A Lasting Legacy

Merriam-Webster defines the word legacy as something that is transmitted by or received from ancestor or predecessor or from the past. I believe that a legacy can be positive or negative, depending on the effects that it has particularly on the groups or individuals that are closely touched by it.

When I think of someone who leaves a lasting legacy for the good of others, I need to look no further than my friend Christopher Joe Daniels.

Meet Me At The Gym

Just yesterday, I was rummaging through my gym bag and retrieved from it a color coded, laminated work shift schedule that Chris had given me earlier in the year. The life of a fireman involves long and changing shifts that I never could fully get a handle on, so I was constantly asking Chris what days he would be in the gym each week. To remedy my confusion, and to answer the question before I had to ask again, he graciously printed and laminated a copy of his shift schedule so that I would know if he would be in the gym that morning or not. I knew that on the days highlighted in black he would be there for certain. On the days highlighted in anything other than black it meant he was working an off shift, at another fire station, or sleeping, and chances were he would not be in the gym on those days. But there was also a chance that he would be, so I would look for him on those days as well. It was always refreshing when he was there on the days that he was necessarily not supposed to be there according to his schedule. The atmosphere was always different, in a positive way, when Chris was in the house.

Chris and I convened at the gym on most weekdays at 5:00am, or a few minutes on either side of that time, where he and I would make a valiant attempt at keeping our health at the highest level possible as we entered our forties. We had our workout regimen synchronized for the most part such that each one of us knew what body part the other was working that day. So we worked out together most of the time, one of us spotting while the other was lifting. We were both consistent and punctual with our gym attendance. We had to be if we did not want to hear trash talk from each other. If there was a day that I was lazy and slept in, I could most certainly expect a text sometime later that morning that read “You can’t get big lying in bed!” And of course, the same would apply to Chris if he skipped a gym day. He pushed me to lift more, run farther, and lose more weight than I ever thought I had it in me to achieve. He was a motivator and encourager in the greatest sense of the word to all of us “gym rats”.

We not only worked out together, but we also talked about the joys and difficulties of life. If he was having a bad time with something, he could share it with me. Likewise, if I was having a difficult time with something, Chris would always lend a listening ear and offer prayers or words of advice. I will never forget the music. Whatever wild and crazy music may be playing in the gym when we arrived each morning, he would plug in some contemporary Christian or Christian Rock that would permeate the entire room with a positive and encouraging message. He was unashamed and unapologetic about his faith and his love for God….and others around him noticed and respected that.

I will continue to cherish that laminated shift schedule that he gave me earlier this year. I will post it in my gym locker in memory of the days that I knew he would be there, and to remind me that I will see him again one day.

Round Of Golf For Two

Not only did we push and throw around the cold hard iron in the gym, but we also put to use the 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 irons on the links as well. Chris and I picked up and dusted off our old set of golf clubs sometime around the October 2014 time frame, played two or three rounds together, and immediately became hooked on the sport. We dropped more money than we probably should have into a better set of clubs, numerous greens fees, and various golf attire and gadgets here and there. We were determined to make sure we had the “look” of the golf legends whether we could actually play well or not. We would crack golf jokes and share the latest golf “gadget” in the gym in the mornings. After all, where else would we practice our golf swings to perfection other than in the gym? Chris even incorporated golf swings into our morning post workout routines at times.

Neither of us would be considered good golfers by any stretch of the imagination, but golfing afforded us the opportunity to get out into God’s beautiful creation, talk about life, get to know each other even more, and have a good laugh or two at each other’s expense as we attempted to look and play the part of PGA pros while trying to hit that little round ball down the fairway. We rejoiced at the times when we played a good round, and vowed we would give up golfing forever after a bad round. We spent far more time with the squirrels in the roughs than we did in the open fairways, that’s for sure.

We never did give it up though, because we enjoyed it. Every chance we got we enjoyed getting out of the daily grind and routine of life into the open air on the golf course. Rain or shine, warm or cold, we enjoyed the time of fellowship with each other. We enjoyed the challenge of trying to get better together. Neither of us had the proper stance or swing, but we tried our best to teach each other new techniques we had learned and ultimately help each other along toward a better game as we figured things out together.

