“Hi Phil, this is Matt. I had a commute into town today and just felt the Lord wanted me to call you. We hadn’t talked in awhile, so I called …”

I pulled to the side of the road under a shady tree. Donna read a book. Matt and I visited while I burned gas keeping the car cool in the wilting 105 degree heat. Neither Matt nor I was sure why the call was so important, but we both felt it was one of those “God-things” and we have both learned to follow our instincts on this.

As we visited, we talked about one of Matt’s daughters, a precious and godly young woman whom I had the privilege of baptizing this last spring. She was only in town for a couple of months, but we talked about how important those months had been.

“I’m glad she was here and I believe it was a pivot point in her life,” I shared with Matt.

I’m not sure I have ever used that phrased before. I’m not even sure I have ever heard it used that way. But we talked about the term pivot point and what a powerful term it was used in this way and how it accurately described what had happened in his daughter’s life. She was never in trouble, never bad, never had some deep issue, but these few months of time allowed her to catch her breath, re-commit to her values, determine the next stage of her life’s journey, and move on to the place where God was calling her. It was a pivot point for her!

After an emotional breakfast this morning with Donna (my wife to all those who are not familiar with life in the Warehouse) I find this term especially applicable to our last few months.

We talked deeply, a long time, about the experiences of this past summer. How God has permanently welded several people into our hearts — a young lady from China, a young man from Thailand, two young girls from Peru, two young foster grandchildren in Kentucky, and young lady from Madagascar in our own town. We talked how our economy of scale has changed. (We now evaluate how we spend our money and how much money we spend based on what we could do with and for these precious ones.) We talked about our future and what God was calling us to do to make a difference in each of their lives and how there are very few limits that we even know how to consider — we know there are limits, and we have them, but they are hard to discern at times.

We love our own kids more than ever, and are so very proud of them and the values they live and the things they are accomplishing. We miss them, yet believe in them. They have our hearts. But they are also on their way down the road God has called them. We will share that road, but what that means is still in flux. We can’t wait to see where they go and what God does, but it is different now. Love has another chapter to write on our hearts in their lives and we can’t wait to see what it is. We talked about this as well.

So we find ourselves at a pivot point. More than looking at trying to recoup our losses in retirement funds so we can be comfortable, we are busy trying to figure out how we can do what we can to help these who are precious to us. How are we going to use our time next year? Where will we go? What can we do to give each of them, or any of them, a better change to really know Jesus and his grace and find life — real, exciting, meaningful life — for their future.

Years in full time ministry take their toll. That’s why many don’t make it to my age doing what I do. We live in a time and place where we are spoiled and like things our own way and church often feels more like a consumer complaint department than it does a sacrifice center for folks headed off on Kingdom missions —  yes, I include myself in that number of the spoiled and selfish consumer, too! But we still drawn to these people we love and the friends that hold us in their hearts. We are so stinking blessed and often fail to realize it.

For us, the pivot point is not as dramatic (at least not yet) as it was for Abraham, but I believe the principle is the same. God is calling us to set out on a future that is not yet known, promising to bless us so that we can be a blessing (Genesis 12:1-3). I don’t believe this is a new call. I believe this is what the Lord called us to many times over the last 30 plus years. But this time, at least, we realize it is a real pivot point in our lives.

I guess I’m done with all the angst of purpose-driven living. I now simply want to be led by the Spirit and be used as God’s blessing in the lives that are precious to me and are even more precious to my Father. I believe that the Father has given me a vision of what some of that can, and maybe should, look like.

But like Abraham, it’s still unknown country and I’m not sure how much of it I will actually see. But I pray that some of these precious ones will get to see more it than I do and that Donna and I will get to help them on their way as they find God’s road for their future. I hope that we can help them find their pivot point in some way, so that they can be all that God has created them to be … and most of all, that we can see all of them in our forever family.

So now I use this pivot point, and set off to an unknown future, and can’t wait to see where God’s road leads. How about you?

Right now I am keenly aware of several people I am trying to influence toward Jesus. I don’t want anything I do or say to be used by the evil one to keep them from Jesus. Am I worried about anything in particular? No! Is there some secret sin? No! But I am aware of Satan’s devious and conniving ways and I don’t want any of these precious ones to stumble because of me.

I will seek to be more vigilant in my efforts to honor the Lord and live a life of character and compassion, but I seek more than my intentions and strength in this battle for the souls of those precious to me! I want the Holy Spirit’s help and protection.

