Parents, Am I an EGR? At some point in my rebellion, one of the pastor’s from my home church decided to reach out to me and another friend. We were both a part of a youth group a few years before that “had so much potential,” according to another pastor at the church. My pastor friend was wise and full of grace. He loved us and wanted to see us turn the corner and come back to live the faith we had strongly professed a few years before but were running so far away from at the time. He was taking a group of college students on a ski trip in the North Carolina mountains and asked us to be “ski instructors,” since we had both been skiers for several years and many of the students had never skied before. He told us he would have us a place to stay and buy our lift tickets if we would give some ski lessons in the morning and ski on our own afterward. My friend and I decided we would drive to the mountain ourselves rather than riding with the others. We arrived at the cabin and dropped our bags in our room and told them we were going to get dinner, since they had already eaten. They were going to have a Bible Study and invited us to join them when we got back. My friend and I were not thrilled about that idea. We weren’t opposed to Bible Study per se, it just wasn’t a priority for us at the time (or TBH, we may have been afraid of feeling convicted of our rebelliousness by the Word of Truth). So, we went to dinner… at a bar and grill. We stayed until we thought the Bible Study was over and went back to the cabin filled with the “spirits” and not The Spirit. It was almost midnight. We thought everyone would be in bed and we would just quietly walk straight to our room undetected. To our surprise, the lights were still on, so we snuck into the front door and discovered they were all engaged in prayer… for US! We tried to keep sneaking past them to our room. We stumbled right through the middle of them as they were making intercessions eyes closed, heads down, on our behalf. Rebellion, however, held us fast, we refused to join them, and we quickly went to our room without acknowledging anyone. The next morning we arose to an empty cabin and screaming headaches. The group had gone on to the slopes, since we had overslept. We finally made it to the slopes and made a half hearted effort to find our ski students. We decided our lift tickets shouldn’t go to waste, so we proceeded to ski on the advanced slopes and continue to ‘look” for the beginner skiers there. At the end of the day we hopped in the car and left, without a word. As I look back on this, I’m so ashamed, not just of my rebellious behavior, but the relationships I had injured or missed out on. My pastor, full of love and grace, was quick to forgive and continued to pursue a friendship with me. He would later be one of the officiants at my wedding. He had so much grace for an EGR = Extra Grace Required i.e. a person who needs lots of grace. God seems to surround me with those people for some reason: spouse, mentors, co-workers… the list goes on. I’m grateful for them all.
Sunday, September 27, 2020
Parents, Am I an EGR? Words From COVID 19 quarantine*
Friday, September 25, 2020
Update On My Daughter from August 5th Post.*
Update. Some of you asked to be updated on my daughter’s recovery from the horrendous car crash one late afternoon at the beginning of August. A car spun out of control and crossed the middle lines of the street going more than 50 MPH hitting my daughter and her boyfriend head on. Virginia passed out for more than 10 minutes and when she became conscious again she was screaming uncontrollably. She had several bumps, bruises, seat belt and airbag rashes, and an injury called dashboard knee. Dashboard knee happens when the shin hits the dashboard so hard it pushes the lower leg out of place and stretches the ligaments in the knee. Virginia’s posterior cruciate ligament was torn. Her boyfriend, who was starting Med school the next week, was impacted by the crash too, but was able to grip the steering wheel to keep from being tossed around so much. The puppy ended up in the back window of the car, scared and traumatised. We got to Memphis as quickly as we could. Her boyfriend and his family gave her tremendous care from the moment the wreck happened getting her to the hospital and a doctor’s care immediately. We joined in the care the next morning and helped her in her apartment for a week. After much prayer and thought, we sensed God was leading us to bring her to our home to recover. So, from Memphis to Columbus we took her and her puppy on a painful 10 hour drive. Miraculously, she was able to see a doctor within a couple of days. She has been in physical therapy for more than 6 weeks under the care of great doctors, PAs, and therapists. She is now walking without crutches or brace and has been released from the Doctor’s care. The muscles around her knee and her core are getting stronger. Her boyfriend is well into his first semester of Med School and is doing well. We are praising God for all the ways He has cared for and protected her, her boyfriend and puppy, from the initial impact through recovery and beyond. Her boyfriend was able to find another reliable vehicle. And God has put His “exceeding and abundant” flare on this whole thing, because just as she is finishing her PT here in Columbus, she has learned that her company in Memphis, that had put her on furlough for 6 months because of COVID, is now bringing her back full time. We will miss her and her “little dog too,” but will always remember these special weeks of watching God’s work in all of our lives. Virginia has been a tremendous help to our church by using her digital skills helping us relaunch our Kid’s ministry after COVID, with Anita at the interim helm. Virginia may have to help remotely from the banks of the mighty Mississippi. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers through this time.
