To The Hilt!

My daughter, Katie, and I decided to run in a 5k in December.  I had not run in a race since my college days!  And, while I have run off and on over the years, I had transitioned to cycling.  So, we had to start training.  When the “main event” arrived  we had trained enough to complete the race but by no means place.  (I couldn’t even do that in my college days.  I was into body building.)  Katie had never raced before.  I thoroughly enjoyed running with her throughout the race.  As we came closer to the last turn she had let up on the pace saying she wanted to finish well in front of all those people.  She somewhat did instinctively what runners do – save enough “gas” for one last push toward the finish line.  You leave something in reserve for the end.  We placed 98 and 99 in a field of over 200.

It wasn’t until I read an Old Testament Scripture that I began thinking of all the things that subtly, and not so subtly, ingrain in us the idea of holding back.  If you are going to cook you have a dial for the stove top or a digital temperature setting for the oven.  Both are “dialed back” when cooking.  There is a volume control on your TV, computer, radio, Ipod or Mp3 player – and most often we use these items “dialed back”.  As a boy, my parents taught me to save 10% at least.  I remember the “envelope system”.  It was a great principle to teach – saving ( I wish more understood it today).  But, it also was a means of “holding back”.  The holding back idea eventually morphs into relationships.  If you have friendships, family, or other relationships – sooner or later you are burned.  What do we do?  We selectively “hold back”.

I wish the holding back thing just applied to inanimate objects.  It doesn’t.  There are people we hold back from (with good reason).  Perhaps more disconcerting is the holding back that goes on with God.  I have long known and fought my holding back on God in worship.  I long for the day to worship as the Bible describes David’s worship “with all his might”.  I get close.  Maybe even hit that line a few times in my moments alone with God when He just overwhelms me.  But a verse of Scripture I read in the last week has enlarged the battlefield for me.

I rotate through various translations of the Bible for each year or planned reading.  I do this for personal time in the Bible, not study.  Right now I am using The Message.  The Message translates Genesis 17:1b: “…I am the Strong God, live entirely before Me, live to the hilt…”  The last phrase hammers me.  Have I been living to the hilt?  Our God is a strong God and we are to live to the hilt in Him.  I think I all to often live my Christian life like a runner – holding back for the final sprint.  In these simple words I hear God calling me – you – to more.  Living to the hilt is not about a health and wealth gospel.  Living to the hilt is not about using God as my Geni in a bottle.  Living to the hilt is about living in all God has intended and planned for me as the Strong God.  It is living entirely – not restrictedly (did I invent a word?) before Him.

So, now I am in training.  I’m training with Katie in the hopes of taking on another race.  And, I’m in training to know what it is to live to the hilt in a life of awesome grace.  Hope to see you at the starting line.

JT

People are waiting….

Last week we went to the Billy Graham Library.  I have been before, but you can’t take it all in with one visit.  We also wanted to see the Christmas lights, the live nativity, and the caroling groups outside.  It was absolutely wonderful (and free).  As you might expect – it was busy.  We were in line for over an hour to go through the library.  And while I wanted the line to move faster, the slow moving line caused me to notice a number of things I would have overlooked.

When you enter the Library it is built like a barn with exposed beams.  On each beam there is a verse of Scripture.  There is only so much you can do standing in line – so you end up looking at these beams over and over again.  It started to hammer into me the message that was intended.  It made me realize the great value in having key verses or phrases of verses printed in high visibility areas in the church.  The impact those words can make when seen repeatedly should not be underestimated.  But far too many churches have blank – institutional looking facilities.  I believe we need to use all of the senses God has given to us to get the message across!

There was another sign, more like one of those cloth banners hung on a pole in the lobby.  This one stopped me in my tracks – so much so I copied the phrase into my phone.  I didn’t want to forget what it said and how God uses it in me.  The sign simply read “People online are waiting to meet Jesus”.  The truth of this statement called to me.  What am I doing about it?  What is our church doing, or other churches?  Maybe you have a Facebook presence, or a webpage.  It is a start, but is that enough?  I am wondering about the benefit of live chat rooms.  I’m not sure how any of this should look, but I think it is worth some serious brainstorming and implementation.  To use the words of Jesus it is a “field ripe for harvest.”  (Send me your ideas)

I’m not usually a patient man with long lines.  Usually I will just say “forget it” and move on to something else.  But the long line had a benefit I could not foresee.  After waiting an hour, and then another hour to an hour and a half to get through all the Library, we went back outside to see the live nativity (which was great – they even had a live Camel!) and take in the carolers.  Evidently, various churches provided carolers throughout the week.  When we came outside,  I was immediately drawn to the music.  It was an all female black Choir (with the exception of a small boy getting into the music) and they were fantastic.  I love the music style and it was such a blessing.  Had the line moved any faster – it would have been a different group.  God had this church choir in mind for us!

