Thanksgiving was a great day for me. Our joint Thanksgiving service (with St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist) was great, the food was great, and time with family was great. The only thing that wasn’t great was the football. And that has pretty much become standard for Thanksiving Day. Why? Somehow it became tradition to have the Detroit Lions play EVERY Thanksgiving day.

One the seminars I went to at the National Outreach Conference a few weeks ago was entitled something like “Spiritual Formation as Evangelism.” I had never heard of the lad before, Todd Hunter, (he kind of looked like Darryl Hammond from SNL from a distance) but was quite impressed by his knowledge, experience, and presentation. He was arguing that we need to examine the main questions non-believers are asking. Traditionally folks have broken them down into two major categories.

1.) Is God real?
2.) What difference would it make if I believed in that God? Would I even like who I would become?

Most often we deal with the first. In the 80’s that really worked. Crusades, Lord-Liar-Lunatic arguments, and the like. But now the questions people are asking really are reversed. In other words, people are seeking to know “Does this Jesus make me care more or care less about the world, justice, humanity, love, beauty, truth?” If that is not the case, then they really aren’t up for hearing arguments about His existence/character/involvement in world. The presenter’s point was not to scrap apologetics (his buddy Lee Stroebel was in the room next door lecturing on Apologetics), but to make sure we reverse the order in which we answer the questions.

If people can see that Christ really does make us less judgmental, more caring, more concerned for mercy, more loving, truly free (question 2) then they will be more open to discussing HOW we got that way (question 1). Christ, the perfect human, molds us into what it means to be more fully human, not less.

As president of Alpha-USA, he interviews a lot of folks involved in outreach. One of his examples was Inter-Varsity. Apparently all the college folks who came to faith and became involved in IV, first came as a result of some sort of mercy/justice/creation care/mission project. You mean you care about the Earth, the poor, justice, love, and you’re willing to put TIME into doing something about it? That was their first question. They didn’t want to believe in a God who doesn’t care about that stuff. Fortunately our God does, and these believers showed them that through their lives.

It shows the need to not only invite folks to attractional (paintball, parties, get-togethers)/apologetic events (outward focused bible studies), but also through things like Habitat for Humanity, Operation Christmas Child/Angel Tree, cleaning the road, book/movie/philosophy discussions, environmental care projects, etc…

I usually listen to a radio fishing show with Capt’s Billy Nobles and Mike Anderson on the way to church. Since I live about 5 minutes from the church, I don’t get to hear very much. But some times I’m able to gather a few nice morsels of information. This Sunday the hosts discussed some service opportunities at Metropolitan Ministries in Tampa. Apparently there has been a shift in ministry focus. Instead of simply giving people stuff, they are now doing more now to equip those in need.

One of the hosts informed me of a bible verse that I was currently unaware of. He spoke of the biblicity of Metropolitan Ministries’ vision, reminding the listeners, “It’s like that verse in the bible, ‘Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a life time.”

Two thoughts came to mind.

1.) That verse may come from III Opinions, but it is definitely not in the bible. Nevertheless, it is wise, and is a good application of the commandment to love our neighbor.

2.) It really is important to know what the scriptures say and where they say it. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard, “It’s like that verse somewhere that says something like…” Sometimes our summaries of verses are so far off that we’re not much different than that fishing guide: assuming that the “verse” in question is actually in the bible. Lately I’ve been challenged myself to spend more time in the Word so that I don’t fall into this trap and so that I don’t allow others to either.

Finally some good news for FSU football. Not just on the field, but off the field (you don’t need to bring up the brawl which is still under investigation-I know about that!). Myron Rolle was awarded the Rhodes scholarship, which affords him two years of study at Oxford. Remember, Rolle is a starting Safety for FSU, and one who has potential to play Sundays in the NFL.

After the game, a reporter asked him what his plans were. Would he go to the NFL or take the scholarship now and spend two years away from football? I’m really not sure if the scholarship is something that can be put on hold or not. Apparently he plans on becoming a doctor and opening up a clinic to help the poor after playing pro-football. So that may have an affect on this more immediate decision. What would you do in his situation?

