24 Perfect Men .... Well, Almost

In honor of "The October Classic", baseball's post season series, I want to share a bit of baseball lore:

The Bible says that nobody’s perfect (Romans 3:23) but I know of twenty-four men that have been perfect … well, at least for the period of one baseball game. According to major league baseball records there have been only twenty-three men who have pitched a perfect baseball game in the entire 140+ years in the sport of baseball.  Plus there is one that accomplished this rare feat, but due to an umpire’s bad call, will always be an asterisk on this list.

I feel Armando Galarraga’s ‘perfect game that isn’t’ needs special recognition. On June 2, 2010 on what should have been the 27^th out, umpire Jim Joyce erroneously called the batter safe at first, thus preventing Galarraga from being added to this prestigious list.  This was before the age of video reviews so when Joyce watched the replay after the game was complete he realized that he had made the wrong call.  To his credit, he admitted his mistake.  The next day, in a very classy move, Galarraga met Joyce at home plate before the start of the day’s game.  Joyce tearfully expressed his deepest apologies and Galarraga graciously accepted it with a handshake and a hug.

What made these 24 men perfect?  They pitched a game where no player on the opposing team got a hit or even reached base on the pitcher during the entire nine inning game. In other words, he faced the minimum number of players that you can in a nine inning game – 27 – and they all either struck out, flied out, or grounded out – and he receives credit for the victory.  To give a little perspective on this accomplishment – there have been more men who have circled the moon than have pitched a perfect game!

I won’t bore you with the details of each game here (but if you’re a baseball fan, email me and I’ll share them), but there is some interesting trivia that swirls around this group of men that were perfect for a short period of time:

Other than the commonality of having pitched a perfect game, these men were widely different.  They came from different parts of the country and the world.  Some were city kids while others were country boys. Many had checkered pasts and were burdened with addictions while some were very religious.  Some spent their lives in baseball while a few have vowed to stay away from the game after their careers were over.

Even their within their perfect game there were degrees of perfection, in terms of pitches pitched and plays made behind them.  Career wise, some enjoyed playing many years in major league baseball while others spent less than five years in ‘the bigs’. Five of the players went on to have Hall of Fame careers while seven players ended their professional careers with an overall losing record.  One ‘perfect pitcher’ never had a winning record in any of his years of pitching professionally.

One thing that is in common with each of these 24 pitchers – their lives were forever changed by the event.   Here’s an example:

Don Larsen & Yogi Berra celebrating
the perfect game

Don Larsen’s perfect game masterpiece (the only one pitched in a World Series) came three days after he had been bombed for four runs in less than two innings in Game 2.  He was pretty sure that he would not be given another chance when, on the morning of Game 5, he found a baseball in one of his shoes at his locker. This was manager Casey Stengel’s way of informing him that he was scheduled to start that day. That day changed his life forever though he had an otherwise unremarkable career (81-91 over 14 seasons).

I’m sure you’re wondering if there is a spiritual point to this baseball trivia history lesson.  Yes there is, in fact, there are five points I want to make:

  

FACT #1:  No one is really perfect, except Jesus, who lived a sinless life

Even more unique than these 24 men throwing perfect games in the short history of the game of baseball is the living of a entire life without any mistakes – a life of perfection.  In fact, throughout recorded history of mankind it has happened only once – that being the life of Jesus of Nazareth. As recorded in the Bible, he was born into this world without sin and lived a sinless life.  There was a purpose for this and that brings us to …

 FACT #2:  The rest of us are not perfect, we’re sinners

As for the rest of us, Romans 3:23 describes us this way,  “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

So nobody’s perfect.  We all fall short of perfection in the eyes of God.  We all have lived through different backgrounds and experiences. Some of us have had to battle, fight, scrape, and overcome obstacles all our lives while others have had the proverbial silver spoon in their mouth. Most of you reading this blog have been involved in church all of your lives but there are others that we know that don’t know a hymn book from the Bible. As different as we all are, each of us do things each and every day that fails to measures up to God’s standard of perfection, so none of us can join that exclusive club of achieving perfection, even for the short span of time it takes to pitch a perfect game.

