The Book of Man

For the past several months, my dad and I have been part of a fellowship of men at church who have been meeting every week to build each other up in our manhood journeys. This program called Men’s Fraternity has facilitated times of talking about our past, discussing struggles and successes, praying for current situations, and looking to affect the future with positive change. All in all it has helped each one of us to see a larger picture of God’s design for us as men and leaders. In addition to listening to the lectures from Robert Lewis, I’ve supplemented the study by reading through an anthology of quotes and literature entitled “The Book of Man: Readings on the Path to Manhood” compiled by William J. Bennett.

This hefty volume is divided into six main sections: man in war, man at work, man in play / sports / leisure, man in the polis, man with woman and children, and man in prayer and reflection. Each section is nearly 100 pages of biographical sketches, speeches, poems, or excerpts of classic literature showcasing the type of courage a real man must have—courage to stand up and fight for what he believes. As I read through the book, I was struck with the relevance of its passages—several of them I had just come across earlier that week, whether it was brought up in the pastor’s sermon, Men’s Fraternity, or another book I was reading.

One aspect I appreciate about this book is that every selection was meant to teach a different attribute of manhood. I can learn as valuable a lesson from a soldier as I can from an ancient philosopher as I can from a basketball coach as I can from a president. Nobody here claims to be a perfect example or to have all the answers—and for answers, the best place to go is the Bible—but still, each one is valuable for “in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14b).

I am very pleased to have this book on my shelf from here on out. I can see myself coming back to this book again and again as I continue on my quest for authentic manhood.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of The Book of Man through Book Sneeze, in exchange for my honest review.

The 17 Essential Qualities Of A Team Player

Exercise…with it come strength and growth; without it come laziness and stagnation. Exercising the body is important to maintaining a good physical well-being, and likewise it is also important to regularly exercise the mind. For me, this has taken the form of reading good books and looking for ways to apply in my life what I am reading.

I recently started a new job and was delighted to discover that I now have access to hundreds (if not thousands) of digitized books thanks to the company’s partnership with Books 24x7. In between checking e-mails and waiting for clearance to work on the team’s projects, I’ve had plenty of time to spend perusing the wealth of information contained within the windows of my web browser.

First on the list of gems I’ve uncovered is John Maxwell’s exposition on the 17 Essential Qualities Of A Team Player: Becoming the Kind of Person Every Team Wants. For each quality, Maxwell brings in thought-provoking quotes, engaging stories, practical advice, and probing questions to cause the reader to get a handle on each quality and begin the process of continuous personal growth in his life. I’m a fan of all things practical, and this book is full of first-rate observations from a man who has proven himself in the very areas he is writing about. For this reason alone it is a worthy use of time as his advice comes from experience. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who interacts with other people—and who doesn’t? As you read, you’ll be challenged to be adaptable, collaborative, committed, communicative, competent, dependable, disciplined, enlarging, enthusiastic, intentional, mission-conscious, prepared, relational, self-improving, selfless, solution-oriented, and tenacious—qualities that will take you far and will help your team achieve new levels of success.

What’s holding you back from being a better team player? The best way to improve is just to work on it—get out there and exercise your mind!

Through My Eyes

In my humble opinion, the best person ever to play the game of college football was Tim Tebow. I say this not because he won a lot of games or led his team to the national championship or because he set all sorts of records, I say this because of the person he was and is off the field. Being in the limelight can cause many people of lesser character to stumble, but Tim was able to use the platform he had earned through his athletics as a springboard for sharing his faith. Tim not just talked the talk, he lived it every day from being faithful in his backyard chores to being an example on the foreign mission fields. In his recent memoir, Through My Eyes, Tim explains why he is the way he is, and what (or more specifically, Who) has brought him to where he is right now, a starting quarterback in the NFL.

Tim's story begins before he was born, when his parents specifically asked God for another son to raise as a preacher. God answered by sending along Timmy, but not without much difficulty in the pregnancy. In fact, doctors recommended an abortion to save his mother's life, thinking there was no way both would survive. However, God's plan was much different than the doctors', and God delivered both mother and baby in a hospital room in the Philippines where his parents were missionaries. Their incredible story has been heard nationally through a Super Bowl ad that Focus on the Family sponsored.

After such a beginning to life, the Tebows knew Tim would be a special boy. He grew up strong and healthy and was always competing with his four older brothers and sisters. I'll not recount all the stories he told in this book about his growing up years—that's what the book is there for, so you'll have to go read it yourself. Many of them are quite humorous! As the book progresses and he moves from high school into college, he takes us inside his helmet to show what he was seeing and what he was thinking in the big games and major events he participated in. One of the biggest things that happened to Tim was being selected as a Heisman trophy finalist three years in a row. Tim was the youngest Heisman trophy winner when he won in 2007. This says a lot about his determination and commitment to being the best he could be.