Through all this our God has reminded us once again that He works all things, even things like car crashes, company furloughs, and global pandemics, together for His Glory, the Gospel, and our Good. In the Old Testament, when God was getting His people’s attention and they were experiencing some traumatic events, God says, “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.” Isaiah 48:10-11 (NIV) The apostle Paul also reminds us, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (CSBBible) And God’s purpose is the Gospel... the Good News that He loves us all and made a Way for us to spend now and eternity with Him. We can always find God at work, even in the traumas of our lives.
Hang in there people! God is with us! I’m praying for us all!
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Parents, What Makes It All Worth It?** Words From COVID 19 quarantine
Parents, What makes it all worth it? When one of the churches I served was between children’s ministers, the kids 4th-6th grade still planned on going to camp that had been planned before the last minister transitioned out. A very capable interim kids director said she would take the large group of upper elementary kids to camp. It was always a great camp experience, some wonderful leaders were going and it promised to be a time for lots of fun, growing together, and faith development. We were pleased in the transitional time that all the spots were filled and we had just enough leaders for the camp’s camper to counselor ratios. My children were all too young to go, and I was the young married adult pastor, so I was just prayer support for the leaders and kids going. A wonderful lady in the church wanted her grandson to go. This kid had been sent to grandma’s quickly, because of a family crisis. He had never been to camp, much less a church camp. He was from out of town, and didn’t have anyone around him who could teach him about the love of God except his grandmother and she only saw him occasionally. So, for some reason this sweet senior saint came to me after worship asking if this boy could go to camp. I didn’t make any promises, since registration had closed weeks ago and the camp was the next week. I told her I would ask the interim children’s director. The director gave me a good news, bad news situation… “the good news is we still have plenty of bunk and bus space for another kid, the bad news is we need another male counselor to stay in the bunkhouse with the kids to meet our required leader/camper ratios.” She said, if you can find another leader, this young man can go with us. God really laid this kid on my heart, so I searched and asked every man I could think of that morning, but couldn’t find anyone. Then I started telling God, surely you are not asking me to go, I have young kids at home and I have my whole young married ministry to do, I’m supposed to teach on Wednesday night, besides, I have a wedding rehearsal the day camp is over. The more I tried to back away from going, this kid and his grandmother kept coming back to mind. I could see the desperation on the grandmother’s face and the kid looked excited but was very guarded like he was used to feeling disappointment and hearing “no, you can’t…” There were so few positive faith influences for this kid, he may never hear about how much God loves him. So, after several minutes of checking with the entire staff of 14 ministers, I found someone whose schedule would let them take the last night and day or 2, so I could make the wedding rehearsal and he would teach my class, if I could take the rest of the week. So, I was able to tell the boy and his grandmother “Yes.” I went to camp. At the time, I had not had a lot of experience with elementary kids. I thought how bad could it be, right? Oh it was bad! Bananas sent by parents for snacks were flung everywhere in the bunkhouse during the “drive by fruiting incident.” These stinky elementary school boys who refused to take a shower had clothes all over the cabin (paying for my own camp days I guess, see http://williampmcg.blogspot.com/2020/07/parents-something-is-lost-and-must-be.html). They stuck fish-hooks in my fingers grabbing for fishing poles as I put the worms on them. I had sunburn and mosquito bites and no sleep on the rock hard bunk. At one point, I was concerned for my family when an F5 tornado was taking houses off their foundations not far from our home. I was way out of my comfort zone. I had no idea about disciplining other people’s kids who were out of control… I was just learning how to discipline my own preschoolers. I began feeling like Jonah, the reluctant prophet… I was complaining about everything. My attitude stunk like dirty camper socks. Although, I noticed the boy who got to come last minute was well mannered and listened intently to the messages each night. He was glad to be there. We had a great children’s camp pastor, who was a great teacher for kids. As my seminary professor used to say, “he could put the cookies on the bottom shelf so we could all understand” God’s great love for us. God was at work, but I was just too busy complaining to see it. On my last day, before the other minister came to finish the week, this boy, the boy who had been able to come because I came as a leader, came to stand next to me in the lunch line. Annoyed, I thought what is it now? Is he going to start complaining about something? My frustration from the week melted into shame, when he said, “I want to follow Jesus, what do I do next?” I led him through God’s plan to save us all: How God loved us so much He sent Jesus, His own Son to save us and let us connect our lives with Him now and forever. The boy recognized that he needed Jesus and said a prayer asking for Jesus to be with him all his life. I cried the whole drive back home… here I was complaining about how God had changed my plans, put me in a situation way out of my comfort zone and I couldn’t see God was at work changing this kid’s life forever.
