George (my dad). For the record, the winning team is the four on the right. (smile)

Well, I have to admit, I’m pretty pumped about the team I drafted this year - I was fortunate enough to draw great numbers for the draft order. Although I learned a long time ago that good pre-season feelings don’t always translate into good football season results! So, I’ve prayed, asking the Lord to really bless my efforts and look after my team, keeping my top players free from injury and helping me to beat the rest of the guys in my league.

Ok. Of course that’s pretty ridiculous. I don’t think God is as concerned about my team as I am… But, I was thinking… What if God was in my fantasy football league? What would His team look like? I mean… He is omniscient and omnipotent. Being all-knowing and all-powerful, wouldn’t God draft the perfect fantasy football team? The following are some of my thoughts regarding how God would approach this year’s draft if He would have been on Bill’s deck in Watertown, WI this past Saturday…

My first thought was that obviously God would have drafted Brett Favre at quarterback, Ahman Green at running back, Donald Driver at wide receiver and Bubba Franks at tight end. “Why?” you ask? Isn’t it obvious? They’re all starting for the Green Bay Packers, America’s team! Well, that was my first thought. But my immediate second thought was that my beloved Packers aren’t expected to compete for anything more than last place, so I would lean against God drafting any of the Pack in this year’s draft.

So, aside from the ultimate fantasy team being made up of Green Bay Packers, this is who I think God would have drafted this year:

Quarterback

Player rankings are pretty subjective, but are based on past performance, potential, offensive weapons, team strength, etc. Most ranking systems list Peyton Manning (Colts) at #1 with Tom Brady (Patriots), Carson Palmer (Bengals) and Matt Hasselbeck (Seahawks) as top tier quarterbacks. (I took Hasselbeck) However, I think God would look beyond the cheatsheets and rankings and look at intangibles like character and personal testimony and take Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals. Kurt has aguably the best wide receiver tandem in the league in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin and with the addition of running back Edgerrin James, the Cardinals offense looks to have a great year. With the NFL’s all-time record for passing accuracy (65.7%), two NFL MVP awards and this great cast of offensive talent, I think God would want Kurt and his influence on the field calling the shots. If he stays injury-free, he’s going to put up big numbers.

Running Back

Fantasy players know that this year, there are only three running backs that really matter - and they are almost universally ranked 1-2-3 in this order: Larry Johnson (Chiefs), Shaun Alexander (Seahawks) and LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers). In our draft, they went in the same order and I was fortunate to get Tomlinson, who I believe is going to have another stellar year. But, I’m almost positive God would draft Shaun Alexander for some of the same reasons as Warner. From a talent and production perspective, Alexander had a breakout year in 2005 as the NFL’s leading rusher with 1,880 yards and setting a single season record for rushing touchdowns with 28. He was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player and won 2 ESPY Awards for Best Record Breaking Performance and Best NFL Player. Shaun is also an outspoken Christian and revealed at July’s ESPY Awards that he remained a virgin until he got married at age 24. Clearly a leader and role model, Shaun would be someone God would want on His team - not just for his unquestionable offensive production, but for His character and ability to lead younger players.

I was hoping God would do something miraculous with Priest Holmes, who until he got injured last year, was unquestionably the top running back in the NFL. I think God appreciates his first name - since Jesus IS our high priest (Hebrews 4:14-15), and those of us who are Christians are all priests (I Peter 2:5,9). But equally as important, Priest Holmes was one of my running backs in another “keeper league” I’m in, and I would think God might choose to miraculously heal Priest’s spinal cord issues resulting from a 2005 concussion. If God, our Great Physician and Healer, chooses not to heal Priest, my keeper league season is in severe jeopardy!