It's not often that I prefer reading about sports than watching it happen in front of me on the TV, but with this book the commercial breaks were never long enough! I think I ended up missing most of the weekend's games due to being enthralled in this story. Well done, Tim Tebow, and all the best as you continue your legacy in the NFL while honoring your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Doing Virtuous Business

As a follow-up on the theme of living courageously, I’ve been studying some ways to practice the message in my daily living. It is important to live courageously with the family at home, but it is equally important—if not more vital—to do so in the workplace. It is within the realm of enterprise that most people spend a significant portion of their waking hours holding a job and conducting business. It is the habit of some people to spend more time at work than they do with their families. The ideas shared below come from my recent reading of the book, Doing Virtuous Business: the Remarkable Success of Spiritual Enterprise, by Theodore Roosevelt Malloch.

Contained within the pages of this book are treasure troves of wisdom focusing on the benefits of spiritual capital in doing business. In each chapter, different companies are analyzed to find out what made them as successful as they are or to identify where the business went wrong and brought disaster upon itself. This book does much more than simply state the need for business ethics—it spells out the benefits for virtues such as faith, hope, and charity and what can happen to businesses (or people) who lack the qualities that invoke trust from others. Other characteristics that must be cultivated are leadership, courage, patience, perseverance, discipline, as well as the softer virtues of justice, forgiveness, compassion, humility, and gratitude.

I would recommend this book to everyone who interacts with other people in their line of work (which would be just about everybody). There’s a saying, “those who don’t learn from history are destined to repeat it.” Reading this book will help the reader learn from the CEOs who made wise choices and avoid the mistakes of those who went down the wrong path. In the back of the book is a lengthy appendix of businesses who have done the right thing, including the likes of Chick-Fil-A, IBM, Habitat for Humanity, Wal-Mart, and others. After reading this book, I’m more likely to give my business to a company that possesses and practices the spiritual capital discussed in the pages of this book. I think you will too, after you give it a read.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Doing Virtuous Business through Book Sneeze, in exchange for my honest review.

Courageous

Dad and I have had some great father/son time this weekend—and the weekend is really just getting started! Due to a Christian educator’s convention happening in Detroit, it was just the two of us at home for a while. After a nice meal eating out, we spent some time last night going through his old memorabilia—stuff he saved from his childhood. I got to read letters and postcards his father wrote and enter a little bit into the relationship they shared in my dad’s early years. My grandfather died before I was born, so these kinds of memories are the only tangible things I have of him. He was a pastor and his love and care for his flock was evident through the letters left behind.

Our father/son time continued today through watching the new film “Courageous” together. What a film! Sherwood Pictures has done it again in creating a poignant illustration of a timeless message that fatherhood must be taken seriously. There will come moments of putting one’s life on the line, tragedies requiring going to God for grace to get through, situations for making tough decisions to stand up for convictions, and the time to own up to past failures and shoulder the responsibility. Honor begins in the home, and this is where a lifelong impact on a child’s life is formed. I’ll not give away the plot any further, but the film is riveting and is packed with both action and emotion.

What does God have to say about being courageous? “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9, ESV). That’s pretty clear isn’t it? Go live courageously!

Surviving Your Serengeti

This summer has been unmatched in terms of personal traveling and places visited than any other short period of time I can remember. Let's see, I swam in the Atlantic Ocean, drove all over the Eastern-Midwestern states, scaled one of the Rocky Mountains, cruised up and down the Pacific Coast, biked around some northern lakes, and saw the great city of New York from the sky. I saw firsthand such a variety of beauty and majesty! If I could specify one thing that I learned through my peripatetic prowess, it would be that all creation sings its Creator's song.

Now that I've returned from my travels, it's been time to settle back into life at home and line up work. One of the books I just completed reading was written with those goals in mind: to help the individual master seven skills for business and life. Enter "Surviving Your Serengeti" by Stefan Swanepoel.

This book is a fictional story about a few folks who travel to Africa for a vacation but through their encounters in the Serengeti return ready to reshape their business and lives back home. On their African adventure, they encounter seven different animals—all who exhibit a unique survival trait. Wildebeests must endure as they make the annual journey of 1000+ miles around the Serengeti in search of good food and water. Lions must be strategic in working together in order to eat. Crocodiles must be enterprising when opportunity comes their way. Cheetahs have to be efficient in knowing what to pursue in order to get the best results. Giraffes are graceful and are respected out there in the savannah (this correlates to professionalism). The Mongooses take risks and reap the rewards of wise maneuvers. Elephants communicate and pass on important information to the others in their herd, especially the young ones.

For anyone who likes a simple storyline with a little science lesson thrown in, this is great. It's a quick read and a fun one too. I enjoyed the author's ability to correlate the animals' strengths into easy-to-grasp self-help statements. Perhaps this book should come along with you on your next adventure!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Surviving Your Serengeti through Book Sneeze, in exchange for my honest review.

