25 MORE Random Things About Me

As I am in the process of revamping the content that I post on my blog in the future, I have decided today to return to an old favorite. Last year, the “25 Random Things about Me” phenomenon swept the Facebook scene in a major way. My list eventually made it to this blog; in fact you can read it here.

The enduring popularity of that post that prompted me to return to its theme one more time while decisions are being made on the future content of this site. So without further ado, here are an additional 25 random things about me that you likely did not know.

1. I sent my wife into labor by breaking bones in my right foot, so that as a result, our first child was born exactly on her due date (not intentionally, of course!).

2. I won a “closest to the pin” golf contest when I was 14 years old AND a putting contest in college, but have never been a great (not even good, but mediocre at best) golfer.

3. A major earthquake, whose epicenter was less than 2 miles from our home, rocked southern California on the morning of my 30th birthday. My wife and I crawled under the table and continued to open presents.

4. I have climbed the (inside of) Great Pyramid, just outside of Cairo, Egypt.

5. I have served as an interim pastor in more States (4) than a permanent pastor (3).

6. As a seminary student, I’d travel over to Texas Stadium to watch the Cowboys (Staubach and Dorsett era) play and would buy a ticket without exception from a “scalper” outside the stadium BELOW ticket price.

7. The first memory I have of Christmas is at age 3 years and 3 months, when my sister was born (on Christmas Eve).

8. I saw “Pistol Pete” Maravich of LSU set an all-time NCAA college basketball record in points scored against the University of Alabama when I was only an elementary school student.

9. I was asked to serve as a two-year “missionary” in Daytona Beach, Florida, after college, but did not feel God leading me there (why not? yeah, I know…). However, I had already determined to say “yes” to the collegiate ministry position at Ohio State University, but I was not offered the job.

10. I was given the privilege of voicing the prayer for our Holy Land Tour Group in the Garden of Gethsemane.

11. The first time I went fishing, the only thing I caught was a snapping turtle.

12. I have taught New Testament Greek classes for two different seminaries, in addition to college classes on spiritual formation at a well-known Christian university in southern California.

13. While on a date, I serendipitously met Kevin McHale and Cedric Maxwell, at the time both current players for the Boston Celtics, outside of Reunion Arena in Dallas after their game there ended.

14. I was in charge of Chapel hospitality and coordination with our guest speakers and program during my senior year in college. I was able to meet some well-known writers and lecturers, as a result.

15. The only two home runs I ever hit were both inside the park jobs. Thank goodness for speed!

16. My wife, Joyce, and I were both valedictorians of our high school graduating classes.

17. I was stopped by police for speeding on Easter Sunday of 1977 in Dallas, Texas, but since we (there were 4 of us) had been at First Baptist Church to hear W. A. Criswell preach and were leaving town that afternoon, I was not given a ticket.

18. My first car was a 1973 copper-colored Ford Pinto (you can laugh out loud; I understand). I once loaded the “hatchback” area of the car so full that the back window gave way and came out, freeing my clothes to litter the state highway I was traveling.

19. I ran on my middle school track team in the 440 yard dash and relay. I never finished better than third.

20. One of my (now not-so-secret) dreams is to rent a RV and travel across the United States, especially the north central and north western states. My wife, though, is (strongly) not in favor of this idea, so it will likely only remain “a dream.”

21. I had the privilege of writing the last thesis mentored by Dr. Bruce M. Metzger, New Testament scholar, before he retired.

22. In college I took P.E. classes in bowling and golf. After completing them, my scores were worse than before.

23. Just before God called me into church planting, I was planning to attend the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, to secure a Ph.D. in religion. God obviously had other plans.

24. As a senior, I preached in a student-led Youth for Christ 3-day “revival” on the campus on my high school (I know; amazing, isn’t it?).

25. When Joyce and I determined that God was calling us into church planting, we ultimately considered four major cities in the North(east): Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit and Washington, DC. We ended up in Boston for ten years, but now find ourselves for the past decade just outside of DC.