We had fun. We shared stories and laughs. We shared life together. We made memories that I will never forget. From now on, every time I drive one straight down the fairway, or if I wind up with the squirrels deep in the rough, I will always remember the back and forth banter that we shared while playing the crazy game of golf.

My First 5K

He had been asking me to sign up for several months prior to the race. The 2012 Pine Level Fire Department Remembrance 5K was being held in May of that same year, and Chris wanted me there. He had completed a few 5K’s already, but he needed another motivational project, and I was it. With great reluctance, I signed up, showed up, and ran the race that day. I ran...not walked, but ran...the entire 3.1 miles of that race. I had some music in my ear to keep me pumped up and motivated, but the drive of music wore off as my shins began to throb. Some people say that they have an inner voice that says don’t give up, but I had something even better than that. I had a friend literally beside me the entire distance saying “don’t give up” and “you can do this”. Not once did he run ahead of me once, not once did he lag behind me, but he ran right beside me for the entire race. As a matter of fact, we sprinted the last quarter mile side by side and crossed the finish line together. If it were not for Chris, I would have never signed up for that race, and certainly would have never finished my first 5K.

As of today, I have done at least 12 of them, several of them with Chris. I will do more in the future, but I will never run another one without remembering him being by my side, cheering me on to the finish line, and encouraging me every step of the way.

A Lasting Legacy

Encourager. Motivator. Servant. Mentor. Christian. A man of the highest character and integrity.

These are just a few of the immediate words that come to mind when I am asked to describe the Chris Daniels that I knew and appreciated. These characteristics that he displayed openly, intentionally, and consistently each day helped to build his legacy. Many of us had the honor and privilege of befriending this man who was not only a brave and selfless servant of his community, but also a provider for his family, and an active supporter of his friends and church as well. He was an honest man that would keep his promises and do anything for anyone in need...with a smile on his face. He was well liked and highly spoken of and respected by so many in the surrounding communities. He was a motivator and encourager, as well as a faithful father, husband, and friend.

We are all shocked and deeply saddened that he was taken from us far too soon. We will probably never understand the whys and what ifs of a tragedy such as this. The truth of the matter is that it is probably not meant to be understood this side of heaven. But I believe with all my heart that Chris Daniels is rejoicing with the angels today in a much better place than we can even begin to imagine. He is in heaven and has received the reward of eternal life that he longed for, and believed with all of his being that he would see one day.

And because I knew him in this way, I also like to envision him looking down from heaven upon all of us who were blessed to have known him, with that contagious smile on his face, as he encourages us to finish life’s race well, and to cross our finish line even when we feel as if we can’t take one more step.

Chris set an amazing example for those of us who remain. He forged a legacy that will carry through the many generations to come. We would do well to take note of his legacy, and fashion our own in the spirit of his memory.

When my days on earth are complete, my hope and prayer is that I am able to leave behind for others the godly example that was left for the world by Christopher Joe Daniels.

May you rest in eternal peace my dear friend and brother in Christ.

Your legacy lives on.

Moments to Memories

“Boy you sure do take a lot of pictures!”

A friend of mine said this to me a couple of months back as I had stopped briefly on my bike ride along the Neuse River greenway trail to take photos of a field of daisies in full bloom. The sea of yellow against a blue sky background was more than I could pass up, so I had to stop and snap a few photos.  Who knows, I may never get to live in that moment again, so why not capture it so that I can look back later and remember?

Flashback to the 1970’s.

When I was a kid, my mom and dad sported the good old fashioned Polaroid instant camera....You know, the ones that produced “instant” photographs. Photos that were “the kind you gotta shake” (from the words of Miranda Lambert’s song “Automatic”, for anyone who didn’t catch that) I recall my mom, my brother, and me being the subject of the vast majority of those polaroid photographs, since Dad was always the one behind the camera taking most of the pictures. I thought it was so cool to watch and wait as the photos of our family slowly appeared on the square paper as the picture developed. They populated several photo albums over our growing up years with these family gems.

Fast forward to today.

