Our Place In This World

A few minutes ago, I noticed a lady putting some groceries in her car. There were paper bags, plastic bags and a case of diet coke. She was a well dressed lady in her fifties, with a nice hairdo and had that nice look you know, in a grandmotherly sort of way.

As she moved to put away her grocery cart (buggy for my friends in the south), I couldn't help but wonder if she ever wonders about her place in the world. Did she marry, have children and possibly grandchildren? Was that what she even wanted? Is she a business woman, one of those who pioneered women in the workforce? What is her story I wondered.

As I thought about that, it occurred to me, do people ever think these kind of thoughts about me? And if so, do they ever want to ask me about them. Then I had another thought, is it really about what I want, or is it more about what God wants for me? Now there's a novel thought.

I think that we all spend our lives trying to get what we want for life, and in reality if we would spend that time talking to our Father God about what He wants for our lives, then we would really be fulfilled. I guess it just makes sense to ask the Creator of both the world and us what His design is for us.

Strength and honor for the Kingdom and the King...

Dirty Feet & Leadership

The sun is barely above the horizon this morning as I read this passage of Scripture found in John 13:13-17:

13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

The setting for this Scripture is Jesus and His disciples celebrating the passover just before He is arrested. He knew that His time with them was very short, yet He stops everything and washes the disciples feet. And as He is explaining to them what He has just done, He states in verse 15 that He has given us an example to follow.

This can be viewed from various angles, but the way I saw this today was in the light of leadership. Jesus was and is the best example of what a true leader should be. And if He takes the time to tell us that this is an example to follow, then perhaps we should take the time to stop and see what He was showing us.

If you've lived any time on this planet and been a part of any type of organization or business, then you have had the opportunity to see different leadership styles. Regardless of what you have been exposed to however, there really are only two styles of leadership; serving and self-serving.

Leaders who are self-serving, are concerned mostly with how others can help them become more or do more for them. Servant leaders help those around them to become more than they are, or help them to become something more than they can see.

A true servant leader is confident in who he or she is enough that they are able to help others to reach and achieve their goals. They know that if they are able to help those they are leading to become successful, then they in turn will be successful as well. The servant leader is not worried that they will lose their position in the orginzation, but they are willing to lead by example in order that the person they are leading may grow, consequently causing the organization to grow as well.

Everyone of us is suppose to be a leader. Whether we are leading a fortune 500 company, a ministry or our family, we are called to lead. Jesus showed us by His example in this Scripture how a true servant leader should behave. He didn't think that He was better than those He was leading, but He was willing to abase Himself and serve them, placing their needs above His, and in doing so, truly demonstrated how leaders in His Kingdom are to act. Let's learn this and begin to serve those around us and become the leaders that Jesus needs us to be.

Strength and honor for the Kingdom and the King!

Things That Shouldn't Be Green

Yesterday was October 25th. A date that will live on in infamy for me. You see yesterday, while I was home I decided that my yard needed to be mowed one last time. Did I mention that it was October, and my yard is still green? That is something that just shouldn't be...I mean usually my yard is brown by August and we hardly ever mow past then.

While I mow, I love to listen to either music or teaching series on my Oakley Thumps mp3 sunglasses, which can be purchased at Felts Shoes in Sapulpa (shameless plug I know). Yesterday, I was listening to Joe McGee's teaching on Man: Lover, Leader, Provider and thinking about my bride. I wanted to do something "for" her, you know that would show my love for her. Then it dawned on my, having the yard in tip top shape is something that she enjoys, and having it finished would put her mind at ease for the coming winter.

I also remembered her saying something about picking up all the sticks that were covering our circle drive. So I decided to not only mow the yard, but to clean the circle drive with the leaf blower. (something that took more time than I originally thought) I also needed to weedeat the yard in some places, which turned out to be most places.

After almost five hours, and with an exhausted and beat up body, I sat down in my porch chair and surveyd all that I had accomplished. The yard looked good, and I knew that my bride would be happy. I fell asleep last night with a contentment knowing two things; one, I had done a good job yesterday seeing to it that the yard was now taken care of for the season. And two, I had done something for my bride that would relieve some of the stress off of her life, showing my love for her. Needless to say, I slept well.

I'm reminded of something that I heard Joe say yesterday, "In order to love your spouse, you must lay down your life for them. You must serve them." Truthfully, mowing and taking care of the yard is not what I wanted to do on my day off, but in order to serve my bride, I was happy to do it. Afterall, the Bible says that my example of how to love my bride is Jesus and we all know how He laid down His life for us, so taking care of the yard yesterday was a pleasure.

Strength and honor for the Kingdom and the King!

We Weren't Meant To Do This Alone

I am a very fortunate and blessed man to have men in my life that are true brothers. I am not very mechanicaly inclined, let's face it, if I have to do much more than put gas or oil in a car I'm lost. I wasn't raised in a family that worked on their vehicles, actually we had several motors and transmissions put into our cars due to forgetting to get the oil changed, or adding transmission fluid.

I have been mentoring a young man through the Thunderbird Academy program. Today was one of the mentor visits, and we left Pryor, OK headed to Claremore and enjoy our four hours together. As we reached the 3/4 mark towards our destination, the temp light came on in my van. I looked at the guage and it read "H"...which apparently means hot.