Fridays are for Friends & Family 11.06.09

Welcome to another week-ending edition of FFF! This week has been a flurry of activity as we finalize plans for our organization’s Annual Meeting, which begins here in Towson, Maryland, on Sunday. You can read about it here; in addition, you can register for several events by going to this page. I hope to see you there!

Sarah, my daughter in Vancouver, Canada, has picked up a number of new writing and photography assignments in the past few weeks. Last week, she roamed the sidelines of the British Columbia Lions (CFL) for a photo shoot. She also has entered a proposal on a potential future for journalism with the Knight Foundation. You can read her suggestion on how to build readership for newspapers in a more user-friendly manner by clicking here. In fact, you can register for FREE and add your “rating” and “comments.” Sarah would greatly appreciate it, I’m sure!

Last week I cited Al Mohler’s compilation of the responses author of the Great Commission Resurgence document Danny Akin has made to some of the concerns addressed (or not addressed) in the document. This week I highlight a concern raised by Dr. Bill Brown, ever the outdoorsman, formerly on faculty at Southeastern Seminary himself and now teaching in the distance-learning program at Liberty. You can read his thoughts here. This is not the first time we’ve highlighted concerns with the GCR document; this link will take you to another item surfaced by Tom Cocklereece a few months ago.

One of the most interesting “Christian” websites I’ve come across this year is the very entertaining “Stuff Christians Like.” The author, Jonathan Acuff, continues to compile short articles about a variety of items that are normative in “typical” Christian culture, behavior and experience. The “stuff” is over 650 items long at this time and continuing to grow. (It will be published as the book on the right early in 2010.) Part information and part entertainment, it is fascinating to me to see how pervasive our “Christian world” is and the impact is has on what we think and do. You can click here to begin your journey through his site.

Last week I mentioned the recent leadership event with Mike Huckabee…(if you missed that you can read about it here.) Another outstanding speaker at that event was Rev. Rod Hairston, chaplain of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. Rod did an exceptional job talking about character in the life of a leader. What you may not know is that Rod is also a church planter, having planted Messiah Community Church in the Owings Mills area about four years ago. You can find out more about Rod, including how you can have him come and speak at your next event, by clicking here. I am indeed blessed to consider him a friend.

Well, that’s it from here this week. I’ll be reporting next week from our Annual Meeting in Towson. Hopefully, my colleagues and I will see you there. So until next time, keep on moving at the speed of God!

Fridays are for Friends & Family (again) 10.30.09

After a three-week absence, FFF is (finally) back again! The hectic life of the past few weeks has slowed enough for me to share a few things that have happened and have also come across during these days on the web. So, let’s get started!

Many of you prayed for my cousin, Gabriella Grace Jackson, during the past month. We posted about her serious health conditions from birth and on both my Facebook and Twitter accounts, kept you up to speed on prayer concerns and physical developments. If you have visited these sites, then you know that baby Gabbi went home to be with Jesus on her 29th day of life, late last week. Yesterday, her memorial service was held in Little Rock, Arkansas, and she was laid to rest. I share these things with you, because I have had more “search” requests on my blog for Gabbi than anyone or thing in the last week or two. Since I have not followed up the original mention of Gabbi here, I thought it best publically to thank you all for your tireless prayers and well-wishes on her behalf. We are eternally grateful. Please continue to be in prayer for her parents, Matthew and Shannon Jackson, along with both sets of grandparents.

Yesterday, former Governor Mike Huckabee was with us here in Maryland for a major leadership event. (That’s my Dad on the other side of Governor Huckabee in the picture to the right.) He was joined in the conference by Baltimore Ravens chaplain, Rev. Rod Hairston (a church planter himself) and Dr. Andy Westmoreland of Samford University (a former college classmate). It was great to finally meet Governor Huckabee; he actually graduated from the same university the semester before I arrived. For you trivia buffs out there, he actually worked for my cousin’s ministry organization in 1979-1980 and has known my Dad’s Arkansas side of the family for three decades!