FACT #3:  Despite our failings, we are not beyond God’s love

Despite failing miserably at being perfect, we all can know and rejoice in the fact that God loves us. In fact, though all of us have sinned and none are perfect, we can find comfort and assurance in understanding the fact that nothing can separate us from God’s love. No matter what we’ve done or how many times we’ve turned our back on God or even thumbed our noses in His face, Romans 8:38-39 tells us that …

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If we can allow ourselves to embrace this fact and be embraced by His love our lives would be filled with extreme joy.  Sadly, many people have convinced themselves that they are unlovable – by God and by others.

FACT #4: God loves us so much that He has made a way for us to be perfect

Although we may feel defeated and beat up, and we feel inadequate in being loved by God, we need to KNOW that because God still loves us, He desires and longs for us to walk in victory every day of our lives.

In fact God loves us so much, in spite of recognizing we could not be perfect, and because He wants to be in relationship with us so badly that He sent Jesus, who, as 2 Corinthians 5:21 describes him, who knew no sin and God made him to be sin and to die a sinner’s death so his sacrifice can make us righteous or perfect in God’s eyes.

 The writer of Hebrews puts it this way in chapter 10, verse 10 & 14:

“we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
¹⁴ because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”

 FACT #5: So in God’s eyes – WE ARE PERFECT!!!!

So when you hear about the exclusiveness of the “Perfect Game” club in baseball, of those 24 men who were perfect for a span of about two hours in a game of baseball remember the exclusiveness of the “Becoming Perfect” club and how, through Jesus Christ, you are now included as a member of it.

And because of the love extended to you, through no achievement of your own, I strongly encourage you to extend that love on further to those around you.

 THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR CHURCH PLANTERS: newchurches.com – a website full of helps for church planters, multisite, and church multiplication - https://newchurches.com/

FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP: “The 3 Most Important 7’s on Your Church Campus” by Ken Braddy - http://buff.ly/1RfTyOR

FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP: LifeWay Church Directory Service - http://www.lifeway.com/Article/Services-LifeWay-Church-Directory

FOR TRAINING LEADERSHIP: Ministry Training Essentials, providing core training to the five leading areas of ministry in  your church - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Ministry-Training-Essentials

FOR HELP IN WRITING YOUR OWN BIBLE STUDIES: Smallgroup.com offers Bible studies for every book in the Bible and over 200 topics.  Now video supported studies are available! - http://home.smallgroup.com/

FOR DISCIPLESHIP:  DevoHub, a new way of delivering a daily devotional to your church and community - http://devohub.com/

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Disciples Path, a plan for developing disciples - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Disciples-Path

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY:  Women’s Forum, November 12-14, 2015 - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Women%27s-Ministry-Leadership-Forum?type=events

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Johnny Hunt’s Men’s Conference simulcast, February 5-6, 2016 - http://www.lifeway.com/n/product-family/johnny-hunt-men's-conference?type=events&intcmp=MensEvents-MTX-Text-JHuntSimulcast-20150903

FOR YOUTH LEADERS: Disciples Path for students – a new series for developing your students discipleship - http://www.lifeway.com/Disciples-Path/Youth/c/N-1z0znzeZ1z141ym?intcmp=DisciplesPath-MTX-Text-Students-20150625

FOR YOUTH LEADERS: International Mission Trips for students - http://accessthenations.com/

FOR YOUTH LEADERS: LifeWay Girls Conference, February 19 & 20, 2016 - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/LifeWay-Girls-Conference?type=events&EMID=jk-newslettergcon-092415

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Sign up for LifeWay Kids podcasts - http://www.lifeway.com/kidsministry/2015/08/04/introducing-the-kids-ministry-101-podcast/?emid=CW-LWK-newsletter-20150901

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: I’m a Christian Now resources, newly revised! - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/I'm-a-Christian-Now

6 Keys to Effective Group Participation

by Richard E. Dodge

Safety and security are considered by some psychologists to be essential for personal growth.  People will find places in which tye feel safe and secure.  Merely making a class experience open to discussion and group activity does not assure that individuals will feel safe and free to participate.  Teachers and study group leaders must be intentional in creating a truly open and safe study environment.