At last count, my immediate family has fifteen 300 page picture albums on a shelf in our home, each one full from cover to cover with photos (the “glossy paper” kind of photos), each one telling part of the story on the timeline of our life thus far. The 15^th album was, for the most part, the last of an "era" so to speak in our household as we migrated from “printed photos” to “paperless” digital media. To date, in addition to all of the aforementioned photo albums, we have also amassed several gigabytes of digital photographs that continue to chronicle our family’s most memorable moments.

There is no doubt that the art (or hobby if you choose to refer to it as such) of photography has dramatically changed over the last 20 years or so. The technology has become far more sophisticated, while at the same time becoming more and more affordable for the consumer.  My family has graduated from the 35mm film camera that we used when my wife and I were first married, to the low end digital camera that we were able to get when my son was first born, to several improved, yet affordable, iterations of digital models as the years have progressed. It was just a couple of years ago that my lovely and caring wife braved the Black Friday line at one store for over half the night to snag an awesome deal on a higher end digital SLR camera. I must say, that camera takes some really sweet pictures!

One thing is for certain. Regardless of the year or the prevailing technology at the time, there has always been a well used camera present in the Brown household.

So what is the point of all this? Is this a poor attempt at providing the readers with a history lesson on the evolution of modern photography?

Not exactly. Stay with me for a few more minutes and I will explain.

Cameras are a must have in our family. As a matter of fact, I would go so far as to say that each type of camera that our family has owned throughout the years has been absolutely invaluable, regardless of the price tag at the time of purchase.

Why? Because cameras produce photos. Photos capture memories. And memories are priceless.

Our adventures as newlyweds. The birth of our children. Family vacations to the beach. Birthday parties and anniversaries. The excitement of Christmas morning. Performances at school and church. Softball, soccer, t-ball, and basketball games. All of these occasions, and many, many more, have found their way into the viewfinders of our cameras. No matter what type of camera we had at the time, the end result was always the same. The memory of that moment was successfully memorialized and frozen in time….in the form of a photograph.

I have noticed something sobering the older I get. Although the second hand on the clock has moved at the same speed for decades, it seems as if time is speeding by faster than ever before now, faster than my mind can comprehend really. Days become weeks. Weeks become months. Months become years. Before we know it, another year is behind us and in the history books.

At the time of this writing, I have been married to my wife and best friend for twenty years. It seems like only yesterday that we were on our first date together at the Golden Corral, both of us too nervous to eat anything. I distinctly recall nearly every detail of that day on August 27, 1994 when my wife and I said “I do” and waved to the wedding guests as we rode off as newlyweds in that antique red car, ready to start a life of our own. Cameras were flashing everywhere…documenting those priceless moments.

Then along came the kids. I can hardly wrap my brain around the fact that my daughter is twelve years old and in the seventh grade, and my son is eighteen years old and a senior in high school. It seems like only yesterday that I was holding both of them in my arms mere minutes after they made their grand entrance into this world. Preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, and all the memorable activities that go along with these milestones are already in the rear view mirror of life. We were poised with camera in hand…documenting those priceless moments.

I know that it sounds cliché, but time truly does fly by, especially when you are having fun and when you are writing life’s story via little moments like these. They are once in a lifetime moments that you will never experience again. Moments that make you laugh, cry, or smile because they happened, and because you were there to experience them in their fullness. I am so grateful when I stop and take the time to reminisce about the moments that God has allowed me to experience thus far with the ones that I love more than life itself. No amount of money can buy those memories, or bring them back, in the event that I had to miss out on them.

I would encourage you to soak up every one of those precious moments that you possibly can as life speeds by. Don’t let them slip away because you are “just too busy” or because other things suddenly become the “priority”. Stay involved and engaged with those that you love. Do those little things that will translate into wonderful stories that can be looked back on when you are old and gray, and passed on to future generations after you. Time goes by so quickly and life is very short, so make as many memories as you can.

There is a song by Kenny Chesney, one of my favorite country artists, entitled “Don’t Blink”. Many of you are very familiar with it. I really like the entire song, but I particularly appreciate the words of the chorus:

Don't blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your better half
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think
So don't blink

Take the time today to make absolutely certain that those little moments become memories that you and those after you will never forget.

And by all means…be sure to take lots of pictures along the way!

The Family Guy

“You are such a family man!” 

