"God's Final Word" (Part 3)

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:1-3 NIV).

The third principle declared about Jesus as God’s final Word is he is the revelation of God. Look again at verse three of our reading today. The writer says, The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being. This is an incredible declaration of the character of Jesus. The word “being” suggests his timeless existence. He was and is and forever shall be! It is a word of his eternal nature. That brings us incredible hope. Remember that Jesus is the “first fruit” for all of those who believe in him. As he was resurrected; so we shall be resurrected. When I begin to think about the times of trial and challenge in my life, I must be reminded that they are mere moments in time. My eternal life is going to be free from all of that!

He also uses the word “radiance.” It literally means “bright ray from the original body.” It is not reflected light, or radiance. Jesus doesn’t mirror God, he is God! He is the light itself! As you walk through the dark paths of your life, those “valleys of the shadows of death” Jesus is the light that forces the shadows to flee from before him! He is also the “exact representation” of God’s being. The writer is simply stating in unquestioning terms that the Son is not a figure of God; he is not a part of God. He is the express image of God! He IS God! Gregory of Nazianzus, in A.D. 381, said of Jesus:

He began His ministry by being hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life. Jesus ended His earthly ministry by being thirsty, yet He is the Living Water. Jesus was weary, yet He is our rest. Jesus paid tribute, yet He is the King. Jesus was accused of having a demon, yet He cast out demons. Jesus wept, yet He wipes away our tears. Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet He redeemed the world. Jesus was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd. Jesus died, yet by His death He destroyed the power of death.

Now that’s a good Word! Can’t you trust in Him? I can!

"Shalom"

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites.’” Say to them: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.’” (Numbers 6:22-26 NIV).

In 1979, a silver amulet was discovered by archaeologists in a Jerusalem tomb. Inscribed on the silver foil, which dates to the seventh century B.C., were the words of this benediction of our reading today. It is the oldest known quotation from Scripture. Some have called it the great Aaronic blessing, in which it is God’s desire for his blessings to fall on those who were faithful so that they could experience peace and
wholeness in their relationship with God. It is also know as the Lord's Prayer of the Old Testament. It is also strikingly similar to the old Irish Blessing so many have known through the centuries.

For me it has become a short blessing which can be recited much like the Serenity Prayer when we need a reminder of who God is and how he acts toward us. He blesses us; he cares for us; he is gracious to us; he is present with us; and he brings peace into our lives. Each verse conveys two elements of benediction, and the verses
are progressively longer. It is a hopeful prayer. If ever there was a time when hope was necessary, today is such a time. There are five parts to the blessing:

 First, it speaks of their hope that God would “bless and keep” them. This is a way of asking God to show favor on them and protect them.
 Second, it speaks of the desire for God to “make His face shine on them.” This is a request for God to be pleased with them. It is all inclusive of actions, as well as motivations.
 Third, it speaks of a desire for God to be “gracious” to them. This is perhaps my favorite part of the blessing. We ought to ask God for His mercy and compassion. He is the only real source of either.
 Fourth, it speaks of their desire for God to “turn His face toward them.” It is a prayer asking for God’s approval.
 Fifth, it speaks of a desire for God to grant His “peace.” Jesus said he would give us peace, not like the world gives it, but like His heavenly Father. That’s peace that allows us to do more the merely endure. It allows us to overcome!

When you ask God to bless others or yourself, you should ask him to do these five things. The blessing you offer will not only help the one receiving it, it will also bless you. The simple words of this blessing reflect God's desire for his people. He is the source all blessings, grace, and peace in life; only through a relationship with this God can we hope to experience the fullness of life described here. The blessing builds toward that final word – peace. The beautiful Hebrew word shalom used here means much more than an absence of conflict. It implies a complete sense of well-being, health, and contentment. God offers this to anyone who is willing to follow him, and especially to those whose lives have been bruised and broken. So, if you see me and my greeting to you is not “Good Morning” but “Shalom” please understand that I’m not Jewish; I merely desire for you to have all of the peace of God! Shalom!

"A Family Like God's" (Part 8)

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James 3:6 NIV).

I hope you had a chance to digest yesterday’s principle of “never yelling at one another unless the house is on fire.” Today is an extension of the use of our communication with one another. The third principle is: If you must criticize, do so lovingly.