Here’s an article from Jim Hatch, the dude in charge of church planting for the PCA. It is called “U-Haul Theology.” In light of the transient state of young adults and younger families (well, really all generations since we have a large number of “snow birds” here in Florida), I found this a well thought out theology of both moving and staying. And since we just lost yet another family to a move, and will probably lose one or two more in several months, I found this an apropos time to post this article. I highly recommend taking a few minutes to read “U-Haul Theology,” which is both comforting and challenging to those moving or staying put.

Jim Rome had an interesting interview with Detroit Piston’s head coach Michael Curry the other day. Rome posed the question to Curry, “Do you think that leaders are born or do you think that they are made?”

While Curry believed that there is something to leadership that comes from our personalities, he really believed that good leaders are more often “made” then simply “born.” He spoke of reading John Maxwell books in graduate school, and the importance of developing the skills of leadership. It is a craft.

At a church planting conference a few years ago I heard the same thing from a church planter. Leadership is not simply something that just happens. He challenged us to read more books, and put ourselves in the paths of leaders-that we would learn from them. I think many pastors are realizing that there is much wisdom to delving into this issue of how to be better leaders of people. Probably because it does not come naturally.

In the past year or so, I’ve read a few books on leadership, by both Christian and unbelieving authors. Here are some I’ve found helpful: Leading with a Limp by Dan Alender, Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni and Good to Great by James Collins. I actually thought the latter (written by unbelievers) in some cases, were just as, or more biblical and practical. Wherever we are, I think developing greater leadership skill is crucial.

I’ve been slowly working my way through John Piper’s When I Don’t Desire God, How to fight for Joy with another young adult in my church. We’ve both really been blessed and challenged by the book. Here is an excerpt from a section we just read.

Most people, before their prayers are soaked in Scripture, simply bring their natural desires to God. In other words, they pray the way an unbeliever would pray who is convinced that God might give him what he wants: health, a better job, safe journeys, a prosperous portfolio, successful children, plenty of food, a happy marriage, a car that works, a comfortable retirement, etc…None of these is evil. They’re just natural. You don’t have to be born again to want any of these. Desiring them-even from God-is no evidence of saving faith. So if these are all you pray for, there is a deep problem. Your desires have not yet been changed to put the glory of Christ at the center.

Wow. Pretty convicting. How often do prayer requests go like this, “I ask for traveling mercies, a job, a spouse, kids doing well in school, etc…?” Again these things aren’t bad to ask for when they trouble us. But when we pray alone, or with our spouses and friends, are our prayers much different?

I heard in a Sunday school class (not at my present church) something to the effect of, “Just ask, and talk, like a child to your daddy.” I wasn’t there for the whole series so I may have missed the part of prayer which involves Praise, Kingdom vision, Thanksgiving, Confession (you know, the way Jesus taught us to pray). But if you tell my heart simply to ask for things, and not ask for God to receive glory from those things, guess which route I’m going to take?

Again, asking for a job, a car, for your house to sell isn’t bad. But we need to be asking these things motivated by Christ to receive glory and His Kingdom going forward. For instance, I would pray for a job that I may honor Christ in my workplace and have money to not only support myself but to support the church and its mission. Wordy yes, but our prayer requests are often quite shallow, and I would imagine, so are our prayers. So with that realization, we ought to think more clearly on how such petitions fit in with His Kingdom and His Glory covering the Earth. When we do that, we’ll be more likely to trust God with the specific details of how He answers.

Sometimes we have impulsive ideas that we would really love to act on. However, sometimes our own shame, simple concern for “laws of decency,” fear of losing a job or social black-listing, keeps us from acting on them. Sometimes. Of course there are some times when all of the aforementioned don’t stop us.

A friend directed me to this article in the Bradenton Herald. Apparently a kid who was in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (0n the spectrum of Autism) had been disrupting the class for a while. Amy has certainly experienced that a time or two. But basically there’s not a whole lot you can do except write a bunch of referrals (although Principals really aren’t big fans of that either). The other kids just have to suffer through the tantrums.