(Not to be confused with the foolishness that is the television series, The Family Guy)

I was actually bestowed with that dubious distinction by a friend of mine a few weeks ago. I must admit, I did not see it coming, and I was really not sure how to take it first. Was it a friendly jab or a true compliment? Fortunately for me, it was intended as a compliment and I counted it an honor to bear such a title.

As I thought about that label for a while, I began to consider the state of the modern family.

Families today seem to go through things that the “Leave It to Beaver” families decades ago never could have imagined. Marital disharmony, teen drug use, teen pregnancy, and rebellion are just a few that come to mind. Society exerts such an influence, and often a negative one at that, that trickles down and wreaks havoc in the family unit. With the constant barrage of attacks from groups and organizations that seemingly seek to destroy the family unit, it is important, perhaps now more than ever, to guard with all that we have in us the sanctity and unity of the traditional family.

For those that would dismiss the importance of the family unit and say that troubles are not there, take a few moments to consider the following statistics from  “Father Facts,” Fourth Edition (2002)

• Fifty to 65% of first marriages end within the first 15 years.
• 24 million children in the United States live without their biological father.
• In 1970, fewer than 400,000 homes in the United States had children being raised by single fathers. By 2000, that number had risen to 2 million.
• Over 3 million children in the United States live with an unmarried parent and his/her partner.
• 63% of teen suicides come from fatherless homes
• About 40 % of children who do not live with their biological father have not seen him during the past 12 months; more than half of them have never been in his home and 26% of those fathers live in a different sate than their children.
• In 1960, only 9% of children in the United States lived with single parents. By 1995 that figure rose to 27%.
• Ninety percent of Americans believe children should live in the same home with their mother and father.
• In 1990, almost 5 million children lived in neighborhoods in which single mothers were head of household in more than half of all families in those neighborhoods, 80% of those children were African Americans.
• Nationally, over 19.2 million children live with single parents.  About 3 million live with single fathers while over 16 million live with single mothers.
• Unmarried parents accounted for over 30% of children born in 2000.
• In 1996, over 9 million children under 18 years old who were born out of wedlock did not have a father who was legally identified.
• In 1970, there were about 4 million divorced Americans. By 1998, the figure rose to over 19 million.
• About 60% of couples who divorce have at least one child.
• Studies on families with a great deal of conflict suggest that children raised in those families do better if their parents stay together than if they divorced.
• The fathers of over 1 million children in the United States are in prison.
• About 40 % of children who do not live with their biological father have not seen him during the past 12 months
• 90% of all runaways and homeless children are from fatherless homes
• Even in high crime neighborhoods, 90% of children from stable 2 parent homes where the Father is involved do not become delinquents
• 85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes
• Children with Fathers who are involved are 40% less likely to repeat a grade in school
• 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes 
•  Approximately 1,500 teenagers will attempt suicide in the next twenty four hours.

Such a sad and unfortunate state of affairs we find the family in today.

These statistics (though not all of them are current) do not reflect every situation, but they are a good indicator of the health and vitality of the modern family. These problems cross racial and social bounds. Wealth does not provide immunity. Attending church does not guarantee protection. No wonder the family unit is crumbling.

AWOL Fathers

It has been said that a community or a church is a direct reflection of its families, and a family is a reflection of its father. The role of the father in the home setting has the potential capacity to affect, for better or worse, every other institution in society.

The involvement of fathers in their children’s lives is crucial to the well-being of a child. It is not the job of the church, it is not the job of the school, and it is not the job of the caregiver to instill values into our kids. It all begins with the father.

MIA Mothers

There is an old cliché that says there is nothing on earth like a mother’s love. This is quite possibly truer than you might ever imagine. The presence and actions of a mother in the lives of her children is absolutely essential. The nurturing and training role of the mother is vital to the well-being and growth of a child.

I am not saying that the statistics above reflect the condition and the outcome in all broken homes, but they are a sobering indicator of what has been found to be true in many. Although the statistics above are hard to swallow, this is where we are with the modern family of today. The two-parent home is such a vital need in the society we are in today. Values and morals must come from both the father and the mother.