Our waiting led to great blessings in so many ways.  Waiting spoke Scripture into my spirit.  Waiting impressed the value of Scripture prominently posted in the local church.  Waiting afforded me the blessing of some great music.  Waiting revealed to me people are waiting online to meet Jesus!

Sometimes waiting is worth it!

JT

When “Darkness Reigns”

Complete darkness is rare.  If you go outside at night there are outside lights on, or the stars are shining.  Living outside of town, you see the glow of the lights from town in the sky.  Inside, is the same.  Even with all the lights off, you have the glow from digital clocks, electronic devices, etc.  But there are occasions when it is really dark.  More than once I thought I could get from the bedroom to the kitchen without turning a light on – only to run into something.  Truth is I was going from memory not sight.

 

I love light.  So much more can be accomplished in the light.  It’s wonderful, to simply flip a switch, the  light comes on and you can see.  We have camped over the years.  One of the essentials in our camping gear is the ability to have light once it gets dark.  Because light is so readily accessible we think all of life, including our spiritual lives, should work like our home.  Just flip the right switch, be sure you pay your power bill, and you will have light.  But sometimes there is no switch to flip when it comes to the light of God’s guidance.  There are no “bills” to pay in order to curry God’s favor.

 

In short, there are times “when darkness reigns.”  There are times we don’t know where to go, where we are, or what we are to do next!.  There are times when the darkness extends to the silence of God.  We are lost in the dark and we are not getting any clear direction from God.

 

I know, some will protest, God always wants His will known.  He always speaks to His children.  My response to these ideas is – “eventually”.  The title of this entry is a quote from Jesus.  Jesus was about to be arrested.  His response is “This is your hour, when darkness reigns.”  Even Jesus went through a time when “darkness reigned”.  He went through a time where He did not like what was happening to him.  Of greater significance is that He, the Son of God, went through a time where His Father was silent.  Remember His words on the cross, “my God my God why have you forsaken me?”  In these moments Jesus was in the dark – but He kept walking, kept doing the last thing His Father told Him to do – until the lights came on again (the resurrection).

 

We will face dark times.  The dark is the time for predators.  It is a time when we are under attack and we don’t understand.  It is a time when things – everything seems to be going wrong.  It is a time when we don’t know what to do next.  And the most frustrating of all, God seems to be silent.

 

I don’t like the darkness, but I have been there more than once.  It can last anywhere from moments to weeks.  What do we do?  What do we do when we are in the dark about a job, problem relationships, the next step to take in our lives, deteriorating health, or the unknown for someone close to us?

 

Take a page from the life of Jesus.  Keep moving in the direction God led you before the lights went out.  Keep believing God is there.  Hold on to the words of the Psalmist “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me.”   Keeping praying, and wait – wait for the dawn.  It will come, as sure as the resurrection.

 

I know.  I have been in the dark, more than I sometimes would like.  Sadly, the place of darkness has been my own fault on occasion.  Darkness has also come to my life on it’s own terms – often at the worst possible time. Leaders don’t like to admit “darkness reigns.”  People are looking for direction, and it is not God’s timing yet.  I’m operating in the dark.  So, I smile and they have to wait – until God turns the light on.

 

The time when darkness reigns is a dangerous time.  The predator of our soul seeks to take full advantage of such times.  It is a time we can easily go the wrong way.  But it is also a time God can use to solidify our faith in Him.  To be blunt, it is easy to follow the Lord in faith when His leading is clear.  When He is silent our trust is tested.  While I still don’t like the “darkness reigns” periods of my life,  I must acknowledge His voice and direction are all the sweeter when the light goes back on.  Even in the darkness of the valley He is still there.  In the darkness I learn in real life terms to live by faith and not by sight.

 

So, if you are going through one of the times “when darkness reigns”,  keep moving and know the light is coming.

 

Letting my eyes adjust to the darkness,

JT

The Move

Yes, I am aware it has been a long time since my last post.  My wife, finally tried to guilt me into writing.  Her tactic?  “Why have a blog if you are not going to write?!”  It almost worked – but the truth is – I was ready to write.

