perspective of a father

Thanks for letting me take a break the last couple weeks as we went to a wedding in Oklahoma and then spent last week in Atlanta at a leadership conference called Catalyst. This was a great time of connecting with people, hearing from God and gaining vision for what God is doing in my life and in His church. I am learning.

One of the things that the last 4 days has meant to me is a renewed desire for God and time with Him. It is so evident that God wants my time and is ready to pour out Himself and more when I give Him that time. Does that make sense?

I spoke to our people yesterday on the fact that "Love Isn't Selfish", and what I got out of my study and preaching time is that when I don't spend time with God, I am being selfish. The results are more of me and less of Him. Which is just ... wrong.

We are selfish when we give people, our family and our friends and others, anything other than our best and God's best. So, what is keeping us from connecting with God so we can help others connect with God? Next, what are we giving people when we do connect with them? Are we relying more on what we personally think or on what God says? By the way, that hurts. Just ask the people who attended The Community yesterday (if you know what I mean).

Ok, here is my point:

John 5:19 (NLT) --- So Jesus explained, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

Giving people anything other than God I give them what is wrong. I am not just talking about what a pastor ought to do. I am talking about what God's kids ought to be up to. Are we giving people God?

Then I step back and look at this from another point of view. I just spoke from the view of one of God's kids. Now look at it from the perspective of a parent. Am I teaching my kids to live by faith? Am I giving them the best of me and the best of God?

That hurts. But all of this will allow us to see and know who God is and what God is like. Either way, the perspective of a father is insightful. Our heavenly Father, God loves us and wants to give us the best. I love my kids. I love being a father, and I want to give my kids the best I can. Therefore, God help us! We need God!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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