Single Parents

And let me say this (because it would be an absolute shame to fail to bring out this point).God bless the single mothers and fathers who make their house a home for their precious children, even in the midst of trying times and circumstances. Keeping a home together as a single parent is nothing short of a God-given ability that no one living in a two parent home structure can ever truly understand or fully appreciate. Suffice it to say that the love and dedication required in these situations is nothing short of inspiring and amazing.

The Church Is Not the Solution

Not to worry because the church can “fix” all of these problems in the family, right?

Not so fast.

Far too many people are doing so much “busy work” in churches today, that all of these well intentioned “good deeds” are occurring at the costly expense of their precious families. Husband and wives, moms and dads, are so busy ministering to others, that they forget that they are first and foremost responsible for the spiritual nourishment and well-being of their own family. Family time is often overshadowed by “church activities” and “ministry”.

How quickly people, even Christians, seem to forget that God instituted the family unit before He ever instituted the church. In fact, without a strong and grounded family unit, there would be no church to “go into all the world”.

Quality time with family is a rare thing in the busy world in which we live. There are so many other “important things” that take the place.

Family Before Church? No Way! Say It Ain’t So!

This is the point where I may step on a few toes and ruffle the feathers of popular religious philosophy. But that’s OK. The truth hurts sometimes and I have scripture as the basis for truth. (After all, bruised theology will most certainly heal with time and prayer!)

It begins at home, friends. God’s order of operations is as follows:

1. God 
2. Family 
3.  Church

Not my idea, not some great preacher or evangelist’s idea, but it is God’s design. 

"If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?” (I Tim. 3:5) So based on this scripture, I believe it is safe to say that the true effectiveness of ministry in the church is somewhat directly proportional to the ability of a man or woman to manage their own household. God is a God of order. Unbridled chaos in the home can’t result in fruitful ministry.

Three verses later, the hip waders come out. “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Tim. 3:8) We have a scriptural obligation to provide for those of our household. Our society is bloated with people that can work, that choose not to. This is an injustice that I believe breaks the heart of God. In truth, the Bible says that those that can work but refuse to should not eat another morsel of food. (Refer to 2 Thess. 3:10 and it this will become crystal clear)

Aren’t Our Families Worth It?

Morals and values are the responsibility of the parents, and the instilling of these must begin at home, not in the Sunday School, Children’s Church, or in the sanctuary on Sunday morning. These forums should serve to reinforce the foundations that have already been laid at home.

Lee Iacocca, American businessman and engineer of the Ford Mustang, put it perfectly when he said, "No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?"

 

Well put, Mr. Iacocca. 

Would that our greatest earthly accomplishment be the investment of love, prayer, time, and energy into our precious families that would last into eternity.

Left Turn Only

Left turns. What a hassle!

When driving a car, it is so much easier to make a right turn than it is a left one. Even if the stoplight is red, we can legally turn right (in most places) as long as the traffic in our intended lane is clear. Not a great deal of thought or decisiveness is required for a right turn really. When the coast is clear, you just turn right and you are on your merry way.

Oh, but a left turn! A left turn requires a bit of patience. The left turn requires more attention and carefulness. The left turn requires us to have a keen awareness…to look to our left, right, and sometimes in front of us before making our move. Left turns can make your head spin, figuratively speaking of course. 

My son Caleb has just recently received his driving permit, and I must confess I have been somewhat nervous about our new driver in the home. He is doing very well as a beginner I am happy to say, and my new favorite song as a result of being a passenger to a teenager is “Jesus Take the Wheel”. (That’s a little “teen driver humor” for all you parents out there that know exactly what I am talking about!)

With Caleb starting to drive now, I must say that I do get nervous about him making those intimidating left turns. The left turns require a heightened sense of anticipation and judgment. First, you have to get the right timing to get into that left turning lane on a 4-lane highway, sometimes carefully crossing a couple of lanes to get there. When you do get into the turning lane, knowing when to “squeeze the lemon” and push through that left turn yellow light when the traffic flow is uncertain can be a challenge, especially for the beginning motorist. To top it all off, the oncoming traffic can be turning right while you are turning left (ultimately placing them into your lane), turning left (placing them close to your turning path) or coming straight (for which you have to wait until they have passed before turning). Left turns can be downright nerve-wracking. But, as a young motorist, I have to allow Caleb into those “left turn” situations, as a learning experience.

