RMW Focus

Quick Update December - Special Newsletter Edition

2011-12-28T10:30:00.001-08:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More christian

Shape of Things to Come - Special Newsletter Edition

2011-10-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

As I write this I am on a train makingway to Portland for a day of seminary classes. Funny thing about trains, only the engineer at the front of the train can see the track ahead. Us passenger are left to wonder about the what the train is doing and wait for the crackle of the intercom to get updates. But we can detect momentum, braking and look out the side windows at the scenery whizzing by. It's kinda like life, in that we can get exited about what God is doing, even if we cannot see exactly where the train is going. The last few weekshave been very interesting as God has increased momentum on some opportunitiesthat RMW is on the track for. I'll briefly describe a few of them.

The conference in Liberia, planned fornext January just got a lot bigger, with a local denominationcanceling it's conference in favor of participating with ours.

Duane just returned from leading aconference in Spokane, WA. Eight churches sent over thirty men toparticipate in a time of unity for the cause of Christ in the TouchetValley area.

I am working with a team of people inKitsap county, to put legs to what we see God doing in our area. I'mpurposefully being cagey on this one, so as not to overstate thepossibilities. But suffice it to say that I am intrigued enough tolead a portion of it.

That's all for now, check out thenewsletter below for Duane's take on the Liberia mission.

Open publication - Free publishing - More christian

Breakdown and News

2011-09-19T18:43:00.000-07:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More business

Text only version available HERE.

Driven To Give

2011-07-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

Text version available HERE

Everybody Has a Fire Hydrant

2011-06-27T21:20:00.000-07:00

It has been some time since I last posted and that is partly on account of my schooling taking precedence. This Summer I am taking two courses, one on ethics and the other on leadership. At the moment I am sitting the student lounge at Western Seminary awaiting the beginning of another long day of lectures during this intensive week of on-campus work. Then I will return home, read a couple more books and write a bunch of papers, leaving me with a couple of weeks respite before the Fall semester begins.

I have a lot of information to absorb, and I frequently get the feeling similar to trying to sip from a fire hydrant. You know, the data is coming at me in quantities that exceed by ability to ingest it. But today I was thinking that much of life is like this, even though we may not be aware of it.
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Mistakes Were Made

2011-06-01T13:48:00.000-07:00

Text Version Available Here

News & Empty Life

2011-05-24T12:54:00.000-07:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More optimist

Purposes & Whales - Video

2011-05-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

Other Vblog Episodes:

Get the text version by clicking "read more."

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New VBlog - Changing Spaces

2011-04-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

Other Vblog Episodes:

Water, Water Everywhere
Looking Up
All in a Day's Work - Related to present VBlog
Blame it on the Rain
Where Are You?

Get the text version by clicking "read more."
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Galatians - Part 7 - The Real Story

2011-04-12T17:35:00.000-07:00

Chapters 5 and 6 of Galatians mark a turn in Paul's writing as he begins to get at the real cause of the problems among the readership (And yes, they had church problems even back in the first century). You see all this fuss about following the Law or depending on God's Grace was really motivated by the contentions that broiled just beneath the surface.

Remember back at the beginning of this series when I wrote about the warrior culture that was the heritage of this group? Well, that was alive and kicking in the Galatian church. They had fierce loyalty, challenges, boasts, feats of valor, and basically everyone trying to be all they could be, in the church. But they were immature and as such, ripe to be led along the primrose path to formulaic shortcuts for "greater" righteousness. As a result, a Galatian small group study might have gone something like this:

A group of people pile into a small hovel while their children played "slaughter the Romans" in the front yard. The men are in the muck room laying aside their battle axes, long swords and war helms, when Bob "The Terrible" says to Jim "The Odorous," "I had a visit the other day from some strangers riding miniature horses, wearing white tunics and had black pieces of cloth hanging from their necks. I was just about to shoot them with my Vesuvius TRX3000 long bow when..."

"Ah, good choice," interrupts Jim.

"Yeah" says Bob, momentarily distracted, "I really like the supple springiness of the wood and the twang that the bowstring makes...but, anyhow I was about to skewer these guys when they start yelling "We're Christians! Don't shoot! Don't shoot!"

"Ha!," laughs Jim, "That would have been unfortunate!"

"Indeed" says Bob, a little miffed at being interrupted again, but he resisted the urge to reach for his dagger and continued, "Well, I vaulted to the ground from my deer stand and invited them up to the cottage and..."

Special Newsletter Edition - April 2011

2011-04-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More duane sabin

In This Issue:

Liberia and Russia Mission Trip Report
2010 Recap
The Activities of Shepherd's Call
Lots of Pictures

Galatians - Part 6 - Emotion & Allegory

2011-03-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

OK. Its good to be back. I had an overload last week and had to take care of some things.

Anyhow, Paul has not let up on the Galatians, but he is changing his tactics to angle around some mental arguments that may be standing in the way of receiving the truth. Today I'm going to look at Galatians 4:12-31, which cover the emotional appeal and the allegory. These two sections are kinda' unique in Paul's writing and reflect his earnest desire to break through to the readers regarding the danger they are headed into. Like a family member begging a suicidal guy not to jump, he marshals arguments from every quarter he can imagine.

The emotional appeal (Gal 4:12-20) in based on the history that they share. Apparently when Paul first met the Galatians he was sick, and he didn't just have a cold. He had some disgusting, off putting illness that would have made most people shun him out of pure revulsion (prehaps like this POS T). Whatever it was, the experience led to a pluck-your-eyes-out type of bond between them (v15). They had something, and it was real. Paul is asking if there is the same kind of love coming from the guys who "eagerly seek you, not commendably" (Gal 2:4).

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Galatians - Part 5 - Turning the Cannons

2011-03-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

In war, there is a strategy of throwing your forces at the strongest point of your enemy's defensive weapons. The goal is capture the artillery and turn them against your foes. (Watch Gettysburg or Lawrence of Arabia for examples) Anyhow, Paul adopts this maneuver in waging psychological warfare against the "disturbers" in Galatia.

Really we should look at 3:6-4:11 as a frontal assault on the use of the Law to cow the Galatians into ritual observance of the rules in the Old Testament. Paul begins at the beginning and shows that Abraham was a man of faith "and it was reckoned to him as righteousness" (3:6). The he demonstrates how the Law is not of faith, never could be of faith and never will be of faith, because it never justified anyone (3:11). Which begs the question, "Law, what's it good for?" (3:19)

Paul answers by saying that the Law was needed to deal with "transgressions (3:19)," and that it was once a powerful guardian of faith (3:23) and the people of God; the big guns that held back centuries of the onslaught of evil. But now the Law is being used to hold people back from faith. There is no quarter granted to anything that does that (1:8-9), and so Paul throws off any sentimental attachment to the Law culture, takes command of the installation and turns its power upon itself.

Chapter 4 simply states that the Law has been decommissioned and engulfed in the relationship that we have with the God that built it in the first place (4:1-6). Paul blasts the readers with the truth that we now see God face to face and can call Him "Abba! Father!" (4:6). There is a fiery explosion, a thunderous roar and Paul does a slow motion walk toward us as the flames and debris mushroom in the distance. Shiny!

The fact that there are ideas that oppose the gospel should only be incentive to make them targets for the explosive odrinance of the truth. Go get 'em!

Galatians - Part 4

2011-03-08T13:10:00.000-08:00

What we believe about God is a highly personal issue. I don't mean it is private and off limits for outside interjection, because it isn't. I don't mean it is self-determined, subjective and devoid of absolutes, because it's not that either. What I mean is that it is a real, concrete part of us, not a theoretical group of facts and principles. Our belief about God oozes from our every pore and is smeared all over our lives.

Just like when your zipper is down or there is a booger hanging out of your nose, you would want someone to tell you about it. Well, to Paul, the Galatians were smeared from head to toe with a belief about God that, frankly, disgusted him. Now, Paul could have left it alone, deferred to their individual views and kept peace and unity among the bretheren, but he didn't.

At the start of chapter three (Gal. 3:1-5) we come to a section of confrontational, personal and even offensive questions. Paul targets five areas where the goopy sludge of works doctrine (aka. being righteous by what you do) is suppurating from the Galatians. He applies pressure on all sides of this theological zit by questioning their very foundation for being Christians.

Paul calls them "foolish," which I think is just a ploy to get their attention, and then proceeds to question their vulnerability to outside influences, how they even became Christians, their spiritual growth since then, what they have suffered in the meantime and, finally, what they really believe about how God works. He does not allow them to use their witness, salvation, spirituality or suffering as a cloak to hide their complete reliance on God's help to do any of those things.

To Paul, the Galatians have a problem that he couldn't stand to see and had to point out. For us, we can take this book as a personal look at our own schmutz encrusted beliefs. How often have we allowed a brother in Christ to go dancing across the stage of life with the gelatinous drool of self-righteousness hanging from his chin? And how often have we been the slobbery dancer?

The fact is that everything we touch with our faith is marked by it. It is not a theoretical argument, but something that literally paints our world with either a putrefied, disgusting excretion or fragrant, cleansing balm.

Galatians - Part 3

2011-03-01T08:51:00.000-08:00

One of the grand things about Galatians is its message of freedom from fear. As a book, it rises up and shouts a battle cry against all that would convince a Christian to fear the opinions or expectations of other people. And who better than Paul to beat the drum on this one. I mean, he got all up in Peter's face on this topic.

Paul is telling the Galatians about all the struggles he has personally gone through to bring them the message of Christ's work to buy them back from being slaves to sin. He recounts one episode where he notices Peter is acting strangely (Gal 2:11-21). Basically, Peter was smiling, laughing and hanging out with his new found Gentile bretheren in Antioch, when in walks some guys from his old neighborhood (Jerusalem). Its like a light bulb turned off in Peter. The smiles are gone and he mopes around like he just lost his favorite dreidel.

This goes on for days, and finally Paul notices a pattern. Whenever the Peter's old pals are around, he snubs the Gentiles and gets all "more-Jewish-than-thou" on everybody. Its a big popularity contest, designed to boost Peter's self-esteem (although I don't think the concept of self-esteem was all that big with 1st century men).

Anyhow, Paul has had a bellyful. He lays into Peter with something like, "You chicken! You two faced, backsliding, wishy-washy embarrassment! How dare you fear the very system from which you have been freed?" (I love how the Bible records, for all time, two leaders of the Church shouting at each other in a meeting; you can't make this stuff up.) Paul must have gotten through to Peter because in Acts 15 Peter and Paul are on the same page.

But I wonder if the church today is on the same page. We are free from fear, and yet we fashion our churches to be cool, rather than Christlike. God is our refuge, and yet we create defensive environments, rather than follow our calling to be on the offensive. We are all members of the Body of Christ, and yet we are willing to "circumcise" some of them off to appeal to the right community, rather than accept the way God made us.

All I am asking is that you acknowledge your freedom from fear, including the fear of questioning the formulas, patterns, ideas and traditions that you hold so dear. One of them may be "disturbing" you, and you don't even know it.

Galatians - Part 2

2011-02-21T10:43:00.000-08:00

Paul has a problem. He has a errant congregation in a far-away land being besieged by those that hold the Law to be the key to righteousness. Meanwhile, he is in Antioch about to go to Jerusalem to debate the other apostles on the same issue (Acts 15). He is torn between his love for the Galatians and his calling to defend the ministry to the Gentiles. And so, he writes.

After opening with a brief greeting, Paul gets confrontational, saying, "I can't believe you guys! Why would bail on Jesus for something else?!" "Whoever sold you this pack of lies needs to be pawned!" (I am, of course, paraphrasing Gal 1:6-9, but you get the idea) Then, for the rest of the chapter, he recaps his testimony to be sure the his audience remembers that he was once fully committed to the Law, and yet had found freedom in trusting Christ.

Paul does not want the Galatians to drift into the bondage that he experienced. He is pulling specifically against following the Jewish traditional customs as way to achieve righteousness, but the same could be said of any custom that is designed to "balance your karma." Things like doing good to offset bad, doing your duty to earn God's acceptance, and building cultural walls to avoid an outward expression of your sin. These things are strong motivators, and Paul knows it. He's been there.

