Get a Room

Tale of Two Daughters ... and a Son ... and a Wife ... and Me!

We have great kids. But please, before you move on to something else on the web, hear me out. It's just an innocent update on them. Consider it a little longer than a Status Statement on Facebook. I promise not to gloat (too much)!

Natalie has just gotten her certification as a CNA - a Certified Nurse Assistant. This was a 5-week crash course she took recently to get her more into the medical field. Her exposure and experience will no doubt not hurt her chances of getting accepted into the Physician Assistant school she is desiring.

How proud I am of her!

I got to see her for just a quick day Friday as her boyfriend had a job interview in Nashville.

Jennifer has been with her husband David all week in Brazil, with 22 students ministering to kids and adults, sharing Christ with them in the favelas (slums) outside of Sao Palo. They get back, Lord willing, tomorrow (Sunday AM) after an all-night flight home. Please pray for their safe return and for those kids to process all they need to retain from this amazing experience.

How proud I am of them as well!

And then there's, Selma, my wife. The one in whom I am the proudest! In addition to her full-time work at LifeWay, she has been leading this Beth Moore study with a group of ladies for a series of Tuesday nights. They just ended their study with a retreat all together last night. For some unknown reason, she's taking a nap this afternoon. I guess girls will be girls just like boys will be boys in a setting like that - in that I bet they didn't get a lot of sleep last night!

And me? Compared to what all my dear family has been doing lately, I am prone to think of my favortie all-time comedian, Johnny Carson (I still miss Carson) used to say after his side-kick, Ed McMahon would tell him all that Ed had planned for the weekend. Then, Ed would ask him, "And what about you? What are you doing this weekend?" Johnny would reply with something dry like, "I'm going to rearrange my sock drawer."

That's about it for me. This weekend I'll be watching my NCAA bracket continue to go down the tubes and rearranging my sock drawer.

Did I say that I still missed Carson? There was none better.

An Amazing Series ... The Love Dare

I hope you have been able to be part of the recent series we've been having on the Song of Solomon. We call it The Love Dare and it's been nothing short of amazing.

No one opens the scriptures on marriage like our pastor, Pat Hood. He is humorous, yet insightful in him analysis of what God's Word has to say about marriage, tactfully addressing courtship, the wedding, sex, conflict, and more sex. (How's that for a run-on sentence? Tell your English teacher, maybe she'll start reading this blog, too!)

If you have not heard Pat live, not to worry. Or if you happen to be out of the range of being able to attend (does the internet go that far?) - please get a download of the sermons from our website - www.lifepointchurch.org.

Perhaps you don't "do sermons" on the web. Just this once, I encourage you to try it. Just check it out and it might do you and your marriage some good. I have heard so many people comment on how this series has helped their marriage.

That is why I want you to check it out... to help your marriage, too. Got a good marriage? All the more reason why - to help your good marriage stay good. We all need to feed our marriages sometimes. This would be a good way to feed yours.

God bless, and may your marriage grow as He intended for it to.

Finding 'Pasture' for our lives ... from a Shepherd

Just a simple thought today. I am reading in the book of John, chapter 10 precisely. What a comfort, what a joy that He says He is "the Good Shepherd"?

One of the tremendous benefits that come from the Good Shepherd is found in John 10:9. Jesus tells us that we can go out and in (make our own choices, live our own lives, i.e. we are not robots) if we do so, as He says, "by Me". Everything done according to His will, by obeying His loving commands, we can "find pasture".

Just what is this 'pasture' Jesus is talking about?

It is everything. It is the abundant life He came to give us in that He mentioned in the very next verse.

It is self esteem in a world that seeks to destroy our self worth.

Finding pasture is security in a crazy/worry-filled/unpredictable/rain-falls-on-the-just-and-the-unjust world.

Pasture is also peace of mind in a world of hate and war.

Most of all, I think pasture is, for followers of Christ, is an awareness that the Lord will never leave nor forsake us.

You get the picture yet? Pasture is something we want. Not just a cute metaphor that Jesus threw out as He ran out of sermon material one day. No, it coincides nicely with this abundant life concept. It fits just right with the unconditional love He extends to us. It is consistent with the I John verse that says "God is love".

Spring is in the air and my lawn needs mowing. I will give it another week or so and try not to cut it too short at the first of the cutting season. I heard somewhere that it helps the roots. Actually, the deeper grass reminds me of the Shepherd story in John 10.

I challenge you to find rest, find peace, find the Lord this spring in the pasture He offers us.

Tsunami of Events Coming in 2009

Here they come. They seem like a long way off right now, but moving toward us, like a tsunami in the northern Pacific honing in on Hawaii - they are getting closer by the day.