Today was a Staff Appreciation luncheon at Glen Burnie Baptist Church, where my transitional pastoring ministry will end on November 25. I’ve had the privilege of working with Kathy, who works with students and families and Chris, who serve in worship leadership, over the past year. Thanks to you both, as well as our support staff over the past ten months.

On the web this week, Dr. Al Mohler, President of Southern Seminary in Louisville, has posted a compiled list of answers by Dr. Danny Akin, President of Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, to questions and concerns that have been raised over the Great Commission Resurgence document. As you probably know, the document was publicly shared by Dr. Akin first in a chapel service there at Southeastern Seminary. To read his response to what he entitles the “myths” regarding the GCR document, click here.

Finally, my new friend, founding planter and pastor Ron Sylvia of The Springs, in Ocala, Florida, will be here to speak to our church planters and young missional pastors in Baltimore on November 8. Later that evening he will bring a message from the Word of God to the first session of our annual state convention meeting. Ron is a leader among Southern Baptist church planters, who tirelessly gives his life away for other planters and pastors. He is a trainer, a coach, an advocate and a writer for church planters, as well as everything else he does for The Springs. I am blessed to know him. If you are interested in joining us that night, make a comment below and we’ll see what we can work out.

Here’s hoping you have a blessed Reformation Day (some call it Halloween, I think) and a marvelous Lord’s Day (and don’t forget to give yourselves an extra hour of sleep Saturday night since Daylight Savings Time for 2009 officially comes to an end).

Monday Morning Rewind: Characteristics of a Godly Pastor

Yesterday we looked at 1 Timothy 3.1-7, overviewing the traits exhibited in the life of “an overseer.” This word, in our understanding and tradition, is a synonym in the New Testament Scriptures for “elder” or “pastor.” The focus here is on his leadership responsibility, since the word carries with it the inherent supervisory role of the one giving direction, in this instance, to the congregation.

In the passage, which forms something of a checklist by which potential pastors should be assessed, Paul informs young Timothy that the character of a leader is far more important than his skills or competence. The preponderance of the materials shared by the apostle clearly emphasizes this.

Paul starts the passage by talking about the needed character of the leader (vv. 2-3). He lists eleven traits that the potential overseer should have, ten of which are character traits. Only “able to teach” = “cause to learn” (v. 3) is a gifting or skill that reflects upon his competence or activity. The other ten are as follows:

• “Above reproach” = this is the overarching characteristic, meaning there is nothing to “take hold of” the leader; he is beyond accusation of wrong
• “Husband of but one wife” = faithfulness in this closest of relationships is indicative of how he will handle other relationships
• “Temperate” = keeps his head in all situations, vigilant
• “Self-controlled” = sensible and stable, disciplined; shows good judgment
• “Respectable” = gives honor and deference to others, values people in his thinking and living
• “Hospitable” = literally “loving the stranger;” an openness in his life and home to others, caring and compassionate
• “Not given to drunkenness” = the power of his example for others, rather than an excuse of others’ behavior
• “Not violent but gentle” = “strength under control;” not angry, hurtful with words, but kindhearted
• “Not quarrelsome” = a peacemaker, not a troublemaker; not argumentative or contentious
• “Not a lover of money” = not greedy or covetous; not under the control of money or possessions

The issue here is that “who he is” is far more important than “what he does.” His character is no doubt listed first in the passage by Paul because it is clearly most important.

Second, Paul mentions the potential pastor’s family life (vv. 4-5). The key here is that he is able to “manage” it well. The word literally means to “preside over,” and/or “give direction to.” These individuals who know him best would be able to show others in comparison how he might lead or manage them, given the opportunity. His children, then, become an important benchmark in the evaluation, since Paul indicates the motivating factor in their obedience should be “with proper respect” (v. 4). If his children don’t respect him–these individuals who see and live with him 24/7, who know his weaknesses as well as his strengths–it is a tell-tale sign of potential struggles the church will have with his leadership in the future. The issue here is evidence of his leadership ability by those who have known him best over many years. This indicator says a lot!