Wide Receiver

At wide receiver, it might actually be easier to confirm who God would certainly stay away from… Both
Terrell Owens and Randy Moss are top-tier wide receivers, but both unquestionably lack depth of character and neither would be a role model in the huddle, locker room or community. However, it’s obvious that historically God has taken men who would seem to be totally UN-qualified and helped them turn their lives around and make a difference in the world. Jonah, the disciple Peter and the apostle Paul certainly come to mind. God is so full of grace that I bet He might even give T.O. a chance. (of course He would!) I’m definitely a walking, breathing example of someone who has been shown a LOT of grace by God considering all of the ways I’ve fallen short and the many mistakes I’ve made. But, thank God that 2 Corinthians 12:9 is real: God’s grace is sufficient for all of us. It should give all of us hope knowing that no matter what we’ve done or how bad we’ve been, we’re never too bad for God’s grace and forgiveness in our lives. Even T.O. and Moss qualify for God’s grace. Not only that, but they are the type of guy that God goes after and pursues. Each of us have the opportunity to respond to God’s grace. Yes, I think God might even draft Owens and Moss, but He’d need good insurance, so He’d also most definitely draft…

Yes, Donald Driver of the Green Bay Packers. First, simply put… He’s a Packer. Second, he’s the Packer’s top offensive weapon and why wouldn’t God want the top offensive weapon on America’s Team running deep routes to the endzone on HIS team? It makes perfect sense. Then, you add into the equation that Driver is one of my three keepers in my keeper league, and I really need him to perform this year. I need to see Donald doing the Lambeau Leap following Favre-thrown touchdown bombs on a regular basis and God knows it.

Tight End

There really is only one tight end to consider. And this tight end is often drafted ahead of the most productive receivers because he’s that good. Yes, I believe God indeed would draft Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers. Never mind that he is by far the most productive and most prolific scorer among tight ends in the league, averaging over 1,000 receiving over the last two seasons and amassing 23 touchdowns over the same period of time. He is sure to put up big numbers for God’s team.

But, he’s also a former power forward with the Golden Flashes of Kent State University, my dad’s alma mater. I think God would appreciate that.

I also think God appreciates his last name - because it’s one of the names of Christ. In John 10:9, Jesus says “I AM the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” In Christ’s role as the gate and gatekeeper, we all have a way to find eternal life in Him if we simply place our faith in what He did on the cross for our sins.

Yet another stellar quality of Antonio Gates is his humility - and clearly, God desires humility from all of those on his team! According to wikipedia, when compared to former leading tight end Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs, Gates said:”Tony Gonzalez is still the best tight end in the league; I still have to learn quite a bit.” God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (I Peter 5:5)

Plus, if God drafts Gates, he’s sure to have a great year, which helps me in my keeper league, since Gates is my only solid “keeper” from 2005!

Kicker

I don’t think God would feel the need to even draft a kicker for his fantasy team. Following touchdowns, His offense would probably be perfect in two-point conversions, so they wouldn’t need anyone to kick extra points. And I can’t see God’s team failing to make the endzone on each drive they make it to the red zone, so they wouldn’t need a field goal kicker. As far as kickoffs, just about anyone off God’s bench would be able to kick the ball downfield deep enough for His stellar special teams unit to cover the ball carrier. No need for a kicker!

Conclusion

I understand that God most likely wouldn’t join a fantasy football draft here on earth. This was a fun exercise in satirical humor, so please take it as it was intended. (And because God is perfect, it would probably be hard for him to have any humans on his team and be happy anyway, so He’d most likely choose the angel Gabriel as His quarterback and start his own cellestial league…) But there actually IS a message in this. A message of hope. Life. Forgiveness. Freedom from guilt and shame. One simple act - put your faith in Christ who died a horrific death on a cross, paid the penalty we all deserve because of our sin and was raised from the dead so we could have the hope of eternal life. If anyone has a question on how to actually make this a reality in your life, write a comment and give me your email address or phone number. I’d love to walk through this process with you.

Thanks to everyone who joined in the fun and took a guess at the two pictures I posted here. In the end, no one could beat the accuracy of Michael Cates, Worship Pastor of our sister church, Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, AR. It’s not because he knows me so well (although we have known each other for years, and he’s indirectly responsible for Heidi and I meeting!) but because he is also an ex-Con… That’s what we affectionately call ex-Continentals… The Continental Singers are a Christian music group that started in 1967 and each year travels all over the world sharing the gospel through relevant music and drama. I think Michael was a part of the Continentals in its inaugural year. Just kidding, Michael! I think it was a few years later. (smile)

Micheal accurately picked me out of the crowd in the first picture - the unfortunate soul in the black muscle shirt on the right. Who would ever wear something like that in public?!? And in the second picture, yes that’s me providing the seated profile in the front. Obviously, we were goofballs. I’ll claim being a teenager as my disclaimer.