Creating a safe environment not only has a positive effect on group discussion, but also is essential for encouraging participation from learners who are not likely to place themselves in situations in which they can be embarrassed.  A safe environment allows adults to take communication risks. This is accomplished by creating an atmosphere in which learners feel they have a reasonable level of equal importance and they know that a coach/facilitator will manage the group process to prevent personal 'harm'to any individual.

Here are some practical ways a leader can communicate safety:

• Arrange chairs in a circle in the larger group with everyone at eye level. Leaders and learners become equals in the learning process.
• Establish ground rules. Let everyone know that each person is of worth and value, and that everyone deserves respect from other learners.
• Develop leadership confidence. Encourage even quiet learners to accept leadership positions that can help them serve God.
• Provide clear instructions to groups and group leaders. Make sure groups and leaders know what you expect from them.
• Use time wisely. Communicate plans and time increments, and then try to stick with the time frame.
• Rearrange group composition regularly. This helps learners get to know one another as well as discover others who have similar learning preferences.

Remember that people generally want to learn, but may have prior experiences that have left them feeling emotionally injured or inferior because someone failed to accept their thoughts or ideas.  All ideas and contributions are valid regardless of where they are accurate.  If they miss the target, affirm the person for the contribution and help the contributor discover the correct answer or information.  This often can be done simply by asking questions that encourage the contributor to reflect on his or her initial thoughts.

Sometimes our best teaching happens when we sit back and let the learners discover for themselves what you want them to learn.  Small group activities and assignments open doors for reflection and discovery, leaving you free to facilitate learning rather than impart knowledge.

A PICTURE OF COMMITMENT

(copied)

It was a cold winter day. An old man walked out onto a frozen lake, cut a hole in the ice and dropped in his fishing line. He was there for almost an hour, without even a nibble, when a young boy walked out onto the ice, cut a hole in the ice not far from him. The young boy dropped his fishing line and minutes later he hooked a large bass.

The old man couldn't believe his eyes but chalked it up to plain luck. But, shortly thereafter, the young boy pulled in another large catch.

The young boy kept catching fish after fish. Finally, the old man couldn't take it any longer. "Son, I've been here for over an hour without even a nibble. You've been here only a few minutes and have caught a half dozen fish! How do you do it?"

The boy responded, "Roo raf roo reep ra rums rrarm."

"What was that?" the old man asked.

Again the boy responded, "Roo raf roo reep ra rums rarrm."

"Look," said the old man, "I can't understand a word you're saying."

The boy spit the contents of his mouth into his hand and said, "You have to keep the worms warm!"

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP:  War Room; Here are some resources you can use to promote and enhance your experience with this upcoming movie -  http://buff.ly/1HRKFcP 

FOR TRAINING LEADERSHIP: Ministry Training Essentials, providing core training to the five leading areas of ministry in  your church - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Ministry-Training-Essentials

FOR SMALL GROUP MINISTRY: Join the ‘Hebrews Initiative’ this fall! - http://www.lifeway.com/n/special-emphasis/hebrews-initiative?emid=rpoinde-hebrewsinitiative-67151-20150414

FOR HELP IN WRITING YOUR OWN BIBLE STUDIES: Smallgroup.com offers Bible studies for every book in the Bible and over 200 topics.  Soon video supported studies! - http://home.smallgroup.com/

FOR DISCIPLESHIP:  DevoHub, a new way of delivering a daily devotional to your church and community - http://devohub.com/

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Disciples Path, a plan for developing disciples - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Disciples-Path

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: What Keeps You Up at Night? By Pete Wilson - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/what-keeps-you-up-at-night-bible-study-kit-P005747964

FOR YOUTH LEADERS: Midweek Services resources for Explore the Bible, Bible Studies for Life, and The Gospel Project curriculum users - http://blog.lifeway.com/explorethebible/blog/what-are-these-new-midweek-verse-by-verse-things/

