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April 24

Thursday, April 24th, 2025

Have you ever felt called to do something? Sometimes you knew what it was and sometimes you were clueless and had to sit back and wait. (Don’t you just love waiting?) In Book #5 of the Dancing Priest series by Glynn Young, the issue of calling was huge. Prince Thomas, the youngest child of Michael and Sarah Kent-Hughes, struggled with his calling. Compounding the questions and the whole situation was his relationship with his father. During his early years, while King Michael was engulfed in Government he became close to his mother, Queen Sarah.  He was also a very bright and “feeling” boy/young man. When Angus McLin, an autistic boy, needed a friend, Thomas was that friend and they remained friends through adulthood. Angus flourished because of Thomas’ friendship and insight. But his closeness to his mother caused a rift between father and son. Michael’s jealousy and anger were always the elephant in the room. Prince Thomas also chafed against being a royal. 

Once, in a conversation with his oldest brother, Hank, and his wife, Hannah, the issue of calling came up. Hank was in line to be the next king and had even gone through the ceremony. In their conversation, Hank asks Thomas if he remember the story of Samuel’s anointing of David.  {Note: Samuel is impressed with David’s brothers but after each one he is reminded that God does not see as we see because while we look at the outside, God looks at the heart}.  Hank goes on to say, “I may have looked and acted the role, Tommy, but I don’t think I ever really had the heart for it…I was going through the motions; this wasn’t me. I wasn’t comfortable in this Prince of Wales skin. My head and heart were in the City; what set me on fire was how to harness investment and wealth to help people flourish.”

He paused. “But you do have a heart for it. Even when you were a boy, you seemed like you’d been called to it. You were always the serious one, the wise one. You understood things long before the rest of us did.” When Hank apologized to Thomas for handing this ball and chain to him, Thomas said he didn’t see it as that.  He then clarifies what he means. When he graduated from ICS (a Christian high school), he said, “I had a distinct impression that I was being called to do something. I thought I was being called to the priesthood, but that seemed off.”  Through his wrestling he spoke with his Uncle David (Sarah’s brother) who told him to bide his time, “that if God was calling me, I’d be tracked down in God’s time.”  Hank summed it up: “You were being called, but it wasn’t to the priesthood.”   (Edited from pages 334-336)

If you read Dancing Prince you will find the answer to that question and how that sense of calling was fulfilled. My next post will also give my personal testimony on that issue and I’ll tell you what happened to Thomas. 

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April 23

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025

In my post yesterday, I repeated a discussion from Glynn Young’s Book #4 in the Dancing King series.  I’ll repeat it here:

King Michael and Queen Sarah were talking about when life was simpler and that it seemed like it was just yesterday when he studying and preaching  and she was expecting their first biological child. Michael laments that it seems so far away. The following is Sarah’s reply:

Sarah replies: “It was another life. Even if we don’t know what we’re doing, Mike, or what we should do, God does. The stuff that’s horrible or appalling or perplexing, He knows it. He has us both here for a reason, if we can’t fathom it and even if we want to be anywhere else but here. Mike, He’s ripping the lid off the sewer; it’s just hard to be one of the workers He sends in to clean out the pipes.” (p.222)

I wanted to comment more on what she said but word count put a limit on what I said. So I thought I would make a comment or two today. First, what prompted Michael and Sarah’s musing has been, unfortunately, headline true. The Church of England, of which Michael was an ordained priest, was having the lid blown off its sex abuse scandal-the coverup and moving around of pedophile priests who maimed over a thousand boys mentally and spiritually. That is a heavy weight for any to carry, especially a fictitious king and queen whose God-inspired and God-involved life had been radically interrupted, first by becoming king and queen of England; second, by the government’s inability to function; and third, by the exploding scandal involving the church. 

God places people where He wants and needs them. Sometimes it is often unexpected. I know I have used the phrase “Who da thunk it?” when referring to circumstances that defy logic. A person who seems to be out of their element performing a feat that defies explanation. Sort of the like the unexpected athlete who becomes a superstar or a gold medal winner. God does not make mistakes at any time, and that is especially true when placing people where He needs them. Some are shepherds of people and some, like Sarah says, are used to clean out the filth. I am old enough to remember the Christian singer, the late Keith Green, who was vilified and misunderstood because he dared talk, write and sing about hypocrisy and deadness in the life of the church and individual followers of Christ. Some used the term “prophet” which I hesitate using. He was fiery like a prophet of the Old Testament and his “take no prisoners” approach sure was in your face, but there was no compromise acceptable to Keith. Nor should there be for us.