The year was 1989. We were on “Tour Y”. Michael was four years off (he guessed 1993), but other than my mom, he was the closest. (sorry, mom, you were not eligible for the prize package.)
Darren Scuffi, who in the second picture known as “Tour Y Studs” is directly to my left in some kind of mid-pounce pose, recently came across Heart Soul and Might and after 17 years, sent me some pictures! (Darren… your pose seems SO uncomfortable. What were you thinking?!) This tour was such a blast, and we took part in some very meaningful ministry. Honestly, this Continental tour was highly instrumental in my calling into ministry.

For those of you from Fellowship-Brentwood wondering why someone else in the first picture looks so familiar, no, it’s not Amy Grant… It’s our very own Jennifer McReynolds (formerly Hendrix) on the far left in the cool stripes. It’s neat how we get to serve in the same worship ministry after all these years!

If there are any of you other Tour Y-ers out there, drop me a comment. Or a picture. Or both. I’d love to hear from you!

So far, Michael Cates, Worship Pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, AR is in the lead… but he was a couple years off regarding the year of these pictures, so he can still be beat.

He was right on the “where’s Petak?” and what famous performing organization I was a part of that fateful year. (He’s a former member of said organization, if you need a hint - although it was quite a few years before me!)
Take a shot. Can anyone beat Michael?

A special prize to the first person who can a) correctly identify me in this picture (clue: I had to feel “secure” considering what I’m wearing), b) tell me what year this picture was taken (clue: it’s not this century), and c) tell me what organization this is (clue: we’re singing in this picture). Those not eligible for this prize are either of my parents or Darren Scuffi. If anyone who is in this picture wants to say “Hi” - I’d love to hear from you! (It’s been a while…)

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OK. No, we’re not posing for GQ magazine. We’re a bunch of goofy, arrogant and macho teenagers trying too hard to be cool. Again… can you pick out the Petak in the picture?

My dad flew into Denver on Wednesday morning (August 2) and we headed up into Estes Park to check out the mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park. What an incredible place! We ate lunch at a little diner in downtown Estes, and then headed up onto Trail Ridge Road. Here we are at just about the highest place in the Park with beautiful mountains surrounding… 12,005 feet…

Dad came prepared with Milwaukee Brewers hats knowing the Brewers were in Denver to play the Colorado Rockies that night… We got great seats from a ticket scalper outside Coors Field and here we are enjoying foot-long hotdogs during the rain delay prior to the start of the game. Baseball has always been a big part of our relationship… What a blast to get to a game with my dad!

Did I say climbing Mt. Princeton on Monday morning was the hardest thing I’ve ever done? Well, skydiving in Boulder on Thursday morning is definitely the CRAZIEST thing I’ve ever done - but also just about the most exciting, too. Jumping out of a plane next to the Rocky Mountains is terrifyingly outrageously awesome! Here’s a pic of my landing after a one minute free-fall and five-minute parachute descent. Dad was next. He especially had fun with the spirals on the descent. This was a tandem ride with Rob, the pro, guiding our descent down to the landing zone at the Boulder Reservoir. WOW!

Jumping out of an airplane at 16,500 feet was enough action for the rest of the day, so we made the 3 hour trek back to the Friesema’s ranch (Mountain Meadow Ranch) in Lake George. We had to rest up for our big day on the river the next day…

So, how do you find “action” after skydiving in the Rocky Mountains, you might ask? You raft the Royal Gorge section of the Arkansas River with 22-year river veteran Doug Valentine as your guide! The Royal Gorge section of the Arkansas is widely considered the most challenging (and hence, most FUN) whitewater rafting in the country. (many class III and IV+ rapids!) I rafted it 10 years ago with my good buddy Mitch Eliason, and knew my dad and I had to tackle it as well. Here we are doing a “backpaddle” in the WallSlammer rapid. What an incredible blast! This trip required previous class III experience and since dad had canoed Wisconsin’s Crystal River a few times, they let him on the raft. (smile) I’m front/right. Dad is second from the left, just in front of our guide and crazy-man Doug.

