The Will of God

Knowing God's will seems tricky sometimes. Many believers find themselves wondering what God's will is for their lives. Sometimes the question is about our life's calling and at other times it is about a decision or set of decisions. For us, it is about adoption, seminary, finances, etc. There is a highly quoted portion of Scripture often used at such times. Romans 12:1-2. The Holy Spirit reminds us through Paul to be a "living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God." This is a lifestyle, a life, which itself becomes worship with every choice. Further, Paul wrote we are not to be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of our mind. Then we can discern the will of God, "what is good, acceptable and perfect." He did not say we are to rely on sincerity or feel-good self-talk. We are to use our brains.

The Lord Struck the Child

O.k. This seems a bit strange to me. I have written a book and it is for sale. I wish I could just give it away, but for some reason, printing cost money. I am using a print-on-demand publisher for now, but it is not vanity that drives this project.

So, I've decided that since it will cost money we might as well let the money go toward something good. Each quarter, all of the proceeds will go to a different organization. My plan is for the money to help ministries and charities who help orphans, special-needs, or carry the Gospel to the world around us. I know that the amounts will probably not be very much right now, but if we get the word out through social networks and by word of mouth, then obviously more will follow. I am in the process of having it distributed to Amazon.com and Barnes and Nobel.com. I also hope to have an ebook version for sale on iBooks soon.

There is another way this can grow. If we can sell enough copies, then it will demonstrate to a larger publisher and distributer this project would be less of a risk for them to take on. Then even more copies could go out and hopefully generate more revenue to spread the Gospel and help the "least of these." My intention is not to get rich or famous from a book, which is hard to do anyway. It is simply to share what Christ has done in our life as a family. This was just the most efficient way and hopefully it will impact others beyond our immediate reach. Some of the ministries we hope to reach are Camp New Hope, Miracle Hill, Haven of Rest, Family Connection SC, BDSRA, Missionaries, and several others. We want to rotate to a new ministry every quarter. So, if this is going to be successful, get the word out.

By clicking on the book to the right, you should be able to go straight to where it is sold and preview the first few pages. I hope this book blesses anyone who reads it.

June 1, 1996

I was a groomsman. The wedding was in the chapel on the Citadel campus in Charleston. I was friends with both the bride and groom as we were all from the same hometown. My chief complaint was that the bride had no available women in the wedding party! All of the bridesmaids were either married or about to be. But just as the ceremony finished and the bride and groom exited the chapel under arched swords, a friend who was aware of my complaint, brought a beautiful woman over to meet me. This woman had not even planned to go to the reception, but she did and we danced. I knew I was going to marry her at that moment! Of course, anytime you dance to the "Chicken Song" as your first dance, you are going to get married!

I am so thankful Jennifer went to that reception. I'm so thankful she dated me in spite of me being me. I'm so thankful she married me. We have celebrated 14 valentines together, 12 of them married. Thank You, Lord, for putting us together.

Jesus Burped, Thus All of Me Belongs to Him!

John 1 shares with us the truth that Jesus is eternal and fully God, yet God became flesh and dwelt among us. The incarnation is certainly a brain-scrambler as it means Jesus was 100% God AND 100% human. He was not some mixture of divine and human where the divine part plus the human part equals the 100%.

For centuries, art has depicted Jesus in multiple ways. I remember the stain-glass portrait of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was located in the narthex of our church where I grew up. There was the Lord, looking caucasian, calm, hands folded as He stared up into the heavenly glow shining down upon His sweat-free, tear-free face. Not the picture of anxiety, sweat, stress and blood we read of in Scripture. Ancient art depicts Jesus and the apostles in flat, two-demensional expressions with ornate dinner plates behind their heads meant to represent their "halos." Contemporary art often focuses more on the humanity of Christ, as He joyfully plays with children in a flowery meadow or lets them pull His beard and long hair as they sit on His lap. Jesus obviously had long hair, right?

It is difficult. We either keep our focus on Jesus being God and lose sight of His humanity or vice versa. But it is essential to remember He is the God-Man. Just as a crime creates a debt to society, our sin creates a debt to God. This debt is infinite because it is to an infinite God. Needless to say, we are not capable of paying this debt; only God can. But He does not owe it. So, the only one who can pay the debt is God and the one who owes the debt is humanity. That is why God became flesh and dwelt among us. He lived a life free of sin. His humanity always submitted to His divinity, but it was by choice.

We may think Jesus had an unfair advantage at resisting sin. He is God and God cannot be tempted after all. But He was fully flesh, fully human. He assumed everything about our humanity. So, He was tempted in every way we are, and beyond because we cave in so quickly. He was truly tempted in the wilderness, the Garden of Gethsemane and at the cross on a level we cannot imagine. Yet, He did not sin. He assumed our humanity so He could save us. If He did not assume it, it is not saved. Thus, He felt pain, anger, love, stress, exhaustion, happiness and fun. He ate food, burped, slept, cried, got cold and tired. Because He assumed all of our humanity, all of me is saved! He assumed 100% and saved 100%. Why do I feel like I am "really" sacrificing when I give a tithe of 10% or less? Jesus did not assume just 10% of humanity. He did not die for just 40% of my sins. He did not bear just 90% of the cross. He bore all of the cross and all of the wrath my sins deserve. As His follower, He is not interested in portions of my time, talent and treasure, He wants all of me.