Third, Paul tells Timothy to look at his “experience” (v. 6). Specifically, he wants to make sure he is not “a recent convert,” but has been seasoned and matured by the experiences of life. Paul understood this firsthand, for early in his ministry he almost boasted about his role and calling as an apostle (Gal. 1.1). But by the time he wrote this letter, close to the end of his life, he was (not boasting) admitting that he–Paul–was the worst of sinners (1.15-16)! This kind of humility and dependence on God comes through the shaping experiences of life. Recent converts, Paul warns, can become proud (his word is “conceited” = “wrapped in smoke”) and thus blind and deluded to self and others. For the candidate to be grounded, he needs to be rooted in Christ through a developmental process that has made him aware of his own sinfulness and the amazing nature of God’s grace and mercy toward Him.

Finally, Paul speaks of the need to know of his reputation, specifically among unbelievers (v. 7). It’s one thing to have a good reputation among believers; it makes a totally difference statement when one is known to have a good reputation among those outside the church. It screams one practices what they preach, that one is a man of his word, that he has integrity in his dealings with all people. As a result, they are a help to the Gospel, not a hindrance. Granted, reputation is not the same as character (it’s what others see of your character, not the actual character itself); but it is an excellent evaluator of how the pastor will relate to the community beyond the church and what they might come to think of him. This is more important than ever in our day, since the church and its leaders have such a bad reputation (arrogant, judgmental, bigoted, etc.) in the world. Godly leaders have to be willing to engage the unbelieving community and love them like Jesus does.

Why is all this important to a church when it evaluates a pastoral candidate? Here’s why: somewhere between year 2 and year 5 (depending on the age of the church and the number of pastors it’s previously had), the congregation itself will begin to mirror the character and behavior of the pastor who leads them. In other words, the choice made will directly impact your own spiritual growth and development–and that’s important, for all of us.

A reminder: there are no “perfect” pastors (I’m a great example of this truth!). Paul’s descriptors here don’t appear to be intended so much to disqualify candidates as to acknowledge the damage a lowered standard can and will bring to the church and its witness. So keep the standard high! Don’t settle for less! Find God’s man, the one who demonstrates God’s life and character, in all he is, as well as all he does.

Pediatric Care

My cousin celebrated the birth of newborn Gabrielle Grace Jackson last week. We, along with all the family, rejoiced in this wondrous occasion. New life is one of the greatest miracles of all and with it should come the recognition of God’s creative work. Each of us is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).

Unfortunately with Gabbi, she has had some physical complications that have made her health precarious. Doctors and technicians are watching over her 24/7, and more than that, our Heavenly Father and an army of believers are watching over her spiritually. Many of you have been praying for her and for that, our family is eternally grateful. Please continue praying for her!

This experience got me thinking: what if Gabbi did not have doctors and technicians to assist her in this part of her journey in life? What if she and her parents had not had so many people in the family of God surrounding them with prayer and support through these days? I can’t help but believe that her situation would be markedly different; in fact, probably terminal.

The most neglected part of the church planting journey for almost every new church start is the time AFTER the plant has had its “birth.” These formative months and years are critical to the health and development of the infant church. And just like a newborn child, there are needful things that should be done to ensure its growth. We at the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware do our best to provide the essentials for an infant church to thrive during this early period in the church’s young life.

Food, Rest and Play. These essentials for life are needed by all human organisms. Proper training provides the nourishment needed to fuel the fledgling church. With it, though, are needed adequate seasons of rest and “play,” found in the focused efforts to streamline “busy-ness” in the plants by helping planters get away for renewal and opportunities to have fun together with each other and as families.

Love and Attention. Crossing the major milestone “of birth” doesn’t end our support for the plant and its leaders. On the contrary, we seek to become a listening ear and a cheerleading advocate to encourage them on as they look to the future. We do our best to “brag on them” and even pull out the pictures and show others, given the chance. We want to be ready and available when they sense a need.