Friday, September 18, 2020
Parents, What Are You Serving Up?* Words From COVID 19 quarantine
Parents, what are you serving up? I had no idea what I was doing as my teacher/advisor showed me how to run the school concession stand for the football games. The juniors did it to raise money for Junior/Senior Prom and I was the one who was selected to get it ready each home game and train others to help. At the moment however, I knew nothing. We opened up the stand and it was really hot. You had to ice the lines for the soda fountain a few hours before the game so the syrup, water and carbon dioxide mixes just right, if not, you only served foam instead of soft drinks. You wanna know how I know that? Yep, one game I had forgotten to ice them because I was playing ultimate frisbee when I was supposed to be getting the concession stand ready. After that, my teacher/advisor thought it may be a good idea to remind me on game days, to get the concession stand ready. About an hour before the game, you put the frozen hot dogs on the rollers (a la gas station dogs). Then squeezed the tube of refrigerated chili blob into the warmer... yum, yum...it looked awful before it was cooked, sort of yellowy goo… it actually didn’t taste too bad when it was cooked, but I would not want to know what was actually in those plastic tubes. Then about a half hour before the game, you put the oil and corn in the popper and then covered it with the salt and “buttery” flavor after you turned the kettle and stirred it around before bagging it up. At just the right moment, when everyone was walking into the game and passing the Coke trailer/concession stand, all the smells of the cooked hot dogs, chili, and freshly popped buttery popcorn combined into one delicious game night treat, ready to be enjoyed with a nice, perfectly mixed soft drink… Unless, of course, you were late getting it ready, then there are no fresh yummy smells attracting people to the stand. And, when they do come and ask for a chili dog, you have to let them know it will be a few moments of rolling on the roller to get the ice off the dogs and the blob of yellowy chili would take a bit to actually look like chili, the popcorn is not seasoned yet, and the cokes are foamy.
When we are new believers, we are like new concession stand operators, we have to learn how to be believers that draw people in so they can see what is so great about being connected to God. We need to know what it looks like to love and serve God well. When we first believe, our lives are changed instantly, we are saved and freed from our sin, but there is a growth curve. We need to learn from God’s Word and the Holy Spirit how it is that God’s people live and act. We need to connect with God’s people who are more mature to watch them and learn what to do and say as the Holy Spirit leads them. We need to know what is not okay to do and what is best. We have to be taught and reminded of who we now are when we forget. Maybe you have met someone that you can tell they are connected to Jesus, because of what they serve up… they have knowledge of God’s Word, and they are wise in how they live it out, they love people, they serve humbly and well, they have a peace about them, they are doing what God has called them to do and they are enjoying God and His people. All this takes some intentionality and we all have work to do, even those who have some spiritual maturity. God does the work in us, but we have to show up. Paul loved a group of new believers at Philippi. He could see God was at work in them and they were showing up for the lessons by hanging out together regularly to learn and doing life together. He says, “There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. Philippians 1:6 (MSG) So, let's keep maturing so we can serve up good smelling, good tasting, refreshing service that engages people and make them want to know more about Jesus and why our lives are different. Don’t be content with foamy cokes, frozen hot dogs, yellowy chili and unseasoned popcorn, God can combine all the ingredients that aren’t so appetizing and make them into a pleasant meal for someone who’s hungry. Our impatient, ungrateful, arrogant, ornery selves, get transformed into patient, thankful, humble, caring, loving people.
Hang in there people! God is glad to be with us! I’m praying for us all!
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Parents, Electrifying! Words From COVID 19 quarantine*
Photo credit: MoodleHUB.ca
Parents, Electrifying! In high school physics class at the old WSK one of my friends had to miss class on the day that the teacher pulled out the static electricity generator. My friend asked me to take notes for him. The teacher flipped on the shiny orb topped, small tower with a motor and a belt that was vertical between a roller and the belt drive. As the static built up the teacher started to lecture… which meant I missed almost every word because my ADHD brain's attention danced like the streams of electricity jumping and lurching to the small orb he had in his hand. He pulled the orb further away and showed how far the electricity could “jump.” He told us the further away you get the larger the amount of energy (amps x volts = watts) is in the stream of electricity. He had the girl with the longest un-hair-sprayed hair (this was 1980ish, remember Charlie's Angels) come put her hand on it and her hair stood straight up all around. He taught us about how being insulated from the floor with a plastic stool lowered the chance of electricity from flowing through us, because plastic was a less efficient conductor. He did several other experiments to show us some of electricity’s characteristic attributes, like it is drawn to a point. It’s why we have lightning rods standing on top of buildings that direct the electricity from a lightning bolt around the structures instead of through them. We learned that lightning is actually static electricity on a large scale generated by clouds rubbing together and that lightning bolts have anywhere from 100 million to a Billion volts. Lightning can also travel at almost 14,000 miles per hour and reach a temperature of 54,000 degrees. This temperature is enough to turn sand into glass… which explains why Jake Perry would go out into the storm and put in lightning rods into the sand at the beach in the movie Sweet Home Alabama. He was trying to make extremely rare but beautiful glass formations called Fulgurites, which he supposedly sold in his glass store. Our teacher told us that being struck by lightning is usually deadly or at least impairs you for life. As the bell rang and the teacher concluded the lecture, my friend walked through the door. I excitedly told him about all that had happened. As a hand talker, I gestured and pointed toward the static electricity generator that had been turned off for several minutes. However, a stored up bolt of static electricity jumped all the way across the room and zapped me on the pointing finger. I yelled and jumped, it smarted and scared me. The lightning bolt was really beautiful though. My friend's eyes got large and he said, “no way!” The teacher excitedly laughed and calculated the large number of amps x volts = watts it took to jump that many feet across the room. As far as I can tell there was no permanent damage… my friends and family may think otherwise.
