The Lord- He works justice for the oppressed.

I heard a really cool story this morning as I was listening to "Mike and Mike in the Morning" on ESPN radio. Tonight in Indiana, Coach Ron Hunter, head basketball coach of IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis) will be coaching his team barefoot. And thousands of faithful fans of the team will show up barefoot as well. All of it is an attempt to bring awareness to over 300 million children around the world who go their whole lives barefoot. To the children, it's a way of life. But to us, it's a tragedy. I applaud Coach Hunter and the organization he has linked arms with, (Samaritan's Feet). One of the details of the story that captured my attention and caused my imagination to run wild was the fact that the IUPUI's basketball team wanted to join their coach in July on his trip to Africa to deliver the now 45,000 shoes that they have collected. March madness . . . NCAA tournament . . . Sweet 16 . . . Final 4? All of a sudden, it doesn't really matter so much. What matters most to the team is that the unreached in Africa would be reached. Coach Hunter has written the NCAA board to request that they remove restrictions that would deny the team access to traveling abroad in order for them to take part in this life-changing trip. I pray that the NCAA does what is right.

It gets me to thinking and hoping. I am beginning to believe that the heartbeat of this younger generation is to see hope and redemption spread around the globe. Look no further than the front row of our church last Sunday, as our teenagers' dry eyes became tearful as the reality of millions never hearing about the good news of Jesus Christ was shared.

May this internet generation, the baby boomers, gen y, or whoever follows in our footsteps- may they give their lives for what really matters. May they see that the Super Bowl and March Madness are fun, but not reality. May they find the gospel, and decide to sell everything in order to gain the priceless treasure. And may they share hope around the world.

For the full story from the Houston Chronicle, click here. One last thing. I thought I should mention that Converse donated 15,000 shoes for the cause on Mike and Mike this morning, eclipsing Coach Hunter's goal of 40,000 shoes by 5k. Praise the Lord, O my soul . . . The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

When Grieving May Save Your Life

I frequently check out John Piper's Blog. I have signed up to get the daily email blog from Desiringgod.com. This one , in particular, caused me to step back and re-evaluate my mind-set. Perhaps the best thing about this blog entry and the effect it has had on me: it is not the words of man, but God, that are challenging me.

Here it is.

Sometimes the best mark of holiness is not griping that sin abounds but groaning and grieving.

Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, 5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, 6 who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! (Amos 6:4-6)

And the LORD said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.” 5 And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. 6 Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one on whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the house. (Ezekiel 9:4-6)

When Death is just a memory and tears are no more...

I was just sitting in America's Best Coffee working away, listening to some tunes on my computer, and suddenly was swept away by a line in a song. I had to play the song again. And again. And again. The song is great. The lyrics are real. And the music is inspired- balancing emotion and truth. In the last two verses of "You're Beautiful" Phil Wickham tells the story of Christ's redemption, sharing the truth of His suffering, death, burial, resurrection and ascension, and then paints a beautiful picture of the hope to come in verse four, when "death is just a memory and tears are no more", and we are united with Christ. I think the return of Christ . . . the victory of the Son of God is something that we have not made a reality in our lives. We don't think or talk about it enough. The ruler of this dark world has blinded our eyes to see that Christ has won. I want to live my life in the reality that Christ has won, He is only a breath away, and death will soon be no more. When I listen to the last verse of this song, I think about my buddy George. And my friend Earl. And their grieving brides left behind. I think of how my friend Kelli just lost a good friend to leukemia. I can't imagine when death will only be a memory and tears will be no more. And on that day the Bride will come together on eternity's shore with the Great Wedding Bells clearly ringing in the air around us. Earl & Shirley. George & Sandy. Our child we have yet to meet. My entire family. Kelli and her friend, Angela. My friends that I miss dearly and the friends that we are praying to one day receive Christ...and we will cry no more tears of sadness- perhaps only tears to say "You're beautiful." Here are the lyrics, and at iTunes you can preview and purchase the song.

I see your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say... You’re Beautiful

I see your pow’r in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
Its all proclaiming who you are... You’re beautiful

I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are setting on your heavenly throne
Soon you will be coming home... You’re Beautiful

When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing... You’re Beautiful

Christmas 07

I love my family. We had a great time in Oklahoma over the Christmas break. It was fun, but it was good to see 2007 come to a close. I think 2007 brought everything that life offers: the greatest of times and the most difficult of times. Through it all, God's goodness always falls on us and refreshes us- just like the snow that fell to the ground on the 26th. The snow reminded me that God is in the process of making all things beautiful. He is restoring all mankind and the world to himself. His grace and mercy covers us at all times- whether in life or in death.
It was good to sit back, relax, and rest in God's promise that he will one day make all things clean and new.