George Washington Carver

Today for my lunch, I enjoyed two delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. In fact, I’ve been going through the peanut butter so fast recently my family had to stock up on several jars of peanut butter from the grocery store tonight! There are so many varieties out there: regular, natural, organic…each coming in creamy or chunky options. Some people I know only go for the Peter Pan brand, others pick JIF, or maybe they just go for whatever’s the cheapest on the shelf. However, a few decades ago the food that has become a staple in today’s kitchen cupboard had not been created yet. True, the components for the food were all there, as God is the creator of all things, but no one had taken the time to ask Him how to separate the peanut until George Washington Carver came on the scene in the 1880s with a very important issue to resolve.

I focus on the way our lives have been affected today by this man, George Washington Carver, as I just finished reading a book from the Christian Encounters series that gave me an up-close glance at his life. Born a slave and orphaned at an early age, George grew up in his master’s home and took an interest in plants at a very young age. Though his body was physically weak all throughout life, he applied himself to whatever he was doing and did whatever he could to further his education. The majority of his life was spent working at Tuskegee Institute, a school founded to train black people in the South to learn a trade and make a living using their hands. Carver invested many years teaching the students agriculture and groundbreaking farming techniques. Carver loved working in his laboratory, because there he was able to go to God and make incredible discoveries on the crops that were growing well in the South. Carver had a special relationship with the Creator, and his creativity flowed out of his communion with God.

The book was very well written and approached Carver’s life in a respectful way. As a black man living in the South not long after slavery was banned, he endured a lot of racial prejudice and injustice throughout his life. The author made sure to include enough examples of Carver’s circumstances, experiences, and personal reflections. I found the pages full of information, easy to read, and worthy of my time. After studying this man’s life, I am very grateful for his self-sacrificing efforts to transform a field of potential into a world of prosperity. His life stands as a legacy of hope to all people that beauty can rise out of ashes and that much can be learned from God’s creation.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of George Washington Carver through Book Sneeze, in exchange for my honest review.

Seeing God in the details

Each new day is a gift from God. It’s up to us to determine how we will use the gift. Today was one of those days that caused me to realize just how blessed I am to be where I am and to be doing what I am doing.

I’m currently in a very unique stage of life right now. Last month marked the first time I’ve lived at my parent’s home for an extended period of time since I finished high school and became involved in a Christian ministry nine years ago. I had a lot of responsibilities and felt my involvement was making a difference, the friends I had there were great, and I formed many happy memories there. In fact, I’d say this past year was the best year of my life, hands down. However, I chose to move on from all that and come home, not knowing exactly what I would be doing next but knowing that God wanted to bring our family together again.

While I’ve been home, I’ve been able to connect with my parents on a level that hasn’t been there when I just popped in for a few weeks over seasonal breaks and holidays. Dad and I have had time to be together, just the two of us going out for ice cream or going out to a ball game. The other day, we dug out one of his old storage trunks and started going through his childhood coin collections that his dad got him started on. Mom has been busy with teaching, but we’ve still had time for bonding through special outings like bike rides or even the simple things like helping out in the kitchen. One of the things we’ve done together is sing in the church choir. We got there early for practice one time, and as we were conversing with one of the other choir members, he found out I am still looking for employment. The next day he called me up and asked if I would like to work with him and his assistant on some home-improvement projects he had lined up for the week. Out of the blue God provided work for me to do, and it came because I was willing to honor my parents!

Working for a professional handy-man, I’ve picked up on a lot of techniques and skills that should serve me well down the road. Attention to detail is key! At this point, he’s had work for me to do every day since first asking me to join him a few weeks ago, with the exception for today (the forecast called for rain, so his outdoor projects were put on hold). However, this gave me time at home to fix a few things around the house and time during business hours to take my résumé and go do some PR for myself around town. Dad went with me to the various places and even treated me to an ice cream cone while we were downtown Midland. I don’t know what will come of these job-search efforts, but it is encouraging to know that God has a plan for my life, and it is a good plan—one that even I could not dream up.

That brings be back to today. The forecast (like I mentioned earlier) called for rain, and the rain started to fall shortly after we were done with dinner. It was so beautiful out, though, with the setting sun dropping behind the clouds, we decided that our family bike ride was not going to be rained out this evening! On our ride, the sky lit up with the orange glow of the sunset, the clouds reflected a warm, pink glow, and God painted a huge rainbow overhead. As I was crossing over a pedestrian bridge in the park where the creek meets the river, a beautiful blue heron was taking flight above the water, and just down the way, two fat blue jays happily hopped about after a nice meal. After the bike ride, we all gathered on the porch and had a time for family devotions, learning from Dr. Guthrie’s lessons on sheep. The day wasn’t over though until I had played the hymns on the piano that have been on my heart lately. Dad sat and listened for a while as I played, and in the middle of the music, Mom paid me the highest compliment ever just for being me. I am so grateful to be living these days at home with my family and having a chance to support each other in various ways that can’t easily be done from a distance. God knows.