Since my last post things have changed dramatically.  God took me on a roller coaster of a journey that has led us to move from New Hampshire to South Carolina!  At the time, I didn’t see it coming.  Along the way I kept giving the church in SC enough reason to not call me back – but they did.  And along the way, God changed our hearts.  When I think through all the things that happened for us to now be here – I marvel at the greatness of our God.

When the decision was made -  it put our lives into hyper-overdrive.  In three months time, I had to: 1) discern what I needed to do to prepare my NH Church family for God’s next step for them, 2) We had to begin packing, 3) Make moving arrangements (since we were moving ourselves), 4) Create an initial preaching/Teaching plan for the church in SC, and 5) finish my cedar strip boat building project to a point where it could be moved.  The largest drain ended up being getting the boat ready to move.

Ostensibly, we moved in one of the hottest summers here in SC.  I knew what to expect, having lived in North Carolina.  And, I expected the first summer would be difficult.  I have only overdone it in the heat a few times.

While we have only been here a little over two months, God is making it clear this is where I am supposed to be.  I must admit, it is still a transition.  I am burdened at times for my former church family in NH.  Will they move forward?  Will the people remember that love and unity must take precedence over any agenda or ministry idea – especially in the absence of a pastor?  By faith, I trust God will guide the church – “and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”

I have come to love and appreciate our new church family.  I have found God speaking clearly to me, and I trust – through me.

JT

Fillets & Souls…

I am building a boat – with my daughter (when she can be here).  Every step in the process stretches me.  It is all new to me.  I’ve learned that with patience and plenty of time to be sure I understand – it can be tackled.

Tonight was another one of those tasks.  I had attached a keel to the bottom of the boat the day before.  Now it needs a fillet.  No, not as in “O – Fish”.  It is fillet, pronouncing the last “t”.  It is a putty – in this case a hand mixed epoxy that is thickened.  This putty is placed along each side of the keel where it joins the bottom of the boat.  The purpose of the putty is to create a smooth curve from the hull to the keel so it both seals it and allows the fiberglass to lay properly over the keel.  (A sharp 90 degree angle would create an air pocket because the fiberglass cloth can not follow that steep an angle.

I found applying the putty to be extremely messy.  Since the keel was 14 feet long I had plenty of time to perfect my skills.  Along the way I discovered ways to make the finished product look great – but I never figured out a neat way to get the putty on.  I had to settle for clean up after it was in place.

When I went out to put the fillet on the boat I was thinking an hour, maybe an hour and a half.  Hah!  Some two and a half hours later the task was done.

I was thinking about all this while working on the boat.  Souls are like fillets.  They are extremely messy to deal with – but necessary and worth it.  I was glad – thankful for God’s persistence in working on my soul – in spite of how messy it is at times.  I was thankful He keeps working on me because He sees it is as necessary and He sees the end result.  It made me think of Philippians 1:6 – “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.”

I also thought of my relationship to other souls – people.  Yes, the souls of others can be messy too.  There were moments while working on the fillet on the boat when I didn’t want to do it – moments when it was just too messy.  If there was a neater way to do this it would be more enjoyable!  It is the end result that kept me going.  I knew what that little thing called a fillet – something most people will never see – meant to completing that boat so it will be water worthy and run true.  The people I come across each day can be messy.  If I am to make a difference in their lives, if I am to be a true friend, if I am to make disciples of others you have to join in the mess and keep the end result in mind.  It means keeping in mind that Philippians 1:6 is true for them too.  It means I must see myself as one of the tools in God’s shop for shaping the life of another into what He wants them to be.  And it means it will always take longer than I think it will.

JT

All in one line…

I have long believed, that as a pastor, people will not remember most of what I say.  People will remember phrases, one liners.  This is even true for me as the speaker.  I started a new series at church today.  One line still stands out to me and speaks to me.  Part of me wants to write more and expand on it.  But I will let the sentence speak for itself.  It is based on Luke 11:1-4.

“If you want to live like Jesus, you have to pray like Jesus.”

JT

All In Getting Ready…

We arrived yesterday to attend Katie’s (my youngest daughter) Senior Voice Recital.  Today we have had a full day finding and arranging everything for the recital and the refreshments to follow.  The task was more daunting than I first thought.  They seem to hide grocery stores around here.  We drove around and around to find a grocery store.  We first went to Costco, but they did not have the crucial things we needed for the finger sandwiches.  We asked for some directions to a nearby store and could not find one.  We even tried the GPS!  Finally we decide to head back toward the University because we knew there would be a grocery store there.  After driving around for almost an hour we picked up what we needed only to find out on the ride back that we were only two or three miles from the church.  (Trust me, St. David’s is the most confusing place to get around!)

