In a tizzy… and for good reason!

The church of Christ blogging world is stirred up by the latest Christian Chronicle report on our declining numbers. My friend Danny Dodd wants to know if we are alarmed about it. Another good friend, John Dobbs, offers his two cents on the subject.

And it is all good stuff that has stimulated much discussion that is most likely long over due.

Rather than rehash that, I wonder what you think makes us relevant. Certainly I believe the gospel is always culturally relevant and yet at the same time I think we sometimes try to package it in ways that are not.

Are we culturally relevant? Do we still have a message to share? Is there really good news to tell?

Hopefully you came up with the same answer. Yes, we have a relevant message that is good news to the lost and dying–good news to those who are lonely and hurting–good news to those being destroyed by guilt–good news to those whose families are falling apart–good news!

God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! John 3:16-17 CEV

What will you do with the Good News?

I have a suggestion… why not build a relationship with someone who needs Jesus, let them see Him in you, and tell them the old, old story?

Les, Jr.

Is There Hope for Every Man?

There is no telling about musical tastes. I don’t care about country but I am drawn heavily to the classic, heavy, hard, metal rock of my youth. And it’s not just of my youth anymore. The music I am most fond of has taken over marketing. Did you catch the music played on most NFL games this year? Ac/Dc.  Wal-Mart’s current ad leading up to the Super Bowl features Queen’s classic We Will Rock You!

Long live rock n’ roll… except, as much as there is music and bands that draw me, I have made the conscious decision to remove most of that from my life.

And what I have replaced it with is the sounds and bands and singers of Contemporary Christian. Over the years I have listened here and there and had a favorite group or song or two. Anybody remember the Coloring Song by Petra? We’ll save that for another day…

At any rate, the following lyrics by Mark Hall, Bernie Herms, and Nichole Nordeman as recorded by Casting Crowns ask some age old questions…

I’m the man with all I’ve wanted all the toys and playing games. I am the one who pours your coffee corner booth each Saturday.

I am your daughter’s favorite teacher. I’m the leader of the band. I sit behind you in the bleachers I am Every Man.

I’m the coach of every winning team and still a loser in my mind. I am the soldier in the airport facing giants one more time.

I am the woman shamed and haunted by the cry of unborn life. I am every broken man nervous child, lonely wife.

Is there hope for every man, a solid place where we can stand in this dry and weary land? Is there hope for every man?

Is there love that never dies is there peace in troubled times? Someone help me understand is there hope for every man?

It seems there’s just so many roads to travel. It’s hard to tell where they will lead. My life is scarred, my dreams unraveled now I am scared to take the lead.

If I could find someone to follow who knows my pain and feels the way the uncertainty of my tomorrow the guilt and pain of yesterday.

Is there hope for every man? A solid place where we can stand in this dry and weary land? Is there hope for every man?

Is there love that never dies is there peace in troubled times? Someone help me understand is there hope for every man?

The rest of the song is the resounding answer of yes…Hope, love, and peace is available for every man—for everyone.

So what do we do with this song? If you are a Christian and you don’t know hope, love, and peace, you need to be asking yourself some hard questions that all start with why…

For the rest of us, we need to start sharing the reason for the hope, love, and peace within us… countless numbers of people far closer to you than you might think are asking is there hope for every man?

My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people. Eph 1:18 (CEV)

Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, he has given us new life and a hope that lives on. 1 Peter 1:3 (CEV)

May God give you hope, love, and peace—and the joy to share it!

Les, Jr.

Ancient Skies

I love old places.

I love those plots of ground that are infused with history–places where the past is a living presence that still finds a way to burrow under your consciousness.

Growing up I was blessed to have lived in two civil war battle towns, Manassas and Vicksburg. I have spent many many days walking the hills and bluffs of what I call sacred ground–places fought for and bled upon.

During some specialized Navy training in Virginia some years ago, I took the opportunity to become familiar with the historic battlefield we call Yorktown. It was a place of shivers and sounds still echoing  from the sacred soil and the ancient skies that saw it all.

Ancient skies…

Michael Gungor sings a haunting song about God riding the ancient skies and the words have captivated me. Much like the old places and sacred ground that are enfused with history, our God, my God is a rider of the ancient skies. He has seen it all.

Old places and sacred ground fill me with a sense of awe.

But no awe is greater than the awe deserved by the One who rides the ancient skies.

“You have never changed. Your love is endless and Your mercy has remained.
Through all the ages You shine so bright. Nothing can compare.
You made the heavens and Your glory fills the air.
Through all the ages You ride the ancient skies.”

“Now we stand amazed, And now we sing the word
They sang in ancient days. A single word that’s overflowing
Endless praise: Hallelujah.”

“Hallelujah”

Hallelujah! May your life be filled with praise! May you come to know the rider of the ancient skies!

les, jr.