A Place Called Blessing

I'll admit, I'm not one who heads straight to the fiction section in the library, but after reading the latest novel by Dr. John Trent, I just might frequent that section more often. When I picked up A Place Called Blessing, I could hardly put it down. In the book, the narrator retells his story of growing up in a foster care system, being separated from his brothers, being able to reconnect with them for a while only to blow it a little while later and get all of them sent off to a children's home still at a young age. Our friend Josh coped by learning to trust no one after going through feelings of rejection and living with the label of being undesirable. His story is one of overcoming loneliness and a past filled with hurt as two individuals invest into his life and show him that there is more to life than living for oneself.

Through the models of the characters portrayed in this little novel, I’ve been blessed by all the ways of encouragement, wisdom, and generosity each person exemplified to one another and motivated to do similarly to others. This is a wonderful book and deserves to be on everybody’s reading list.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of A Place Called Blessing through Book Sneeze, in exchange for my honest review.

Washington: A Legacy of Leadership

A few weeks ago we celebrated the 235th anniversary of our country's independence. In our nation’s existence, perhaps no one particular man has had such a vital part in shaping our country than George Washington. He is referred to as the “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” Having recently traveled out to the state bearing his name, I decided it best to brush up on some George Washington history. The book I decided to read is titled, Washington: A Legacy of Leadership, from the new series on the American Generals.

As a volume focusing on his military career, this book started with his first military missions and focused on his key part in shaping the country through heading up the Continental Army and the path that brought him to the point of leading the new nation as her first President. I learned a lot about what went into the rigors of warfare at the time—much hardship and sacrifice definitely were required of all men. Through it all, Washington's integrity and resolve made him the man for each of the responsibilities given him. Even while a young soldier, Washington was a man of principle and self-control and one who trusted in the providence of God. He was a flawed man, but due to his willingness to be used by God, he fulfilled his purpose in life and set the foundation for a strong nation. Through the stories and accounts the author was able to bring to the table of Washington and his men, I have a greater appreciation not just for the man but also for my country.


Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Washington: A Legacy of Leadership through Book Sneeze, in exchange for my honest review.

Facing Your Giants

I recently came across a study on courage by Max Lucado. Taken from David’s example of meeting Goliath head-on (or head-off, as the case may be), the title of the work is “Facing Your Giants.” In this study, Lucado identifies practical ways that we too can go out and face our giants.

As a precursor to the whole situation, young David was willing to be used of God, even if it was to be out in the fields tending the sheep—a job none of his older brothers wanted to do. While there, the groundwork was laid for David to be courageous by protecting the flock from lions, bears, and other predators. When it came time for action on the big stage, David already had the perspective which views God as bigger than anything else that is out to get him—whether it be a hungry bear or a blasphemous giant. The theme that Lucado brings out is “focus on God, giants tumble…focus on giants, you stumble.”

This book served as a good reminder to me that no matter the struggle I may be facing, like David I ought to look to the past an recount God's faithfulness, make prayer a priority, and be persistent with the passions God has given me. There have been situations recently that seem impossible—and no doubt there will be more around the corner—but these principles of godly courage hold true. I would highly recommend this book (or audiobook) to anyone who has a giant or two standing in the path before him—go face your giant!

Duty. Honor. Country.

The annals of history have much to teach us if we are only willing to stop a moment and study the pages that contain stories of battles valiantly fought, lessons vividly learned , and lives victoriously lived.  One exceptionally vibrant portion in these chronicles takes us through the turn of the century (19^th-20^th, that is), through World Wars I & II, and into the post-war recovery. We’d be hard-pressed to find a man as influential as Douglas MacArthur was in the events all across the globe that took place during this pivotal time in our world. Here is a man who took his US Military Academy motto seriously and gave it wings, “Duty. Honor. Country.”

I just finished reading a biography on his life by Mitchell Yockelson entitled, MacArthur: America’s General, part of a new series on America’s generals. This book drew me right in as I found out about his childhood being raised in a military family (his father, Arthur MacArthur rose to the rank of general and also earned the Army’s highest recognition, the Medal of Honor), his dealing with the deaths of both his brothers at relatively young ages, going through West Point, his love for sports (and involvement in the 1928 US Olympic Committee), and his foreign deployments in the Pacific as a commissioned Army officer. The author was able to bring in a few quotes of the general’s to give authenticity to the stories and descriptions of life as it was for Douglas. I would have enjoyed reading even more quotations or excerpts from his speeches, as he was a prolific communicator.

One adage that shaped Douglas’s outlook on life was passed down to him from his grandfather: “You must also be a gentleman and scholar, and above all else, honorable.” This Douglas took to heart and earned top honors in Military Academy and graduated first in his class at West Point. He was rewarded with many key positions throughout his lifetime, many of which had never come to anyone younger. He was called upon to lead troops into battle, strategize tactical maneuvers for the entire Pacific fleet, bring social and political reform to broken and needy countries in the Far East, and advise many Presidents on military affairs. MacArthur was not afraid to stand his ground against anybody—even when his direct authority, the President, gave specific orders. This eventually led to his being relieved of military duty after 52 years in the service. He came home to a hero’s welcome.

