Influence

I received a phone call that I did not expect. A close friend and mentor, Mike Graham, was killed in a car accident on November 4th. We were getting ready to go to Lynlee's grandmothers funeral when the call came. That was a very difficult day followed by a very challenging week. Mike was a special person in my life. He was my first full-time ministry boss, a mentor and a close personal friend. He officiated our wedding, provided our premarital counseling and greatly influenced both Lynlee and me in our lives and marriage. We were blessed by the Lord through Mike's life and were struck deeply by his sudden death. His wife, Diane, asked me to officiate the funeral. What an honor. I was humbled beyond words. What a great privilege it was to share a message for the funeral service. Lynlee and I will never forget that day. We were greatly challenged once again by the Lord through Mike's life. Mike left a clear mark on our lives as well as many others, a mark that encouraged us to follow the Lord. I am challenged with the reality of the legacy that the grace of God leaves through lives of those who follow Christ. I hope that we each will be encouraged to consider what God's grace can do in and through a life surrendered to the Lord.

Losses and Gains

At the beginning of November our family lost Lynlee's grandmother. It was a bitter sweet time. We all are thankful she is with the Lord, particularly because she suffered from Alzheimer's. We all miss her and the joy she brought to our lives. The time we spent with the family during the days of the funeral were special days of grief, joy and hope. I am so thankful for the hope of Jesus Christ, that we do not grieve like those who have no hope.

Back Soon

I will return. Sorry, I seem to have neglected the blog. The last 8 days have been very challenging. More on that soon.

Discipleship

Christians are called to make disciples. A life of discipleship is supposed to be the life of every believer. Do you know what the cost of non-discipleship is in our lives? I appreciate Dallas Willard’s comments, “It costs exactly that abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring. The cross-shaped yoke of Christ is after all an instrument of liberation and power to those who live in it with him and learn the meekness and lowliness of heart that brings rest to the soul. The correct perspective is to see following Christ not only as the necessity that it is, but as the fulfillment of the highest human possibilities and as life on the highest plane.” The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard. If you do not practice a life of discipleship, you will miss life. Do you know what the cost of discipleship is? Does it really matter when you understand the cost of non-discipleship?