A couple of weeks ago I was given a copy of Billy Graham’s latest book, Nearing Home.  It was a great read.  I have admired and respected Graham for many years for his integrity and passion for sharing the gospel.  Now in the last years of his life, we are witnessing the desire to finish well.  Someone has stated that “our focus will determine our finish.”  If that be the case, Graham has a fantastic finish for his eyes are clearly on the Lord.

Early in his book, Graham states something very troubling to me.  I must admit that it was such a burden to me that it almost overshadowed the rest of the content.  He states:

“The Old Testament is filled with remembrances of the old.  It even says, “Remember the former things of old” (Isaiah 46:9).  Society today may not like the word old, yet young people pay a small fortune for jeans that look old.  Collectors put the highest value on antiques because they are…..old!  Others buy old clunkers, restore them, and proudly drive down the highway showing off….the old.  The days when the aged were admired, looked up to, and respected are gone.” (Page 6)

There is probably a tremendous amount of truth in that rationale.  That does not mean I have to like it.  I believe that much of the stability and resiliency of our society come from our “unheralded” seniors. They have much to offer. However senior adults are an underused and overlooked commodity in our society.

What is the answer to this dilemma?  Is it teaching our children to place a greater value on “the old?”  Is it placing more emphasis on educating the young and median adults on the real value of seniors?

Encourage a senior today!  They are to be honored in all we do!

Meet Landon who weighed a whopping 3 lbs and 2.5 oz and the petite Avery who upon arrival weighed in at 2 lbs and 6.5 oz.

They are so small that a wedding ring could slide up their arm to their shoulder. Neonatal experts tell us that there is typically a 10% chance of survival for newborns that are born this small and premature. We all celebrate the fact that Landon and Avery are strong, doing well, and appear to be on target to exceed the odds and live long, productive, and happy lives. When you scrub up for visits to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), guests are often taken back by the many tubes and machines that connect a needy new born. There are often IVs in the navel and feet, monitors on each side of the child’s chest and a respirator/feeding tube in the child’s mouth.

The medical staff working with the children tells parents that it is vital for these newborns to hear you and feel your touch. They encourage parents and guardians to carefully caress the child while telling the child over and over how much you love them. It is essential that a newborn fighting for their very existence hear this affirmation and feel the touch. They have to be able to connect the voice of their parents with their touch.

I just spent a couple of minutes reflecting on that medical recommendation. It offers a valuable life principle…touch them and speak to them. The potential impact and encouragement that we offer our fellow human beings is not just centered in our voice but in our touch as well. Could it be that the secret to becoming a great parent, grandparent, neighbor and leader is found in recognizing the need to always connect one’s voice and one’s touch. When the two become one…something special is present.

The Republican Presidential Primary is in full swing.  The past several months have had some very strange twists and turns including religious non-publicized tax returns and both moral and marital issues.  Voters have seen it all!  From those that have settled their support on Romney, Paul, Santorum, Perry, Gingrich or Huntsman, we hear much of the same thing, “We do not have a candidate that really knocks our socks off, a leader we are anxious to follow.”  The next Presidential election is being tabbed as the “lesser of evils.”  

Could it be that the element lacking is the principle of leadership?  Are any of these people really great leaders?  True authentic leadership is rooted in servanthood.  Our government was founded by men and woman who really cared and had a tremendous desire to serve others.  In those early foundational and constitutional days, they received very little for their service.  It was as if their service was in its purest form.  Servanthood is not about a position or skill.  It’s about an attitude.  Each of us have undoubtedly met people, elected people, and witnessed people in our government who have poor attitudes.  Helping people is not at the top of their list.  Sensing and detecting that their leader does not have a “servant” attitude becomes a major turn off. 

It is crucial that elected officials be willing to “serve.”  Servant leadership is never motivated by manipulation or self-promotion.  In the end, the extent of your influence depends on the depth of your concern for others.  

The truth…..the best leaders desire to serve others, not themselves!  

In an age where people feel entitled and without responsibility, Pittsburg Steelers defensive back, Ike Taylor tweeted this after the recent loss to the Broncos:

“First off congrats to Tebow and the Broncos.”  Taylor went on to say, “Second, I want to apologize for playing the worst game at the wrong time. I apologize to my teammates, the Steeler nation, and family.  Luv y’all to def.”

Man, when I heard that, I was surprisingly refreshed.  Here is a guy that just owned up.  We live in a culture where there is so little responsibility.  Our marriages, work, parenting, friendships, and obviously our spiritual relationship to God are often starved of responsibility.

Special Note:  Thanks to Lee Bates who contributed research in this blog.

Apples and Oranges

I wonder how many people out there can identify with me as  “technology challenged.”  I have had the same computer for almost seven years. Recently it went haywire.  The “technology elite” in our office spent days convincing me to buy a Mac.  “Go Apple” they kept saying.

I asked the logical question, “What are the advantages to a Mac?”  The answers were quite surprising.

• They do not get viruses
• They are extremely durable
• They are incredibly reliable
• They are easy to use (which is a joke for me)
• They are faster
• They are “more hip” and represent “Bling, Bling.”

Somewhere there must a site with the, “Top 10 Reasons to Buy a Mac!”  Eventually I was persuaded.

I wonder what makes a life durable, virus proof, and reliable.  Each of us understands that with time everything will malfunction, break down, and finally just wear out.  But some people endure at a much greater capacity than others.  The reasons might be internally and externally driven.   The Psalmist says, “Glorious and majestic are His deeds, and His righteousness endures forever.”  Paul shares incredible optimism when he shares in 2 Timothy 2:12, “…if we endure, we will also reign with Him.”