Statue of General Douglas MacArthur in front of the MacArthur Memorial.

This week my travels brought me to the Norfolk, Virginia area where the city has a huge memorial dedicated to the general’s lifetime of service to his country. I had the privilege of spending an afternoon there seeing the memorabilia firsthand, reading further about life during the wars for him and his men, and hearing clips from many of his famous speeches. It was a moving experience to see how one life lived with passion for his duty, conviction to be honorable, and love for Country was able to affect the course of history—even my history.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of MacArthur: America’s General through Book Sneeze, in exchange for my honest review.

Hitting the Mark

I had the opportunity to join the Class of 2011 in their senior retreat to the Harvest Home Farm up north in Wisconsin last weekend. What an incredible time to commune with God in the beautiful hills and woods and pastures of the farm and to fellowship with close friends in a much different setting than our campus.

There were many life lessons learned there, but one that stands out is that of hitting the mark. Dr. Guthrie pulled out his bows and arrows the first day and set up a nice shooting range for us by the pavilion. On subsequent days we shot rifles, pistols, and shotguns. Each type of weapon had a particular type of target to shoot at—3D animal targets for the bows, old bowling pins for the rifles, metal spinning bullseyes for the pistols, and clay pigeons for the shotguns. Each target was very different than the other, but they all have one thing in common—in order to hit the target, one must properly take aim! The real thrill came when I lined things up, fired my shots, and visibly hit the mark. There were a few times when I thought I might just “wing it” on my own—not taking careful aim, or perhaps deviating a little from the form I was taught to use. More often than not, those were the times my shots missed the target completely. I believe this principle is true in my daily living as well—in order to accomplish my intended purpose and obtain fullness of joy, I must align myself with the instructions of God’s Word and respond to the Master’s will so my impact will be on line with His plans and purposes. Attempts to bypass the God-ordained principles result in missed opportunities and could inflict harm on those around me.

Perhaps I will write later on some other lessons from the farm and the adventures of the trip. It was a blast—a wonderful way to wrap up the school year. I praise God for the senior class, and it is my prayer that each one of the graduates will hit the mark as they launch into the next chapter of their lives.

Verity 2011 Senior Trip group picture at the Harvest Home Farm

Discovering Beauty

Lately I’ve been enjoying borrowing a friend’s bicycle after work or on the weekends to explore the area in a several-mile radius of the Verity campus. I, perhaps more than most people, felt that I had a good feel of the area around here due to my long-distance runs over the past five years, but after just a few bike rides I realized how much had gone unnoticed. The first day I rode only a mile down Brookville Road to a neighborhood development I’ve passed numerous times on my way into New Palestine. As I wound my way through the curving streets crossing over the creek, I eventually popped out on the other side of the development overlooking a vast green expanse. Next to this community of beautiful homes and mature landscaping was a huge park with soccer fields, a walking trail complete with mile markers, and a nine-hole disc golf course! The next day I rode north into Cumberland and found another park with basketball and tennis courts, a baseball diamond, sand volleyball, a shelter…the works! On the return to campus, I hopped on a rails-to-trails system that goes for miles in either direction. It’s obviously been there a long time, but I’ve always just passed by without so much as a second thought what it might be or where it goes.

Being on a disc golf kick last week, I got on my laptop and looked up other courses in the Indianapolis area. Finding two of them in close proximity of each other approaching the downtown districts, I decided to check them both out, again making a bike excursion out of the opportunity. (George Washington Park and Brookside Park aren’t as close as I originally thought, turning my ride into a 35-mile excursion.) I must say it’s been really fun to “disc”over these disc golf courses and other parks near to where I’ve been living the last five years; places both in the country and in very urban sections of town. Each area has something different to offer and is beautiful in its own way.

Through these recent experiences, the lesson God is teaching me is to look for the beauty that He has placed all around me. It’s there—I just have to go appreciate it. Then once I have found the beauty, I shouldn’t hold it back for myself—share the joy with others. This past week one of my highlights has definitely been in sharing the enthusiasm for disc golf and these newly-discovered parks with my friends. It’s been a blessing for me to take guys out—some in a group and others one-on-one—to these places and form bonds with them. It doesn’t really matter if somebody who’s never played disc golf in his life goes out and beats me by two shots (way to go, Stevie D!) or if I make a couple eagles and a bunch of birdies on the course—we’re out there enjoying each other’s fellowship and the beauty that God has created. It is my goal to live my life each day seeking for and finding the beauty God has created and sharing it with others.

Be still, my soul

One of the ways I'm stepping in faith is evidenced in the new habits I'm forming. Every day for the last month (or more accurately every night, as is my normal pattern), I've made a concerted effort to sit down at the piano and play through a selection of hymns. In the lobby, there are a few hymnals and a book of beautiful piano/vocal arrangements of the Getty songs that I've come to frequent on a daily basis. Even after just a few weeks of doing this, it's really encouraging to see my progress and see my confidence build. I did grow up taking piano lessons until age 10 or 11, but really got away from having anything to do with the piano for several years. As such, I chose to not play in public, but rather to tickle the keys only once in a great while, perhaps after a long night in the office when I was sure everyone else was sound asleep. These 2- and 3am adventures at the piano were about my only contact for quite a time until recently when I decided to "go rogue" with my playing.