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Kids Ministry Conference, Nashville, TN, October 19-21, 2015 - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Kids-Conference-LifeWay-Kids-Ministry-Conference

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: How to Incorporate Prayer into Your Women’s Ministry - http://www.lifeway.com/womensministry/2015/08/05/how-to-incorporate-prayer-into-your-womens-ministry/

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Fervent, A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirer (a companion piece for the War Room movie) - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/fervent-P005765905

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY:  Women’s Forum, November 12-14, 2015 - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Women%27s-Ministry-Leadership-Forum?type=events

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Johnny Hunt’s Men’s conference simulcast, February 5-6, 2016 - http://www.lifeway.com/n/product-family/johnny-hunt-men's-conference?type=events&intcmp=MensEvents-MTX-Text-JHuntSimulcast-20150903

Guiding a Dominating Participant

by Clark Cothern

People shifted in their seats, looking first at each other, then down at their Bibles. Janice didn't seem to notice. She just kept on talking, answering almost every question in the guide before anyone else could speak.

As the group members shuffled out after the study, Martha, the hostess, gave encouraging looks, as if to say, "I understand." She was concerned some might stop coming if Janice continued to dominate the group's discussions.

Does this scenario sound familiar? Almost anyone who has been in a group study can identify with the feelings of frustration that result when one member controls. What can be done about a leader or group member who assumes the role of "expert" and dominates discussion?

Establish ground rules.

This is preventative maintenance for your group. Each time you begin a study, make sure the group understands the guidelines for group study. One way to do this effectively is to pass out guidelines (try writing them on bookmarks) to each participant and ask each one to read a guideline aloud. In that way, everyone takes part and each member knows how the group will be led.

One or two of the guidelines should emphasize that the discussion is for every group member. No one person should dominate the study. By emphasizing this before the study, you leave the door open to gentle correction of the problem later. Sometimes a simple reminder can bring people back to the guidelines and avoid a frustrating study in which people wonder what to do about a controlling individual.

Set an example.

When, as the leader, you set the pace, others tend to follow your lead. That means you should avoid answering every question. Listen more than you talk. Seek to guide the group in making their own discoveries rather than always feeding them yours.

If your good example is not enough, firm but gentle suggestions can be made in a positive way without hurting feelings. For example, when someone begins contributing more often than the others, you might say, "I would really like to hear from some who haven't shared yet. What do the rest of you think?"

This often works with those who are sensitive to others and are simply unaware they are starting to control.

Confront caringly.

You have probably met those who don't respond to subtlety. With the more aggressive personality, caring confrontation is often necessary. For an example of this type of intervention, let's return to our original scenario.

After the study, Martha approached Janice. "Would you like to stay for a cup of coffee?" Janice accepted.

Over coffee, Martha expressed her delight that Janice was getting so much from the studies. She affirmed Janice by pointing out several strengths she had demonstrated to the group. Martha's genuine concern for Janice was evident.

Then, Martha asked clearly, but kindly, "Janice, may I be candid with you about something you may not be aware of?" She asked permission from Janice to offer a caring critique.

With Janice's consent, Martha continued. "Because you are getting so much from the studies, you may not have noticed that several others in the group have not spoken much. I'd like you to help me draw them into the discussions. We want to share our discoveries, and I'm sure others need to have the joy of discovery as you have. Would you help me do that?"

Because Martha involved Janice as a team member, asking for her help to accomplish a group goal, Janice felt accepted, not threatened. Things improved greatly after the caring confrontation. Members of the group thanked Martha for intervening on their behalf.

Janice still tended to dominate. However, Martha gently reminded her from time to time of their team effort, and Janice responded to Martha's loving correction.

