Happy Thanksgiving

Ironic that last Sunday's Bible Fellowship lesson, part of a church-wide study focusing on Being The Church with an Open Hand, was about living through giving and came on the week of Thanksgiving. I was teaching on Sunday about treasure. The passage was from Matthew 6:21- "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also".

In preparing the lesson, I made a list of the treasures I've been blessed with. My list is probably similar to yours: salvation, my wife and sons, family, health, my job. Each of these things are important to me as I spend time focusing on each of these areas in my life.

Similar to financial investing, the more emphasis I place on an area of my life, the more I deposit into a relationship, the greater the return. And the treasure grows. "For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also".

I have much to be thankful for. I'm sure you do as well. Happy Thanksgiving!

Plump and Juicy

A blog post from Tonya Williams:

While eating grapes today, I saw two teeny tiny, immature grapes. How cute I thought. But then it made me think about how they came to be. Once plucked from the grapevine with the others, they no longer had the ability to grow. They were destined to remain teeny tiny cute grapes when, if given the opportunity, they might have grown larger, juicier, better.

Here's The Point: How many of us make a decision to change our lives by accepting Christ, only to then get caught up in our own personal dramas and ultimately separate ourselves from Him, from The Vine? When we separate from Him, we run the risk of stunting our own growth, remaining teeny tiny ("cute") Christians but never reaching our full potential.

I want to be a plump, juicy Christian. Don't you?

Questioning Myself

Last summer on our way home from a family beach vacation, we stopped at a McDonald's in Asheville. As we were leaving, I was approached by a man who I caught checking out our license plate "county" before he began sharing a story of how he and his sister (he motioned toward a woman sitting in a van at the edge of the parking lot) had just come from Knoxville and about his recent financial and vehicle-related difficulties. Then he asked for money to buy food. I hurriedly loaded my family in our van as I, as politely as possible, refused to give the man any money. And then I heard the question I was dreading, "Why didn't you help the man buy some food, Daddy?" I answered as best I could but questioned myself as I always do in these situations.

Fast forward a couple of months. My family was shopping in a local Target. As we worked our way through the boys' clothing section, out of nowhere pops up a woman claiming to be deaf, flashing a card in my face, which in effect, asked for money as she could not verbally ask. I shook my head "no, no" and began to walk away. And again, I was asked, "What did she want Daddy?" and I tried to explain. I answered as best I could but questioned myself as I always do in these situations.

Moments later, we walked to Kroger next door and, sitting outside the front entrance, is a man who is propped into a wheelchair and who is breathing with the assistance of machines. He obviously had significant health issues and was collecting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I quickly reached in my pocket and handed Parker some money to place in the collection container. Why? Because the need was so obvious and I didn't have to question the validity of the cause.

Here's The Point: Some of the toughest moments for me as a parent have been ones like these when I've been instantly confronted with the opportunity to help a stranger or not. Moments requiring quick discernment and wisdom, knowing that an explanation for my actions will be quickly questioned. I hate that feeling I've had numerous times before when I felt I'd been "taken". But I also want to teach my sons to be givers, because Jesus loves people.

That's what makes causes like the Salvation Army and its holiday bellringing such a great opportunity for me as a Dad. I know the organization, the history and the destination of the monies being collected. And I'm able to teach my sons to be givers.

Just not every time in every situation. May God grant me wisdom in every situation.

Accepted for Primal Blog Tour

I received an email this afternoon from a publicist with Multnomah Books (a division of Random House) that this blog has been chosen as one to participate in the upcoming blog tour for Mark Batterson's soon-to-be-released new book, Primal. Batterson is best known as the Lead Pastor of the National Community Church in Washington, DC and as the author of In A Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day.

Here's what that means. I'll receive a complimentary copy of the book, read it and then post my review of the book on this blog. If it's a great book, I'll tell you that. If it's not so great, I'll tell you that too.

I'm looking forward to the experience. It'll be something very new to me. Thanks to Matt Pickwell for suggesting that The Point apply to be considered for the blog tour.

Veterans Day

As I was thinking today about the men and women I know who have served or are serving in the United States Armed Forces, I was surprised at how quickly the list became a long one. To the many veterans I know and to the millions more that I will never meet, your willingness and your service and your courage are greatly appreciated and should never be overlooked.

Thank you.

It Doesn't Take Much

Went to Dallas this week for a conference. Flew Delta (via Northwest) from Knoxville to Memphis to Dallas.

When leaving Knoxville, I checked no baggage. Since it was a short trip, I carried on a small bag and my laptop bag. But when I got to the gate, because it was a small plane, I had to get my carry-on bag tagged and then load it on a cart as I entered the plane.

By contrast, when leaving Memphis, a Northwest representative greeted me as I entered the plane with a "Good morning sir, how are you? Have a great day" as he placed my bag on the luggage cart.

As I sat down on the plane for the flight to Dallas, I realized that although the circumstances were similar, the boarding experience in Memphis was noticeably better. A brief "hello" and a smile made a significant difference in my boarding experience.

Here's The Point: It doesn't take much. It doesn't take much courtesy or effort or time to make a positive impression.

Fun on Friday- Why Minivans Are Cool

It's likely that some readers of this post abhor the idea of ever owning a minivan. Please understand, I grew up before the modern minivan was invented. There was no Dodge Caravan or Ford Windstar when I was young. For part of my adolescence, my family did have a van but it was more along the lines of the Mystery Machine that Scooby Doo and crew traveled around in. It was one of those old vans where the two middle seats were more like oversized recliners. I think we even had a "table" that could be installed if necessary. And I can't forget to mention the curtains. Yes, our old van had curtains. Please don't make fun of me. As crazy as it sounds now, back at the time it didn't seem so weird.

But here's why I think minivans are cool....the fact that we have a minivan means that God has blessed us with two super sons. It means we have space to carry soccer equipment and bicycles and grandparents and toys.

And while you may think your vehicle is cooler (and it's your vehicle, you should), that's okay with me. Because our minivan represents life and I'm a blessed man. And one more thing, we have way more cup holders than you.