It sort of began one evening a few days after coming back from the Israel trip. Our network had been experiencing problems, and I had called in towards the end of the workday for on-site support to resolve the problem. The technician informed me he would be coming between 10-11pm. Well, someone needed to be there to let him in the building, so I placed myself there in the lobby. Seeing the piano and an empty room, I started to play. By the time the AT&T guy had come and gone a few times (he had to check a few things down the street), I had played through the entire book of Getty songs and had fallen in love with the piano again.

These songs and hymns are so full of rich doctrinal truths that are so beautifully expressed, both in words and music. It has been a blessing to meditate on the different aspects of Christianity as I play the melodies… all creation speaking of God's glory, His love ringing out across the lands, the power of the cross bringing forgiveness, my being secure in Christ because of His incredible sacrifice, the dawning of hope as God's salvation plan is fulfilled in Jesus, the church putting on the armor of God to combat the lies of the devil, a yearning to hear the Lord speak that my faith would rise and I would see His truth and authority.

Last night after coming back from the park, I joined in on the final minutes of dishpit. Those that were involved were exhibiting such an attitude of joyfulness, breaking out in hymns of praise while brandishing the brooms and mops throughout the huge dining room. As there happens to be a piano in the room, I sat down after a few a capella verses and started into the hymnbook. The final hymn really brought it home for us: Be Still My Soul. I'd like to quote one of the verses (sadly the hymnbook omitted it from the register, but it stands as a personal favorite).

"Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy works and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well-pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine."

The Final Summit

For me to sit down and read a book cover to cover in one sitting is a rarity. That just doesn’t happen often because I’ll either get distracted or fall asleep or move on to something else. The last time it happened was with a historical fiction story by Andy Andrews called “The Traveler’s Gift,” which I read just over a year ago. Today I sat down with another of his books, which happened to be its sequel, “The Final Summit.”

David Ponder (the main character in “The Traveler’s Gift”), with 28 years of applying the Seven Decisions in his personal life and business ventures, is called upon to lead the Travelers’ final summit as they are tasked with solving what, to mankind, has become a dire mystery. Out of the crowd of Travelers present, David interacts with Winston Churchill, Joan of Arc, Abraham Lincoln (again), Eric Erickson, King David, George Washington Carver, and Joshua Chamberlain, each offering parts of the solution from their various life experiences and wisdom. As it turns out, each idea from the characters was needed to come to the final conclusion.

From the very onset, this book drew me into its pages and gave me, as it were, a prime spot in the gallery of the meeting hall as the discussions between all the characters were going on. I liked the ways the author added dialog that fit the individual’s personality. At times I recognized a few quotes that the person is famous for saying, and other times the new “quotes” seemed to fit right in with what the character is known for. All told, this is a very intriguing book, well-written to maintain interest throughout.

I could hardly put this book down long enough to grab another box of crackers! Woven through the pages are quotes and lessons to be learned from wise men and women from ancient history all the way through modern times—lessons on restoring hope, seeking wisdom, being courageous, exhibiting self-discipline, building character…the list goes on. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes history with a little bit of a new twist mixed in.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of “The Final Summit” through Book Sneeze, in exchange for my honest review.

Out of the Blue

Years ago, I was privileged to be in the sixth grade Sunday School class taught by Don McKinnon. Mr. McKinnon cared for each one of the boys in ways I have not seen other teachers do, truly wanting the boys to internalize the lessons we talked about on Sunday morning in our lives at home every day of the week. To help myself and the boys be faithful in our Bible study homework, we reported in the next week and earned points for Scripture reading, devotional diligence, memorization, etc. At the end of the term, out of his own pocket, he gave each one of us boys gifts based on the points we had each accrued. Being one of the most diligent and faithful in the class, I was awarded the grand prize—a framed plaque with my achievement and a huge autographed 8x10 picture of the LA Dodgers’ Orel Hershiser. Wow—I had collected a few baseball cards here and there, but this blew them all away! The plaque and autograph had a special place in my room for years until I moved away from home.

Kind of out of the blue the other day, I ran across a copy of Orel Hershiser’s book, ironically called “Out of the Blue.” Seeing the cover picture, remarkably similar to the one I had on display for years in my room, I couldn’t resist picking up the book and reading through it. In this book, Orel recounts his life to present, written just after his remarkable 1988 season being the MVP-winning pitcher for the LA Dodgers.