Prayer. We are constantly aware that this is a spiritual endeavor, not a business enterprise. As such, like parents and other loved ones, we recognize there are limitations to our abilities and even our insight into what needs to happen. Because of this we are earnestly and often in deep and passionate prayer for God to work in the plant’s life. We pray for God to reveal more of Himself to that new child in His kingdom work and for Him to do for His new church what only God can do.

Check-ups. At regular intervals in the life of the new church, we evaluate the health and development of the fledging congregation. Our attempt is to be prescriptive in our diagnosis, in order to keep the “child” healthy while very young, when it is often most vulnerable. These check-ups are an attempt to help the new church value the process of reflection and evaluation and learn how to make the adjustments necessary to keep growing, qualitatively as well as quantitatively.

Booster “Shots.” As the new work grows in a healthy manner, we initiate contact with those who need these injections to (1) protect it from outside threats and/or (2) to catalyze it so that it can grow faster and stronger. Like all injections, there is a process to follow for one’s safety and strength, but when followed, it can result in meaningful and significant development beyond whatever level the plant currently is experiencing.

Parental Support. Babies don’t come into this world alone; they have parents who also need support and encouragement on the journey. Churches who parent new works finds coaches and trainers to assist them in knowing what and how they should go about helping this new church plant grow and develop as it should. Cautions against over-protectiveness and negligence are both addressed. More than anything, though, parent churches find friends for life, who will celebrate and serve them in whatever way possible to make the parenting experience a joyful one that will be repeated often.

Ultimately, Gabbi’s health and well-being is in hands of our Lord; the same is true of every church plant. But like any good parent and friend, we seek to be good stewards over the gift of life that God has shared with us in these new “children.” Our hope and dream is that they too will become trophies of His grace and will, in turn, share His love with generations yet to come.

(The above is an advance release of the article that I have written for our state newsjournal, BaptistLIFE, this coming month.)

Fridays are for Friends & Family 10.02.09

It’s time to make our weekly review of the online highlights of the past week. We start with a series of articles being written by Neil Cole, head of Church Multiplication Associates and author of Organic Church, among other things. Neil has been tackling the topic of multi-site churches in a series of blog posts. This critique has been inspired by the current trend toward seeing multi-site works as “church plants” (or worse, seeing them as replacements for church plants). Cole disagrees, as do I, with that assessment for a variety of reasons. To date, he’s posted five entries on the topic. You can read them here.

In my studies for a message last week on church planting, my new Twitter connection, Art Mealer, chimed in to let me know of an Interactive Map of the Early Church’s Ministry, and especially Paul’s church planting efforts, at his website. I found it very interesting; perhaps you will too. Get to the site by clicking here. While you’re at his site, you may want to check out his other church planting materials also.

This past week I came across a post by Perry Noble, pastor at New Spring Church in South Carolina. This blog post reflects on fourteen things that Jesus did NOT say that have crept into our “Christian” lives and  affect our relationship with God and with others. You can check it out here.

Do you remember THE NINES presentations, sponsored by Leadership Network, and shared via Internet on 09/09/09 starting at 9:09am? These taped “leadership segments” of nines minutes or shorter are now online and available for you to view again or for the first time if you missed them on that day. You can get to the site from here.

My daughter, Sarah, shared on her Twitter account something she discovered recently: LIFE magazine, one of the great photographic masterpieces in periodic literature, is now completely online (all editions). You can browse through the multiple years of pictures and articles by going to the site from here.

This past week many of you who keep up with my Twitter feed or my Facebook account know that my young, 3rd cousin, Gabriella Grace Jackson, down in the metro Tampa, Florida, area is fighting for her life. She has breathing problems and concerns about brain function and movement. I am once again asking for your prayers on her behalf. Would you lift up a prayer to the Heavenly Father, asking for strength and health in her little one-week old body? My undying gratitude is extended to you for helping with this request.