I have been looking forward to Katie’s recital – a culmination of what God has been calling her to be and do.  It will be her avenue to fulfill the missionary call I remember her talking about when she was much younger.  But sometimes unexpected reminders hit you…

I’m waiting in Costco while Joy is looking over flowers.  I’m standing nearby watching, waiting, and giving my opinion when asked (Isn’t that what men are supposed to do in such cases?).  I glance at the display next to me.  The rack is full of little girl dresses… the type of dress Katie would have wanted when she was three or four – frills and bling.  My little girl is about to perform her Senior Voice Recital.  Come on God, don’t you know guys ARE NOT supposed to get emotional in stores!!!  I moved on quickly to the flowers and getting Joy out of there and on to the next thing – with a smile on my face.

Life is sweet…

JT

Boat Building – Tools – & Life

This summer Katie (my daughter) and I began building a boat.  It was, and is, a project that will stretch my abilities.  We are building a cedar strip Rangeley Lakes boat.  Katie has since gone back to college and I am trying to get some more done before the weather is too cold to work on it.

Along the way I have had to acquire and learn how to use various tools.  Making strips 3/4 of an inch wide and 1/4 of an inch thick forces you to become fairly proficient with some tools.  In the process I have learned to use a surface planer and a router table. What man doesn’t like using power tools?!

Part of the boat building process required the shaping of a “King plank”.  This is a 5/16 inch thick board that spans the length of the bottom of the boat.  Both ends are narrow – approximately 1 1/2 inches.  It is widest in the middle at roughly 3 1/2 inches.  The shaping process could not be done with power tools because the western red cedar tends to splinter.  The best method for shaping this plank was the block plane.

What really has surprised me is a tool I have come to really enjoy using.  The forms the boat is made on have to be shaped so the strips will lie flat across it as the boat curves.  The stem (front) must be shaped to accept the strips and the angle changes and becomes sharper as you near the bottom of the boat.  In addition, the Transom (back) must be shaped as well.  The block plane simply did not work for this task.  I tried a sure form, but it did not work all that well either.  The tool that worked best is the oldest tool I own.

The materials I am sourcing for the project recommended a number of tools.  One was a rasp.  While on vacation this summer I found one in an antique shop.  This antique tool works wonderfully at shaping wood.  In case you are not familiar with the tool it looks like a long file with a course and smoother side.  It takes a great deal of energy and patience, but the results that comes from this old tool are well worth it.

So often we want the new, the more “advanced” tool to get the job done.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love new technology, gadgets, ideas – but occasionally old school is better.  It has proved true in our boat building adventure… and I think it is also true in growing people in their faith.  So often, we want the latest idea or program.  We look for the “right” materials.  We offer “classes” to accomplish the goal in “X” number of weeks.  And, I find myself thinking about that rasp…

Instead of the high powered tools of mentoring/disciple making, I am ready to go “old school”.  Perhaps the best way to grow people spiritually is to target something very basic.  The most basic element of spiritual development is the ability to know, listen, and, follow the voice of the Spirit.  Frankly, what could be more important to pass on?

So, I plan on continuing to enjoy using the Rasp – in boat building, and in growing others in their faith.

JT

Of Adirondack Chairs & Life

Last summer we replaced our deck that had come down from heavy snows the previous winter.  I started thinking about chairs for the deck.  Adirondack chairs in particular.  I started doing a search on the internet for Adirondack chair plans.  I never knew there was such a variety of Adirondack Chairs.  I searched through pages and pages of chairs.  There were short stubby Adirondack chairs.  Others the arms were too narrow.  Many had the flat back variety which I did not like at all.  I just couldn’t seem to find one I liked.  After almost giving up, I found a site with the type of chair I wanted.  It was a sloping seat with the rounded high back in a fan shape.  Just what I was looking for – now I just have to get the plans and build them.