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP:  War Room; Here are some resources you can use to promote and enhance your experience with this upcoming movie -  http://buff.ly/1HRKFcP 

FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP:  6 Tips for Staff Meetings That Don’t Stink by Mark Dance – http://buff.ly/1MJZlvJ

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP: Growing Groups Conferences (in Georgia) throughout August - http://gabaptistgroups.org/2015-growing-groups/

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP: Groups Matter Event at Ridgecrest, NC, August 27-29, 2015, discussing issues like disciple making, DNA of healthy groups, responding to the homosexual question, missional groups, etc. - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Groups-Matter-Event?type=events

FOR SMALL GROUP MINISTRY: Join the ‘Hebrews Initiative’ this fall! - http://www.lifeway.com/n/special-emphasis/hebrews-initiative?emid=rpoinde-hebrewsinitiative-67151-20150414

FOR HELP IN WRITING YOUR OWN BIBLE STUDIES: http://home.smallgroup.com/

FOR DISCIPLESHIP:  I Will: Nine Traits of an Outwardly Focused Christian by Dr. Thom Rainer - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/i-will-P005742345

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Fuge Camps 2016, register now - http://www.fugecamps.com/events/2016-06/

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: My 8, helping students understand the heart of evangelism - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/my-8-embrace-and-engage-the-wonder-of-evangelism-leader-kit-P005737563

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Leadership Lessons, part 1 & 2 by Ben Trueblood - http://www.lifeway.com/studentministry/?type=learn

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Kids Ministry Conference, Nashville, TN, October 19-21, 2015 - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Kids-Conference-LifeWay-Kids-Ministry-Conference

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Kids Ministry podcasts - http://buff.ly/1eSySy6

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: 5 Tips for VBS Preparation - http://t.co/NgBEPJdyKW

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: How to Incorporate Prayer into Your Women’s Ministry - http://www.lifeway.com/womensministry/2015/08/05/how-to-incorporate-prayer-into-your-womens-ministry/

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Fervent, A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirer (a companion piece for the War Room movie) - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/fervent-P005765905

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY:  Living Proof Live, Beth Moore simulcast, September 12, 2015 - buff.ly/1QfeHqf

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY:  Women’s Forum, November 12-14, 2015 - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Women%27s-Ministry-Leadership-Forum?type=events

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Sleeping Giant: Beginning a Men’s Ministry by Kenny Luck - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Sleeping-Giant?intcmp=KennyLuck-MTX-Text-SleepingGiant-20130124

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY:  Stepping Up: A Call for Courageous Manhood - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/stepping-up-a-call-to-courageous-manhood-leader-kit-P005764897

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY:  Killing Lions: A Guide Through the Trials Young Men Face by John and Sam Eldridge - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/killing-lions-P005680389

Keeping the Proper Focus

Several Christmases ago, my family enjoyed a family reunion at a camping lodge in Leavenworth, WA. During our time there, Karen and I took some skiing lessons at a ski school at Stephens Pass. (Don’t you love me talking about snow in the middle of summer!)  At one point the instructor asked me to stand downhill from them by around 25 yards. He then told Karen to go around me as a practice in making a left hand turn.  He made it a point of emphasis to say, “Focus on the open patch of snow just downhill from your husband and aim for it.  No matter what you do, do not look at your husband because what you focus on is what you’re going to head for.”  True to his word, Karen locked her eyes on me (boy, what a look of fear!) and she flat ran me over!

Recently I read an article that reinforces this principle. Missionary pilot Bernie May wrote about his experiences on the mission field,  He shared this point, "One of the most difficult lessons to teach new pilots about landing on short, hazardous airstrips is to keep their eyes on the good part of the strip rather than on the hazard. The natural tendency is to concentrate on the obstacle, the danger, the thing he is trying to avoid. But experience teaches us that a pilot who keeps his eye on the hazard will sooner or later hit it dead center."

The spiritual principle in all of this is that instead of concentrating on the sins we want to avoid, we are told to focus on the positive actions Christ desires for us. Paul told the Christians at Colosse: "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2). We are to discard old ways of thinking and acting (vv.5-9) and "put on" new ways of living (vv.10-17).

Bernie May sums it up by saying that experienced pilots focus their attention solidly on the track they want the plane to follow, keeping the hazards in their peripheral vision only.