Fridays are for Friends & Family 09.25.09

Friday is here, and with it my weekly review of some of the things I’ve come across on the web. This week I’ve been blogging on The Upstream Collective’s JetSet Vision Tour of Asia, headed up by Ed Stetzer and Larry McCrary. While there, Stetzer released a post on his site that transcends the work of just this vision trip. It’s a challenge to “missional” (self-designated) churches that are not involved in global missions. Stetzer’s article suggests ways to correct this “great omission,” as well. You can read his article by clicking here.

A unique time is lining up in my tribe, the Southern Baptist Convention, with the announced coming retirements next year of Morris Chapman (Executive Committee) and Jerry Rankin (IMB), along with the previous resignation of Geoff Hammond (NAMB). Ronnie Floyd, chairman of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force says the presidential search committees should be mindful of the GCR group as they deliberate future leadership in their organizations. You can read his comments in the Florida newsjournal, the Baptist Witness, by clicking here.

Shaun King, planter/founding pastor of Courageous Church in Atlanta, Georgia, posted an excellent article this week on “10 Free Resources for Church Planters,” on his website. He states, “these 10 FREE resources have helped me lead @Courageous more than any gadget we’ve purchased.” It’s an article every church planter should read. Check it out on his site by clicking here.

Heads up, if you live in the Baltimore/DC area! Catalyst One Day is coming our way. This popular “road trip” tour will be in our area at Grace Community Church, Fulton, Maryland, on November 16. The keynote speakers will be Andy Stanley and Craig Groeschel. Church planters and missional pastors will want to get to this event, if at all possible. You can register by going to their website by clicking here and possibly win a Kindle, too!

My daughter, Sarah, has continued to have new writing opportunities in her work. During the summer she was published in a couple of newspapers in Surrey and with an online news source. Now she’s got an article in her own university’s online school newspaper. You can check out the article here, dealing with nursing student aid and other programs that have been cut in the British Columbia province.

Finally, my favorite sports team, the Boston Red Sox, will clinch a playoff berth sometime in the next few days; the Yankees already have. They play each other this weekend in what could be a preview of the upcoming playoffs. The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo suggests five things each team can work on as they prep for the postseason in an photo-journalism piece online today. You can check his ideas out here...and GO, SOX!!!

A Church Planting Manifesto, part 2

I Believe…

16. That denominations are only helpful if they exist for the local church and not the local church for the denomination

17. That church planters can shift their love all too easily from Jesus to the church, which is a subtle but very serious form of idolatry

18. That seeking to be a “full-service” church is a sure and certain journey to plateau or decline for 9 out of every 10 churches (try to do too much and end up doing too little)

19. That the most “earthly good” the church does happens Monday through Saturday, not on Sunday

20. That planters must not be more passionate about their methodology and “being cool and hip” than they are about reaching people with the Gospel

21. That we mistake compliance for commitment all the time and it’s killing us in churches across the Western world

22. That we must use biblical models more than business models to inform our church planting efforts

23. That it’s time to measure success by how many a church releases rather than retains

24. That a new church will mirror its leadership within the first two years of its ministry

25. That a church cannot be the church that Jesus intended without reproducing disciples and congregations

26. That prayer is the most important church planting work one will ever do

27. That planters must guard their hearts and their marriages with utmost priority in time and attention

28. That effective assessment is the gateway to everything else in a church planting system

29. That coaching is the greatest leverage leaders have with those who are planting new churches

30. That planting a church is NEVER the ultimate objective

to be continued…

(This post is part two in an ongoing series; part one can be found by clicking here.)

Hot August Nights

That night in 1985 was one I will never forget. It changed my life forever.

Just over a day earlier my fiancee, Joyce and I had wrestled with Elena, a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, as it churned in the warm waters offshore, giving no hint of the direction it would travel. Our wedding rehearsal was scheduled that Thursday, but residents of the city of New Orleans had decided that they didn’t want to accept the company of this angry stranger, so their cars were “parked” on Interstate-10 heading west out of town toward Baton Rouge.

The men in our wedding party had joined me late that afternoon to pick up our tuxedos and run other necessary errands before heading home to prepare for the rehearsal and the subsequent dinner. Only we never got home.