God has placed you; He has placed me, exactly where He wants us to be. And while we may not understand it all, He is not asking us to. He is simply asking us to trust His way and work and be obedient. 

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April 21

Monday, April 21st, 2025

I was going to do my 5th installment of my thoughts on Glynn Young’s Dancing Priest series but decided to hold off a day because of the subject matter in Book #4. Instead, I wanted to focus on what yesterday (Resurrection Sunday) meant. There are so many directions to go in but I thought I might just summarize some of my thoughts from yesterday’s message.

The crucifixion of Christ was supposed to be Satan’s final act of devastation and death to Jesus. He thought He had won. But He didn’t know the God who was in charge and the power He had! That God was not limited like mere men. Instead, through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ He showed Himself to be unequaled. He showed Himself to be powerful. He showed Himself to be uncontainable. Perhaps most important of all, He showed Himself to be our one true hope when all seemed hopeless.

The late theologian, J.I. Packer, wrote, “While there’s life there’s hope, we say, but the deeper truth is that only while there’s hope is there life.”  Hope keeps us going. Take away hope and you take away a reason to keep plugging away. Where will we find that hope? Politics? Rhetoric spewed out by all sorts of people? Religion? The answer is No. No. And no. The only real answer is that hope is found only in Jesus, the Savior of the world, and His resurrection which, of course, we celebrated yesterday.

Sadly, we live in a hopeless and sadness-filled culture. There are so many who just give up and quit. They check out-mentally, socially, and tragically, permanently- because they have lost hope and meaning to life. That is why the resurrection of Christ from the dead, the greatest event in history, is so essential. It gives hope beyond the grave. It gives hope when all hope is lost. It gives hope when life says, “Let’s end this pain and misery.”

Did you know the first words of hope were not uttered in the New Testament? They were actually uttered in the Garden to Adam and Eve. God told the serpent the woman’s seed (Jesus) would crush the serpent’s head and all he would be able to do is strike his heel. (Gen. 3:15). There is a big difference between striking the head and striking the heel. When Jesus rose from the dead it was and still is the greatest event in history.

You can argue with this. I realize that. But let me leave you with a saying I learned long ago: “If you are right and I am wrong, I have lost nothing; but if I am right and you are wrong, you have lost everything.”  I will leave that thought with you today.

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April 16

Wednesday, April 16th, 2025

Unknown people are often the ones we need to learn about the most and take lessons from.

For example, Katherine Wright. Chances are pretty good you may know someone by that name. But not this Katherine. Recently one of the men in the church gave a communion thought on Katherine. You may be more familiar with her brothers-Orville and Wilbur-who invented, built, and flew the first successful airplane in the early 1900s.  Because of their prominence many, perhaps most, have never heard of Katherine. Yet in their successful endeavor of building a “flying machine,” Katherine was vital to their success. While they concentrated on the details that brought them success, Katherine was quietly behind the scenes essential to their success. You may be thinking, “But I’ve never heard of her!” Exactly! That’s my point. She kept their bicycle shop going (her brother’s source of income), left her teaching job to nurse Orville back to health after a plane crash, and managed the details of their growing fame.

Katherine is a perfect example of someone who knows their role and fulfills it. Up front or behind the scenes, it takes all kinds of people to do essential things. In this case helping her brothers reset travel. (Do you think they envisioned air travel today back in their early days? I think not). Anyway, Katherine chose her spot and filled it with grace and service.  We have people like that today who do just that. For every up front people who likes/desires the limelight, there is someone behind the scenes doing the camera work, the script writing, the sound board, the live stream, fixing communion (in a church setting), teaching a kid’s class while the adults are meeting, and a myriad of other tasks. My wife is one of those people. Every week she makes me look like I know what I’m doing by typing and showing the Power Point during my sermons. She has been doing this for more than the 19 years we have been here.  She knows me like a glove and even when I mess up, she covers me. 