Similar to Jesus changing Simon’s name to Peter (rock) to remind him to be steadfast, Orel’s manager in his first year of pitching in the big leagues had an idea. He called him aside after a bad game and laid into him, but instead of the typical berating a manager might give a player who performed poorly, he lit a fire under Orel and gave him the nickname “Bulldog”—not because he was one at the time (in fact, he was quite the opposite), but because that is the type of player he wanted Orel to become—fierce, aggressive, the take-charge type, the best in the business. From then on, Orel was a different pitcher out there on the mound. He had several very successful seasons of pitching thanks in part to his manager preaching the “Sermon on the Mound” that one day in 1984. In 1988, everything seemed to come together, with Orel pitching his team to victory all the way to the final out of the World Series, earning multiple MVP honors along the way!

In the book, Orel explains his philosophy on baseball and what he attributes his success to. In short, attitude, mechanics, strategy, and regimen all play into delivering the proper pitch, the key most important element of the game. Being a Christian, Orel views that he ought to attain to a higher standard in all aspects of the game, whether in word or conduct. One interesting note, during the World Series games, Orel would calm his nerves by singing hymns to himself there in the dugout. Orel brought us into his “game day regimen” which always includes spending time alone with God before the game gets underway, not letting any distractions get in the way, and putting the game face on.

I found this book to be very interesting—a blast from the past, if you will. I always enjoy a good sports story, and this book very well falls into that category. It begins with the chronicle of a young man who was a prodigal son through college, entered the minor leagues, came back after some serious injuries, and met the Man who would change his life, continuing on with the story of Hershiser’s amazing season pitching for the LA Dodgers in 1988.

Part of what hits home for me in reading this book is actually the connection with my sixth grade Sunday School class. God is sovereign in everything, and I know He has the perfect plan. I was blessed to be a part of that class when I was because the next year, my family moved away from the area, and also that year God called Mr. McKinnon home after a struggle with brain cancer. I thank God for Mr. McKinnon’s influence on my life and for touching the lives of countless 6^th grade boys throughout the years like I once was, and for his sparking my interest in #55.

12 Ordinary Men

One month ago today I was walking around in Jerusalem, finishing up an incredible ten days of touring Israel. Just about all of the places we went followed either the life of Jesus or those of His disciples after He called them out of their various occupations to come and follow Him. What is incredible is how God chose 12 ordinary men and used them to turn the world upside-down (or perhaps more accurately, right-side up) for the advancement of the Gospel.

John MacArthur has written an excellent book focusing on the lives of these twelve disciples of Jesus, bringing to light excellent insights on their personalities, characteristics, and backgrounds. He brings up the question at the outset, why would Christ choose a group of unlearned, self-centered, common men? Perhaps it was to show that His strength is made perfect in weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9).

MacArthur noted that every time in Scripture, the twelve disciples are listed in three groups of four, listed in the order of their closeness of friendship. Peter, Andrew, James, and John formed the first group; Philip, Nathanael, Matthew, and Thomas; made the second; James the Less, Simon the Zealot, Judas, and Judas Iscariot were the third group. Consequently, there is more in the Bible recorded about those in the first two groups than those in the final group, as they were the ones asking questions or doing special tasks for the Master.

Peter was the spokesman for the group—perhaps because he had the biggest (foot-shaped) mouth and the least control over it. No one speaks as often as Peter in the New Testament (aside from Jesus, of course), and as such Jesus had the most words of correction or admonition for Peter over any other person. Names mean a lot, especially in the Bible. The very first time Jesus met Peter, He gave him a new name of "Rock" to remind him to be steadfast—not to be double-minded or give up. Any time Peter messed up, Jesus addressed him by his old name, Simon. Throughout his time with Christ, Peter exemplified qualities of a leader that helped him rise to the inner circle of Jesus' followers: inquisitiveness, initiative, and courage. He was an all-or-nothing individual.

Andrew's forte was in bringing people to Jesus. He had a special ability to see value in individuals and a zeal for showing them the way to Christ. Andrew most often served in the background, but his moves were bold and deliberate. He was the one that set the stage for the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 by bringing the lad with the 5 loaves and 2 small fish to Jesus.

James and John, brothers like Peter and Andrew, were passionate men. Their fiery disposition earned them the nickname, Sons of Thunder. Both were part of Christ's inner circle, and John was also known as the apostle of love. These traits come out very clearly in John's writing style in his gospel account as well as his letters to the Church. His writing is often in stark contrasts or absolutes: "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him" (1 John 2:9-10).

Phillip was expectant and ready to follow the Messiah as soon as he found him. Actually, it was Jesus who found Phillip, but still Phillip had the choice to get up and follow. That he did is significant, because Phillip's personality was one of by-the-books, facts and figures, and very pragmatic. His friend, Nathanael, also was willing to "come and see" and take an honest look at objective reality when faced with the truth. Nathanael was familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures and could recognize Jesus' fulfillment of the prophesies immediately.

Matthew, the former tax collector, was part of the social outcasts of his day. Working for the Romans put him at odds with his fellow Jews and effectively made him a religious outcast as well. He stands as a prime example that Christ came to rescue sinners if they will just acknowledge their sin and look to Him for grace.