While this principle falls naturally from the previous one, it is just as essential for us to understand and practice. Many years ago I learned this principle the hard way with my son, David. One day he came home with two of his friends and had purchased a pair of Oakley sunglasses. They were the rage in those days. And, they were quite expensive. He had earned some money in a part-time job and took his first hundred dollars and gone to purchase these sunglasses. They were very sporting, however since they did not have prescription lenses I didn’t see the need to have purchased them. He came in to show them to me and my reaction was more about the “uselessness” of the purchase than the act itself. True, it may not have been the wisest use of his funds; however the purchase was not really about the sunglasses at all. Thankfully I realized my mistake only moments after having spoken the words. His feelings were hurt and he was embarrassed in front of his friends. No wonder he stormed off to his room with his buddies in tow. There was only one thing for me to do. I needed to immediately offer an apology. I went to his room, knocked on the door and went in after he invited me to enter. In front of his friends, I apologized for my words and actions. The difference was immediate and extravagant. That small act of contrition went a long way to establishing a relationship that allowed me to offer insight and advice that exists to this day.

Let me make a few suggestions in offering positive, constructive, and graceful criticism. First, remember your children have feelings. Children, particularly when they are small, are completely in our control. It is easy to forget that they are little people. They have feelings that can be hurt and self-esteem that can be crushed if we criticize them in a non-constructive belittling way. We must try to relate to them as we would like others to relate to us. Second, make your message clear. The goal of proper criticism is to get your message across to your child. That means you have to have a message. If you don’t have an idea you are trying to convey, then all you are doing by criticizing your child is venting your own anger and frustration. You will do nothing positive for your child, and your child will not change his behavior in the future. Remember, your goal with criticism is to educate, not to punish or embarrass or to seek revenge against the child. When you criticize you must have something you are trying to teach. Third, deliver your message properly. Criticize the behavior, not the child. Never use labels. Children get their sense of whom they are from what others tell them. When a parent gives a child a label, this label will eventually stick, with disastrous consequences. Criticize privately. And, don’t bring up the past. Deal with the present behavior. And, last, deliver the criticism with love. Love is vital. Criticism is a gift. It is a gift of knowledge, it is a gift of values. Sometimes it is an unwanted gift. Still, it is a gift nevertheless. Our goal when is to do it with grace and restoration in mind. If you are angry, all they will hear is the anger. What the child will hear is “You don’t like me.” You cannot let the message get blurred out by the static of your emotions.

"A Family Like God's" (Part 3)

Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.” (Luke 15:11-12 NIV).

Yesterday we saw the calm wisdom of the father as he faced the demands of his youngest son. Today I want to focus your attention on the events that most likely led to the son’s demands. The Scripture merely says, The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” It is a story of recurring conflict. This is a very familiar theme, one that all of us have at least seen, and perhaps experienced. While I have taken some liberty with the story, I believe it may have played out in the following manner.

The young son comes to his father and says, “Father, I have come of age. I want my share of the inheritance. I want to live my own life. I want to leave home.” The father is certainly stunned. He is shocked. He must have asked why? The son’s reply is predictable. “I am tired of living under the shadow of your rules, restrictions, and demands. I want to be on my own. I want to decide life for myself.” The father is so shocked, he can only stammer, “My son, wait, listen for a moment. The reason I have these restrictions is for your own good. The reason I have made these requirements is for your own good.”

The son still refuses and the father divides the inheritance and gives the portion to his younger son. Then he walks out of the house and down the road up to the crest of the hill with his son. Arm around his son, the father quietly and gently speaks to his son, “I hardly know how to accept what you are saying, and the decision you are making. To be honest, I think you are making a mistake. I just hope everything turns out like you hope it will. But, son, it is a vast, cold, hard world out there and I want you to know something as you leave: your daddy is going to be right here in the house. If you get out there and decide you want to come home, I want you to know I’ll be here.” The son coldly shakes his hand and the father waves goodbye with a tear in his eye as he watches his son disappear over the horizon.

Calm wisdom prevailed. We really see that truth more as the story unfolds. But it is there from the beginning. I have found that in families of all types, one truth exists universally: the tighter the grip, the more the struggle; the more the struggle, the tighter the grip. As parents we fear for the security and well being of our children. Therefore we tend to over protect and thus overly restrict the growth and independence of our children. Children, on the hand, must experiment with boundaries. They are always testing the edge and pushing the limits. Sometimes the best course of action is a deep breath and calmness of response. With younger children that usually means we step back from a “drill sergeant” approach and use the power of choices. With teens that usually means we lower the volume of our voice and change the tone. Participating in a shouting competition with our children simply doesn’t work well. You might “win,” but the loss suffered may cause greater conflict later. Commit yourself to calm wisdom today!