The “parking lot” on the highway refused to give way, even for a wedding candidate. I was stuck, unable to get home, get cleaned up and find appropriate clothes to wear for the evening. Panicky and frustrated, I discovered one of my groomsmen had an extra shirt, with a neck measurement three sizes too big and in a color I wouldn’t have chosen for such an occasion. On the other hand, it was clean and available and so I headed to see my bride and our wedding party in someone else’s clothes!

The rehearsal as I remember it was a mess. There were many moments of confusion and some tense and anxious moments with family. We were pressed for information and details that were still undecided. But we got through it, and on out into the evening to travel to the West End for our group dinner reservation at a most well-known French restaurant in the city.

But Elena, the fickle storm that wouldn’t commit, was still troubling the patrons of this annually anxious city. With her sitting offshore, the restaurant had made the decision to close early, with one exception: us! I’m fully convinced that had we not secured a reservation for this special event months before, we would not have been welcomed that night, either. The windows were boarded up and all unnecessary personnel had been sent home. The restaurant had an uncommon silence to it; an eerie feeling that accompanied us through the evening. Then there were the servers: they were determined to “rush” us through every course as quickly as possible. We could certainly understand and yet, I felt angry and frustrated. It had not turned out as planned.

Wedding day started in much the same way. I awakened to discover the indecisive Elena was still sitting offshore and rendering us incapable of being sure we could safely travel away from the city for our wedding night plans. So, with less than twelve hours until our anticipated arrival I had to cancel our wedding night location and scramble to find another, one in town and very close by. Later in the day, the stress on my dad, who was performing the ceremony grew heavy in the thick, humid air that blanketed our hometown. He lay on the floor in front of an oscillating fan, trying to find a way to cool down. I knew in my heart that it wasn’t simply the physical heat of the day; the wedding was getting to him, too.

Then the time arrived. The hurricane that never appeared had cleared the sky, so that it was a deep, beautiful blue draping the route to the church. The church people and friends had failed to get that message though, and thinking Elena was still on her way to join us, they had determined there wouldn’t be enough “room” for them, too. Many stayed away—far away, like Baton Rouge and Hammond.

And of course, the photographer was running late, so we sat and waited for what seemed like hours as the organist droned on and on two, then three times as long as expected before the ceremony actually began. By this time Dad was pacing, and sweating again…a lot.

The word finally came that my bride was ready to enter the sanctuary, and with that the languishing details of the previous 24 hours melted into a blur of humbling bliss and beauty. The most wonderful woman I’d ever met was marrying me! ME! I didn’t believe it then, and I still wonder, how? why? to this very day.

Sunday we celebrated our 24th anniversary, and truth be told, I still don’t know why she fell in love with me. She’s way too good for me; far too beautiful; exceedingly beyond my grasp. She is a constant and glorious reminder of God’s grace to me, and I thank Him daily for her.

Twenty-four years ago she took a chance on me, and she’s breathed meaning into every step along the path of life. She is the reason I get up in the morning; she is the last thing I want to see at night. She is the song in my heart; she is the love of my life and my best friend.

So these hot August nights, they bring back a rush of memories. Memories of confusion and crazed activity. Memories of hurricanes and boarded-up buildings. Memories of beauty and peace. But most of all, memories of you, Joyce, and the way (thankfully) you have changed my life forever.

As Neil Diamond would say, “good times never seemed so good...” May God grant us many, many more!

No Monday Morning Rewind This Week

Due to the fact that I did not preach yesterday at the church where I am serving, there will be no “Monday Morning Rewind” on my blog today. I will resume the series of messages on “Characteristics of Effective Churches” next week.

You can find the first five messages in this series here on my blog on each of the previous five Mondays. You will find the concluding five messages in this series on my blog, starting next Monday morning.

If you’re looking for these message notes, I hope you’ll return then. In the meantime, I’ll be posting a new “church planting” article on Wednesday and a new “Friends & Family” edition on Friday, per usual. Stop by then to check in on what I’ve posted and to add your input, too.