She is just like the ONE we celebrate and remember this week as we head  toward Resurrection Sunday. This week is often called Holy Week because it is the last week of Jesus’ earthly life. From His entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey to His crucifixion and resurrection one week later, His whole life was one of being a servant. He showed us how to a servant throughout His life; demonstrated it the night He washed the disciples’ feet; then willingly laid down His life on the cross. For all for us. We could ask for no greater example than Him.

Follow in His footsteps. Serve, even if it is in the shadows. “There is no greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

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April 14

Monday, April 14th, 2025

Start With Why. That is the name of a book by Simon Sinek that sits on my desk saying, “Read me! Read me!” 🙂 After reading multiple books on leadership for the first two months of the year, I needed to take a break. Sinek’s book was one that hit the “put off till later” batch.  From the back cover are the following words: “Any person or organization can explain what they do; some can explain how they are different or better; but very few can clearly articulate why. WHY is not about money or profit-those are the results. WHY is the thing that inspires us and inspires those around us.” 

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am rereading Glynn Young’s Dancing Priest series. I just finished Book #3 and have started #4. In Book #3 (known as the Dancing King) Michael Kent-Hughes has assumed the throne of England. But not before efforts were made by adversaries to thwart that happening. In Book #2 an almost successful attempt was made upon Michael’s life, as well as his pregnant wife, Sarah, and their unborn baby. We were introduced to Michael’s brother, Henry in Book #1 and saw him take a more active role in Michael’s life in Book #2. As part of what was known as The Violence where the attempt was made on Michael’s and Sarah’s lives, Henry life was also affected. In his effort to know more about his brother, Michael found out Henry had been a practicing homosexual but had taken part in a church’s Exodus Ministry. As Michael learned more, the priest of St. Margaret’s church said this to Michael: “The struggle became worse once the two of you had met. He found that, far from rejecting him, you had opened your arms to him. He described it something like this, that all of his adult life he had people who wanted him for his wealth, for his position, for what they thought they could get from him, or for his body, but that you, the brother he had forced away so many years ago, you wanted him simply for himself. At first, he found it hard to believe. Then you invited him to stay with you in San Francisco. And he discovered that you loved him with a heartfelt, brotherly love, and asked nothing of him other than to be with him.” (p.120) 

All that to say: people know when we are with them to get something or to just be with them for them. The WHY question is huge. I guess I can’t really stop people from wanting something from me, but I can make sure my motives are pure when I am with others. It should not be for what can they give me or what I can get from them, but to simply enjoy their friendship and presence.  I love being with people who want nothing from me but to my friend and visa versa.

How about you?

{There is more coming from Book #3 but you really ought to read the whole series} 🙂

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April 9

Wednesday, April 9th, 2025

As a parent, I think one of the hardest things to endure is a child disengaging from you, and the worst case scenario, the faith you raised them in. I’ve had occasion recently to read of two such incidents in the Bible where this happened. Each time the son went off the rails.

I worked on a sermon recently where I studied about Hezekiah, the father, and his son, Manasseh. Hezekiah was a good and godly king who brought much-needed reform to Judah. His major glitch happened after a sickness that was to kill him was healed, after he begged God to let him live. (Okay, he whined). He lived 15 more years. During those 15 years Manasseh as born, but it was also when Hezekiah allowed his pride to get in the way and he opened up the temple stores to brag about his wealth to visitors. When he died, Manasseh took over and the Bible says he was one of the most wicked kings ever. 55 years of ungodly practices, witchcraft, sacrificing children to a foreign god (including his own son), and much more. If Hezekiah had lived to see that he would have probably rued the day Manasseh was born. His life was totally off the rails, unlike his father’s in every way, especially in his faith.

The other is Absalom, the son of David. He avenged the rape of his sister by Amnon, his and her half brother. I get it. David did nothing to punish Amnon. N.O.T.H.I.N.G. A father should defend the honor of his daughter. What David didn’t do, Absalom did. The result was banishment from the kingdom and even after Joab convinced David to let him back in, David refused to talk to him. For two years! Eventually, Absalom rebelled against his father and David went on the run. In time, Absalom gets his hair got caught in a tree and Joab makes sure he never breathes again. David hears about Absalom’s death and only a father can sense the anguish in his cry, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.” (2 Sam. 18:33 NLT) There is some debate as to why David was this remorseful, especially when he banished him and then ignored him. I simply take it as a father who loved his son and missed him, maybe lamenting the way he treated him. I know plenty of fathers who fit that last statement.