But, for the Galatians part, in one sense you have to commend them. I mean, you have a bunch of burly warrior types, that just accepted Christ, are looking to do the right thing and along comes somebody who tells them they need to be...uhhh...circumcised. We should be impressed that Paul was not writing to chastise them for lynch mobbing. But, that also shows the power and allure of finding a formula or system that will make you good, instead of depending on the goodness of Jesus.

The one seems easy, but is bondage; the other seems hard and elusive, but is FREEDOM! Which will you choose?

Galatians - Part 1

2011-02-14T16:13:00.000-08:00

I think we can learn a lot from the book of Galatians. I have been studying this letter to a people living in what is now north/central Turkey for school and have gotten it under my skin. I don't know if it is the culture, the issues raised, the timing of the letter or the message it contains, but I see similarities between the Galatians' struggle to live as Christians and our problems with the same thing. But, before I go much further you need to know who these folks were.

When you think of the people in Galatia think, "warriors." They are actually Gauls (from the region now called France) that went marauding around the Roman empire serving as mercenary armies for a few hundred years. Only about 75 years before the writing of the epistle, did they finally settle in Asia Minor and begin to be "domesticated." There was still a lot of fight in them, a lot of "do or die, without reasoning why" attitude. And they were also largely illiterate and regarded as stupid throughout the known world, but I guess few would say that to their faces.

Paul's letter has the tone of picking a fight. After some initial greeting he says (1:6), "I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him...," a direct challenge to their loyalty. And then for the first two chapters he barrages them with insults and arguments that cast light on the crucial topic at hand; that they have abandoned their true faith. He wants them to be riled up, angry and even hungry for battle when he drops the bombshell in 2:21.

"Christ died needlessly." That phrase brings the whole ball of wax into crystal clear focus. Paul places the Galatians acceptance of the burden of the Law in the same camp as those that never accepted the work of Christ. As stunning as that statement must have been to them, it is even more fitting, and therefore more stunning, for us.

We are the Galatians. We buy into doctrines that bind us and squeeze the grace of God out of our lives, and then turn aggressive toward anybody who dares to point that out. Liberals and conservatives alike are all too willing to accept a form of religion over the substance of a relationship. We're idiots! We've been duped! But now we are so invested in these patterns that we are going to stick with it, rather than go to war with ourselves and experience FREEDOM!

Over the next few weeks I'll be digging into the book of Galatians and recasting the challenges that I unearth for what we are facing today.

In a Funk

2011-02-08T09:44:00.000-08:00

Wanderer Above the Sea by
Casper David Friedrich

For the better part of the last week I have been in a "funk." I call it a funk, but you might call it "off your game," "out of sync," or "blah." In any case, I am out of it and back to doing the things I love. But, like the driver that looks in the rear view mirror after running over an armadillo, I'm asking, "What was that?"

There was nothing fun about being in a funk. I stared at a blank screen for hours, trying to write school papers, a newsletter and even this blog, but very little came to mind. All I could do was waste time and do the most perfunctory of productive tasks. I would like to tell you that I have now discovered The Key to getting out of a funk, but I can't. If I could, then I would write a book about it and retire. But the plain truth is that the funky feeling left as mysteriously as it came.

I do know this though. Toward the end I started praying. You know, like having a chat with God. I would say, "God, I haven't got a thing in me, and it would be great if You would change that." Nothing spectacular or anything, just honest. I don't know how He did it, or why, but I began to see the fog lifting and the world come into more and more of a focus. I found myself getting into Galatians again (that's the book I'm writing about for school this semester). It was good, really good. I think I will be sharing what I found in the coming weeks.

Anyhow, if I had to identify what the funk was, I would call it a shift into neutral. I could push the accelerator as hard as I wanted, but all that did was frustrate me. Maybe that's where God wanted me; in a place without traction, but also free from the pressure to perform. Going forward, I can relax into what I have to do by accepting my limitations. I can only write, speak, organize and counsel what God gives the traction to do.

I am reminded that Jesus limited Himself while on earth. Is it that far fetched that He would limit us, from time to time?

Optical Illusion

2011-02-01T14:12:00.000-08:00

Drawing Hands by M.C. Escher, 1948

The best optical illusions are not like the drawing to the left, they are the ones where the presentation actively convinces the viewers that they are not seeing what they are, in fact, seeing (Asch conformity experiments). Its a situation in which you disbelieve your eyes because of some other influencing factor. For some it is the opinion of others, wanting to fit in with the consensus. For others it is the pride in a previous guess, wanting to be right.

Have you ever looked at someone, or something and believed you had them figured out, only to be shocked to discover another side? It can be embarrassing, amusing, puzzling or unbelievable, depending on your state of mind. If you have invested a lot of emotion in being right, then the consequence of changing your opinion is much higher. For some the price may be too great. It may be so great that you refuse to investigate or ask for proof.

Modern enlightened society likes to pride itself on having eliminated the tendency to "judge." The folks in the churches are no exception to this belief about themselves. Everyone thinks they have a clear eyed perspective on the world, and that the few "judgements" they do make are perfectly objective and need not be revisited. But, the fact is that we are all just as blind to our own failed perceptions as humans have always been.

I would like to break that mold, at least temporarily, and harmonize with the Bereans of Paul's day. I want to question the flawed presenters, ignor the crowd and search out the truth. And the only point of origin for truth, that I have found, is in the love of God. Test it yourself, and take whatever you are trying to understand back to the joy of your salvation; the moment when the relationship began.

Optical illusions are designed to mislead the viewer. Don't be afraid to test the substance of your preconceived notions. If you take them to Source of Truth and they crumble like a charred newspaper, then they were not worth keeping anyway.

The Facebook Factor

2011-01-24T16:43:00.000-08:00

RMW on Facebook

This post will be short but newsy. RMW has a new Facebook page where you can get all the latest updates on what is going on. Currently we have Duane's travel log from his trip to Liberia and Russia. I'll be putting up pictures in a day or so, whenever Duane can get them emailed. Also we will use this page to keep you Facebookers informed. CLICK HERE.

Coast To A Start

2011-01-18T15:52:00.000-08:00

Friends don't let friends coast and drive.

I've been gnawing on a concept for more than a week now. Basically, the issue is the apparent disconnect between what Christians believe and what they do. Now, it is easy to go for the knee-jerk, straw-man argument of some high and mighty man of the church falling into the dregs of sin, but that is not what I am getting at. What I am talking about are the "coasters." Yeah, the coasters. You know all chrome, fiberglass, bucket seats and a paint job, but never engage the engine. (What is it with me and car metaphors lately?)

Anyhow, it's basic human nature to want to reduce our decision making process to the fewest number of constructs (ideas, categories, philosophies, etc.) as possible. We make tons of these things in our childhood but, later in life, stop making them and simply rely on what we have. We coast.

For example, a racist is a person whose concept of human identity is warped, and even with overwhelming evidence to the contrary, sticks to a hated based on skin color, culture or association. The guy is coasting on his idea about race because it makes his world simpler. He can lop off a whole section of society from deserving his respect and decency, while using those same people to bolster his own worth with his fellow racists. But I'm getting off track here. Let me get back to Christian coasters.

Coasters, in the Christian world, are people who have an engine and have built a chassis of ideas about what it means to be a Christian, but they have gone to sleep in the back seat while their spiritual car obeys the law of gravity (Eph 4:14). They are exhilarated at the hill tops, terrified in the steep declines and despondent in the valleys, that is until they can get some "divine" tow truck to pull them to the top of the next hill.

They complain that the mechanic they see every Sunday morning is not fixing their issues, but are suspicious of any recommendation to turn the car on. What makes matters worse, is that some mechanics are actually coasters themselves, and give no example from their own lives of a working engine. However, it is fascinating to observe a flock of coasters gathered together to make and listen to "car sounds," produced with their lips.

Coasting is fake, insincere, downright rude to God and ludicrous to observers. The Bible is full of passages that talk about the LIFE we have in God (Rom 6:10-11, 2 Cor 3:6, 2 Cor 13:4, Jn 11:25) but we seem to be less than inspired to live it. What does that say to other people, to God and to us? Maybe it is time to take a hard look at our constructs of Christian life, quit resting on them and start living.

I have found that the times when I forgive, ask forgiveness, restrain my wants, humble myself and generally chillax in God, that the motor of my soul propels me forward. Amazing how God makes it simple that way. So, in a way, this blog is my travel log. I'd love to hear about yours.

Trade-In

2011-01-10T07:40:00.000-08:00

by Locke Morgan - Click image to enlarge

The other day I was having breakfast with my friend, Joe Bridger, and he brought up the state of the church in America as being in a "Winter" season, in terms of cultural acceptance. He had brought along an article that details the the things churches are turning to that are not working (6 Major Patterns of Change in the U.S. Church). It was a good read and insightful on the habits of the average Christian in our country.

I looked at Joe and asked, "Do you think the Church has traded in relevance for popularity"? He agreed but was quick to remind me that some have done the opposite, having traded popularity for relevance. The point we both saw was that while the Church has an immensely valuable and powerful message, it sees it as inferior to the value and power of being liked.

We went on to discuss the cyclical nature of the dance between humanism and the Church. We noted that when relations grew distant and cold between them, many jettisoned their allegiance to faith, but the ones that preserved it were the ones that sought the face of God instead of the approval of people. They didn't "drift" with the crowd but held to a Rock and pulled others to it.

We had both recently read books about and by Dieterich Bonhoeffer (Life Together & Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy) and the connection was made between the life of a man who took on the vapidness of German Higher Criticism by championing the zest that is inherent in Christ. In other words, when his culture rejected his faith, and even attacked it, he didn't change his theology, he didn't mask it as something else but he instead found greater depth in it and shared it with others.

Joe and I finished our breakfast and discussed other topics, but questions hung, unspoken, between us. Would we be among the ones to cling to Christ in the raging blizzard of our cultures Winter of faith? Would we be strong enough to be unpopular? We are both "young," poor and in ministry but our society is quickly reinterpreting that as old, unsuccessful and irrelevant. Can we handle it? Can you?

I would love to hear your thought on what symbolizes the church trading in its spiritual relevance for social popularity.

Other Cartoon Posts:
Float
Blind
Expert

A New Year's "IF"

2010-12-31T12:53:00.000-08:00

During the holidays there is a lot of down time. Time to think, ponder and consider our path. I don't know about you but I came up with a few resolutions, held them up for examination and watched them melt away like icicles in July. There is no substance in making an end my aim, nor redemption in mere achievement.

So, I don't have any resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, read books, make more money, finish projects or find new friends. No, those are too superficial. Also I have determined not to adopt a "Christianese" goal of simply saying, "I'll do more of what God tells me to do," because that's only a starting place. There must be a nexus where spiritual theory and outward practice meet. And that nexus or place or whatever you want to call it, is the soul.

The soul is where real new year's resolutions happen. The soul is where we lay hold of God's character and make it our own. And the soul is where the architecture behind the facade that others see rises or falls. To the degree that our soul is built on the bedrock of faith, it has the strength to invest our outward activities in meaningful pursuits.

The wisdom literature of the Bible (Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, etc.) challenges the reader with sage advice, but between the lines, inquires if they have the fortitude of soul to follow it. All that God has commanded, taught, implored and even begged us to do, leads us to construct a soul out of the materials rendered from His Spirit. If we can see that, then the origin of success is in sight.

There is a giant "IF" before any resolution can be determined. If you have the character, faith, love, priority, focus, humility or guts to see the thing through, then you can act. If not, then the action is destined to fail in the eternal scheme of things. But in either case, you will have asked the proverbial "IF," (Luke 14:28) and saved yourself from heartache or resolved that your path is clear.

Rudyard Kipling had an idea of what I mean:

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

Special Newletter Edition Dec 2010

2010-12-24T11:03:00.000-08:00

Article: The Adventure of a Life
Mission plans for Liberia and Russia

Christmas Display

2010-12-21T08:32:00.000-08:00

Live Nativity at KCC, by Ron Cody

Whenever my family is out driving after dark and we pass a house that is all lit up with Christmas decorations, the kids exclaim, "Looook," "Ahhhh," and "Ohhhh Pretty." (That last one is usually Connie) Well, I got to thinking about the fact that there are all these Christmas displays, but do they represent anything more than a festive cultural custom? I don't believe they and while I would prefer a deeper meaning, there is nothing wrong with people celebrating family, tradition and sharing. As a Christian I do not begrudge it, in fact it leaves the door open to share my motivation from faith for honoring the holiday.

