Boy, all the books I would write if I could afford to write full-time!
I’ve told my wife a hundred times, “If I could only spend one month in a little house on the beach, I could complete all these writing projects I’ve started.” She’s never offered to send me or help me find the ideal spot.
It’s like nobody can see the literary masterpieces trapped in my soul begging for release. Even more discouraging, the world doesn’t seem to care if they ever get set free.
I am not sure when I fell in love with writing.
I know it wasn’t when I was in school. I hated to write! And I’m confident it wasn’t when I was in college. I vividly recall the day Sister Mary Lou Myrick scanned the classroom and declared that some of us would become writers, perhaps even editors of magazines and literature. I remember grunting that I wouldn’t be one of those, but here I sit, thirty years later, having written a couple of books, a few lessons for adult Sunday school classes, and, yes, I even edited a magazine for a few years.
I wrote this short article a few years ago for a series I was doing at church. It has been reprinted in a few places since, but I thought it was worth sharing again. Using the behavior of the wandering Israelites as a guide, here is how you can make sure your children fail.
1. I Did Not Have Faith. When God desired to lead us into the Promise Land, I sided with the majority who felt that we had neither the resources nor the ability to accomplish such a huge mission. After all, there is safety in numbers and the majority should rule. That’s the only fair way.
2. When Things Didn’t Please Me, I Longed For The Past. I valued the confinement of the familiar past more than I anticipated the joys of a free future.
It’s the culture. It’s not because they are poor or rich or smart or illiterate. It’s not because of the color of their skin. Most of our interpersonal relationship issues are because our cultures are different.
Culture: the customs, social behaviors (including diet and dress), and values of a particular group of people or nation.
So, my son and I were sitting in Taco Bell the other day. (I know, the rich and hip writers hang out in coffee shops. I hope I didn’t disappoint you with the revelation that I don’t.) He was preparing to teach a Bible class at church, and was sharing his outline with me.
For no apparent reason, he stopped his review and said, “You know, people always say how we are Jesus’ hands and feet? Well, it was His hands and feet that were nailed to the cross. How can we say we are His hands and feet if we aren’t completely surrendered to Him?”
As a crisis chaplain and pastor, I’ve worked to help churches avoid problems that could result in a crisis. Here is a quick look at the four areas where trouble for churches lurk.
Administration. Far too many churches have no bylaws or haven’t bothered to consult them in years. The same person who counts the offering writes the checks and keeps the books. Nobody is sure what insurance policies cover, and there is no coverage for counseling or directors’ liability. There is no written employment agreement for paid employees, and pastor’s tax status is incorrect. These are just a few ways that trouble can enter.
I attended a funeral last week. It was a nice service, a fitting memorial to a man who deserved all that and more. I’ve been to lots of funerals, but this one was a little different. This one was a milestone that marked a significant point in life, much like getting your drivers license or graduating from high school.
The man we were laying to rest was a pastor friend that had been part of my life for more than forty years. When I was just a boy, he delivered a sermon in our church that still preaches to me. (It was Is This Your Present Address? just in case you were wondering). And when I felt the call to the ministry as a young man, he was one of the first to graciously invite me to preach in his pulpit. And more telling than that, after hearing my first attempt, he still invited me back occasionally.
There was an article circulating on the internet a few weeks ago. It was a survey that proposed to explain why some children who grow up attending church continue to do so when they become adults while others do not. The article didn’t cite any specifics to document their research, but I thought their conclusion was worthy of discussion.
There are three main things that separate children who will continue attending church as adults from those children who will drop out as soon as they can.
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You are probably wishing I would have given you this information last week while you were held hostage inside by the snow and ice. Sorry! I just didn’t think fast enough.
But free is good anytime, right?
If you like to add to your ebook collection by spending no or little money, here are two great sites for you to investigate.
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