We pulled the van over onto the shoulder, turned off the engine and opened the hood. Now one thing I know I can do is be a poser when it comes to vehicles. I don't know anything about cars, and if I'm not careful when talking to men that do, I'll swagger around and act like I know what they are talking about. So, we add some water and then off we went.

Long story short, we ended up at a part's store with a broke down van. I called my bride to make arrangements to get my young ward back to the program on time and then I called my friend Austin. "What are you doing this afternoon buddy?" I asked. He informed me he was doing nothing, and then I asked if he knew anything about cars. He chuckled, and then I asked him if he could bring some tools and drive forty-five miles to help me fix my van. Not only did he come, but he brought his long time friend, and my new friend Landon with him.

About an hour later they arrived, we got parts and they went to work. I like these guys because they didn't treat me like a little kid because I didn't know what to do. Brothers are great, even if they aren't flesh and blood. God never intended us to go through this life alone, and I am so thankful for good friends that are there for me when I need them. I just hope that I will be able to return the favor one day. I can learn a lesson from these men, and I will that much is for sure.

Strength and honor for the Kingdom and the King!

Two Things

It is 8:23 AM, and the tempature is 63 degrees outside. As I stepped out on my porch this morning with a cup of joe in my hand I am struck with the thoughts of two things.

1. Fall has arrived.


2. I love this time of year.

As I look out towards the east I see a myriad of trees who's leaves have now begun to change their colors. There are yellows, reds, oranges and browns, and these basic rustic colors do something good to my soul. It's at times like this, when no one else is around that my heart longs for something deeper, something transcedent.

I think that this time of year is by far my favorite, even though it gets dark sooner, and we have to drag out the warmer clothes. Fall makes my heart come alive! In the movie Lord of the Rings, when the hobbits are in Rivendell it seems to be a place full of the perpetual state of the fall experience. The leaves are the most amazing colors, some silently fall to the ground in a graceful and natural ballet. There is a feeling of safety and familiarity in that image which reminds me of fall, and that does my heart good.

Fall, what a wonderful gift given to us by the Father. Strength and honor for the Kingdom and the King!

Our Place in the Story God's Telling

I had never thought of my life as being part of a story being told by God before I read the book "Epic" by John Eldredge. Epic is really a little bitty book, but one that tells a very large scale story. It describes the story that God is telling, and how it is set in various acts.

We as humans usually think that the story began with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Yeah, that's kind of arrogant I guess, to think that it is all about us. Actually that part of the story is in Act 3, quite a while after everything else that is going on. There is a lot that has happened before man comes on the scene actually.

There is a Kingdom, with a Fellowship of Hearts that stay central to the entire story. They are the at the beginning of the story, and at the very ending as well. There is a betrayal by one who was as close as you could get to the Fellowship of Hearts without actually being one of them. An insurrection in the Kingdom and a great battle.

Then comes our part in the story. Adam and Eve in the Garden, but even that part of the story takes a drastic turn. One full of selfishness, hatred and disapointment. We are living in the tale end of Act 3 right now. Because we weren't left there at the mercy of an enemy who hated those who were made in the image of the Fellowship of Hearts. One of them came behind enemy lines so to speak and rescued us from the penalty of Adam and Eve's disobedience. Where if we choose to follow Him, we can be free from the enemy forever.

And that for me is where it gets interesting. You see, I tend to want to write my own part in this story. There is a script that is laid out for me, but there are days where I don't pay attention to it and just try to adlib my way through the story. Do you do that as well? I mean we have a Heavenly Father willing to show us daily what we are to do, yet we think we know better? Oh wicked man that I am...as Paul said.

I am striving daily to spend more time with my Father, asking Him what it is that I should do. What part that He would have me play in His story. I have not perfected it, but I am trying. I want Him to say when I meet Him face to face, "Well done David. I'm proud of you." So until then, I will repent often, and keep my face in His Word and prayer.

Strength and honor for the Kingdom and the King!

What Makes You Come Alive?

Howard Thurman said, "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." I first read this comment in Wild at Heart by John Eldredge, and it is something that I have asked many, many men and women in the years since my first reading.

There was a young man one day who was asked what he wanted to do with his life, and he answered that he wanted to be a doctor. Cool, was the response, the world needs good Christian doctors, to which he replied, yeah and I'm going to make a butt load of money too!

I think this is one of the greatest failings in society today. People looking for money as the end result of what they want to do with their lives. Don't get me wrong, we all need money, but to chase that as the end result never ends well for the person doing the chasing. No amount of money can bring you satisfaction or success.

I know too many people who are making the money that they longed for, only to find out that they hate their jobs. Oh it makes them a lot of money, but does making a lot of money truly satisfy a man or woman? No, it may make you comfortable in the knowledge that you have anything you want or desire, but it cannot bring peace. I think this is why Jesus said that you cannot serve two masters.

Ask yourself, does what I do for a living make me come alive, or does it just provide a paycheck? If you answer that it only provides a paycheck, then perhaps you need to reevaluate some things. Ask yourself, what really makes me come alive? And then find out how to do that. If you will do what makes you come alive, the money will find you.

You may be asking yourself, is David doing what makes him come alive? And the answer to you is, yes. I love writing, and I continue to do as much of it as I can. I also continue to sell shoes, which provides me with a paycheck until the next step is revealed and I follow that. I'm not saying to quit your job, but evaluate what makes you come alive, find that, then figure out the steps in doing that. One day you will be able to quit that job that you hate, and do what truly makes you come alive...and that is what the world needs, men and women who are fully alive!