Then my thoughts turned to what God's impressions of these displays might be. Would He laugh, would He cry or would He use it as a teachable moment. I sense that God would just plainly state that He orchestrated the original Christmas display when He introduced the Light of the world (John 8:12) and that we no longer have to walk in darkness (Isaiah 9:2) because of the gift that we were given (John 3:16). God wasn't trying to impress anybody, He was just offering to save everybody.

In reality the best, first class, gold-crown-winning Christmas display are/is/should be Christians remembering Christ in their day-to-day activities. Nothing honors the holiday more than inviting Jesus into your festive expression. Our lives can be so many points of light in a dark world that strung together they inspire hope in a God that has conquered the darkness. When we forgive, we light up the room. When we repent, we dispel darkness. And when we do everything, from the lofty to the servile, we draw the "Ohhhh's" and "Ahhhh's" of the onlooking world.

So the next time you are out driving, and see those twinkling lights breaking through the darkness, remember the Light of the World that is in you.

What Are We Finishing?

2010-12-13T13:31:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been thinking about "finishing." A lot of people finish things; students finish semesters and degrees, workers finish projects and careers, artists finish paintings and masterpieces and people everywhere finish life. It all comes to an end, a completion, a finality, and many look back and say, "Did I do all I could for the things that really matter?" I think we all come to that point when the end is in sight and we have to reach inside and find the drive to make it across the goal line. To finish what we started, no matter what.

Not that I am anywhere near finishing. In the eyes of some I am just getting started, but I recognize that the time to question my efforts is not at the finish line; It is now. If I frame my decisions toward finishing, instead of accomplishing this or that short term goal, then I am less likely to regret getting sidetracked.

History is full of people who looked beyond the moment and set their sights on an impossible goal. I won't bore you with particular biographies of great men, because no one achieved greatness by accident. But as glowing as those tales would be, consider that God purposed to bring salvation to all with a plan that has spanned 5771 years (according to the Jewish calendar). And it has already been declared a finished work by Christ's sacrifice on the cross!

Christian or not, I have to ask the question of what are you living for? When you "shuffle off this mortal coil" what will you have completed? The finality of death is a hard barrier to carry across anything trivial (1 Cor 3:12-15).

I guess it is only fair to turn the tables on myself and ask what I am doing would qualify as "finishing." I take as my motivator Philippians 3:14 to follow a calling, not to achieve greatness in the eyes of men. Others may purpose to have great accomplishments but I'll take humble earthly outcomes in exchange for glorious eternal ones, any day. So, I'm going to put the top three things out there that I believe are in line with finishing my course. Feel free to remind me of them at some future and inopportune time :-)

Locke's Goals:

Raise my kids to be mentally, physically and spiritually capable of pursuing their calling.
Finish seminary (MDiv)
Write the monthly newsletter for RMW

Now that I have put mine out there, how about you?

Don't be a Distracted Runner

Distracted Runner from Will Smith on Vimeo.

Fruitcake on the Brain

2010-12-06T17:00:00.000-08:00

It is a strange world, and I don't fit in. I don't like coffee, popcorn or watermellon but I do like fruitcake. Seriously, fruitcake with a tall glass of eggnogg is a culinary delight that I wait for all year. Just this last week I ate a year old fruitcake that I had been saving for the requisite eggnogg. I was hesitant at first, but gave way to the delictable texture of vintage Claxton. Last year's supply of eggnogg had run out after I single-handedly consumed eight whole fruitcakes accross the holiday season (I wonder why).

This year Susanna, the ever cost conscious, is attempting to home-bake some fruitcake. A worthy effort to be sure, the taste is right but it's all crumbley. Still, I polished off a row in a 9x13 pan last night and theorized the possibility that if we mixed it with vanilla ice cream it would be real holiday treat! However, I believe that with a few more tries Susanna will perfect a fruitcake recipe that will be a family tradition for years to come.

For me a fruitcake not only tastes good but it brings back memories and feelings of family, festivity and fun. I especially like to sit with the Christmas tree as the only illumination and savor the nostalgia. It's homey, comforting and special, all at the same time. You might say, that the culture of my unbringing built the preference in me to fruitcake, and I think you would be right.

There are a lot of things in life that we like and cannot explain why. We don't even try to because, well...it's our preference and we don't have to explain that to anybody. Especially in out "rugged individual" society, the defense of liking what we like is almost sacred, and heaven help anyone who questions that. But, as Christians, we come up against passages like 1 Cor 8 that talk about yeilding that right for the betterment of the bretheren.

Sure Paul is applying this to silly things like "meat offered to idols," like who would do a thing like that today? But what if my fruitcake consumption were a problem for someone? What if eating candied fruit in baked goods was defined as a "wrong" food is their mind? (This is not as far fetched as you might think; try talking to a vegan) What should I do? What would you do?

Now most of those reading this are probably thinking about private social situations and considering that they will avoid the offending item while around "those" people. But what if it is a little more ticklish than that? What if this is the preference of a section in your church or an issue for someone in your weekly Bible study? What if two opposing parties have opinions in those situations?

Now, I know I have raised a lot of questions here, so let me point to some answers. Debates like these are rarely the real issue. People rarely get hot under the collar about what other people do unless it is triggering something else deeper down. The question for you is not one of ad populum defense (everybody is doing it), majority rules or my-way-or-the-highway-ness, but what is needed is a hard look at the theological underpinnings of your approach to preferences.

I'm not saying that you have to be theological about fruitcake, but you do need to be theological about human interaction. As a Christian, why are you here? What is your function in your community? What part of Christ do those outside the faith see in you? You have a family relationship with your fellow Christians; how is that upheld in what you are against, or for?

While you ponder those questions, consider this :-)

Somewhere out there a poor defenseless fruitcake is being abused, that is why I am advocating PETOF (People for the Ethical Treatment Of Fruitcakes). See below.

Annual Fruitcake Toss in Colorado (heartbreaking)
Below: Protesters of the fruitcake toss (Heroes)

A Tale of Woe

2010-11-28T22:18:00.000-08:00

After all that preparation for the big thanksgiving day dinner, the family and friends are gathered, and you hope that the occasion will be a memorable one. For us, this year will be remembered for Timothy tripping, banging his head on a chair and the dramatics that followed.

You'll recall that a few weeks back (The Frazzled Life) I reported how playing with Timothy in the yard resulted in my near scalping. I guess his comeuppance came. Anyhow, he is racing around the house trying to get grandpa to tickle him, but also trying to keep away. On one pass he zigs too close, trips over grandpa's foot and flies headlong into a wooden chair. He's lucky no one was sitting in the chair, else his unstoppable force would have met an immovable object.

Three seconds later the howling begins and the adults attempt to assess the damage. There is quite a bit of blood and some one gets a cold, damp rag. Timothy is holding his forehead and moaning, "Why! Why! Why did this happen to me?" We eventually determine that it is a small cut right at the hairline and the bleeding has stopped completely after only a few minutes. But Timothy, who is still crying profusely, wonders aloud, "Am I going to die!?" We assure him that his wound is not fatal, however this explanation does not stop him from seeking a second opinion from his siblings and cousins with the tale of how his "brain is cut."

Finally, I take him in my arms and hold him for a while. This settles things for a bit, but he soon says, "I want to go downstairs and lie down." I got him down there and settle him on a couch, a which time he asks again, "Am I going to die?" "No," I reassure him, "you're going to be just fine," and then proceeded to apply a bandage that commiserated in size with his feelings. This seemed to satisfy his confidence of recovery, and after watching a short video he was up and playing with everybody again. He even rallied enough to take in some pumpkin pie; I know it must have been an effort.

How we like children bend and break
And call on God our soul to take
But find a cure
In life's allure
That makes all our fussing a fake

Remember John 16:33

Sorry, I'm in a limericking mood.

Last Night Coming Home...

2010-11-23T13:10:00.000-08:00

Well...school closed early so I rushed to the train station to get on an earlier trip...made it and got to go in style on the Coast Starlight...however about 8 different switches were frozen and we wound up getting into Seattle 1.5 hrs late...I missed the 10:05 ferry and had to wait for the 10:55 boat to Bainbridge Island...Bicycling to my car was out of the question, so I walked slipping and sliding the mile to where it was parked...Bainbridge was pitch dark and I felt like I had entered a time warp and was a weary traveler entering a boarded up shanty town...Anyhow, I got to my car and had to take a half dozen runs at a hill in order to get to the main road...Susanna had arranged with Bonnie for me to spend the night there is necessary...but it wasn't...I crept the whole way home at 25mph, passing the frozen carcases of many vehicles...I chose to go through Poulsbo instead of Suquamish because I figured the roads would be in better shape...They were and I was able to arrive at my snug little home by 2am.

The Perfect Anniversiary

2010-11-22T14:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Couple by Duda Daze

My wife is quite different than me. I love suspense and surprise and she doesn't. So, when our anniversary rolled around last week I was in the quandary of wanting to surprise her and knowing that was not what made her feel special. So, I secretly got my mother-in-law to get the ingredients for a nice dinner, and arranged for her to watch the kids for us. But the nagging thought that she would be non-plussed with my efforts wouldn't go away. There was only one solution, I had to tell her. And thank goodness I did, because she had a whole host of objections to the timing of my little "party." As I write this, we have yet to have that dinner I planned, even though our anniversary was on Saturday.

Now, I could have chosen to see the world from my own way of doing things and interpreted her accordingly. I could think, "Oh what a stick in the mud! Where's the spontaneity, the romance, the thrill and the adventure of being in love!?" I could have guilt tripped her into going along with something that made her uncomfortable, but after eleven years I have learned to appreciate and anticipate her distinctive qualities.

Last week I wrote about the"Frazzled Life" and how we run around trying to form the world to our liking and advantage. But, in all that we do we relate to God on some level. So, in essence, when we try to control what is really in God's hands we make a relational statement of disrespect to His way of doing things. What do you think that does to the union between us and God?

Matthew 6:25-34 has Jesus giving advice not to worry. Why did he put that out there? Why is it recorded for us? I think it is a plea for relationship. Jesus is saying, "love Me more than your plans, worries and fears." If we can just stop and realize that whatever we are chasing is of less value than the God who loves us. Just as we value our spouses, children and friends by changing our behaviour to harmonize with them, maybe we should do the same with the God that made us and will meet us on the other side of eternity.

The Frazzled Life

2010-11-15T20:23:00.000-08:00

The other day I was playing the yard with my kids and was chasing Timothy here and there. He's a quick little guy, and agile. I, on the other hand, am slow and lumbering when engaging in physical exercise. Anyway, he was laughing at my apparent inability to catch him as he ducked into a wooden playhouse that was just his size. Without thinking, I attempted to plunge in after him, but under-calculated my height. The top of my head intersected with the door jamb and I found myself partially on my back. On later examination I discovered that I had scalped about thirty priceless hairs off the crown of my head.

Today, I was sitting here thinking about all the running around we do and mishaps that occur as a result of a misconception of our abilities. We're frazzled. We do too much. We think that if we control enough of the circumstances in our life and world, that happiness, peace, prosperity, social standing and a worry free retirement will result. We chase the elusive prize into uncharted territory and stubbornly insist that we are doing the right thing. We fret and stew about the imperfect people in our lives that get in way of our goals. And we secretly fantasize about a mystical world where all obstacles and all people align to our way of thinking. Wow, I got stressed just writing that.

There is an enigma contained in the Christian life that I am more and more fascinated with. You know how Paul goes on about struggling, fighting, running the race and finishing the course? Sounds like a lot of effort. But the kicker is in verses like Romans 8:11 we are taught that we are dead as a doornail, to sin, and it is Christ that lives through us. So which is it, an effort or a passive acceptance? The only solution, that I have found, is to quit looking at this as a problem to be solved, but as a Person to know.

If I attempted to develop a relationship with my children by either performing or passively accepting them, I would be a lousy parent. God doesn't take that tack with us, so why would it logically follow for us to do that to Him? God is a being with thoughts, feelings, hopes, plans, love, character and power. Though He is superlative in those things compared to us, He can relate to the least of us, my brethren.