After skydiving and rafting the Royal Gorge, there’s only one thing left to do with one day left on the trip: climb another 14er!

Saturday morning, Dad and I made a quick omelette at 6am, packed our backpacks and headed for Mount Sherman (elevation 14,036 feet). This morning was windier and colder than any other day I remembered that week, so we bundled up. Here’s a look at the summit from the trailhead near where we parked. It’s nothing like Mt. Princeton, but I came to realize that for someone who is used to living near sea-level, there is no such thing as an “easy 14er”!

This was a nice hike. Dad’s training regimen unfortunately didn’t get his lungs acclamated to the elevation and he had to turn back before we got to the summit. At his encouragement, I pressed on toward the summit. Passed a few abandoned 19th century mines along the way…

After a two-hour hike, made it to the summit. Again, a gorgeous view of God’s beautiful and awe-inspiring creation. Like the Princeton climb, I found myself quoting Psalm 90:1-2 and giving praise to my almighty Creator. WOW! Here I am at the Mt. Sherman summit. It was a pretty emotional experience having climbed to the top of this beautiful mountain, knowing that this was basically the end of my sabbatical. What a fitting conclusion to a month of celebrating the greatness of the glory of God!

I couldn’t figure out how to rotate the picture but you get the idea…

Did I say how awesome it is to spend 4 days in Colorado with my Dad? This was a true bonding experience and a trip of a lifetime. Thanks, Dad, for your commitment to our relationship and for allowing me to take us on a number of life-threatening adventures. We’ll always cherish these fond memories… (our Mt. Sherman mine explorations will always be a highlight!)

I posted my sabbatical summary a couple days ago, but here are some pics and thoughts as well…

I was so thankful for the home Heidi found in Garfield, AR where we spent the first three weeks. Such a beautiful view of the Beaver Lake valley - we could see for miles and miles… As you can see, we had to install rabbit fencing to the deck railing so Jon-Jon wouldn’t fall through and down into the valley!

Here are the three boys (R-L, Josiah, Jonathan and Brian) eating at The Lodge down the street with the beautiful Beaver Lake as a backdrop. Heidi was taking the picture. The Lodge had excellent food, although the A/C left something to be desired. They had free wireless internet, so any blog posting I was doing during our stay there was done from their lobby. Thanks to the Lodge for the wireless use!

When I arrived in Colorado, I knew I wanted to climb a “14er” (one of Colorado’s 54 peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation) - but I also knew my lungs would be in trouble at that altitude. So, I decided to do a little acclamation to get ready for the climb. I researched a beautiful place near Mount Yale (I originally intended to climb Yale) called Lake Hartenstein at an elevation of about 11,500 feet. WOW. What a beautiful place.

Once I parked at the Yale trailhead, it was about a two hour hike - I needed to stop a few times along the way to catch my breath even at that altitude… But the hike was well worth it. What a gorgeous spot! God is so attentive to detail in His beautiful creation… Complete with a mountain stream feeding into the lake, the surrounding pines providing a stunning backdrop - and I saw at least one big trout so I’m sure there were more! That’s Mount Yales peak hiding behind the tall trees on the right side. I never did try to get up Mt. Yale. That’s another story…

The next morning, after researching and deciding on climbing Mt. Antero… I saw the turnoff to Mt. Princeton (elev. 14,197), and remembering that Jonathan Edwards was one of Princeton University’s first presidents in the 1780’s, I turned right instead of left and decided to climb Princeton! Here’s a pic I took through the windshield on my drive toward Princeton. Although, at the time I took this picture, I think I was still intending on climbing Antero. Little did I know what kind of adventure awaited…

Here’s where I parked… at some radio towers up at about 10,800 feet. This is kind of an interesting picture because I thought the peak was to the left of the radio tower… Actually, the peak is the seemingly shorter peak to the right of the tower off in the distance… much higher! I found out later I could have parked quite a bit closer to the trailhead… But the morning hike up to the trailhead was beautiful!

Once I made it around “Tigger Peak” (the shorter summit I originally thought WAS the summit!), I got a view of my goal: the true summit of Mount Princeton. Two thoughts: 1) WOW. and 2) How on earth am I going to get THERE?!?