All too often, we try our best with all our ability (there may be part of the problem) to avoid sins in our life that frequently trip us, but yet we seem to be drawn right back to them.  A better point of focus is to simply concentrate on Christ and His will for our lives and to give up being so self reliant on our puny spiritual strength. When we keep Christ and His interests as the focus, the lure of the old life will remain in the corner of our eye, but our aim will most often land us squarely in the center of God's will.

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP:  War Room; Here are some resources you can use to promote and enhance your experience with this upcoming movie -  http://buff.ly/1HRKFcP 

FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP:  6 Simple Things a First Time Church Guest Likes by Dr. Thom Rainer - http://thomrainer.com/2015/06/six-simple-things-a-first-time-church-guest-likes/

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP: Growing Groups Conferences (in Georgia) throughout August - http://gabaptistgroups.org/2015-growing-groups/

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP: Groups Matter Event at Ridgecrest, NC, August 27-29, 2015, discussing issues like disciple making, DNA of healthy groups, responding to the homosexual question, missional groups, etc. - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Groups-Matter-Event?type=events

FOR SMALL GROUP MINISTRY: Join the ‘Hebrews Initiative’ this fall! - http://www.lifeway.com/n/special-emphasis/hebrews-initiative?emid=rpoinde-hebrewsinitiative-67151-20150414

FOR HELP IN WRITING YOUR OWN BIBLE STUDIES: http://home.smallgroup.com/

FOR BIBLE STUDY: January Bible Study 2016, Second Corinthians; The Church Ministry’s Handbook - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/January-Bible-Study

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Tech Help in Student Ministry by Chris Swain - http://www.lifeway.com/studentministry/2015/05/26/student-ministry-tech/

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Tips on Retaining Your Student Leadership - buff.ly/1QfeHqf

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Seamless by Angie Smith, understanding the Bible as one complete story for teenage girls - http://www.lifeway.com/Seamless/Youth/c/N-1z0zm8zZ1z141ym

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: My 8, helping students understand the heart of evangelism - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/my-8-embrace-and-engage-the-wonder-of-evangelism-leader-kit-P005737563

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Three Essentials for the Church and Home by Jeffrey Reed - http://www.lifeway.com/Kids/LifeWay-Christian-Resources/c/N-1z10cb8Z1z141jl?intcmp=LifeWayKid-MTX-Banner-3Essentials-20150128

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Before You Serve: Shake the Dust Off Your Feet by Jana Magruder - http://www.lifeway.com/kidsministry/2015/07/10/before-you-serve-shake-the-dust-off-your-feet/

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Evangelism and Discipleship materials - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/I%27m-a-Christian-Now

FOR DISCIPLESHIP:  I Will: Nine Traits of an Outwardly Focused Christian by Dr. Thom Rainer - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/i-will-P005742345

(There is a four session Bible study that is available to download for the "I Will" book as well as sermon helps and video clips to enhance a church's experience in reading this book)

FOR DISCIPLESHIP:  The Friends of Jesus by Karen Kingsbury - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-friends-of-jesus-bible-study-leader-kit-p005727070

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Fervent, A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirer (a companion piece for the War Room movie) - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/fervent-P005765905

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY:  Living Proof Live, Beth Moore simulcast, September 12, 2015 - buff.ly/1QfeHqf

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY:  Women’s Forum, November 12-14, 2015 - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Women%27s-Ministry-Leadership-Forum?type=events

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY:  Stepping Up: A Call for Courageous Manhood - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/stepping-up-a-call-to-courageous-manhood-leader-kit-P005764897

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY:  Killing Lions: A Guide Through the Trials Young Men Face by John and Sam Eldridge - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/killing-lions-P005680389

Trees of Faith

I rarely use this forum to share glimpses from my personal life. I try to 'keep it professional.'  Many of you may not know that my wife, Karen, and I lost a son six years ago this June 14.  If you are interested in how that tragedy has changed us you are invited to view our blog, Embracing Grief, at http://embracinggrief.blogspot.com/.  But let me warn you, sometimes we get pretty transparent, raw, and messy with our journey.