So when the frazzled life has you running around banging into stuff. Stop, quit trying to perform, get your bearings on where Jesus is, then walk hand-in-hand on the perfectly sized path for the two of you.

The People Who Jesus Loves

2010-11-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

When I am not traveling to seminary, studying or with my family, I'm at work. My job is to manage a small business that sells and services hot tubs (or "spas" as we like to call them). As a result, I get the opportunity to meet a broad cross-section of the local population. As I look into the eyes of these individuals, each with their own needs, hopes, pains, dreams, beliefs and quirks, I often wonder, "how God can love all these different people?"

Some are distinctly unlovely and others are quite charming. Some I know are Christians and others I know are not. But, I have learned to listen to their stories and pull out the real person that is under the hurried and clipped retail consumer. Sometimes I connect, and what was once merely a passerby becomes a soul laid bare. They take the social risk of sharing something they are facing and it is in those moments that I am humbled to observe the compassion and empathy that flows from Christ in me, to them. Not that I have some innate liking for people who are not like me; I don't. But, Christ in me supersedes and steps in to fill the deficiency.

A classmate of mine noted that John, in his gospel, uses the phrase, "the disciple whom Jesus loved," five times to refer to himself. That was not boasting in some privileged distinction but it was his way of identifying what was most meaningful in the relationship. If only we could remember that it is the love of God that defines us as Christians and that the same love that marks us also marks everyone around us. The only difference is that Christians have accepted the love.

So the next time you feel a disconnect around someone, no matter how wide the gulf, realize the one thing you still have in common is the divine love of the God that made you both.

Pain and the Unsafe God

2010-10-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

Father & Daughter by Michael Hallinan

My nearly four year old daughter, Connie, likes to point out every little "owey" she gets. The other day I came home from work, sat down to dinner and she climbed up in her seat next to me. No sooner had she gotten herself settled than she gestured to her leg and said, "see my owey dad?" I had to look twice because, at first, I did not see anything, but then I noticed a small scrape that had almost completely healed. I remember thinking that the world is full of bigger"oweys" that make this one seem insignificant. But, I dutifully empathized with her on the this "devastating" wound, and then she was happy to enjoy her supper and forget about it.

I would like to ask the question, "where do the oweys of life come from?" Deuteronomy 32:39 has God declaring, "It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand." Sure, people wound people but have you ever thought about the injuries that God deals out?

Our God is a good God, but He is not safe. There is no guarantee that, even if we are perfectly holy, we will be sheilded from pain in this life. Read Job 16:6-22 for a description of what a righteous man may suffer at the hands of God. Buy why? Why does God inflict misery on our weak bodies and weaker minds?

If we step back and look at the world from a biblical perspective, we find that the hurts of our body and emotions are inconsequential scrapes, beside the eternal wounds of the soul. God is more interested in saving and growing our spirits than in sparing our bodies. Hebrews 12:6 lets us know that it is out of love that God brings pain into our lives.

Ultimately, we must remember that God is good. Not safe, but good. If we see our circumstances through that lens, then in retrospect, we might detect the smile of pride from our heavenly Father reserves for His children.

Is God Safe?

2010-10-26T11:25:00.000-07:00

There is a line between having a personal relationship with God and having a familiar relationship with God. It is like when company comes over and they explore your house, take over cooking dinner and change the channel on your TV. They're just too...familiar. Oftentimes, we treat God like that; too familiarly.

"God is not safe," as C.S. Lewis analogizes, "but He is good," and He is not to be taken lightly. Many Christians are raised in the faith with the distorted picture of God as a cute, cuddly teddy bear of a guy, that gives out gold stars to everyone and just wants us to be "happy." Christianity has lost the vision of the magnitude of power, justice and perfection which God represents.

One day my friend, Rick, was running his excavator and lifting an object weighing over two tons. I was helping and saw that something was not sitting right, so I reached toward the load to adjust it. Rick instantly warned me of the danger of 4000 pounds of wood and steel squashing my head like a ripe pumpkin. Respectfully, I withdrew.

Now Rick is good guy and I can think of no one I would trust more to be at the controls if I had to risk my life under a hoisted death trap. But, at the same time, Rick and his machine are not safe.

God sits at the controls of life holding at bay the immense and crushing weight of sin that threatens to engulf us in everlasting separation from Himself. When we go poking at that load, we are playing with something serious, and our serious God warns us that our safety is not guaranteed if we persist.

My challenge, as I look at a world that has "All is Permissible" as it's credo, is to scrub away the camouflage paint that has been slathered over the nature of God and reveal the awesomeness that lies beneath. You?

I highly recommend Eugene Peterson's book Practice Resurrection for getting a literary picture of some of the big things God is in the church.

RMW Focus - Special Newsletter Edition - September

2010-09-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

The Secret Aggession by Locke Morgan

I want to tell you a story; a hypothetical story about a man named Bob and myself. My purpose in telling this tale is part observation, part confessional and all warning. The issue of passive-aggressive problem solving is rampant...

Duane's Doings by Duane Sabin

Since our last communication much has happened. I am realizing that most of my ministry is related to widows and orphans. I have conducted a number of funerals, including my mother-in-law’s, which is intensive work with the family and most of the time widows...(more)

Win Prizes

2010-09-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

Logos Bible Software is giving away thousands of dollars of prizes to celebrate the launch of Logos Bible Software 4 Mac on October 1. Prizes include an iMac, a MacBook Pro, an iPad, an iPod Touch, and more than 100 other prizes!
They’re also having a special limited-time sale on their Mac and PC base packages and upgrades. Check it out!

Basking in Reflected Glory

2010-09-03T11:47:00.000-07:00

Photo by Justin Shaw

Of late I have been wrestling with the concept of "substance." Not like "substance abuse," but more along the lines of what is of value, has depth, meaning and a quality of significance. How do we detect it or have it in ourselves? Why do we care? What should we do with it when we see it?

I know some people detect substance by the number of other people who associate themselves with a person, place, thing or idea. But that is shallow and can be fabricated. Others look for obscurity or rarity to define substance, as if the further from the mainstream something is, the more authentic, and therefore substantive, it is. But that is really about finding a small pond in which to be a big fish. The rub here is that people are looking for things of substance to lend substance to them. In psychology we call this "basking in reflected glory" (BIRG).

I've come to the conclusion that looking for substance in other people is fruitless. Not because it doesn't exist, but because even if you find it the substance is theirs, not yours. This is a realization that comes with age and maturity, but it leads to equally perplexing questions.

Once we realize that seeking substance in other people, places, ideas, activities or things is a bust, then our world contracts and we seek to have substance in, and of, ourselves. Now, Christ has been there this whole time offering Himself as the solution, but at this juncture many go off in search of self-substance. Some call it a midlife crisis, others try to find themselves and still others become depressed and embrace mediocrity.

When the author of Ecclesiastes talks about "striving after wind," he is describing the futility of having anything be your substance other than God. It is a very narrow, obscure and rare thing to find someone who gets their "substantiveness" from God, through Jesus Christ. You know it when you see it because it is in them, not reflected to them. To the degree that they yield self-substance to Christ-substance, they are Christ in this world - and that is significant.

In conclusion, Paul warns us not to go around "measuring ourselves by ourselves" (2 Cor. 10:12) but to look outside of what we are to what Christ in us is. When you come to the end of BIRGing you'll find yourself empty and searching for inner substance. The answer is less of you and more of the eternal creator of the universe and, more specifically, the creator of you.

Through the Knothole

2010-08-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

Man Looking through a Hole in the Fence, by Peter McPartlin

There are times in life when we feel like we are being pulled through a very small opening very fast. The reality is that we are moving through the same "space" of life that we have always enjoyed, only are we stretched around additional responsibilities. We have bitten off more than we can chew, so to speak.

This week has been one of those weeks. With two papers to write, preaching this Sunday, organizing my first trip to Portland on Monday, meeting with staff, reading assignments, marketing deadlines at work, dead car battery, newsletter deadline and making time for family, I'm stretched kinda' thin. As much as I wish there wasn't so much to do, I am strangely serene in my outlook.

It's that feeling that comes from knowing that it is all in God's hands. God led me to each of these things and, as far as I am concerned, it is His job to supply the grace to handle them all. It's not a cop-out or excuse to do a minimal job. No, it is the very definition of the Christian life.

I recognize that I am totally dependant on God to make this life work. I gave up the right to think that I have it all figured out when I accepted the saving life of Jesus. My life is not mine. Therefore, I must do my best because that is what God calls me to.

So, the knothole becomes a portal to the greater things that God wants me to do. It is a refining opportunity waiting to be embraced. Yours?

Gomer Was A Ho...but

2010-08-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

"Hosea & Gomer" by Cody F. Miller

Sin, failure and redemption are the topics we are examining in my "Interpretation of the Prophets and Gospels" course at Western Seminary. Particularly in the book of Hosea we find an extreme illustration as Hosea is commanded to marry a "wife of harlotry."

Her name is Gomer and she is a complete skank. In the end she winds up on the slave block and Hosea has to buy her freedom. But then comes the process of redemption and restoration of relationship. A process that begins with seclusion.

Gomer is alone without the affections of her lovers and without the intimacy of her husband. Ultimately, she must find her way back to the heart of her spouse, not by her feminine charms, but by giving her heart to the one who has loved her all along.

There is always a way home, but the road does not lie through rights, formulas, sex, gifts or any other work. Only the heart can be true. That is all our loved ones are interested in and that is all God is interested in.

Racing Aim

2010-08-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

By LeRoy Neiman

Lately, I've been gearing up to run a marathon, of sorts, this Fall. Adding a full seminary course load on top of my home, ministry and job lives is going to be a challenge. Just to spice things up I will also be making a weekly jog down to Portland for Monday classes. Anyhow, as I strategize my pacing and plan for each stage of the race I know that there is only one thing that keeps a runner focused on the prize, and that is the perspective of Christ.

When the apostle Paul was using this metaphor in 1 Corinthians 9, he made darn sure that "self-control" was ballyhooed as a the defining mark of a successful runner. But "self-control" has got to have an aim. I mean, the training and discipline required to be a world class hot dog eater is quite different from that of a tri-athelete. Right? Paul's aim was relentlessly to know Christ, not fame, not fortune, not even freedom, but simply to know Christ and follow Him.

Self control inspired by an eternal aim is an unstopable force. Please pray that I keep mine and I pray that you keep yours.

The Beginning of the End of Summer

2010-08-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

"Summer's End" by Jim Daly

The peak has passed and now we're staring down the backside of the heat wave. For some of you that means 110 degrees but here in the northwest we all thought we were going to melt when the temps hit 90. Anyhow, Fall is before us and it is time to start thinking ahead.

Aside from returning to blogging, I am preparing to get into the swing of school with distance learning beginning in a few days and weekly trips to Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon for "Monday Seminary" starting August 30th. This semester I am taking "Interpretation of the Prophets and Gospels," "Theology of Ministry," and "Providing Pastoral Counseling." It's a full courseload and with everything else (home, work, ministry, church) I'll be stretched pretty thin for a while.

On the ministry side, Shepherd's Call has been working out policy kinks and running some test cases to make sure the program works. We didn't want to jump right into a grieving situation and not have our ducks in a row. Duane is getting increasingly exited about the possibilities. We also have some opportunities abroad that we will explore in the Fall.

All in all, God is good and He holds it all together.

Technical Difficulties

2010-05-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

The other day, the rip cord on my lawnmower stopped working. I tried poking at the winder with various implements and I even wound the cord in by turning the blade underneath. For all my effort, I would get one pathetic pull.

My kids were just standing around me and each one had a word of wisdom to impart. "Just pull the string, daddy." "You have to push this button here, daddy." And, "What are you doing under the mower, daddy?"

Finally, in the midst of this chorus of complaints from my "audience," I remembered that I have someone who I can call that will know just what to do. My brother-in-law, Ben, is a mechanical genius of the first water. No sooner had I wheeled the beleaugured lawn clipper into his garage, than the parts began to fly and soon the problem was laid bare. I had a misaligned torsion winding and some dislocated compression flanges. In other words, the cord was out of its track and the ratchet fingers had fallen off.

The issue was not one that could be addressed from the outside, with pokings and prods on the surface. Someone with a mastery of the system was required to get to the heart of the matter. How many life issues do we attempt to treat from the surface when we really need to be broken down and realigned by the love of our heavenly Father?