Unlike the disasters the water tsunamis make, the one I am referring to is not bad news, just busy news. Here's what I mean.

I was reviewing my 2009 travel and speaking schedule with Susan, my assistant recently. It certainly looks to be another active year for Rodney and Selma in terms of speaking. Lots of stuff. Different stuff. In fact, the cool thing about it is the variety that of assignments. I think the Lord gives us that diversity just to keep us from getting bored.  (Or perhaps to keep us from being boring!)

Let's look at a sample of what's coming up and see if you know what I mean by diversity:  

Spring: I am doing two weddings: one for Chariti Law and one for Tyler Dulaney. These are both precious young ladies that I've known since they were kids They both grew up with our girls so they are like my 3rd ... and 4th daughters!

June/July - Camp Whatever counselor. I think Chris, David and Mel just ask me along so I can keep in touch with what it used to be like to be young! Actually, it is always an incredible time worshiping, encouraging, teaching and yes, counseling these kids.

July - Denver, CO -Selma and I are speaking at what is called the "International English Consultants Seminar". (Are you impressed, yet?) I think this is a group who distributes books world-wide. We spoke to them on Extraordinary Marriage 3-4 years ago. This time it's The Parent Adventure.

July  - LifePoint's Marriage Cruise to the Caribbean. This is a wonderful opportunity for marriage enrichment. We meet as a group each morning. Then, you can be on your own as a couple or spend time with other couples. It worked out great last year. NOTE: There is still availability if you are interested. Call Sabrina at just Cruisin' Plus for more info (833.0922, ext. 303).

August I am speaking on several family ministry seminars at a Texas Church Leadership Conference. It is somewhere in TX!(?). (Don't worry, I have a contact person, I'll find out where!)

September will find us leading Real Marriage at our church along with Selma and me hosting a one-day marriage conference called Marriage Design in Scottsdale, AZ.

October I will be back in TX for the LifeWay National Kids Conference.

Whew!

There are actually a few more states and events but you get the picture. Just look at the myriad of places, locations and topics we'll be doing. Oh and by the way, I still plan to do some work counseling and teaching at Lifepoint Church while Selma plans to continue as Associate VP at LifeWay, too!

Please do not let this come across as boasting, except in the Lord for His providing such opportunities for us. And for a wonderful church and LifeWay that support us in these "outside" activities.

Consider this listing as an "advance prayer concern" offering to you: for travel safety, strength, wisdom in preparing, and for articulation & confidence in delivery and any follow up counseling that may arise. We cannot do any of these alone. As Christ said in John 15: "Apart from me you can do nothing." That ought to keep any of us humble. It certainly does the trick for us. So please pray for us as this year unfolds.

So thanks for letting me "vent" the tsunami of events coming our way. As always, let me know what is going on with you that we can pray about.

Just For Fun

Want a good laugh. Take a look at this. You'll need 3-4 minutes but it's good. It's about a man giving a "pretty good reason" why he won't be at work today.

Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70vcS41tr2A&feature=email

Another Great Loss in America - and a Gain for Heaven

The homegoing of Paul Harvey was a sad loss for me personally. This was a truly great commentator. Yes he was conservative for sure, yet Harvey knew how to touch the heart of America with his down home wit and wisdom.

My favorite type of Paul Harvey material came from his patented "The Rest of the Story". I have read two books of his compilations of those broadcasts: Paul Harvey's the Rest of the Story and More of Paul Harvey's the Rest of the Story. You would enjoy them. They are a combination of mystery, romance, humor and history - more lasting no more than 2-3 pages my kind of chapters!) For example, one starts out "I bet you thought you had heard all of the stories about Abraham Lincoln, but I bet you haven't heard this one." He then begins the story with Lincoln getting killed by Indians. Somehow he is right and he doesn't re-write history in the process. (Let me know if you want to know how that one ends!???)

Suffice it to say that Harvey will be missed and that he made no secret of his faith in Christ. That was always the cool thing about him. He was so popular and such a strong believer!

No one will be noticed in heaven for probably millions of years when we first get there. Only the Lord will be seen and worshiped for a long time. It is how it should and will be I am confident. Yet when we lose a special loved one from here (this world) - I cannot help but think of the old saying - "heaven just got a little sweeter". Probably not theologically sound, but comforting to know that we will all be together one day.

Thanks, Paul, for your faith and your boldness to share it with us. You were an encouragement and inspiration to all who heard you. It is probably not my place to assess you on this, but to quote our Lord on what we all long to one day hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant".