No Fool

Life is terminal. No one gets out of it alive. We are all living to die.

I have always loved Jim Elliot's famous words: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

Thank you Jesus for making me a "no fool"! I'm all Yours...

Kingdom Come...

"City transformation won't include all churches (some just prefer to play by themselves or don't play well with others), but it should not exclude any churches." [From To Transform a City]

Churches need to learn how to pray, play, and partner together. No church [little "c"] will ever be able to transform a city or town or village. But the Church [big "C"] whose head is Jesus Christ can transform any city or town or village if it loves one another [Jn 15:17] and loves all others. The Kingdom can and will come if the Church will cooperate.

Helping the Helpless

When it comes to doing "handy man" stuff I'm a pretty good pastor. Becki knows this and so in her fear she is quick to suggest we get help to do anything that takes skill or know-how. I can do yard work, I can vacuum, I can fold laundry, I can help do many things... But I'm not what anyone would call "handy."

This week we [read my friend Kevin] were going to replace our old stove-top with a new one that Becki got at 1/2 price! The hole in our granite island top was 1/2 inch too narrow! Kevin is a handy-man, but he is not a granite cutting handy-man. So, to the rescue comes another friend, Steve, who just happens to do all sorts of masonry work and who was more than willing to take care of my 1/2" problem.

And so, we now have a new stove top thanks to friends who believe in helping the helpless. I am truly thankful for friends who are willing to step into my life and in Jesus-like grace help this helpless man who would be lost without their love expressed in action. Kevin and Steve, thanks for making me think about grace and love and Jesus and helping the helpless...

Missing You...

I miss Winnie Ruth "TuTu" Cagle! In June my mother went home to be with Jesus. She is having the time of her eternity and I'm so thankful she's home...but I sure do miss her. I know that my dad misses her exponentially more than I do. They had just celebrated their 65th anniversary when she died. I guess 65 years was her limit! She had an unbelievably good run of 84 years and I praise God for such a gracious and loving mom who not only introduced me to Jesus but taught me how to pursue him. "Mom, as I preach each week, I want you to know that I use your 'travel Bible' to hold my notes. I'm so thankful you have finished your traveling and have made it home. I'm looking forward to joining you in a 'blink.' Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you...And thank You."

Made to Meet Your Maker

I love these lyrics by Mumford & Sons:

In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
Where you invest your love, you invest your life

Awake my soul, awake my soul
For you were made to meet your maker.
["Awake My Soul"]

We are all made to meet our maker. This fact leads to a pretty important question: Am I ready to meet my maker? 
 The answer will be "YES!" if we invest our love/life in the biggies--Love God and Love People.

I can hardly wait! Come quickly, Lord Jesus... 

Back on the Horse

I have heard all my life that if you get "thrown from the horse" you need to just get right back up and get on the horse. I have been thrown from the "blog-horse" for the last couple of years or so, but I've decided to get back on the horse. Why? Good question...let's see...I, uh...I'm finally...I am more...I need to...I HAVE NO IDEA! But as I continue to invest myself in the most important things--loving God and loving people--I want to take time along the way to reflect on what I'm learning. I want to reflect on this life in the Kingdom as I join with others in the grand adventure of welcoming the Kingdom to come on this earth as it is in heaven. Come on in the Kingdom's fine and fun and forever!