It is tough to do; to be vulnerable to the love of God. It requires an adventurous spirit, faith and the courage to face you own fallability. But when you see the master Mechanic at work, you'll know that he is the kind of guy to whom you can just hand over the keys and trust that He won't overcharge.

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

Special Newsletter Edition - May 2010

2010-05-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

RMW News May 2010
Article 1 (What Lies Behind? - LM) -
Article 2 (Let Me Introduce Myself - DS)

Water, Water Everywhere

2010-04-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

Warning - Do Not Drink the Water!

Tip: Hit play, then pause, to allow video to buffer for smooth playback.

We don't look at water enough. We don't hold water bottles enough. There is not enough water observation going on. And the same is true in our spiritual lives.

We need to listen to more preachers. Take more sermon notes. Read more of the Bible. And generally stock up on spiritual knowledge.

Dehydration is a dangerous thing, but we should get as close to it as possible before using any of our resevoir.

Looking Up

2010-04-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

Tunnel vision is can be deadly for people and squirrels alike. Discover another way out. Psalms 71 is a good place to start.

RMW Focus - Special Newsletter Edition - March

2010-03-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

See the newsletter HERE.
- RMW's New Staff Member
- Answering the Shepherd's Call
- RMW Blogging in the 21st Century

Spinning Plates

2010-03-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

There is a temptation to take on more than we can handle. I, for one, am susceptible to this and frequently try to do too many things at once. Partly, this comes from seeing opportunities and trying to not let them pass, but it also stems from a need to feel needed.

We've got to be honest with ourselves as to why we are putting all the effort into spinning these plates. Ecclesiastes 2:11 says:

"Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun."

Some of the "activities" we do are just "striving after wind," a useless waste of time. Let those kinds of things fall. But, the key is to not replace them with something equally pointless.

In this process, keep your eye on God. When He hands you a plate to spin, it is the right one at the right time.

Blame it on the Rain

2010-02-27T17:00:00.000-08:00

Can you Locate Locke? HERE is a hint.

(References in the video are about the "Church" in general)

Where Are You? - video

2010-02-23T12:34:00.000-08:00

Video Duration is ~3min

To, With and By - Part 3 - Final

2010-02-06T15:48:00.000-08:00

This last section describes a level of maturity that is above me, so I'm somewhat guessing here. There comes a point when a person begins to effect life more that it effects him. In fact, that person is creating a life of their own choosing. In the Christian, this is called the furthering of the Kingdom, in the non-Christian this is simply an actualization of their own desires. Joseph reached a point of reliance on God where he no longer saw any of his circumstances as happening to him, rather he impacted life with immense power.

Now, it's difficult to separate Joseph's control over his circumstance from his lofty position as Pharaoh's right hand man. But we can look at him during his prison days and see the Joseph that rotted in a dungeon was the same Joseph that became second in command of one of the greatest empires of his day. The common denominator was the lack of passivity.

Joseph no longer saw his problems as happening to him and he didn't express a half-and-half partnership with his difficulties. When he was helping the cup bearer and baker with their dreams, do we find Joseph sulking around? No. He has the most valuable prisoner status (MVP). He is making the most of his situation and bringing glory to God in the process.

So, when Joseph gets out of prison and is the BMOC in Egypt, does he forget his perspective? Absolutely not, and this is the biggest test of this level of maturity. This is the point where so many fail and go back to the mediocrity of mixture. The temptation here is to think of success as something that you achieved, something that is deserved because of all the trials you went through. But, that is simply not true.

Power, or the ability to effect life externally, is a fleeting vapor that comes and goes. The only acheivments that are true success are internal, eternal and based on the condition of the heart, not the wallet. Joseph understood this and maintained his dependence on God right through to the end (as illustrated in his expressed wish to be buried in the land of his fathers).

Joseph lived a good life, he took the bumps and bruises of life with ever increasing maturity. We, as Christians, could take a lesson, or three, from his story and grow up!

To, With and By - Part 2

2010-01-30T16:38:00.000-08:00

Joseph's "good luck" was about to run out. In the early years he enjoyed the bounty of the blessings his father showered upon him. But, all that was about to be stripped away.

Society today would look at the occasion of Joseph's brothers selling him into slavery as a tragedy. And the temptation was for Joseph to think that as well. We do know that Joseph screamed like a little girl when his new owners dragged him off to Egypt (Gen 42:21). There was anguish of soul, a realization that he no longer had the world by the tail and the gut-wrencher that his brothers truly hated him. In that moment, Joseph had a choice; grow up or retreat into a grudge.

From all appearances Joseph chose the latter. Despite having spent the last few weeks chained and walking behind a revolting camel, he came to the decision of not allowing life to simply happen to him, but that he would take a hand in the outcome. He would happen "with" life.

Now, I want to take a moment here and affirm that in the life of a Christian these maturing steps are powered by the Spirit and not by self effort or character discipline. Otherwise, our maturity is purely self serving and has no Kingdom perspective.

So, back to Joseph. Joseph finds himself serving an Egyptian and he decides to invest himself into the duties he is assigned, rather than pining for the good old days back in Canaan. He could have grown in his hated for the Egyptians, the Midianites or his brothers but instead he grew in wisdom and favor with God and men.

Joseph became decisive, tactful and a creature of politics. He took risks while counting the cost. At last he came to a climactic test. One that pitted everything he had accomplished against utter loss and possible death. When Potiphar's wife enticed him to sin, she caught Joseph in a catch 22. To accept her offer would be betrayal of his master and God, resulting in an inner destruction. To decline could mean political blackballing, harassment or even death. But Joseph chose to maintain his integrity and put his life in God's hands.

In essence, Joseph put all talents, proven character, circumstances, position, past and future in God's hands. He occurred "with" life, rather than allow life to roll over him. That move earned him a ticket to the next level.

Which we will discuss next week....Ha.

To, With and By - Part 1

2010-01-22T15:03:00.000-08:00

Let's talk about maturity. I have recently been reading the Biblical story of Joseph and some things about that story jumped out at me as a life lessons. Specifically, the three perspectives that went with different stages of Joseph's growing up years.

Initially, we see life as happening "to" us, and rightly so. We are born dependent on others for everything, and during those vulnerable years there is a lot of blame that we can shift. Parents, teachers, older

siblings and authority figures all affect our lives and shape its form. Joseph was in that state when we first encounter him in Genesis 37. I mean, he is clueless as to the implications of his actions.

When Joseph gets set above his brothers and he is like, "Whoa, this is totally radical dude! Check it out. I'm totally stylin'." Then, after the dream thing he goes tromping into the living room, with his baggy tunic on, and proclaims that everybody is going to bow down to him. What a jerk!?

But Joseph is still looking at life as happening "to" him and, by extension, he sees his positive circumstances as intrinsically deserved. He thinks, "Of course daddy loves me more, I'm the best" or "Of course God favors me, I'm so special." But, you might be thinking that his disposition is a hallmark of anyone who has been spoiled. And you would be right, but spoiled is only one condition whereby we express the view that life is happening "to" us. The poorest, most disadvantaged person can still be arrogant and spoiled when they define their negative circumstances as intrinsically un-deserved.

Believe me, I've been on both sides of that coin and am so grateful for the wise people in my life that have helped me to see that this life is more about inward decisions, not outward experiences.

The challenge comes when the transition opportunity hits and we choose between maturing or retreating. We can move to a greater and greater understanding that this life is more about what we put into it, not what we receive from it. We can see life as happening "with" us or even happening "by" us. Joseph handled the switch amazingly well, but that is a subject for another post.

My Bad

2010-01-15T11:04:00.000-08:00

It is always good to take responsibility for our mistakes and last week's post is a great springboard for such a discussion. If you clicked on the link in the email, you were directed to an older post on the joys of getting up early rather than the latest edition of RMWNews. This resulted from some hasty cutting and pasting but it seems that more than a few people found their way to the correct posting nontheless.

So, I made a mistake. I'm as human as the next man but not all humans can muster the fortitude to admit to a mistake, if they think they can get away with it. It is easier to pretend that nothing happened and let somebody else deal with it. Like when you bump another car in the parking lot or when you tear a page in a book you borrowed. We rationalize that the car was a piece of junk anyhow and the book should never have been written in the first place. But the fact remains that the damage is our fault and we should take responsibility.

When Paul was before the Council, he said something rude to the high priest but he did not know to whom he was talking (Acts 23). When he was told who the person was, he apologized. Even though Paul was in the right and could have made a case in his defense, he didn't. He took responsibility. So should we.

There might be something in the back of your mind for which you have put off taking responsibility. There is no time like the present. Go for it.

RMW Focus - Special Newsletter Edition

2010-01-08T12:21:00.000-08:00

Main Article: Transitions and New Beginnings

First, I would like to apologize for not communicating over the last couple of months. This period has been quite difficult for me and my family. Much has transpired and I am only now settling into a pattern on which I can report. (Read More)

Blog Restart

RMW Focus is getting a fresh start in 2010. With more succinct posts, great links and a few surprises. Check this space weekly to get the latest installment.

Kids

2009-09-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

I love kids. I must because I have five of them. But, I actually love the children that God has blessed me with.

They each have a special place in my heart and if I think about them, individually they provoke tears of wonder at their uniqueness and potential. That must be how God looks at us. As His children, looking up at Him and He looking back with love and pride.

I am well aware that it is not all fun and games. There is a lot of work that goes into raising kids, but it is the most rewarding kind. After all the diaper changes, bedtime stories and cold seasons, you flop down on the couch and they all attempt to find a way to sit on your lap at the same time. Why? Because you are the daddy or mommy that they know and love and they want to just be close. It's awesome!

So, if you have kids, give them a great big hug, spend time telling them of God's love and enjoy the years when they are small. You pass this way but once.

P.S. You may be wondering why I chose to write on this topic today. Well, we have a tradition around our house that started with my parents. It involves a little extra item placed somewhere that will be noticed. This item is given from my wife to me on certain occasions. I got one today and it means that number six is on the way!

Colossians

2009-09-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

As the Fall semester begins I find myself having to do complete assignments for school in the wee hours of the morning. One such project is a Dependant Survey of Colossians. I am getting a lot out of it and thought that I should not keep it all to myself. So, I will share with you a smattering of the cool things to be discovered in this little book of only four chapters.

First, did you know that is was written by Paul AND Timothy, that it was written to the Colossians AND the Laodicians? I had always glossed over those facts in my rush to get to the teaching part.

It is significant that Paul is giving Timothy a co-authorship on one of his latest bestsellers. I mean, the name Paul would have been enough to make this book fly off the shelves, but now Timothy is getting some respect in the community. It's a shame though that Timothy never got to go solo with his own book.

But seriously, Colossians is really about building the faith of a fledgling church. In the short space of a few pages, the topics of the Gospel, the deity of Christ, warnings against legalism, exchanged life, social "isms," family relationships, and business relationships are covered. It is as if Paul, and Timothy, are feeling the need to bolster the faith of this church against a panoply of attacks.

But they don't stop there, they also send Tychicus and Onesimus to deliver the message and the emotion that goes behind it. (Background on Onesimus can be found in Philemon 1:10) These guys act as the conduits of pastoral care to this struggling flock. In a modern church model you could refer to them as "venue pastors."

All in all, Colossians is a neat compact book, that is basically a "What To Watch Out For When Starting A Church" manual.

Worth Watching

2009-09-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

I cry when I watch movies. There, I've said it. I'm a big blubbering baby when it comes to Old Yeller, Casablanca, and even Ratatouille. And the short film I'm going to write about today provoked just such a reaction.

The Butterfly Circus was shot to illustrate the concept of Hope. It's about, "a perversion of nature. A man, if you could even call him that, who God Himself has turned His back upon!" The 20 minute movie has a depth of relevence to the human heart that I have rarely seen in any cinematic work. Redemption, honor, triumph, love, forgiveness and, most of all, hope are there in abundance. You're gonna need a Kleenex.

Morning

2009-08-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

There was once a time when I got up early on a regular basis, in order to go to meetings. Then the meetings went away and I found myself becoming a night person, staying up to all hours. Well, now I find that in order to get stuff done, like school work and ministry projects, I have to do battle with the blankets and get up early again.