I wanted Joy to have some nice chairs for the deck instead of fold up chairs.  Adirondack chairs caught my attention.  This search brought back memories of when I was a kid.  My Uncle and Aunt lived next door to us.  They were really my Dad’s Aunt and Uncle, but we always called them Uncle Aldus and Aunt Ruth.  He was a finish carpenter by profession.  She played the piano in church.  I remember my Uncle always marching in the memorial Day parade as a Navy Veteran.  They lived in an old New England cape.  The house was neat and pretty basic.  They never had kids of their own so they enjoyed our coming by.  The house and garage was connected by a breezeway.  On the breezeway sat two gray Adirondack Chairs.  The chairs matched the color of the porch flooring on the breezeway.  Those chairs were my introduction to Adirondack chairs – in fact the only Adirondack chairs I knew of at the time.  On a summer day we would sit out there on those chairs with a cold drink in hand.  Many times it was a glass of lemonade, fresh made and always poured from a glass pitcher.  Even now, there is something warm about the memory.  Isn’t it interesting how an outdoor chair ties you to relationships and emotions.  It seems building and having those chairs will tie me to past relationships – good times, and the hopes of future relationships/good times.

All this research on Adirondack chairs turned my mind to making disciples (helping people follow Jesus).  Far too often we create a one size fits all plan for helping someone grow and follow Jesus.  This type of process loses people.  They don’t fit the program.  I think disciple making is more like an Adirondack chair.  There are all kinds of designs for this one chair.  The chair I like is about preference.  I like the curved back, sloping seat.  Others prefer a flat backed model.  Some like the fence look to the seat back and some like the clam shell look, or fanback style.  I have even seen Adirondack chairs where the seat and back were made from snow skis!  There are all kinds of people, personalities, learning styles, etc.  And our discipling of individuals need to allow for these preferences.  Discipling is like making an Adirondack chair.  You help someone follow Jesus by the style they are comfortable with, not your own preferences.  After all, they are the ones sitting in the chair!

So, I’m looking forward to a couple of Adirondack chairs on my deck of a specific style that suits me.  And I am looking forward to an Adirondack chair approach to help others become more like Jesus.  I want to help others find a style of chair they want to sit in – for life.

Looking forward to those chair,
JT

Getting Away From Shallow Church

I don’t want to settle or make excuses…. but we do sometimes.  Ever drive over the speed limit?  You know you should exercise but…  Case closed.  Sadly, we settle and make excuses in church ministry too.

Why does ministry often seem to lack the energy and power described in the gospels and the book of Acts?  At times there seems to be this huge disparity between the two.  The gospels and the book of Acts offer condensed versions of what God was doing at that time.  The very condensing of the “story” to highlight the key things God wanted to convey to us today means a great deal of ordinary, routine, everyday life was left out.  I can accept this as reality.  Ministry today includes the ordinary, routine, everyday life events – but it must also include the gospels and Acts as well.

Looking at this from another vista could reveal the difference is the presence of Christ.  In the Gospels, Jesus was visibly present.  This is different from today.  But He was not always present.  The same things took place when Jesus sent out the 72 and the twelve.   Lives changed without Jesus being there physically!  The book of Acts takes place without the visible presence of Jesus but the Spirit is powerfully at work.  Jesus is present in His people and working through them.  I suppose we might infer that many ministries today would continue to operate if the presence of Jesus left the church.  No one would notice.   Tragedy!  I wonder if there are degrees of this truth for the local church.  Degrees of marginalizing the Jesus of the gospels and Acts in the church of today, which in turn marginalizes the ministry of the church.

Earl Creps writes: “The American church relies so much on leadership skills and ministry methodologies that I wonder if dependence on God’s power doesn’t constitute the last option most of the time, producing an experience so shallow that confidence (or do I need to say faith?) in God’s abilities never reaches critical mass” (Off-Road Disciplines: Spiritual Adventures Of Missional Leaders).

Church ministry may be anemic because of a heavy dependence on the business and educational models of leadership.  Don’t misunderstand me.  There are things to glean from leadership principles, business, and education – but these can never replace the leading of the Spirit of God.  As far as I’m concerned I want to be a part of a church “reaching critical mass”.  I want people to get excited about coming to Christ as Savior because they have been a part of a group of believers living at critical mass.  Perhaps we have reached so few because we are not much different from a business or educational institution.  It is time to be the church of the living God – alive with His presence – alive with His power, and not just in word.  It is time to be a church with a deep channel of confidence in God’s abilities.

The Question is “How”?  A number of “steps” could be outlined, but this would rob each of us of the need to hear from God for ourselves what we need to do.  Therefore, let me offer the first step.   The rest will be up to you.  Ready?  Step 1 – Build your life, and the ministry of which you are a part, on things only God can do.  This will force you to rely on His power rather than leadership or methodologies.  You take it from here.

Oh, and let me know what God builds…

In over my head,
JT