"A Family Like God's" (Part 2)

Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.” (Luke 15:11-12 NIV).

For the next few days we are going to be looking deeply into the Parable of the Lost Son. Our reading is the first few verses of that teaching. It is the best model in concise form that God has given us for creating a family like His. Jesus begins with the description of a “wise man” that had two sons. It is no accident that Jesus calls this man wise. The way he handled both of his children in the ensuing challenges was nothing short of perfect wisdom.

So, let’s look more closely. The father realized that behind the youngest son’s request was a real basic need. All of us need to understand that from birth through every successive stage of our development we have general needs. The first need is that of physical care. All of us have a need for shelter, food, and a home. The second need is that of security. We all must feel a part of the family unit, to feel safe, to have a place of retreat. Though the world is against us, we need a place of secure rest. The third progressive need in our lives is that of love. We must have personal love and companionship. There is a fourth need though. We all need independence. The wise parent will learn to recognize this need in their children’s lives. We also have a need to be set free.

The real key in parenting is to find the balance at each stage of our child’s life between each of these basic needs. For example, while providing for their security we can go too far and shelter them from age appropriate challenges leaving them unequipped and incapable of handling themselves as they grow. Or, we can be so intent on providing love for them that we fail to give them the freedom they need at each stage of their life. I won’t bore you with the psychological jargon and labels for these different kinds of parenting style, but let me simply say that the example of Scripture is that of graceful parenting.

I learned a part of this lesson when Kyle was just beginning elementary school in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. It was my habit to either drop him off or pick him up as often as possible. The doors to the classroom fronted onto a common outside covered walk. I was parked, waiting to pick him up as were many other parents. The car was in full sight and I could watch and see him exit his classroom immediately. Both of us could find each other easily in the crowd. One day I was in my usual spot and waiting for the bell to ring dismissing the school for the day. As it rang the children poured out of their classrooms. Kyle was among the crowd. Accidentally an older child ran out of their class and knocked him down. I jumped from the car and ran to him, scooping him up in my arms. Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? However, his response was telling. He said, “Dad, not in front of everyone! I’m okay!” And, he was. There was the chance for balance. I missed it. There would be many other lessons, but thankfully I was a pretty quick learner. The key is we must all find balance in the four basic needs for our families. It will make them what God desires for them to be… grace-full! We’re going to be looking at more of these principles in the coming days. Today, commit yourself to having a family like God’s! Find balance and keep it!

"A Family Like God's" (Part 1)

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. (Genesis 1:26-28 NIV).

I may ramble a bit in today’s Morning Devotional. I suppose it is because I am caught between the proverbial “rock and a hard place.” The “rock” is a vital principle. The “hard place” is the amount of space I have to develop the truth in this venue. So, here goes… I believe there is nothing more powerful in heaven or on Earth than family. It is the single most influential force for good or for evil in all human existence. From birth, it marks you. Your family crafts your conscience and shapes your soul. At home you learn life’s lessons and begin the art of practicing them. At home you learn to love and to do what’s right. More than merely giving you a street address, your home and family imprint you with a spiritual identity shaped by the two people who gave you life. Truly, nothing compares to the strength of being tightly wrapped in the protective fiber of family. It’s who you are. It’s where you belong.

And if all goes well, as it should, it is your family that surrounds you when you start life’s journey, when you face life’s hardest trials, when you go through the valleys and when you die. More than anyone else, the members of your family are the ones who are there for you, caring for you and mourning the loss of you when you’re gone. This should come as no surprise, because God created the family. Look at today’s reading again. At the very dawn of time, “God created man in His own image ... male and female He created them.” Of all the ways He could have chosen to inaugurate His creation, He chose to start with family. In fact, the Bible begins with a marriage in Genesis and ends with a marriage in Revelation. Marriage and family have always been central to what God is doing on planet Earth.

I believe family is still of utmost importance to our heavenly Father. It holds the key to our health, our success as a society, and our future. And I believe it is worth whatever effort is required to nurture, encourage and support it. Its worth whatever sacrifices necessary on your part to make it what it ought to be. Sacrifice everything before you allow anything to come between you and your family. And, here’s the real question: What’s your family like? Regardless of the model you presently operate within today, nuclear family, blended family, or single parent family, I believe it is essential to make it the best that you possibly can make it by following the example of God with His family. Will you make that commitment today? We’ll get more specific in the days to come. Today take the first step. Renew your commitment to family first!

"Astern in the Boat"

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:35-41 NIV).