I began this process a week ago, but had trouble making the switch and wound up sleeping only 3 hours on one of the nights. I have things much better situated now, and am up and at 'em by 5:30am. My goal is 5am and I will nail that down by next week.

In any case, I am re-realizing the benefits of waking early. Here are a few of them:

See the sunrise
Quiet time with the Lord
First dibs on the struddle muffin
Start the work day running
Perspective
Showering in the dark (its an adventure every time)
No traffic
Productivity

I could use any suggestions you might have to fortify me in the never ending struggle to bounce out of bed. Use the comments section below to leave me a note. Thanks!

Outer Space

2009-08-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

This is kinda cool. I have never had an office outside my house for ministry activities before. But thanks to the generousity of Abe Young who owns Kennedy Business Park, I now have a space to study, hold Bible studies and meet folks.

Its really big. I'd say 30x50, with an upstairs loft. Great plush carpet downstairs, but bare plywood upstairs. I've moved in with my meager furnishings, but could use some chairs, lamps and other things to make the place more user friendly.

I think this is awesome! And I can't wait to see how God uses this opportunity to His glory!

Float

2009-08-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

(Click to enlarge)

There are times when life looks mixed up and all the pieces will never fit together again. But, doesn't it seem that God designed life to be shook up in the first place?

Original cartoon by W. Locke Morgan

Open Handed

2009-08-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

It's a common enough saying that there are some things in life that we need to hold with an "open hand." This means that we posses them but do not have a death grip on them. As Christians we are called to hold all of life in an open handed manner.

This would include such things as friends, fun, money, jobs, plans and places. We don't get to choose what we will have and what we will have not. That is, if we hold it with an open hand. We could be tight fisted with certain things as we do have this thing called "free will." But what does that do for us?

It's like my kids (yes, everything is analogous to kids). There are times when I ask them to put something down so I can hand them something else. They cry and moan, and grip the item util it is pried away, producing even more decibels of whoa. Then I have to wait for the sorrow to cease so they can open their eyes enough to see the other object. The change is miraculous as they see that what they now posses is so much better than what they had.

So, how far back do you have to think, to remember when you last held on to something that you should have let God take? You could continue to hold it tightly, or you could take a chance, give it to God and see what He has to replace it with, on the other hand.

Classroom

2009-08-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes people ask me what God is doing in my life. This is a very important question that all of us should be pondering frequently. However, at this moment I do not have an answer. It's kinda like being in a classroom, with God up there lecturing away and somebody leans over and asks how I did on the final exam.

I have some of the concepts but the grand picture has not yet been revealed. That's were I am right now. It's frustrating, stretching and confusing; which I kinda believe is right were God wants me at the moment. I have to depend on Him and resist the urge to solve things on my own.

Like this blog. I would love to write something profound or draw something meaningful every time I try. But that is up to God.

So, I'll enjoy this lecture on "Advanced Life Integration with Purpose" and let you know what I have learned when the class is over.

Things I Am Thankful For

2009-07-27T16:26:00.000-07:00

I thank God for the wind that blows,
the grass that grows
and the child that knows
everything will be OK.

I thank God for the starry night,
the bird in flight
and for the sight
of fears that fade away.

I thank God for the rolling sea,
the clouds that flee
and the chance to see
God's grace upon the day.

-By W. Locke Morgan

Change

2009-07-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

The only thing that remains the same is change. Anyone attempting to remain static is straining against one of the most inevitable of forces in the universe. In a sense, the more one resists change, the less they engage reality.

Take Peter for example (the Biblical one). He was enjoying walking around the countryside with Jesus, watching miracles and being popular. It was kinda like being a roadie with the hippest band in Judea. So, when Jesus says that it all has to end, Peter starts to resist (Matthew 16:22). But Jesus makes a most profound point when he rebukes Peter. He says, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."

Jesus is saying to Peter that nothing is more important than staying in tune with what God is doing. You cannot allow yourself to be blinded by man's interests. Further, if our view of change is based on man's perspective, which it often times is, then we run the risk of opposing God.

I should note that God is also pretty consistent, it's just that when He presents us with change, it is change we can believe in!

Blind

2009-07-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

Original cartoon by W. Locke Morgan, July 10th, 2009.
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A Handful of Rocks

2009-07-06T15:14:00.000-07:00

I have a collection of rocks that my kids have given me. The pebbles come from the beach, the driveway and various and sundry other places. Every so often I will be presented with what they call a "special rock."

Typically the rock will have some distinctive characteristic, like being all white, a mixture of colors or have an unusual shape. But, the consistent thing is that the kid believes that their gift is of value and they want to give it to me. I look into their innocent faces and see wonderment with the natural world, a transparency of emotion and a desire to please their father. Only the most hard-hearted dad would not be touched by the experience, and I am far from hard-hearted.

Therein lies the picture I wanted to paint for you; the image of the things we offer up to our heavenly Father. Matthew 18:3 talks about humbling ourselves like children as we come to God. It's a tough thing to do, in some respects, because we are all grown up and have forgotten how. Fortunately, God has ordained that we start life as children, pass on life through our children, hear and see children, He basically made it next to impossible to live life without confronting the nature of being a child.

So, the next time you are faced with a grubby, little child holding a fistful of rocks, you might look a little closer to see if you can catch the smile of God reflected in their eyes. And, in that moment, recall your own child-like faith that catches the eye of God.

My Bible

2009-06-26T22:44:00.000-07:00

I recently left my Bible at church and did not rediscover it for a couple of days. But, when I did, I simply took it home and did not notice the change that had come over it.

You see, my Bible is about 20 years old and is showing some significant signs of wear and tear. In fact, the whole binding to the cover had come loose, the map section was all on its own and a couple of pages in I Cor. kept wanting to slide out. Even so, I couldn't think of parting with the book because it's the perfect size, has all my margin notes and I know where to find everything. But I digress.

After a day, or so, my wife asks if I realized that my Bible was fixed. I said that I had not, she pointed out the improvements and then informed me that Mike, the custodian at our church, had found the Bible and repaired it. I was ecstatic. It was like my Bible was read to go for another 20 years.

I saw Mike at church the next Sunday and thanked him profusely. He gave an "Aw shucks" kind of response and volunteered to make some additional improvements. I gladly gave it to him and now have it back for many more years of cherished use.

Mike has been my friend for some time, but this unexpected gesture made him even more of a friend. He taught me, that day, the value of such gestures. The type that are quiet and unassuming. The kind that say, "I care."

So, I guess the moral in this story is that when a friend rebinds your Bible, it reminds you that your Bible binds you to your friend. And we all that "Blessed be the ties that bind."

RMW Focus - Special Newsletter Edition

2009-06-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

Main Article: Un-Appreciated

There’s a word for you. It is one of the most heinous stigmas to be had in this world of “me-firstness.” To NOT have it your way, to NOT be all that you can be and to NOT be a “super-special gold star person” is to be the worst thing of all; unremarkable, a loser.

The sense that others know our value is what drives a lot of human behavior. The rich young ruler of Matthew 19 and the scribe in Luke 10 both wanted Jesus to see them as worthy. Numerous kings of Israel, Moses at the rock, Abraham in Egypt and all the way back to Adam in the garden...(Read More)

Secondary Article: Film Update

Well, all the pieces came together at the last moment and we have begun filming two short movies. One huge blessing came from a office/warehouse owner, Abe Young, who donated the use of two...(Read More)

Nose Job

2009-06-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

Last week I had sinus surgery. Apparently, my nasal passages were blocked by polyps, a deviated septum, some inflammation and a honking big bone spur. I had never been in surgery before and the experience of waking up after the anesthesia wore off was really odd.

I remembered nothing, which is the whole idea of the anesthesia. But then the doctor was telling me how he had to whale on the bone spur for twice as long as it usually takes. I had visions of DeWalt drills coming into play or perhaps a chain saw. The fact that my nose felt like it had been explored by a spelunking hamster added to the possibility. But now it is a few days later and I am sure the operation was a success and that no industrial tools (or hamsters) were used.

But one thing will always stand out to me from this experience. My wife insisted on driving me to the appointment. When I woke up, my wife was there. She drove me home and then proceeded to take care of the all the tasks around the house. She is a strong and good woman. I am truly blessed and honored to have Susanna as my wife.

It didn't take a nose job for me to be aware of these things, but it gave me opportunity to appreciate them.

Here We Go

2009-06-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

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Today we begin filming on the two projects for June. Lots and lots of boxes have been gathered, lights hung and equipment and props put in place. It's very exciting.

But in all this I have to stop and remember that it is not the stuff, the location or the scripts that make this thing work. It's people. People, who are allowing God to work through them. If we ever lose sight of the people factor, then we lose sight of Christ factor that is in them. Success, efforts, projects, plans and organizations are less important than the people that are in and around them.

You cannot imagine how thankful and proud I am of the creative men and women who have invested in making today happen.

A Good Stretch

2009-05-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

There are times when my life stretches me. I feel the strain of going to the limits of my ability to handle and remember all the details of my life. There are deadlines and expectations that loom ahead that are so daunting that I have no idea how it will all come together. But, it does.

I can't take credit for it, because it usually comes right after I inwardly say to God, "I cannot possibly pull this off." I think God takes special delight in waiting for us to say just that. But there is a purpose in stretching itself.

We have verses like 1 Cor. 9:24, Gal 2:2, and Heb. 12:1 that talk about running races. Any good runner needs to be well stretched before taking to the track. It's preparation. It's a no-brainer. Yet, every day there are people that suddenly get it in their head that they are going to be marathon runners and wind up writhing on the sidewalk with cramps. All because they took to the race before submitting to the stretching.

One way He stretches us is by asking us to wait. 1 Pet. 5:6 talks about God exalting you "at the proper time." Up, until that point, you are waiting; humbly. The longer it takes, the more difficult it is to take. But, therein lies the joy of humility! The sure knowledge that God is the one applying the pressure, for His purpose.

I have friends that have challenges that dwarf anything I am facing (dying, retiring, marriage trouble, etc.) and I can only hope that the stretching I feel today will prepare me for the races I have yet to run.

Squirrels and News

2009-05-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

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I was once told that the reason squirrels run across the road in front of you is due to a desperation for safety and not some malevolent plot to cause an accident. Squirrels pick out a favorite tree, kind of like a home base, and orient themselves from that tree. When danger approaches they don't have to figure out a plan for where to go for refuge, they just go to home base. Unfortunately, that "safe place" may lie on the opposite side of the thoroughfare.

People are not that different, we go to what we know, even if it means doing something stupid. However, as Christians, we have an alternative. Like the other day when I was on the phone with a dear friend on the verge of a total breakdown, my first instinct was to recommend all the logical things that he could do to help the situation. My mind ran to support groups, websites and books; the comfortable anonymity of making it someone else's problem. Then I saw myself in the light of what God is doing to me and knew what I had to do.

When I suggested that I would call this friend, on a weekly basis, you could hear that that meant more to him than all the other "help," combined. I felt the peace that comes with having fulfilled God's will at that moment. And, I had hope for the future. It was a good thing.

Maybe God is trying to draw close to you, but you're too squirrelly. Perhaps it is better to stand still and know that God is in control, rather than run for "safety."

News
Speaking: Last week I was at the Redeemer Methodist Church and in two weeks I will be at the Sklallam Worship Center.

Video: We got a facility donated, HERE. We are moving in, presently, and working on sets.

The Ugly Christian

2009-05-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

There are times when I can't define my feelings into words. Today was one of those days, so I started doodling, soon the doodle became a drawing and the drawing a painting (sort of). I had no intention of painting a duck, but, there it was on my canvas. Then the connection to what I've been thinking about came into full view.

As Christians we are the ugly ducklings of this world. We don't fit in, and yet we try.

We paint our plumage, clip our own wings and walk funny, just to be palatable to the culture. Now, before anyone starts nodding their head in agreement, know that there is more than one culture at play here. In fact, we are awash in cultures and sub-cultures. You may just as easily be bending to the culture of "American Christianity in the 1950's" as to the culture of "American Postmodernism in the 2000's."

I don't want to get into what elements of these cultures are best or worst, I just wish we could turn to a mirror and see the sad state in which we live.