Or she could have done what this Port St. Lucie teacher did. She put the kid in front of the class, and had the class vote on whether or not he should be allowed to continue in their class. He lost 14-2. He must have received some sympathy votes.

In all honesty, he needed to be somewhere else. And he is now. But voting him “off the island?” Certainly something I would have thought about, but I might have “run that by” someone before I acted on it! How important is it to have people in our lives who can say, “Voting that really disruptive kid out of the class might not be the wisest direction for you to take.” I’m not judging this teacher. I’d probably have done worse.

For Amy last year, her hands were tied even after a plethora of tests and papers were filed. Of course now he IS in a special class. Just a year too late, but better late than never. Some teacher owes Amy big time.

On Sunday afternoon, after the Buc’s game finished early, FOX switched to some bonus coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengal’s game. That coverage was short lived because the game soon went into Overtime and some sort of broadcasting rules don’t allow “bonus coverage” to continue past 4:15 pm.

In overtime, the game see-sawed back and forth, and then time ran out. It was a tie. One of the things that I hate about hockey and soccer CAN, on occasion, happen in the NFL (not NCAA football though). Well Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, in a true expression of honesty, actually admitted he didn’t know that the game could end in a tie. I guess he thought there would be just another OT quarter.

How this dude didn’t know that is beyond me. This tie is the 3rd tie in the past 11 years. I can-I don’t know what this says about me, maybe I shouldn’t ‘open my mouth’ like McNabb and admit this-tell you the other teams which share this dubious distinction (Giants/Cowboys; Steelers/Falcons).

How can someone not know the simple rules of OT, especially since McNabb has been in 8 OT games in his career? The meaningless debate (all sports debate really is meaningless, but still fun) is whether or not his knowledge, or lack thereof, affected his play. Could have made him less aggressive, thinking that he could always play for the next quarter?

I’d have to look at his record in OT games to draw any conclusions, and I’ve already probably spent more time thinking about this then necessary, so I’ll not look that up. But in our Christian walks, it DOES matter that we know the “OT” rules.

We are and have been in what the bible calls the “last days” since Jesus’ resurrection. There is a set amount of time left. Could be a lot, could be a little. But what we do know is that there will be no ties. The forces of Satan and God are not equal. There will be no ties, as Jesus will move His church forward, and bring about His Kingdom in fullness one day.

Knowing that there are no ties in OT does make a difference in life. It should move us as individuals forward in mission. Unlike Hockey, Soccer, and yes, sadly the NFL, we needn’t worry about “ties.’ Fortunately. Present frustration, sure. But ultimately no “ties!”

I understand that not everyone has great neighbors. I get that. Robert Frost’s poem “Mending Wall” has a lovely and appropriate line, “Good fences make good neighbors.” For some folks, I understand the sentiment. My friend has neighbor who makes great sacrifices. Not figuratively speaking, but literally speaking. They sacrifice animals. Seriously. It’s legal as long as you eat them afterwards. Crazy.

But we have neighbors who sacrifice themselves. Not literally, but they sacrifice time and comfort. Let me give you a “for example.” On Saturday, just after catching my last redfish, I received a frantic call from Amy. It was a snake.

A little snake managed to get in between the screen and the office window. Not good. I was on the water, at least an hour away, so our only option was to call our neighbor Donna the Dragon Slayer. She is not scared of snakes. They are scared of her.

So Donna came over, in the rain, and killed that baby snake. We think it was a baby rattler, but Donna practically pureed it with the shovel. I really couldn’t find any pieces.

So how about that for a neighbor, eh? Sure, I’ll come over in the rain and kill the snake for you. For some, fences make good neighbors. For us, good neighbors are just good neighbors.
I give Donna high praise and put her up for “neighbor of the year.” However, she’s one of several great ones we have here in Groveland. I just got invited by another neighbor today to a beer-n-bonfire. Tough to beat.

I doubt that it’s only Groveland that has such great neighbors. I would encourage you to get outside, take a walk, spend a little time in your front yard, and you might just find another Donna the Dragon Slayer living down the street from you. Maybe you can even “one-up” me with a better “neighbor brag.” I doubt that, but its worth a try.