• A clean slate on which to write
• Fresh cement in which to leave our footprints
• New days to live in that no one has ever lived in before

There has to be “a forgetting that which is behind” and a “moving toward that which is ahead” mentality.  Every new day is a day reborn.  Sometimes when we see a whole new year facing us we struggle to get the full impact of that concept.

This year you will write history.  As you write history, with your unique personality, a whole new chapter will be written.  Many may read it or few may read it…it all depends.

Churches also have personalities and they, too, will write their own chapters.  They are the corporate personality of all the parts. Whatever we are together this year is what our church will be, nothing more, and nothing less.

What will our lives say this year?  What do you want to write in the fresh cement of 2012 that will harden for all men to read?  What will our church write?  Will the world care? Will it matter?

Some moments we carry throughout life, taking them with us wherever we go.  Combat veterans often bear the scars and reminders of conflict.  The events of 9/11 touched us all.  We have already fought two wars connected with this event.  Our lives at airports, stadiums and large gatherings have been altered forever. 

Moments in our lives when we help others may be our greatest life-changing moments.  Often when events happen, there are results and the moments disappear.  However, when we give into the lives of others, the moment continues, often into eternity.  When our death moment calls all that we have spent is gone forever. All that we have saved will be left for someone else to spend.  Yet all we have given away is ours forever.     

One act

can make all the difference.

Like ripples in a pond-

kindness spreads outward,

reaching and touching others

and can change a life forever.

Make every moment count!

Tayloris a great athlete and played extremely well.  Her team happened to win the match we attended.  I believe she made about 7 serves in a row at one point to lead her team to victory.  Winning was very nice but I have come to realize winning isn’t the most important part. (Many coaches, players, and parents would probably disagree)  Investing in the participants is the important part.  The players’ commitment to each other is what is lasting.  A well known quote in athletic lore was UCLA Coach Henry Sanders statement, “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing!”  Man, I could not disagree more!  Investing in people is the only thing. People are one of the most important assets that one can ever invest in.  Investing in others assures your own success in life.  Nothing is more valuable than to give yourself away to others.

Start investing today!

Commitment will play a major role in this task. We have a call to develop and demonstrate our perseverance in the Kingdom building process. Commitment must be modeled for the next generation. True commitment has as its corner posts courage and conviction. True commitment will pay any price. We have to remember that true commitment has won many a race. Upon a close examination of current commitment levels, three types of felonious commitments surface.

Incomplete Commitment
People often battle the desire to follow half-heartedly, avoiding being completely sold-out to Christ. Incomplete commitment says do not intrude on my schedule. It says I wish to help but only as far as the commitment does not inconvenience me in any way. My routine and my world are not to be interrupted. Demas represents a person that had incomplete commitment. Paul loved Demas and Demas apparently loved Paul and the Lord’s work. Yet, we discover that there was a rival in the heart of Demas for the Lord’s work. Paul records “…for Demas, he loved this world and has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.” (2 Timothy 4:9) The bright lights of Thessalonica were too bight and too alluring for Demas to pass up.

Insincere Commitment
There are too many in our society who are all talk and no action. Our churches, culture, and civilization are filled with people who talk a big spiritual game, yet have nothing real behind it. It is nothing more than dishonesty of heart. Ananias and Sapphira made a pledge before the entire congregation and before the Lord to “give everything that they had profited from the proceeds of a property sale to the work of the Lord.” The entire time that was coming from their mouths, they were hiding possessions for themselves. It cost them their lives. God despises deception and insincerity.

Intermittent Commitment
This level of commitment “comes and goes.” It really just depends on which day you catch the intermittently committed person as to what their level might be. This a real bouncing ball of Christianity….up one day and down the next. The church of Ephesus is a prime example as Jesus looked into his church and shared “I have this against you….you have forgotten your first love.” (Rev 2:4)

Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. Eternal Stones is focused on commitment. Our excellence will be immortal.

Eternal Stones

In the next few weeks our church family is beginning a challenging but rewarding task. We have placed a simple theme around this task called Eternal Stones.

This summer, I took on a new challenge. A flower bed at the back of our property was just begging for a new fountain. Instead of purchasing a pre-made fountain, I decided to design and construct one. Driving to a local stone quarry retailer, I begin to ask myself, “What am I doing?” The truth… I had no idea what kind of stone to purchase, what design I was undertaking, or the cost of such a task.

It took me weeks, cutting piece by piece, gluing each stone into position. The final project was far from perfect…but one that had a great personal investment.

Out of this experience, we built a thematic approach to the task ahead. Thankfully, our church family is being led by the great architect of this universe. With His leading, we will begin future construction of a new outdoor playground for our church and community, additional pre-school and children’s educational space, administrative space and an area for special needs individuals in our community. The resources for this project will come from our church family and friends of our church. This project will be called

“Eternal Stones.” We are putting one building block after another together hoping that these stones will impact lives eternally. We know God will do many things through this task far greater than the construction of additional space.

Eternal Stones will clarify our priorities. Often those challenged in our community, the handicapped, are forgotten. Those that have the smallest voices, our children, are pushed aside. We value these special groups and desire to focus on their needs.

Eternal Stones will be a tool for character building. Goals and the challenge of stretching ourselves is one of the most effective tools that God has gifted us with. It teaches us discipline and delayed gratification.

Eternal Stones will demonstrate we are serious about our God-given responsibilities. Jesus taught we should minister to “the least,” the forgotten, those that cannot help themselves, those that need a helping hand. God never meant for us to shirk the responsibilities before us while we are here on earth.

These next few weeks will be pivotal for our congregation. Pray that God would provide the necessary resources for this task. Eternal Stones could have an incredible impact superseding brick and mortar. It could be a project that will impact eternity.