At the risk of offending everybody, I'll say that I am equally frustrated with Bible thumping, standards quoting, isolationizing, puritanicalizing, no beat music playing fundamentalists as I am with goth dressing, rock banding, scripture scrubbing, ever seeking, never finding metro-Christians. And everything in-between.

Culture is not amoral. Underneath each style decision is a motivation. And there can be just as much arrogance in the motivation of a conservative, as a liberal. You see, blind adherence to a set of styles removes the need to discern the will of God. And that is a dangerous pinion to pluck.

We are not ugly ducklings, we are beautiful graceful swans. We should relax and enjoy our inner "swanness."

A Blog Apart

2009-05-08T15:46:00.000-07:00

I would like to introduce you to a blog that a friend of mine writes. But you have to understand a few things about him to fully appreciate where he is coming from.

Ted Whited is a guy with big smile and an even bigger heart. He has worked with special needs kids, youth groups and done some pastoring. He was one of the first to welcome and befriend me when I moved to this area. And he has a knack for seeing things from a different perspective that I have found intriguing and challenging over the years.

Ted is an artist, a chainsaw carving artist to be exact. I have a little bear carving that sits in my office. We carved it together a couple of years ago, when he was trying to teach me the skill. If only I had the time...

Ted is also an entrepreneur, having run a fishing retreat in Alaska and is now the proprietor of his own coffee roasting business. He likes to think outside the box but lately has been boxed in by health problems.

Ted is a transplant survivor, has diabetes and is in constant extreme back pain (I saw him last night at a National Day of Prayer meeting and he had to leave half way through because of the pain). Yet, through all this he writes some amazing insights about the nature of God.

Enjoy.

"Morning Coffee Thoughts" is published daily.

Special Newsletter Edition: April

2009-05-04T07:39:00.000-07:00

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Main Article: What's in Your Testimony?

"The room is hushed after that beautiful solo sung by Sister Debbie and you see Pastor making his way to the stage. As he passes you, sitting on the front row, he winks and gives a private “thumbs up” gesture. Then he is at the podium announcing that before the sermon you will be sharing your testimony...."

Secondary Article: New Film Projects

"RMW is delighted to reveal the details on this year’s film projects. I have been working with a team of talented individuals for over a month and now we are ready to share our plans, schedule and mission with you...."

Let Us Pray

2009-05-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, May 7th our nation will engage in the National Day of Prayer. Christians from all over the country will be getting together to pray for the many and various issues we face as a nation.

But, why participate? What's the point?

I'm not going to bore you with lofty ideals of camaraderie or unity. I'm not going to give a RAH RAH speech about showing the World that we stand together in opposition. No, I'm not even going to try to sell it as a great time for "fellowship."

I will say this, though: As Christians we are commanded to pray and when they do, mighty things happen.

Mt 5:44 - Show Context

"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Mt 26:41 - Show Context

"Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Mr 11:17 - Show Context

And He began to teach and say to them, "Is it not written, `MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS'?

Lu 18:1 - Show Context

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to prayand not to lose heart,

Ac 2:42 - Show Context

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Ac 4:31 - Show Context

And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness

Ac 16:25 - Show Context

But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

Ro 12:12 - Show Context

rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

Eph 6:18 - Show Context

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Php 4:6 - Show Context

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God

Col 4:2 - Show Context

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving

1Th 5:17 - Show Context

pray without ceasing;

1Th 5:25 - Show Context

Brethren, pray for us

2Th 3:1 - Show Context

Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you

1Ti 2:1 - Show Context

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,

1Ti 2:8 - Show Context

Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.

Jas 5:16 - Show Context

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

1Pe 4:7 - Show Context

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

Jude 1:20 - Show Context

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

Re 8:4 - Show Context

And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand.

See you there. The local service will be hosted by CMC at 7pm.

RMW Film Production

2009-04-24T07:37:00.001-07:00

RMW is delighted to reveal the details on this year's film project. I have been working with a team of talented individuals for over a month and now we are ready to share our plans with you. The Sprout below has all the current information and will be updated regularly.

If the text in the Sprout is too small for you CLICK HERE for a slightly bigger version.

A Comparison

2009-04-17T09:49:00.000-07:00

- Which of these things is not like the others?

I remember watching Sesame Street as a kid and there was a part of the show where several objects were displayed and one of them was different. There was a song that went with it, and I have put the opening line above. As I look at the various ways Christians live their lives, I see that often their words do not line up with their practices.

I guess that thing that I am looking for is the substance behind the words. Unless a Christian puts some concrete action behind what they say, then all an outside observer can do is wait and see. Unfortunately, the world around us has waited for as long as they can stand.

Practical Application of Grace

2009-04-10T09:28:00.000-07:00

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As I continue to explore the churches of my area, I am increasingly amazed at the creative ways that each one finds to reach out to the world around them. Today I want to single out the work of New Covenant Fellowship (NCF) in Port Gamble, WA.

The church is a small one but they have a huge impact on mission work in Africa. By partnering with International Evangelism Outreach (IEO) and its founder Bishop Eliudi Issangya, NCF has helped organize the a massive amount of resources and manpower to impact Africa for Christ.

Recently, Bob Smith pastor of NCF invited me to observe a loading of four containers. The moment I stepped into the parking lot behind a local Dairy Queen, I was surrounded by volunteers eager to share about the work. By the way, I never did see Bob because he was somewhere mixed into the loading effort. I was told that some of what was packed that day was 13 tons of rice, cooking oil, clothing, medical supplies and water well drilling equipment and the donations came from Oregon, Wyoming, Washington and Montana. While I was there I learned that medical and construction teams from as far away as Arkansas would follow this shipment, and use it to further the work in the various outreaches of the ministry.

The primary work of IEO are their schools of evangelism that operate in Tanzania, Congo, Rwanda, South Africa and soon to be in Kenya. However the major work is in Tanzania and includes a trade school, primary school and orphanage, with a hospital and high-school on the way.

As the volunteers went on I finally interjected a question of who organizes all this. The answer was Godwyn Bolembo (pictured on the left), a NCF member and the son of Bishop Eliudi, serves as the link between the US and Africa operations. But he doesn't do it alone. Other members of the church handle scheduling, loading, advising and working roles as well. There are also people from other churches and in other states that contribute to this mission.

But, back to my original point. I saw a small church with a big heart embracing their calling to minister to the uttermost parts of the earth and they were carrying it out with much more than just dollars. They were focused, involved and anyone could see the joy of sharing God's grace written on their faces. I was impressed.

If the church across America could come to view missions as a calling, instead of a duty then, I believe, we would see the value of our contributions multiply. No longer would it be a matter of pride that X number of dollars are being sent to far off places, but rather we would be humbled that God has used our people and their resources for His glory.

I would encourage you to check into this ministry that has been in operation for 26 years by visiting their website at http://www.ieoministries.org/

Special Newsletter Edition

2009-04-06T07:29:00.000-07:00

H
Main Article: The Grace of God

"If I were to define the most basic tenant of Christianity, that I know of, it would have to be contained in the word “grace.” I say “contained” because there is an indefinable quality to the concept which we call “grace.” ...

Secondary Article: Progress Report

"The past three months have seen some significant progress on our goals for this six month period." ...

Birds of a Feather

2009-04-03T08:36:00.000-07:00

d
This morning I went for a walk to get some exercise and to think. As I was passing a dirt driveway I heard an annoying metallic pounding that came in staccato bursts. I kept walking, thinking it was some construction activity, maybe an overenthusiastic nailgunner. However, by the time I got to the other side of the driveway, I realized that the sound was coming from the metal gate that was set back perhaps 30ft from the road.

I stopped and took a closer look through the trees that were blocking my view and, just then, I caught a flash of red and heard the sound again. Now, I saw clearly that this was some idiot bird that was tapping on the bar. I stood there thinking that if the bird had any brains at all, it would realize that it was not making any headway, just a lot of noise.

Actually, he was making quite an impressive amount of noise. So much so, that as I walked on up the road, I could still hear his persistent rapping on the gate. And, I began to think that maybe this little bird wasn't so much stupid as he was enamored with the amplifying effect the metal was having on his tapping. "Cheeky," would be the word.

So, I got to the farthest point in my walk, turned around and started back. I could still hear the little head-banger going at it, when I walked past a support tower for a radio array and heard a familiar burst of tapping.

"No way," I said, and crannied this way and that to see if another red-headed friend was taking on heavy metal. Sure enough, there he was about half way up the ~60ft tower. He was alternating sitting still to listen and doing his own tapping. Then it dawned on me that these are not some misguided animals, or even an arrogant ones. They're simply using effective communication. To a bird, this is high technology. I mean, you get forest-wide broadcasting, unlimited tapping, and distinctive ring tones, all for free.

Then I thought, "what a great God we have to have made his creatures to be so adaptable to their surroundings." I further considered that God teaches us through His creation (Romans 1:20) and wondered what lesson could be gotten from this occasion.

Here are the pieces I have so far:

Adaptability is built into us for a reason.
The discovery of God is our perpetual opportunity.
Changing the way we communicate can enhance our chance of being heard.

I just want to leave this in a nutshell, for now, and let it expand from here. Comments and commentary are welcome.

BTW - The bird was a Red Breasted Sapsucker. Did you know that a group of Red Breasted Sapsuckers are called a "Slurp?"

Creativity

2009-03-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me that God allows us to share in the glory of His creativity.

A vBlog for My Life Class

2009-03-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

-

Cool, huh? Please leave a comment so I know you were here.
This recording is 50min long, so get comfy.

Who am I?

2009-03-13T08:18:00.000-07:00

"Who am I?" It's a good question and one that we all need to be asking ourselves. Before we move to the more classic questions of "why am I here?" or "what is my purpose?," we need to discover who we are. If you are a Christian, you have some leads on the answer, but not the answer itself.

Let me illustrate in this way.

This last week an article was published that has caused quite a stir in the Christian world. It's title is "The Coming Evangelical Collapse" and originated from internetmonk.com's blog author Michael Spencer. Now, the average evangelical Christian will respond to this article in one of several ways.

(Before going on, please read the article)

Some will just throw up their hands and scream, "Great balls of chicken fat! We're all doomed, Batman!," and then run to circle the wagons against the invading hoards of miscreant pagans. Another group will surmise that evangelical Christianity wasn't all that cool anyway and will either quietly drift into the new mainstream of secularism or become vociferous antagonists towards their former beliefs. Finally, just as the article says:

"A small band will work hard to rescue the movement from its demise through theological renewal. This is an attractive, innovative, and tireless community with outstanding media, publishing, and leadership development. "

The author of this article defines himself as "a postevangelical reformation Christian in search of a Jesus-shaped spirituality," I assume that means he is going to one of those working to save evangelicalism from itself. So, which one are you?

For myself, I chose to be a voice of restoration several years ago and relish the challenge of wading into the crumbling empire of the American church. However, I am not a disillusioned former mainliner with an axe to grind and working to find the other end of the pendulum. I come to this problem as having grown up in frank observation of the vacuity in the churches of our country and accept that I was born at this time to deal with these issues. No complaints.

What about you? Who are you? Do you have it in you to face the coming music? Can you handle being persecuted, hated, devalued, maligned, mocked and wronged. And thats from people you thought were Christians. The World has even more devious plans for us.

Really the question of who you are is based on the percentage of your rights that have been handed over to God, through Christ. You see, a lot of Christians think that their un-Christianlike actions are OK as long as no one got hurt. But, what they don't realize they are saying is that they want to hold onto a right that offends God, because it pleases them. That is a faulty foundation that will be tested in the days to come.

Are you ready?

(What are some areas in your life that are faulty?)

(Do you buy the idea that holding onto rights is a predictor of wimpy Christianity?)

Deconstructing Image in an Image Driven Culture

2009-03-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

This morning while I was getting some exercise, I had a chat with God about what He is doing in my spiritual life. "What is the thing that you are working on now?," I asked. The answer came in flash that made me stop and ponder the weight of the realization. It was like a fog that had been hanging over my head for the last few days suddenly dissipated and I could see clearly. As with most things God reveals, it is hard to contain in words and I am still trying to distill it down to some sort of concise statement. But will try to do that here.

In a moment I saw all the things that I have chased after over the years. I saw the selfishness of a child, the arrogance of a teenager, the intellectualism of a student, the drive for success and last of all was what could best be described as a life theme of image consciousness.