Think about it for a second. If we take right turns only every time that we drive, in theory we end up going in a “square circle”, never going anywhere. You’d see the same scenery over and over. You would memorize every landmark, road sign, and road kill (sorry…bad visual there) along the way.  In fact, you would make no forward progress at all. What a boring journey it would be!

So what could be so important about a discussion of right and left turns? What's the big deal? Well, sometimes for convenience sake, we rely mostly on the “right turns” in life. We know our circle of family and friends and are comfortable in that comfort zone. I am certainly guilty, as are many of us. But in taking the easy and familiar route, we miss out on so many things that God has planned for us. The soul needing healing is often at the end of the left turn. That coworker that is dealing with the loss of a family member travels beside the road encountered just after that left turn. The individual longing for acceptance and friendship can often be found by refusing the right turn in favor of the left. The opportunities that we encounter are more often than not found along the path of greater resistance (left turns), when we step outside of our own little world and into another’s. 

Life’s “left turns” are not always convenient, comforting, or easy. It takes faith, and faith in a nutshell is stepping out into nothing and finding something there. God wants us to take the sometimes difficult left turns in life so that we don't miss out on His plan for us, opportunities that would never be available with a right turn. Many of Gods most rewarding opportunities along our life’s journey are not along the path of least resistance, but along the path of greatest sacrifice.

Don’t skip life’s left turns. God may have something big in store just around the bend!

Unfinished

“Dad, I finished my science project!”

I heard the excitement in my daughter's voice and saw the smile of satisfaction as she proudly told me that she had finished her school project one week earlier than the due date. She beamed with pride and contentment as she surveyed the fruit of her labor. The science of rocks and minerals put in project form a week before the completion deadline can be a daunting task for a 4th grader. How did she do? Read on.

Rinito! Acabodo! Fertif! (translated…Finished!)

Whatever the language, finality brings a feeling of accomplishment, and places a period at the end of a task. Finishing that last quarter mile of a first marathon. Finishing a college degree at 40 years of age. Cleaning out the sagging attic brought about by years of accumulation of “stuff”. Checking off the last item on the mile long to-do list. Finishing that last spoonful of ice cream. (Well, maybe this one is not really an accomplishment, but I like ice cream, and it seemed to fit here)

So what is the big deal about finishing?

I work in a manufacturing environment where we build assemblies for the United States Armed Services. There are often over 100 individual parts that make up some of our final assemblies. I have the unique vantage point of seeing the finished product in various stages of a pre-assembled state. These pre-assembled stages are messy, disorganized, and frankly, completely useless. But when all the individual pieces are put together as one, and the final assembly is cleaned, inspected, tested and packaged to go to the customer, we realize that the hard work that went into producing that finished product makes it all worth the effort. The result? A finished work that is presentable and fit for use by our heroes in uniform.

What does this concept have to do with the Christian walk? Much, it seems.

Upon doing some research, I discovered that the word “finish” (or in the form of “finished”) is used at least 52 times in the Bible. Given the frequency of use for this word, it would seem that God thought there was something to be said for completeness. The end product is important to God, but our journey to the finish line is equally important.

Let me be very clear. None of us have “arrived”. There is not a Christian on the planet that has reached the top rung of God’s ladder of righteousness and faithfulness. None of us can look into the mirror of our soul and see His perfect reflection. What we are now in Christ is certainly not what we can one day be in Him, or what He wants us to be in Him. We have yet to become the finished product. God is not done with his child. He is refining His willing vessels, piece by piece, hour by hour, and day by day. Refinement is not always comfortable, convenient, or painless, but it is necessary for each of us walking the journey of faith. We are a work in progress. Even better, we are HIS work in progress.

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” Ephesians 2:10, NIV

When my daughter Emily was working on her project, she glued some pictures in the wrong place and had to remove and replace them. She misspelled a word or two here and there and had to re-write them. She had to erase some lines that she had drawn that had not been carefully planned out. Life is full of “re-do’s”, “do-overs”, and “undones”. Christ knows this and is forgiving and patient with our flaws as we are transformed more and more each day into His likeness. Our primary desire should be the eventual transformation into His likeness. He will finish the unfinished work, because he promised that He would.