Not always does life, or people, turn out the way we planned or wanted. All a parent (or relative/friend) can do is to ask God to help them leave a legacy behind that is worth seeing. I have a daughter who will soon be 50 and another who will soon be 46. I have a grandson who is 18 and a multitude of people who call me pastor. I pray I have left a godly influence and my legacy says I had a heart for God.

And you?

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April 8

Tuesday, April 8th, 2025

A very common thought, especially in today’s culture where there seems to be very little boundaries, is “How much can I get away with and not get caught?” or “How much can I get away with and not pay any consequences?”  

For example, a young Christian couple gets too close and play with fire and she ends up pregnant. Horror and remorse sets in, let’s suppose, for both. They tell their parents. Decide to put the baby up for adoption (or to keep it). They repent and ask forgiveness for their sin. They are assured they have received God’s forgiveness. Does that take away the consequences of that sin? The answer is, obviously, no. She didn’t suddenly become un-pregnant. The baby didn’t miraculously disappear from her womb. The evidence of their sin will be obvious over the next 9 months or so. The forgiveness and grace of God will also be evident as she and he heal from the recklessness they exhibited.

I know that seems like an extreme example to use, but it isn’t really. All you need to do is go to 2 Samuel 11 for a real life example in the Bible. Two names: David and Bathsheba. The story is pretty well known. David sleeps with Bathsheba and she tells him she is pregnant. David takes it a step further. He has Uriah, her husband, murdered by having Joab, his general, pull back while in battle. That left Uriah unprotected. It was also supposed to give David a clear view of being with Bathsheba. But the prophet Nathan told him a story that fried David and Nathan pointed his finger at David and said, “You are the man!” David was contrite. He fasted and prayed when his son got sick and died. He wrote Psalm 51, a penitent psalm if there ever was one.

But one thing it didn’t change was Bathsheba’s pregnancy; his guilt and shame over Uriah’s death; and the prophecy that a sword will be in his family forever. It found its fulfillment in the rape of his daughter, Tamar, by her half brother, Amnon. Such ugliness from sin. And yet, David prayed and asked forgiveness. David received that and more. But the consequences!!

That same principle applies to me and you. We sin and think no one knows. After all it was done in secret. No eyes saw or witnessed it. Like the embezzler who thinks no one will find out, sin comes to roost. I guess the best thing to do is to not lay the egg to start with. God’s grace is great. God’s forgiveness is matchless. But let’s not take advantage of it nor take it for granted.  

 

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April 7

Monday, April 7th, 2025

For those of you who don’t live anywhere around here, I can just put the weekend into one word, no make that three: RAIN and MORE RAIN. The river in our town is supposed to crest today around 25′. In ’08 it crested at 26.8′. The highest? 28.5 in 1913. The RED travel advisory means Emergency personnel only so we cancelled church yesterday and school is cancelled today while in an ORANGE. Reason? Flooded roads. Like a lot of them. I heard over 50.

So…rather than talk about that, let’s talk about something much more fun and meaningful. Last week I mentioned that I have begun rereading a series by Glynn Young called The Dancing Priest series. I finished #1 and find myself more than 1/2 way through #2- A Light Shining. #1 found Olympic hero, Michael Kent, ordained into the Anglican church and being sent to St. Anselm’s in San Francisco. Across the street from the church building was a warehouse which housed several children, the oldest being Jason, Age 15. He was the “father” to the 6 kids who lived under his care. When Michael decided to do something about it he sat down with Jason, who had just accepted Christ. Following is the conversation which ensued:

J: “So why’d you do it in the first place? Why do you have this class we go to on Sunday’s?”

M: We’re trying to reach out to you.”

J: “Everyone else ignores us, except when the shop people think we’re stealing or the cops decide to hassle us. Why don’t you just ignore us?

M: “Because you matter. You matter to God. And because you matter to God, you matter to us. Jason, God sees you as something valuable. You have great value in His eyes.”

J: “I’m a piece of crap, Father Michael. That’s all I am. I steal when I have to. I’ve done drugs, all of them. I hustle tricks to make money. There’s no value here. I’m a piece of crap.”