You may think that everybody is at least somewhat image conscious. But, I am talking about taking it to a whole new level. I am an image guy. I think of image first and build everything else around it. Whether I am selling my self, an idea, a project or whatever, I think of how it looks before anything else. That said, I usually do pull back and get God's perspective before going too far. But, the fact remains that there is this subtext to everything I do, and that is what is at the scrutiny end of God's microscope at the moment.

"So," I ask, "what do I do about this idol of image that I have?" And "whoosh" we are looking at some past successes of my life where I have conquered other flaws and been a changed person as a result. I am starting to be a little impressed with myself until I see God's grace as the real champion in those struggles. It was like I was a blindfolded knave, thrown into battle, and I never saw the Mighty Warrior who really won the day.

Consequently, I see now that I am to take the thoughts of image and bring them to obedience before Christ, so that He can transform them into His likeness. This includes when I feel embarrassed by the image I personally present. It's a funny thing; God is more interested in how we relate to Him than in how we look in the process.

This is going to be a tough row to hoe. It is for me and it is for anyone living in our culture. In our defense, we could just throw up our hands and say that we are merely products of our environment, and we would be correct, to a degree. But, our regeneration in Christ makes us new creatures and are therefore products of a heavenly environment. That little check that we feel in our spirit when we follow the old culture is really our new nature telling us that we are being inconsistent with ourselves.

The goal that God has put before me is to deconstruct my idol of image by using it's own Siren call against itself. Right now, it looms like the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, but I can smile knowing that its days are numbered.

Expert

2009-02-27T14:44:00.000-08:00

Its funny, and sad, that we become complacent with our spiritual growth. God is always offering to show us areas and ways in which to make progress. But, we tend to enjoy the expert status of having made it to where we are.

My four and half year old believes he has mastered the whole quandary of having to make his bed every day. But there is so much more that he can learn.

If only we would receive from God the same insight we give our kids.

A Few Questions

2009-02-24T08:40:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I was speaking at a men's retreat in South-West Washington. My topic was on the connection between prayer and service and when I finished I handed out a sheet to guide discussion of the talk. It was great to hear some of the responses to the message, so I want to put those same questions to the readers of this blog.

Unfortunately, I do not have an audio recording of the presentation. However, you can read the last issue of RMWNews HERE (Feb 2009) and get a flavor of where I was coming from on the prayer side of things.

1. What do the words Prayer and Service mean to you?

2. Talk about your prayer life and what you think God would like to see there.

A. Do you feel you are serving God when you pray?

B. Is the grace you receive in prayer efficiently connected to your service?

3. Think about a time that prayer changed your attitude about life, service, people or circumstances.

A. What aspect of that connection to God made the difference?

B. What was the result?

Words vs Actions

2009-02-13T08:26:00.000-08:00

The college and career life class that I teach on Sunday mornings has been studying the life of David for some time now. It is interesting to review David's life from the aspect of his growing up and learning the lessons that will be with him to the end of his days. The most recent lesson, which comes from 1 Sam. 24:16-22 (please read) has a fascinating truth about how the world works in regards to the impact of actions vs words.

The situation is one of Saul hunting David. Saul stops in at a cave to "relieve" himself and lo and behold David is already in the same cave. David cuts off part of Saul's robe without Saul knowing about it, waits 'til Saul leaves, then confronts Saul with the fact that he could have killed him and didn't. Now we come to Saul's response.

I have never read such a boatload of syrupy, sappy, boo-hooing flattery as what Saul says in response to David's display of noble humility. He seams to be overdoing the apologizing and it comes across fake. Have you ever had that happen to you? You get an apology from someone that you knew there was something missing? This is especially out of whack for Christians to do. But, more often than not we fail both at forgiving and asking for forgiveness.

Watch this VIDEO. It is a little slow at the first but the twist at the end makes it worthwhile.

In any case, we have to see here that David truly did something extraordinary. He took an action that for a brief moment penetrated the deranged mind of king Saul. Words had failed to make a difference to Saul no matter if they came from David or Jonathan. But David's action spoke volumes to Saul, Saul's men and to the nation of Israel. Surely this story would spread like wildfire and the angst of the king would be called into question.

In essence, this is the turning point for David. From this moment on, it is now public knowledge that even Saul admits that David will be the next king. It's huge. Even so, Saul will continue reigning but his leadership will diminish and he will become more and more isolated.

There are such defining moments in out lives. They usually catch us by surprise and we are forced to respond as our true selves. This can be embarrassing or it can be exhilarating depending on whether or not we react correctly.

Questions:

Have you ever had such a defining moment?
What was the outcome?
Did you learn something?
What did you learn?

Last point:

Looking at Saul behaviour up to this point and the way he blubbers to David, one would think that he would distrust Saul and make no deals with him. Yet, we end this scene with David agreeing to not cut off Saul's descendants after David takes the throne. However, this may have been a trick question to get David to admit that he had thought of being king and therefore served Saul's purpose in proving to his men that David was indeed a pretender to the throne.

My questions for you are:

Why would David make a promise like that?
How many times did Saul say I, me, my, etc. in his statements?
How would you have responded to Saul?
Did David slip up in his answer, or was he just being consistent with his promise to Jonathan?

Funny Video of "David" HERE.

Retreat!

2009-02-07T21:28:00.000-08:00

I just got back from a Kitsap County wide Men's retreat at Fort Flagler and organized byCrossroads Neighborhood Church. I was there to kinda scope it our for our church to perhaps attend it next year. But, as these things usually go, I was blessed by the message and theme of the weekend.

The title was "Ordinary Men, Extraordinary Mission." Essentially it was about finding out what it is that God wants us to be doing in this life. The speakers had some good insight on the process God takes us through to find out what we are supposed to be doing.

The key points I picked up on were on the surrendering of your will to allow God to direct you, the recognition that fear does not come from God it comes against God and that the first step in following God is to have a clear relationship with Him. This really hit home with me because I am right in the middle of one of those seasons in life where I have to blindly trust the direction God has given me.

To make what could be a long description short, I was encouraged in the work I have at hand. Not only in the doing of it, but also in the content of it.

It is amazing that the moment I start mentioning that what I do is to assist churches and groups in a vision of simplifying down to the basics of Christianity, they chime right in saying that that is exactly where they are right now. It is like it's in the air.

It is good to be in the right place at the right time.

An Open Memo

2009-01-30T08:11:00.000-08:00

To Whom it May Concern,

We are Christians. We can communicate the Love of God to all humanity, even though we are deeply flawed ourselves and have issues to work through. We can mend our flaws as a group, such that we will accurately represent the Body of Christ. We can know Christ alone as our Head and continually seek deeper dependence upon His grace.

We are Christians, through the power of Christ we can do these things.

Yes, we can.

Our message is simply this, that God loves the world enough to offer change even though the world is unlovely, and unworthy of the offer. We are witness to the grace of God rendering in us the amazing change of a life redeemed out of slavery to sin, the ultimate unlovelyness. This is a change in which you can believe. It is there, deep inside each one of us, providing a connection to the grace of God.

Although that connection may not always be visible and is often in danger of being completely hidden, it is there, fighting the battles for change in us, first, so that the same grace that changes us can change the world.

We are Christians. By the grace of God we are changed, we can be changed and we will change this world.

Yes, we can.

I am hopeful about the future. There is a world of possibilities that can be achieved when we walk in the light of God's grace. There are unimagined expansions of God's kingdom to be known as we work together to alleviate suffering, both physically and spiritually. Together we can build God's kingdom because we the Body of Christ, and because we have the greatest leader of all time as our Head.

We are Christians. We hold the hope for the future of this world. We can build Christ's kingdom.

Yes, we can.

New Dimensions

2009-01-23T12:57:00.000-08:00

This week has been one of discovering the added dimensions of what God is doing around me. I thought that God and I had agreed to a straightforward plan of spending six months offering speaking modules and seminars to 50 churches in my local area. But, now I see that our infinitely creative Lord has additional subplots in mind.

It all started when I began to talk to the pastors of our area. I saw that there was more going on than just my sharing of what RMW does. These guys have a lot to say and I am typically spending over an hour discussing their church, their history, their beliefs and their vision. Then it hit me. I am in a very unique position to be able to serve the wider church of our county by sensing the work of the Spirit and communicating it back to these churches. Already, God is building a picture in me of what He is doing in this area, and beyond.

As the picture develops I see that I have a responsibility to share. However, the more I look at what God is doing, the more I realize that I am caught up in it. The message of RMW, right now, of the process of receiving God's grace, sharing it within the Body, and giving it out to the world is changing me, resonating with the churches and indicating a move of God. It's exciting.

Further, these talks with pastors is giving me a boatload of education that cannot be had anywhere else. Its like a free seminary. I get to ask questions that are theological, administrative, programmatic, theoretical, practical and visional in nature. I can think of no better preparation for entering Western in the Fall.

God is good. Very good. If you trust Him, and work along side Him, then He will do amazing things with your life. All you have to do is be pliable on all the levels He wants to develop.

I just love it when God surprises me. This is an awesome time.

Its a Small Blogosphere After All

2009-01-19T12:52:00.000-08:00

The web is a wonderful place, presenting the user with opportunities that were unimaginable to folks a generation ago. Recently I have heard a number of Christian speakers emphasive the calling of Christians to minister into the utter parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). Certainly, the web is a way that we can do just that and RMW is experimenting here with ways to reach further.

So, initially we will begin with weekly updates and grow from there. The content will be driven by whatever is on my heart at the moment and may include news, ideas, challenges, art or a simple devotion. We shall see.

You are also invited to comment and start a discussion on a topic that concerns you. I love a challenge, and look forward to the give and take. However, lets keep this blog clear of personal information, name calling or any other un-Christian like behavior. OK?

If you like what you see here, then you can subscribe to this blog via the sidebar.

RMW Focus

Quick Update **December - Special Newsletter Edition**

Shape of Things to Come - **Special Newsletter Edition**

Breakdown and News

Driven To Give

Everybody Has a Fire Hydrant

Mistakes Were Made

News & Empty Life

Purposes & Whales - Video

New VBlog - Changing Spaces

Galatians - Part 7 - The Real Story

*Special Newsletter Edition - April 2011*

Galatians - Part 6 - Emotion & Allegory

Galatians - Part 5 - Turning the Cannons

Galatians - Part 4

Galatians - Part 3

Galatians - Part 2

Galatians - Part 1

In a Funk

Optical Illusion

The Facebook Factor

Coast To A Start

Trade-In

A New Year's "IF"

*Special Newletter Edition* Dec 2010

Christmas Display

What Are We Finishing?

Fruitcake on the Brain

A Tale of Woe

Last Night Coming Home...

The Perfect Anniversiary

The Frazzled Life

The People Who Jesus Loves

Pain and the Unsafe God

Is God Safe?

RMW Focus - ***Special Newsletter Edition*** - September

Win Prizes

Basking in Reflected Glory

Through the Knothole

Gomer Was A Ho...but

Racing Aim

The Beginning of the End of Summer

Technical Difficulties

**Special Newsletter Edition - May 2010**

Water, Water Everywhere

Looking Up

RMW Focus - ***Special Newsletter Edition*** - March

Spinning Plates

Blame it on the Rain

Where Are You? - video

To, With and By - Part 3 - Final

To, With and By - Part 2

To, With and By - Part 1

My Bad

RMW Focus - ***Special Newsletter Edition***

Kids

Colossians

Worth Watching

Morning

Outer Space

Float

Open Handed

Classroom

Things I Am Thankful For

Change

Blind

A Handful of Rocks

My Bible

RMW Focus - ***Special Newsletter Edition***

Nose Job

Here We Go

A Good Stretch

Squirrels and News

The Ugly Christian

A Blog Apart

**Special Newsletter Edition: April**

Let Us Pray

RMW Film Production

A Comparison

Practical Application of Grace

Quick Update December - Special Newsletter Edition

Shape of Things to Come - Special Newsletter Edition

Special Newsletter Edition - April 2011

Special Newletter Edition Dec 2010

RMW Focus - Special Newsletter Edition - September

Special Newsletter Edition - May 2010

RMW Focus - Special Newsletter Edition - March

RMW Focus - Special Newsletter Edition

RMW Focus - Special Newsletter Edition

Special Newsletter Edition: April

Special Newsletter Edition