From my daily Bible reading yesterday comes this prayer that speaks to this concern, my concern, as I try to lead my family, my church, several new Christians, and several I want to come to Jesus:

O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you. Don’t let those who trust in you stumble because of me, O Sovereign LORD Almighty. Don’t let me cause them to be humiliated, O God of Israel (Psalm 69:6-7 NLT).

None of us is perfect, but everyone we lead and seek to influence is precious. We trust God to bridge the gap with grace and mercy and power.

Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death (Psalm 68:20).

For those of us who are believers, there is nothing more true than this. I am reminded of Paul’s powerful words to the Corinthians in two different letters:

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” … But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:54-58)

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Blessings to you this day as God uses you to be a source of light and life to those around you.

Being the worry-wort dad I can sometimes be, I was also preoccupied with my daughter driving from Houston to San Antonio and with a student traveling from Thailand back home to China.

Somewhere in the middle of this experience was one of the weirdest baseball games I have ever attended. Yes, we had an incredible rendition of the Star Spangled Banner after batting practice. Yes, Cade and Christian got autographs on their hats from Julio Borbon, the speedster center fielder for the Rangers. We had great seats and good ol’ ballpark hot dogs and nachos. But the game was just flat weird — sloppy fielding, two balks, a home run reversed on instant replay, two star batters were called out on third strikes on bad calls by the umpire with the bases loaded, base running mistakes, and other bits of craziness.

Meanwhile, I was running the battery dry on my droid texting back to Donna and trying to keep track of Megan’s trip to San Antonio and answering email before the ball game started. Once all of that was straightened out, then the really goofy stuff began. I called my student’s mom in China trying to see if she had made it home on her long journey by plane and train. I had a nagging feeling the day before that something was wrong and just couldn’t shake it. (Turns out that there had been a significant problem, but another of my students bumped into her at the airport and got her to the train station, but that’s another story of God’s grace for another time!)

I was using Skype from my Droid and called into mainland China. Perfect connection — how is that possible when I had horrible connections back to Abilene with ATT’s “famous” service on Donna’s iPhone? I could say my student’s name in Chinese, but that was the extent of my fluency in Mandarin! What do I say next? On the first call, the mom talked very excitedly trying to help me understand something — she only understood her daughter’s name and nothing else. On the second call, an hour later, she realized it was me again (except she didn’t have a clue who the “me” was calling in English) and she spoke her Chinese v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. I couldn’t help but laugh, because that is what I often do when others who do not know English are talking with me. Then, when I said her daughter’s name, the Rangers made a great defensive play and the stands erupted with raucous cheering. I think her mom giggled a little then, wondering where and the world I was and why all the cheering for her daughter’s name. Meanwhile, the folks around me were looking at me quizzically and wondering what was going on — ironically, the best reception for my phone was actually in my seat in the ballpark, and we all know how much we appreciate people using their cell phones next to us at the ballgame!

As I thought about this scene, I couldn’t help but laugh. What an incredible time in which we live! What an opportunity to share God’s grace across boundaries like distance, culture, language, and space!

I’ve just received an inquiry about our mobile version of Heartlight and learned it’s being used in Africa where the web is mostly accessed by phone. With our new Facebook app we are also reaching a whole new audience. Such an expansive ministry (180 countries, 250000 daily emails, 4 million page views per month) on a shoestring. We have such great opportunities in today’s world, let’s not squander them — and when possible, let’s make personal connections to people who need Jesus whether they are near or far.

The next morning after the game, I called my student’s mom and her daughter answered right away. She had made it safely, only about 4 hours later than expected. So I will continue to stay in touch through email, Skype, and any way possible to help others find their way to Jesus. I bet some of you will do the same!

O Lord, I beg for your Kingdom to come and your will be done and for your grace to help us overcome every barrier as we try to touch seeking hearts with the story of Jesus! And for these special ones that each of have that are on our hearts, whether they live nearby or far away, we ask for grace and time and open doors for them to come to know you. Amen.

At the same time, God has been so gracious. He has reminded me of two precious young women I was privileged to baptize this Spring. Both of them are doing well and moving on to great things. Hearing their stories brings deep joy in my life and reminds me that God does work to bring loose ends together and makes something incredibly beautiful out of them.

In addition, our church is incredibly blessed to partner with a ministry that is all about being God’s knitting needles as he ties together loose ends and weaves together something beautiful. We will have a team leave to go work with this ministry on Sunday. Two of the key leaders grew up in our church. So it is with great joy that I share this video to you from the Dry Bones ministry to homeless kids in Denver. Jesus talked about the last, the least, and the left out and how they would find themselves first, valued, and included in His Kingdom. Thanks be to God for those who are part of the Dry Bones ministry and their work to help make this happen in the real world.

