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So Thankful

August 27, 2008 in Family, Prayer, Spiritual Journey with 0 Comments

Just recently I was sitting around a table with a group of friends
for a time of prayer.  Two of the prayer
requests centered on parents, more specifically how some parents had disappointed
grown children, because of choices they had made.  In that moment I had to stop and thank God
for my parents who have always demonstrated love, acceptance and forgiveness
and who have been great examples on how to live a Godly life.  My parents have and continue to model lives
fully devoted to Christ…and because of that I am so thankful.  My prayer is that I can be that same type of
example to my children.


A College Degree you never know when you will use it.

July 22, 2008 in Leadership, Music, Spiritual Journey with 2 Comments

Yes I have been in
ministry for 27 years, however, that is not what I went to college to
study.  I remember that throughout high
school I knew I was going to college to major in music and for some reason I
remember that I was felt strongly that I wanted to get a degree in music
education.  I also remember clearly that
I wanted that degree because I thought it would transfer well to the
church.  Anyway… As a part of the music
education degree I spent quite a bit of time preparing to be a high school band
director. I got some great experience with the Cleveland High School Blue
Raider Marching band in Cleveland Tennessee and their leaders Crill Higgans,
Eddy Freytag and Ron Peace.

Even though God lead
me down a different path…one of full-time ministry…I still enjoy begin around
high school bands.  For the past four
years I have had the privilege of working as a volunteer insturctor with the
Centennial High School Cougar Band in Franklin. Last week I was
able to spend some time with them preparing for the marching season. Last week
it was all about learning the music. This week I am off to band camp where we
will spend many hours out in the sun learning all the drill for this year’s
show. (This is how I spend some of my vacation days.)

God did lead me down
a different path, one of working in a church and not with a band.  But when he gave me clear direction on what
degree he wanted me to get he was preparing me for these days with Centennial.


27 years in ministry not very long

July 17, 2008 in Family, Spiritual Journey with 2 Comments

Just this month I
completed 27 years of full-time ministry. (Five years into full-time ministry I
spent two years getting a graduate degree…I still consider those full-time
ministry years.) I have served in churches in Oklahoma, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Twenty-seven years seems like a long time, but not really when I look at a
person who I look up to and admire, my dad. 

I don’t know the
exact number but I believe my dad has been in full-time ministry for about 54
years.  Over the years I have been
privileged to observe my dad and what stands out is that he is always looking
to God to lead his steps. He took risks, because he believed that was God’s
will.  (At one point he left being a
pastor of a successful church to move 3000 miles west to pastor another church…smaller,
less members, a lot less money and the bill collectors met us on the day we
moved in saying the church was behind in making payments. God honored his
faithfulness by allowing him to help lead the church out of the financial
crisis and even witnessed numerical growth.)

What also is very
evident about my dad is his passion to be faithful to the call on his life and
that he strives to carry out any ministry task with integrity. (In one position
he was asked to step down from a position to make way for a younger person…even
though it hurt he did so and because of his Godly reaction to the situation,
became an example to others. To this day he has a great relationship with the
person who asked him to step down. I don’t know that I could have done that.)

Even in these years
he calls retirement, he still is looking for ways to serve and is willing to do
so when God gives him the opportunity. 
These days he is back in the classroom leading college students in a
survey of the Old and New Testament.  I
am thankful that I have been able to witness a faithful servant of God.  And I pray that when my days roll into retirement,
someone will look back and say about me: ‘he was faithful to the call on his
life and he carried out his ministry with integrity.’

Dad, thank you for
your example. I haven’t told you enough…I am glad you are my dad…I love you.


It is good to hear your voice!

April 22, 2008 in Spiritual Journey, Vocal Silence with 0 Comments

In the last week I have many people talk to me in person or on the phone and a line of the conversation almost always includes: “it is good to hear your voice.” (I do appreciate this support.) That one line, “it is good to hear your voice” reminds me of a portion of scripture that was covered in our service on Sunday. The message focused on Acts Chapter 9 where the story of Saul’s/Paul’s conversion was recorded. The title of the message was “Radical Transformation.” What an incredible, miraculous conversion. Continue Reading…


My routine changed…

April 16, 2008 in Spiritual Journey with 1 Comment

Yesterday, my morning routine got all messed up. I usually get up, have breakfast, read the paper, have my quiet time, head to the gym or out for a run and then on to the office. But yesterday I had an early breakfast meeting so I put some things in reverse order: I exercised, had coffee, read the paper took a shower and then out the door for a breakfast meeting. No big deal, however, I left something out; my morning quiet time didn’t make the list. I realized the oversight as I was headed out the door. I had the meeting which was very productive and then off to the office, still no quiet time. I got busy in the daily routine and no quiet time. Things seemed to be going fine, but it just wasn’t the same. I had missed something, I was lacking something. Finally after dinner I
stopped, found a quiet place and spent some time reading and meditating on God’s word. My reading for the day took me to Deuteronomy chapters 16-20. God is giving final instructions to Israel as they are about to enter the ‘promised land.’ The dialog from God in chapter 17 includes ‘guidelines for a king:’ who to choose, how to choose, how he should live, how he should act and how he should treasure and digest God’s word.

“…, he must copy these
laws on a scroll for himself…He must always keep this copy of the law with him
and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord
his God by obeying all the terms of the law. This regular reading will prevent
him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It
will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest
way.“(Deuteronomy 17: 18-20a)

Nothing like getting hit up side the head by God’s word. Okay, there is nothing wrong with changing my morning routine; however, there is something wrong by leaving God’s Word out of my life. What I missed by putting God’s Word at the end of the day was that my day did not get started focusing on the right things. I can’t say that my routine will not change again in the future, but next time I will do my best to get the day started in God’s Word.


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