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Parents, Do You Have Your Jumping Shoes On?* Words From COVID 19 quarantine
Parents, Do you have your jumping shoes on? I had the wonderful privilege of taking part in a celebration of life service for my Uncle. He was friendly, funny, and full of joy. He lived life well. He was a photographer, a theologian, a teacher, a preacher and he was very creative. Tom loved food, meals with him were like an act of worship; his prayers for the those who prepared the food were blessings unlike any other, and his thankful descriptive words about the food made your mouth water anticipating the delicious tastes you were about to experience; he always reminded us that our Heavenly Father had provided it for us. Tom loved my aunt well; she says, “he is sooo easy to love”. He loved his family and friends and was always glad to be with them. Tom was a lifelong student of God’s Word, but also a student of people. He was fascinated with people’s stories and could mine marvelous treasures from their stories, by leaning in to listen and then asking just the right questions then leaning in even closer for the responses. He would then collect the newfound priceless gems and present them back to the person in such a way that we all felt valued and valuable. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, Tom took the doctrinal views of eschatology, or “the end times” espoused by this prestigious school very seriously. He once asked us, “have you seen my Rapture Jump”? And we said, “What’s a Rapture Jump?” and He said, “it's the jump that I’m going to do when I hear that Trumpet Sound.” Then he said, “I’m going to be just that much ahead of you on my way to heaven to see Jesus and get my new body.” … and then he leapt into the air and clicked his heels twice and landed softly on the ground... kind of like Mr. Bojangles. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen Tom do… normally he would slowly and purposefully perambulate wherever he was going and sit down, just like most people who are more than 60 years old. Tom would do said “rapture jump” well into his 70’s. Because of some complications after his recent cancer treatments, Tom didn’t get to do his rapture jump, but he did get to see Jesus and now he’s healed and whole. He lived his life in anticipation of seeing Jesus when his earthly life ended, so he lived well, loved well and brought Jesus and joy to those around him.
Friday, September 11, 2020
Parents, A Light In The Darkness: *Words From COVID 19 quarantine
Parents, a Light in the darkness. As a middle schooler, I was all over my neighborhood. Each day was a new adventure. Some were sports adventures: pick up basketball, football, stickball, some were finding new trails through the woods, sometimes riding a bicycle to a friend’s house, sometimes fishing... One adventure to the neighborhood cave was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. This cave was near the old Civil War lead mine. One entrance was at the top of a bluff looking out over the river, but there was also a river level entrance to this cave at the bottom of the bluff. How cool is that! So, my friend and I actually thought far enough ahead to take a string with us, tie it to a tree and climb down into the cave, so we would know our way back out, if we got lost.. It was thrilling to climb through the cave to the opening at the river. We skipped some rocks, explored the large room, and began the accent back up through the cave. My friend shined his flashlight up the cave wall where we could see another opening at the top and said, “I wonder if there is another room on the other side of this wall.” So, of course we shinnied to the top of the wall and shined our lights down into the blackness. He said, “you go first.” So, down I went. He was right behind me. The room height started with enough room to walk bent over, then duck walk, then hands and knees, then belly crawl, then your back touched the top with your belly was pressed against the bottom. We hoped that it opened back up into another larger room, but all I could see in front of me was narrowing darkness and it felt like the weight of the earth was crushing me into the floor and it was hard to breath. My flashlight began getting dimmer (and, oh yeah, we forgot a backup flashlight.) At that moment, terror filled my whole being. I started to panic. My mind went to the stories about some boys who had been stuck in another cave in the neighborhood for 8 hours while cave rescue teams worked to extract them. My friend was right behind me, but I could not turn around to tell him of my sudden spelunking claustrophobia. Charged by fear, I began backing up quickly. He said, “stop, stop, what’s wrong.” I lost the capacity for words and just about kicked him all the way back to the wall to climb back out. I couldn’t get back out of the cave to daylight and fresh air fast enough. I’d like to say, I never went caving again, but I was always up for a new adventure... I just was a little more cautious in exploring new places.