You can find this video on YouTube here for those who have mobile devices:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTzAfY6ePhQ

Other knitting needles in Jesus’ hands that are being used to knit God’s grace into people’s lives from our church are in, or have recently been in, Germany, Thailand, New Orleans, Haiti, Memphis, Peru, Nigeria, Mexico, Cuba, South Africa, Ghana, Ukraine, and other places in between in addition to being involved in International Rescue Committe work with Congolese and Butanese This has brought an incredible work of blessing that has also included people from Madagascar and Rwanda. So while waiting for God’s final work to be finished in the lives of those I deeply love and miss, I am thankful to be in the knitting basket of God’s grace, being used to knit as part of His plan.

Thanks to the Skit Guys and worshiphousemedia.com for the sneak peak of their boyish sentiments.

I don’t know if you have seen my friend (from Compassion’s Uganda trip) Carlos Whittaker’s unrehearsed homeless partner in the park when he went to shoot a recording of a song from his newest album, God of Second Chances. I encourage you to watch and listen all the way through and then see if God doesn’t surprise you as you seek to communicate His glory in the everyday places of your world.

For more of Carlos, go take a peak at Ragamuffin Soul and here are the Lyrics to the song!

We humbly respond
To the call of Your love
Gracious Father
Like a child we run
With our arms lifted up
So let the praises rise

You’re the God of second chances
You’re the God who still romances
We’re in awe before You now
And our hearts are bowing down
You’re the God of all the ages
Who are we that You would save us
We’re in awe before You now
And our hearts are crying out

Hallelujah to our God
Hallelujah to our God

Righteous Savior
By Your wounds we are healed
Your compassion draws us here
How amazing
Is the mercy of the Cross
That You would reach out for us
So let the praises rise

You rescue with unfailing love
Hallelujah to our God

We can rant and rave about how unfair it was for the bad news husband to get the majority of attention while the one who stayed by his wife won and garnered less attention. The media is making up for that with unrealistic characterizations of both. But the real scandal here is not with the press or the players or the hated media.

The problem is with us!

We are a culture grown fat on the feeding frenzies over fallen celebrities. We have an appetite for “reality” news which is really the tripe and crud of others — their broken lives and reputations spewed out in tabloid, celebrity brief, and pseudo-news shows.

I guess we have forgotten that gossip and slander and lumped in the same batch of sins as adultery and sexual immorality — all sins that keep us out of the kingdom of God!

I guess we have forgotten that just because we say it on Facebook doesn’t make it any less gossip or sinful. High tech doesn’t dismiss the principles Jesus commanded us to use in Matthew 18 or alleviate the gravity of talking about someone without talking to them about our concerns.

I guess we have forgotten that reading malicious tidbits of gossip are just as destructive to our spirits whether they come from National Enquirer, Us, or People.

I guess we have forgotten that to take delight, or even passing interest, in the cruel details of someone’s life coming apart is to participate and perpetuate their sin, soiling our souls and killing something precious and redemptive inside us — the work of the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30 and the surrounding context Ephesians 4:29-5:5).

So how about tonight when we say our nightly prayers, we pray for Tiger and Elin and Phil and Amy, and few folks we know that have been on the gossip clothesline in our church or school. And when we pray, let’s pray for healing and hope, renewal and reconciliation, long life and loving marriages. And while we are on our knees, let’s also pray for our forgiveness for participating in the shredding of others lives through destructive talk or delighted listening and reading about someone’s misfortunes.

Duct Tape is the “Force” … it has a Light side and a Dark side, and it binds the universe together.

At first, I saw this statement as clever — it even gave me a bit of a chuckle. But then another realization set in. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I need some of that duct tape for broken things that the world can’t see. I could put the dark side out to seal out the darkness and its painful effects, and I could put the light side in to hold together what is broken, stuff that needs a little light to keep hopes alive.

Down here in Texas, we fix everything with duct tape, superglue, and a sharpie. The first two are used to tape and mend, the sharpie is used to write our name on it so folks know who owns what’s broken. I don’t know why it is so hard for us to own what is broken about ourselves. All I do know is that I’m thankful that when I look at everything of mine that is broken that I signed with my name, given a few days, my signature is transformed into Jesus’ signature. If I let him, he will own my brokenness. He’s my duct tape. He’s faced the dark side and yet darkness could not claim his light and he really does hold the universe together.

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1:17-20 tniv)

So, Lord Jesus, please use a little duct tape on me!