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6, NIV)

Never forget that we are a work in progress. We make mistakes. We mess up. We blow it. But thanks be to God that He never gives up on His "works of art". He keeps drawing us to Him. He keeps chiseling the “rough edges” of bad habits here, and polishing the “dull luster” of lackluster faith there. One day, we will be like Him, when we see Him face to face.

But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (I John 3:2, NIV)

Many who know me well, may know that I am a big fan of Max Lucado. His words of encouragement have inspired millions in their walk with Christ. One of my favorite quotes from Mr. Lucado that I use to encourage others, as well as myself at times, is the following:

 "You weren't an accident. You weren't mass produced. You aren't an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the Earth by the Master Craftsman." - Max Lucado

Imagine that! We were intentionally put here by God! As we yield to His plan and purpose, He continually refines us so that we can be more and more like Him. It is amazing to think that the God of the universe cares enough to make our life His project of love.

As for Emily’s class project that she worked so diligently to finish, I am proud to say that she made an A+. The hard work paid off. It was worth the re-do effort of every misplaced picture of marble and every misspelled word in the description of quartz. As for our journey toward the likeness of Christ, we too will come out of the Refiner’s fire, tried and true. It will be so worth the discomfort of refinement for a season. After all, there is none better to complete the eternal work that was begun in us, than the One who declared…IT IS FINISHED!

Be encouraged friend. As a yielded child of God, you are a one of a kind masterpiece in the making, with God’s fingerprints all over your life. Trust Him completely, and as you do, I guarantee you that He won’t leave you....unfinished.

What Is The Church For Anyway?

It may come as a shock to you that I know many people who attend church every single day of the week. Surprised to hear such a claim? You may be even more surprised to know that these extraordinary church attendees are not pastors, missionaries, or evangelists. After all, it is oftentimes “expected” of individuals in these particular roles to be in church everyday. The people that I am referring to are so-called “average” Christians, with no title other than the One whose name they bear, who have decided to live out the gospel each and every day. Without a title, without a ministry, and in many cases without recognition.

Church. What exactly is “church” with respect to the Christian believer?  It is evident what most people consider to be the meaning and purpose of the church. Webster’s Dictionary lists the most often used definitions of church as follows:

Church (n)

1: a building for public and especially Christian worship.

2: the clergy or officialdom of a religious body

3: a body or organization of religious believers: a : the whole body of Christians b : denomination c : congregation

4: a public divine worship <goes to church every Sunday>

5: the clerical profession <considered the church as a possible career>

This quaint set of definitions has been accepted for decades, and conveniently allows for predictability and ritualism. It allows us to fit God nicely inside a box, namely the four walls of a building on Sunday mornings. Interestingly, all five of these definitions are nouns (i.e. non-action definitions) I would submit the idea that perhaps Jesus Christ intended to define church quite differently. I believe that Christ intended church to be a verb, backed by action, and not to be confined to the man-made mechanics of “church-ism”. Radical? Far fetched? I don’t think so. Nothing about the command “Go ye into all the world” suggests passiveness and confinement to the four walls of a church building or ministry. On the contrary, it was said of the believers in the book of Acts, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also” (Acts 17:6). Wow! What a badge of honor! I am pretty confident that the impact that these believers had did not happen in a weekly Sunday morning worship service for 3 hours. These men turned their world upside down because they put action behind their faith in their everyday lives and proclaimed and lived out their Christian conversion experience in front of others on a regular basis. There were no technology-infused “Mega Church” ministries or emotion-based camp meetings, and the official title of “pastor”, “missionary”, or “evangelist” was not required for legitimacy and for the Holy Spirit’s power to be displayed. No church or denominational membership card was required. The only thing for certain was that these common men and women of action, empowered by the Spirit, had a message to share with the world that they knew. They were compelled to take the gospel message where life happens, outside of the comfort of the church, and into the real world.

