Revitalize Your Church

Just an ugly old stump -- that's all it was -- and old stumps carry no hopes or dreams. Only maps and memory rings of thirsty days, hard toil, and weary longings embedded to the core. Just an ugly old stump -- a dwarfed reminder -- of what once was. . . and all that might have been. If only. If only. But old stumps carry no hopes or dreams -- Only scarred rememberings. . . of lightening strikes and howling wind, of squirrels and hammer heads, of children's summer play, All these now faded away To just an ugly old stump -- useless for humans, but to to sit to rest to think And hurried humans hardly take the time to do such things. Just an ugly old stump -- that's all it was -- and old stumps carry no hopes or dreams. Or do they? Look again. Could it be? A tiny sprout of green? What could this possibly mean? "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse" Isa. 11:1 "Hope springs eternal in the human breast. . ." Alexa...

Cardinal John Henry Newman, who will be canonized on October 13, wrote the beautiful and haunting hymn, "Lead Kindly Light" when he was kept far from home due to an unexpected illness and transportation issues. It has been a source of comfort to many, including soldiers in the trenches of World War 1, Betsy Ten Boom (Corrie's sister) in the Nazi concentration camp. and a group of 26 frightened miners who were trapped underground in the 1909 Stanley Pit disaster, where 168 men and boys died in an explosion of poisonous gas. Perhaps it will be a comfort to you in whatever darkness you may be facing.: Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th'encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home, Lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me. I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou Shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now Lead Thou me on! I loved the garish day, and, spite of fe...

A Holy Saturday poem by John Keble.  Be sure to read the first lines of the last stanza: AT length the worst is o’er, and Thou art laid Deep in thy darksome bed; All still and cold beneath you dreary stone Thy sacred form is gone; Around those lips where power and mercy hung, The dews of death have clung; The dull earth o’er Thee, and thy foes around, Thou sleep’st a silent corse, in funeral fetters wound. Sleep’st Thou indeed? or is thy spirit fled, At large among the dead? Whether in Eden bowers thy welcome voice Wake Abraham to rejoice, Or in some drearier scene thine eye controuls The thronging band of souls; That, as thy blood won earth, thine agony Might set the shadowy realm from sin and sorrow free. Where’er Thou roam’st, one happy soul, we know, Seen at thy side in woe, Waits on thy triumph—even as all the blest With him and thee shall rest. Each on his cross, by Thee we hang a while, Watching thy patient smile, Till we have...

All around us worlds are dying and new worlds are being born; all around us life is dying and life is being born.  The fruit ripens on the tree, the roots are silently at work in the darkness of the earth against a time when there shall be new lives, fresh blossoms, green fruit. Such is the growing edge!  It is the extra breath from the exhausted lung, the one more thing to try when all else has failed, the upward reach of life when weariness closes in upon all endeavor.  This is the basis of hope in moments of despair, the incentive to carry on when times are out of joint and men have lost their reason, the source of confidence when worlds crash and dreams whiten into ash.  The birth of a child — life’s most dramatic answer to death — this is the growing edge incarnate. Look well to the growing edge! —Howard Thurman

In her devotional,  Edges of His Ways (1932) ,  the great missionary, Amy Carmichael (1932).wrote the following based on: Psalm 68:13: Though ye have lien among the pots. . . . I think we sometimes feel as though we had. Perhaps we have been especially eager to press through and up into the clear air, and meet our Lord in the radiant, intimate way granted to others, and we do not seem to have been able to do so. The more we looked towards Him Whom our soul loveth, the more we saw His dazzling purity, the more we felt “among the pots”, sooty; like him who “would not lift up so much as his eyes unto Heaven”; like him who said, “Woe is Me! For I am undone . . . for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.” “Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.” It is the sun striking down upon the bird that gives that look of silver and gold. I have never seen it, on our doves and paddy-birds ...

While digging through my father's old files, I found some interesting clippings from The Wesleyan Methodist Magazine .  These articles, written over five decades ago by Dr. Oliver G. Wilson, struck a deep chord with me.  Although culture has changed considerably since that time, the essence and need of humanity remains the same.  We all need to belong, to be loved, and to be encouraged.  This is true for all people at all times, in every culture. One delightful article told of Dr. Wilson’s friend who, driving down the street, saw a mallard sitting on the sidewalk. The gentleman was intrigued by the unusual sight.  He stopped his vehicle, got out and approached the sitting duck.   Alarmed, the duck sprang to his feet and started running as fast as his little ducky legs could carry him.  The man decided to follow the worried bird. Anxiously looking back over his shoulder, the terrified mallard ran faster, and the man sped up behind him. ...