M: “That may be what you think. And that may be what a lot of people might think. But it’s not what God thinks. And it’s not what Father John and I think. Jason, you and maybe others see what’s on the surface. And what’s on the surface may be ugly, to you and to a lot of people. But what really matter is what’s inside and what’s in our heart. What God sees is the man He created you to be.” (pp.8-9)

There is more to the conversation. I have edited it to fit the format, but what it does say is that each one of us matters to God. He sent Jesus to die so that we could be forgiven. While a story written by Mr. Young, the conversation is heard all over the planet. Every person has value and merit. Each one matters. We are all sinners, for sure, but we still matter to God. I hope you will carry that with you today.

(May I also suggest you read this fantastic series? It can be found on Amazon. Start with Dancing Priest) 

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Burning Hearts -April 6

Friday, April 4th, 2025

There used to be a show when I a kid called The Dating Game. It was a dumb show. They would have 3 men behind closed doors and one woman (sometimes visa versa) asking questions to see if they were compatible and which bachelor/bachlorette he/she would like to go on a date with.  I guess in some ways that would be considered the ultimate comparison game.

My sermon Sunday is a comparison game- comparing King Saul and King David. It is actually a game of contrast as I contrast the two individuals and their ways of dealing with people and with God.  It is my opinion that we would hard-pressed find two men who are more a contrast to each other than these two. From the very beginning there was something different about them. From their anointing to the choices they made, their attitude showed. Saul’s show his arrogance; David’s show his humility. Saul’s show his reliance on self; David’s show his willingness to submit to God’s plan.

I’m also excited that the group who took the trip to work in east Tennessee over spring break will be speaking about their trip. Expect about 15-20 minutes for live reports and also pictures of the area in which they worked and what they did.  Join us Sunday morning at 9 or 10:45. If you are unable to be with us live, then please join us via our Facebook or YouTube channel. You can send a request to join our Facebook Group at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship or view our public page at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship-Spencer, In. Or you can watch via YouTube at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship. I look forward to seeing you or hearing from you online.

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April 2

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025

What do you do when your finely tuned approach to Christianity and your faith is rocked? For sure it wipes out the whole idea that  following Jesus is a walk in the park. “Biblical faith involves not just your mind; it also requires a commitment of our heart that radically changes the way you think.” (Everyday Gospel Devotional-Tripp-p. 114)  What a shocking wake up call when one finds out the Christian life is not one of ease, but one filled with difficulty, experiences that rattle your cage. I will admit that I get upset when I hear of those shysters who simply want to take advantage of people to line their own pockets.

A recent incident/teaching has got me a little riled up. The teaching is by prosperity teacher (I refuse to call her a pastor) Paula White. It is called Paula White’s Passover Promises. Here it is in a nutshell:

Paula White, televangelist and spiritual advisor to President Donald Trump, has suggested to donors who give at least $1,000 to her ministry between April 12 and 20 that God will release seven supernatural blessings upon them. “[W]hen you honor God on Passover…you can receive these seven supernatural blessings, for you and your house, according to Exodus 23.” 

The blessings she claims donors can release from God with their gift include:

  1. An angel assigned to them;
  2. God being an enemy to their enemies;
  3. Prosperity;
  4. Sickness removed from them;
  5. Long life;
  6. Increase and inheritance; and
  7. A special year of blessing.

She ties these blessings to a passage from Exodus 23 where God commands the Israelites to celebrate the Passover (verse 15).

Question: Can I throw up now or later?

I spent some time at the local hospital on Saturday, Sunday and Monday visiting a man who has really struggled with diabetes and an infection they say they can’t find. This is not the first time he has been in for the same thing. I went to the hospital yesterday (Tuesday) after receiving a text from his wife that he had passed away. He had gone from only moaning on Saturday, to sleeping (finally) on Sunday, to being fairly alert and able to take dialysis on Monday, to having a very talkative morning only to pass away just moments later. They were both godly people and had raised 6 children to love Jesus. So…please tell me Mrs White-Cain, where your spiel comes in at? Oh yeah, that’s right! They didn’t send you a $1000.

People, be on the lookout for hucksters and shysters like her and others of her ilk. Fortunately for Tim, his salvation was not determined by works, or giving money to shysters, or “naming it and claiming it.” He is now dancing on streets of gold (he had a leg removed to his knee due to complications with diabetes). And he is singing his country gospel at the top of his lungs-on key.

I’m grateful God is not tied to hucksters and shysters but is simply full of love and grace.  (And yes I know this post is a bit snarky).

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