In light of this upcoming anniversary, I wanted to share one of my entries and insights.

Beth's painting

As Karen and I struggled to navigate in the fog of grief following Jacob’s death, we tried to set up memorials and remembrances of Jacob’s life (as if we would really forget about him!). Beth, our sweet daughter-in-law, painted a beautiful painting of Karen and Jacob on the beach that we have hanging prominently on our wall. And we have other memorabilia around the house that bring us comfort and, often, tears, as they remind us of him.

Another way we tried to honor him was by planting a tree or shrub somewhere around our cabin home in North Carolina on his birthday, March 11. The first plantings we did, while we still lived in Marietta but would come to the cabin on weekends, were two dogwood saplings. One produces pink flowers and the other, white.

Now, I’ve never considered myself a gardener and if half of what I planted each season survived I felt like I was fortunate. Thankfully, both of the dogwoods survived the first summer and fall.  But one weekend in late winter we came up to the cabin and, as I was inspecting the place, I was dismayed to see that the beavers from the creek had somehow circumvented the protective wire around the trunk we had placed around the dogwoods and had chewed off the main trunk of one about two feet above the ground.

One dogwood

I was devastated by this act of vandalism done by a four legged creature with buck teeth. This tree was to symbolize the life of Jacob and now this furry beast had decimated it.  Then I began to smile as I could hear Jacob’s gravelly laughter and voice speaking to me, “Pops, since when did I give a hoot about dogwood trees?”

In the years since this occurrence we have come to realize that, as nice as the act of planting shrubs and trees to remember Jacob by is, we really don’t need these physical reminders to help us honor and remember the life of Jacob.  He is constantly with us in our thoughts. Rarely an hour doesn’t go by that something brings him to mind and it emotes a smile or a tear (and often, both) on our faces.

But you may be asking, “Hey, what happened to the dogwood trees?”

The damaged dogwood

Thankfully, both dogwoods have survived and they have now come to symbolize something else in my life. As I look at the dogwood trees they remind me of my faith in God and how it has changed shape over the years.

For years, my tree of faith was growing straight and true, producing blossoms and leaves as it grew upward and outward. Unseen, the root system grew deep and wide, drawing the needed nutrients and water to keep the tree alive.  But then Jacob died …. And the trunk of my tree of faith was severed at the top.  Since that time, the appearance and substance of my faith has been changed dramatically.

Jacob’s death has caused me to analyze how faith works; how prayer works; how God works.  I have come up with lots of questions and very little answers.  My faith has been damaged and has forever changed shape but it persistently clings to life. Rather, God and His grace has persistently clung onto me in the midst of my doubts, anger, and questions.

In the ensuing years, the dogwood tree that was ravaged by the beaver has struggled to survive and has compensated with the loss of the main trunk by using a branch of the tree as its new main trunk. Meanwhile, the other dogwood has continued to grow well balanced and full.

The one tree reminds me that some people grow with little opposition in their life. They may encounter the occasional bug or pest, but on the whole, everything comes easy for them and they are the perfect picture, according to most people, of what life should be like. They are full and balanced and produce beauty that is attractive to all around them.

But then there are others, like me, who have had some type of trauma that has attacked their tree of faith.  They have been ravaged and brought low.  But beneath the surface, their root system has stayed intact and continues to slowly supply the sap to what’s left of the tree in order for it to continue to live and grow. Now to all outward appearances, that growth is awkward and off balanced due to the heavy losses that tree has incurred. It is still alive and growing but it will forever be affected and changed. It will never be a tree of beauty again. It will continue to face challenges to its life because of its deformity.  But it is ‘still in the game’, struggling for growth and life as it remains tapped in the main power supply. By God’s abundant grace, my ugly looking tree of faith continues to live and grow despite the damage that has been done.

And, thankfully, God loves and nurtures both trees just the same. He has no expectations of equal production, just equal love. And His grace nurtures all trees equally, whether they are deformed or full.

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