Black and white winter tends to chill us to the bone.  Summer joys lie torpid in thick ice. Hopes hybernating. Frozen in distant memory banks, spring flowers lie far beneath. One wonders whether May will show her lovely face again. But she will ! She will! She always does! Every spring,  she springs,  and sings,  and brings new life. The multi-colored days,  pinioned by the bitter greys,  will soon burst forth in light, Winter is only temporary.   Beneath the snow, flowers grow.

I was facing a difficult day. Many issues demanded my attention, my schedule was packed full of appointments, and my energy level was low. The needs around me seemed overwhelming, and the phone rang off the hook. Realizing that I had not yet had my quiet time with God, I decided to escape from the office for a few minutes and find a place for solitude. A long time ago, I learned that if my soul is not anchored, I’m not much good for anybody. I drove to a beautiful lake, and spent some time centering my mind on my Creator. It seemed as if my Heavenly Father was speaking his love, strength and peace to my heart. Then, I read Psalm 25:5, which states, “My hope is in you all day long.” All day long! Just think! God is with me all day long – every single moment of every single day. All day long, he offers his peace. All day long, I can rest in his grace. All day long, He demonstrates his love and faithfulness. All day long, I can depend on Him. He never goes out to lunch, never takes a bre...

Some people go through life looking down. Shuffling along the path, all they see is dirt. They look down their nose at others, are constantly "down" on themselves, and see only the negative side of every situation. They're "down" on new ideas and seem to bring everybody else down with them. Other people are in the habit of looking up! They see the sky with limitless opportunities. They believe the best of others, possess a high degree of confidence, and make the most of each day. They focus on what's right rather than what's wrong. The folks who go through life looking down are miserable. The ones who look up discover happiness in each day. What is the difference? Nothing but attitude! Our attitude towards life largely determines what we can accomplish. If you say "It can't be done", you won't do it. But if you say, "It CAN be done and I'm going to give it my best shot!", your chances of success increase greatly. Many year...

“Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf in springtime.” -- Martin Luther

This is an absolutely beautiful song: You Tube Video here (Lyrics by Andy Park, Vineyard Music) I will praise You Lord my God Even in my brokenness I will praise You Lord I will praise You Lord my God Even in my desperation I will praise You Lord And I can't understand All that You allow I just can't see the reason But my life is in Your hands And though I cannot see You I choose to trust You Even when my heart is torn I will praise (trust) You Lord Even when I feel deserted I will praise (trust) You Lord Even in my darkest valley I will praise (trust) You Lord And when my world is shattered and it seems all hope is gone Yet I will praise You Lord I will trust You Lord my God Even in my loneliness I will trust You Lord I will trust You Lord my God Even when I cannot hear You I will trust You Lord And I will not forget That You hung on a cross Lord You bled and died for me And if I have to suffer I know that You've been there And I know that You're here now

My dear friend, Ed Kleinhammer , a "Living Legend" who played trombone for the Chicago Symphany Orchestra, stopped by my office around Easter time a couple of years ago. He had a question for me. "Pastor, I am writing an article for the International Trombone Journal, and I'm focusing on Mahler's Symphony #2 -- Resurrection!" "Whenever I hear this beautiful masterpiece it feels like Easter, and a little foretaste of heaven.", he continued, "That's where I need your advice." "Do you think it would be appropriate to call Easter "a keyhole peek into heaven?" "You're FABULOUS, Ed! Yes! It's a keyhole peek into Heaven! I'm going to use that one on Easter Sunday!" experience the symphony here. and here -- the grand finale. Aufersteh'n, ja aufersteh'n Wirst du, Mein Staub, Nach kurzer Ruh'! Unsterblich Leben! Unsterblich Leben wird der dich rief dir geben! Rise again, yes, rise again, Will yo...

How Sad.

This sixth grader beats the buzzer in an awesome last second shot

Today is a brand new day – a delightful opportunity to begin again. I must not be held hostage by yesterday’s pain. If my heart remains open, and my spirit is right, yesterday’s pain becomes today’s gain. I will grow into a better person through the sufferings. Today is a brand new day – and it needs to stand on it’s own. I will not allow myself to be seduced by yesterday’s success, nor frustrated by yesterday’s failures. I shall fulfill my duty this day, and never look backwards for an excuse. Today is a brand new day – and it’s the only one I have. I refuse to let tomorrow’s concerns steal today’s joy. If tomorrow is going to be bad – why should it destroy the day I have? That would mean two bad days instead of just one. I want to make the best of what has been given to me. Today is a brand new day – a gift from God for the investment of life. It is not to be squandered by worry or regret. Consider the moments. Moments are the stuff life is made of. They march by us briskly in an unc...

Josh Hamilton -- I'm Proof That Hope is Never Lost Hamilton Uses Growing Platform to Tell Story