I know there are those of you who are much more knowledgeable about ships than I am. However, when I read the verses from our reading today, something very odd struck me. Jesus’ position in the boat was noted by Mark as being “in the stern.” I’m told that the proper language for this place on the ship is “astern” or “aft.”

Now, here’s the interesting thing about that description. I have seen replicas of these ships in Israel. In fact, I’ve been on the Sea of Galilee sailing in one. The way these ships are built, the weight of the boat is astern (at the back). That's what gives the boat its stability. So, I did a little more research after discovering this simple fact. It seems that boats of all kinds find their stability; their strength in the weight near the rear and bottom of the boat. Then I went back to today's scripture. It seems that Jesus was asleep in the part of the boat which gives it strength. The "stern", or the rear of the boat, is where the weight to anchor the boat down is found. If the "stern" area has enough weight, it will help keep the boat from turning over. Around the area called the "stern" one would most likely find the rudder of the boat which would give it direction. Jesus was in the "stern".

Maybe you didn't need a boat lesson today, but maybe you do need to hear that when the storm came upon the disciples, Jesus was in the place of strength. When life appeared most dangerous for the disciples, Jesus was in position to provide direction. At the weakest point, Jesus was still fully in control. By the way, He's in the stern of your life today; and as an added bonus, now He never sleeps!

Isn’t that good news? Don’t react to Jesus’ work in your life with amazement. He’s just doing what He promised to do. He said He would always be with us, to the very end! I like that, especially when the weather is really stormy in my life! Trust Him! He won’t let you down. He’s astern in your life!

"Moses' Father" (Part 3)

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. (Hebrews 11:24-28 NIV).

Moses had a great Dad. We have seen that over the past few days. I hope you have both learned some new things about this wonderful Biblical character and been inspired by his testimony. Amram is not someone you may have studied before, but I think he is an excellent example for all of us as we approach Father’s Day this year. By the way, those of you who are moms can also learn from these principles!

Today I want to go in another direction before we end this little series. Let’s look at Moses' other Dad. Moses was raised by Pharaoh's daughter, but when he grew up, he realized he could no longer be satisfied living the life of luxury. Although he had access to all the wealth of the land, Moses knew he was called to a higher purpose. Moses soon came to realize that he cared less about the comforts of life and more about serving his God, his heavenly Father. Moses recognized that he was part of the family of God. He had a Father who was bigger and better than all the others. Moses knew that he could not forsake who he was, that he was a child of God.

I suppose this knowledge was the strength he needed to face his own people when they didn't want to leave Egypt. I suppose this knowledge kept him steadfast in his task, even when the Pharaoh was threatening. I suppose this knowledge helped him answer the grumblers when they complained about the lack of food and water on the journey to the Promise Land. I suppose this knowledge gave him energy to climb the mountain, receive the Ten Commandments, and then go out and distribute God's laws among the people. I suppose this knowledge was with Moses even as he appeared with Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration. In fact, it was indeed enough for all of this and much, much more!

Moses had a great earthly father. Many of us do; some of us do not. One thing we can be sure of, however, is that if we are a child of God, we have a Heavenly Father better than all the rest. We can depend on Him, just as Moses could, because He is able to see us through each situation of life. Moses had a great Dad, and so do you and I, the children of God! Turn your attention to Him also this Father’s Day!

"Moses' Father" (Part 2)

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up." When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. (Exodus 3:1-6 NIV).

Yesterday we started this short series looking at Moses’ father. Most of us are very familiar with some of the other patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, Moses father, Amram, is relatively unknown. In fact, even Moses didn’t know much about him. Remember that had been raised under Pharaoh's ruling. He was trained as an Egyptian. It was only later in life that Moses realized he had to be true to his Israelite heritage.

Moses' father must have been quite a man. Being a Levite, we know that he was from the priestly line. As we look at today's verse, which occurs as Moses stood before the burning bush, we realize that Moses' father, whose name we do not even know until later in the Book of Exodus, is given equal status with the likes of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the father, son, and grandson of the Israelite faith. God evidently wanted Moses to understand his family background. Moses didn’t have the advantage of growing up under his father's care, but Moses had a father of stature within the eyes of God, and that must have meant something to Moses. He must have been proud to hear God speak of his father in such a way.

As we approach Father’s Day, I am called to evaluate what kind of Dad I’ve been. I know this is a tough subject for some. We live in a culture where every father/son or father/daughter relationship isn’t as strong as it should be. If yours is one of those, then make a firm commitment today to be the kind of dad that God would add to the list of great patriarchs in the Scripture. The way to insure that is to love your children unconditionally, spend both quality and quantity time with them, and teach them the ways of the Lord by both words and actions in your life.