Thomas is often remembered for his doubting tendencies and slightly pessimistic outlook, but through his moodiness, his love for Christ stayed true. Christ knew Thomas' heart and invited him to touch the wounds and be transformed from his tendencies of doubt.

James, Simon, and Judas (also called Thaddeus), though not talked about much in the Scriptures, reveal through other recorded history that God uses ordinary people in remarkable ways. Each one of the original 12 (except for Judas Iscariot) took the Gospel to the entire world and were persecuted and killed for their faith.

The last disciple in every list of the 12 is Judas Iscariot. He stands as an example of the evil potential of spiritual carelessness and hardness of heart as he betrayed the Lord for a bag of money, which he didn't really want anyways. He began as the others did, but unlike them did not internalize Christ's teachings. God's sovereign plan cannot be overthrown, and Judas Iscariot was the one the devil used to actually bring about God's plan of salvation.

This post has become longer than I intended it to be, but if you've made it this far, no doubt you'll agree with me that the work John MacArthur put into this book has resulted in a phenomenal wealth of insights into the lives of twelve men, who apart from Christ's calling probably would have continued in their lives of relative obscurity, but after Jesus' call became world changers. I highly recommend this book—or the audiobook as I used—for anyone who wants to increase their faith and become more like the Teacher.

Leaders are Readers

For the past several months, I have been going through a Bible study with the other Verity staff guys where we study the facets of spiritual leadership. Our most recent lesson focused on the fact that leaders are readers. We learned that the Apostle Paul, when under house arrest, specifically valued the scrolls and the parchments above any other material thing, requesting those be brought to him quickly. He knew the importance of reading (and also the importance of writing down his thoughts). It is also worthy of note that immediately following Paul’s famous exhortation to Timothy to let no man despise his youth, but to be the example to the believers of speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, he continued, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”

In starting this blog, a primary motivation is to record the lessons God is teaching me as I am learning them. One of the best ways to learn is through gleaning nuggets of wisdom through the lives and the words of faithful men—those who have gone before and proven the way. In this vein, coupled with the fact that leaders are readers, I’ve decided to change some of my habits and spend more time either in reading good books or using pockets of “spare time” to listen to a variety of excellent audiobooks I have access to. It is in these moments of “sitting at the feet” of wise men that I that I can benefit from their experiences, knowledge, and insights.

Today I had the unique blessing of selecting books out of a ministry center library that is being liquidated. I was able to choose a variety of biographies of great Christian men and women, accounts of God’s faithfulness through history, books on having a closer relationship with God, and doctrinal theses from scholars of Scripture. It is my goal that as I take the next step of reading these books that I would be increasing my faith, and in turn be able to share what I am learning here.

Stepping in Faith

What qualifies my steps to be steps of faith? Is it throwing aside all caution to the wind and acting on whatever impulse overcomes me? Is it having no purpose or plan and wandering wherever one wills? No, these do not describe the steps of faith, but instead the one who cares not about God’s plan for his life. This perhaps is a harsh thing to say, especially as I would tend to place myself in the latter category. However, I believe God would have each of us step out in faith to prove our dependence on Him. He will show the way and give light for each step…one at a time, though it may be.

Last month I had the opportunity to go to the Holy Land, to walk the places Jesus walked. While there I did more than just tour the different sites or go on a spiritual pilgrimage, although that was a significant part of the trip. One of the things that stood out to me most through my travels around Israel is God’s faithfulness to do what He says He will do. All the places we went to had prophesies tied to them, some even being fulfilled before my eyes (Isaiah 35:1-2). If God is able to fulfill prophesies from 3,000 years ago and even those made at the beginning of time, should I not be willing to step out in faith and do what He calls me to do?

Sometimes all it takes to step out is to hear the Master calling—yes, even beckoning my name. “Peter, if only you will come out to meet me. Never mind the wind and the waves; come out of the boat and draw near to Me.” Simon Peter, not one to let his thoughts get in the way of him doing or saying anything, just lived life as sincere as could be, showing all. In taking that first step of faith by climbing out of the boat, he left his “safe place” to walk to Jesus, the only true source of safety, setting an example for ages to come. However, in his moment of triumph, defying even the laws of nature, Peter faltered seeing the waves around him. How often do I come so close to doing great things for God yet stop short when I see the pressures piling up against me? To allow pressures in the form of fears of failure, worry, growing responsibilities, unspoken expectations, time pressures, or various and sundry other means prohibit my follow-through in the Master’s bidding is to sink into the waves when I was intended to rise above them. The good news is that Jesus was right there to pull Peter out of the sea and calm the storm, and He will come to my aid when I call out to Him in the midst of my trouble.

So how does one “get out of the boat” and make that first step of faith? I submit that first he must confess to Jesus, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Proclaiming this is the foundation stone for being used by God. Like Simon Peter, be willing and prepared to do something out of the ordinary. He was the first one God called upon to preach the Word to the Gentiles, and while on mission, God used him to do many miracles and wonderful deeds. Let us each step out in faith and see what great things God has in store for us!