Now, please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. The church, and accompanying corporate worship with other believers, is absolutely essential for building up one another in the faith. In fact it is clearly commanded in scripture, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb. 10:25, NIV). But the programmed formality and “comfort zone” atmosphere of the church has allowed many to lose focus on what I believe to be Christ’s intent of the Great Commission. Jesus said “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mar. 16:15). Unfortunately, this has allowed for the misguided idea that God can only move in a scheduled church service, mega-ministry events, or missions trips that take place half way around the world. The need in third-world countries is obvious. There are ministry opportunities by the dozens for these countries, and scores of ministry organizations to address these needs, and rightly so. Furthermore, the function of the “Sunday morning church” is clearly evident…to help the lost and hurting who have decided to come to church. However, the fact of the matter is that life happens on our job, at school, at the supermarket, and at the kids’ soccer game. This is where ministry opportunities are often lost in the shadow of the efforts of the pastor or missionary, but the opportunities are just as genuine and just as necessary as those afforded the pastor or missionary with the formal “title”. Perhaps even more so, as this is where the world sees us outside of the safe haven of the church walls, away from the comfort of a programmed, neatly packaged worship services. This is where the mask comes off and the world sees us for who we truly are. It is where the substance of Christianity that is talked about on Sunday morning rises to the surface and is tested for all to see.

Take Steve, for example. Steve is a janitor. Steve is part of the real, “unchurched” world that I live in and experience each day. You have not seen Steve in church…yet. Sometime back I made a conscious effort to eat lunch with Steve, every day, for almost two months. He was totally shocked that someone from the "office area" would sit in the corner of the cafeteria with him and eat lunch and chat about life. He told me his troubles each day, and I listened and offered him Christian advice, as the Lord directed. In conversing with him each day, I came to realize that no one had ever really listened to Steve before. After all, he was just "a janitor", right? Come to find out, Steve, like many other skeptics of today, had formulated his idea of the ways of “church” people. I was presented with the opportunity to help clarify some of his inaccurate perceptions, and sadly try and explain some of his accurate ones. Steve and I had some great conversations over the coming days, and I looked forward to and enjoyed our daily lunch meetings. To this day, he comes to me from time to time about his questions and troubles...and of course, the Lord. He recently told me that he had given up his beloved alcohol that he had been attached to for years. He knew I would be proud that he had given that stuff up, and more importantly he knew the Lord would be proud of him too. As far as I know, Steve has not given his heart to Christ yet, but I am praying that he will soon.

Steve is a part of where real life happens, and where I believe that Christ intended for church to begin. The more I go through this life, the more that I realize that the opportunities that the Lord puts in front of us happen mostly outside of the formality of the institutional church setting. They happen in the real world, where the “hard stuff of life" happens. You may say to yourself, “But I am not a pastor, missionary, or evangelist.” I beg to differ. All believers are all called to be ministers and are responsible for touching others with the love and hope of Christ. In fact, the “average believer” can often touch lives that an “official” pastor, missionary, or evangelist could never reach. God bless our pastors, overseas missionaries, evangelists and other members of the clergy for their commitment and their labor of love for the Kingdom of God. But never underestimate the importance of your mission field, and your role in it, with regards to the church in action. There are opportunities for ministry everyday in the workplace, schools, and communities that are equally as important as that pastor preparing a sermon each Sunday morning, or that missionary carrying the gospel to thousands in a third world country. And you don’t have to carry the proverbial 20 pound Bible under your arm, quoting scripture every other sentence, to impact those around you. People will notice when you live Christ in front of them. They will ask you questions about the hope that is within you. They will be hungry to understand what is different about you. They will ask you for prayer, advice, and encouragement. And the neat thing is, you don’t have to be a pastor, missionary, or an evangelist to be a witness in the mission field known as your own back yard. The bottom line? Christ’s concern is for lost souls, and the value of every soul is equal in his sight. Christ’s mission for the church….The Gospel in action lived out in front of others. We all play an equally important role in that common goal.

Bridget Willard and her husband Mercier, a pastor, lead a motel outreach in Anaheim, California, called Pardoned Prodigals that has been reaching out to the downtrodden, discouraged, depressed, dejected, and the lost since 2001. I close with a favorite quote from Bridget: “Church isn’t where you meet. Church isn’t a building. Church is what you do. Church is who you are. Church is the human outworking of the person of Jesus Christ. Let’s not go to Church, let’s be the Church.”

Amen Bridget! May we be a church of action! May we be a church without walls!