Then, if you are a child and had a great Dad, tell him so. Those words of encouragement go farther than you could ever imagine! I know that when I get a card from my boys and they express that kind of appreciation to me, it means the world to me!

"The Thirsty Deer" (Part 5)

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. (Psalm 42:5-6 NIV).

Today ought to be an easy day for most of us to celebrate. After all, it’s Friday! I often browse through the Face Book updates on Fridays and there’s always one common theme: Just a few more hours and the weekend begins! Wouldn’t it be great to be able to have that feeling everyday? And, I know about now you are saying, “easy for you to say, you don’t have the kind of job that I do. Well, let me tell about the three jobs I have right now! I’m trying to balance working three schedules. One of them is a part time job with Home Depot in the flooring and wall department. I can tell you that one is keeping me hopping! Most of my schedule there is the late shift, sometimes working until 11 PM! There’s not a complaint in any of that. There are others who are doing far more than I am. What I’m saying is that Friday or Monday, we can have a GREAT day!

Believe me, there are plenty of days when I begin to let the “pity party” take over. The last two weeks have been really challenging. Moving to a new house has really been both physically and emotionally challenging. Thankfully the words of the psalmist come roaring back at me: Put your hope in God!

I got a call from the Red Cross reminding me about my appointment to go and give blood this week. I’ve got to tell you that my first reaction was, “please not that again.” I must give blood regularly to maintain the right levels of iron in my body. That’s the only way to treat hemachromatosis. It always knocks me down. Just makes me so tired and out of sorts for a day or two. But it is the only thing that will keep me from really getting sick. So, grit your teeth and go give blood! I know that’s one perspective. However, here’s the other perspective. God has provided a means of treatment and it is working. Wonder how many folks can’t say that about their illness?

It’s just another reminder that God is trustworthy. That means that I recognize and acknowledge that God is still in control. God is still on His throne. God is working all things for good. I can trust Him, regardless of the circumstances in my life. I have nothing and no one to fear. In fact, if my faith is not solid enough to survive the storms of life then I really have no faith at all.

I’m glad it’s Friday! But Mondays can be just as good, really. Remember “the Land of Jordan.” That’s the place God has reserved for you to inhabit in perfect peace and joy. It is bought and paid for with the blood of Jesus Christ on your behalf, and no one or not circumstance can take it from you without your permission.

"The Thirsty Deer" (Part 4)

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. (Psalm 42:1-4 NIV).

Yesterday we saw that the Psalmist was enduring a difficult trial of some kind. However, it hadn’t always been like this. There had been times of real contentment; real joy. In fact, there were times when the Psalmist led the procession, when he was the chief cheerleader of what God was doing in his life. But, that was before. That was before the day of trouble came; before the day when everything fell apart in his life; when it began to seem that his world, as he knew it, was failing.

I also shared with you some of the trials of this past year in my life. The more I think about them, the more I am convinced that they have been a significant tool in God’s hand to help me keep a positive perspective. This is especially true when I begin to look at some of the challenges that others have faced. In fact, when I look at my challenges compared to theirs, I really haven’t faced much of a trial at all! Yet, the temptation was to somehow forget the greatness of God and his immeasurable grace.

That doesn’t erase the challenges. They are very real. But so are the times of peace. Those times of peace serve as an anchor to our soul. Of course, they can also cause us to see our future without hope. I’ve found that the best approach is to fondly remember past times of peace, recalling the faithfulness of God, and anticipated the good God is going to do with our future. God is working, even right now, towards an ultimate good in your life!

Let me be a little personal. In 1969 God issued an unmistakably clear call to me in ministry. I have never felt that call more clearly than now. It is a call to bring grace to the hurting families and ministers of our world. It is a call to focus on what I have called Grace Restoration Ministries. That has necessitated that I do some very bold things. However, I know that God has brought me to this place, shaping me with so many diverse experiences and planting a deep sense of compassion for people for this time. You see, I remember when the procession led us to worship with shouts of joy. I have found lots of shouting in today’s church, but very little joy. There is an absence of grace that has blinded so many to the incredible measure of God’s presence being poured out among us. Have you found that joy more and more elusive? If so, here’s my pledge to you. Call me. Email me. If you know others who need that joy, have them call or email. It is a wonderful journey and we can get on the path together now! The next step is yours.