Here I am at the summit!! I skipped past the two hours between pictures where I thought I would never make it… Thanks to my friends Kim and Kristin (who I met as they were passing me on the way to the top), I made it. They made sure of it. I couldn’t have done this without their encouragement! Thank you Kim and Kristin (mother and daughter) - and thanks also for the two bottles of water on the way back!

Words can’t express how beautiful it is from the top of a mountain like Princeton. WOW, God. (that’s what I wrote in the summit log-book) Here’s a view of Mount Antero (I would be near the top of Antero the next morning) from the peak of Princeton! God is glorious. God is glorious. God is glorious!!

I’m back from my sabbatical, taken from July 8-August 6. Below is a summary of some of what is on my heart following this sweet time. There is not enough space or time to fully express all that God said and did, but this summary should give you a pretty good idea:

This sabbatical was a very spiritually significant time for me. A time of rest, refreshment, growth, family connection and profoundly experiencing the greatness of the glory of God in a number of significant ways:

The greatness of the glory of God as seen in my relationship with Jesus:
This was a sweet time of connection with Jesus. Times of prayer and reading His Word were rich and rewarding. Much time was spent in solitude, often communicating with Him and sensing His presence in very real and significant ways. When I experienced doubt, I sensed His faithfulness. When I experienced temptation, I sensed His strength. When I experienced insecurity, I sensed His pleasure. When I experienced uncertainty, I sensed His trustworthiness. When I experienced weakness, I sensed His grace. When I sought His direction, I sensed His leading.

The greatness of the glory of God as seen in the growth and development of His Church:
In seminary, I focused my coursework primarily on systematic theology, and sadly didn’t take a single class in Church History. This has always been a huge void and finally compelled me to focus on Church History in 2006. I continued this focus during my sabbatical and read biographies on Athanasius, Augustine, Martin Luther and Jonathan Edwards (in progress), in addition to various readings in both pre- and post-Reformation history.

This has been such a rewarding reading focus, providing an essential foundation for theology and doctrine, and connecting me with the roots of our faith that until now, have been largely neglected. Better understanding the development of the Church in the years following Christ’s commission have given me a greater handle on the formation of doctrine, the growth of Christian thought, the crucial importance of standing up to heresies and the centrality of the Reformation’s influence on our beliefs today. I have such incredible respect for the men whose biographies I’ve read, and diligently seek to model my life after their remarkable resilience, unwavering faithfulness, persistent discipline, unquestionable work ethic, dogged determination in the face of hardship and persecution, and immovable commitment to God’s Word. It’s very clear that these men are not perfect and in fact, have many flaws. But God has always used flawed men and women to build His Church, which gives me great hope.

This reading focus has also provided a more significant foundation for my calling and commitment to the local church. I have never seen my ministry position as a mere job, but a life calling. And being inspired by the lives of those who have gone before me has strengthened my commitment to help shepherd, lead and serve the body of Christ in the local church. I certainly aspire to whatever position of leadership and service God calls me to in His Church, and in particular, here at Fellowship.

The greatness of the glory of God as seen in family relationships:
The first three weeks were a wonderful time of connection for Heidi, the boys and me. A lot of fun moments and memories we will always have – of just being together. God has richly blessed me more than I deserve through my incredible family.

The five days I spent with my Dad in Colorado are unforgettable. Between skydiving, rafting the Arkansas River and climbing Mount Sherman together, we were able to share time with just the two of us that I know not every father and son have the privilege of experiencing together. That was a WOW. Thank you.

The greatness of the glory of God as seen in His creation:
I spent most of my time in Arkansas reading, and had a beautiful view overlooking the Beaver Lake valley from the home we rented. I made sure I got out and did some fishing on the White River and enjoyed the quiet of the river and the beauty of the landscape. I see God’s glory everywhere in His creation.

My time in Colorado was all about God’s glory as witnessed in all that He has made. Being able to look down from the top of Mount Princeton, Mount Antero and Mount Sherman was a very spiritually significant experience. I truly connect with God and His majesty and greatness in the mountains. Psalm 90:1-2 echoed through my soul on many occasions, and these verses serve as a fitting summary of all I experienced in Colorado: