Crowd versus Team

To fulfill what God wants you to accomplish involves moving from crowd to team.

• Crowds make noise, teams take action.
• Crowds are impersonal, teams are intimate.
• Crowds gather to be entertained, teams gather to achieve.
• In a crowd you’re a number, on a team you’re a contributor.

Without a team, you will burn out, run out of resources, or fail to contribute to the larger vision. That is why God made the church. We need other as partners, encouragers, suppliers of what we lack. Together we make a difference.

In Christ, we are one. Every part “indispensable,” 1 Corinthians 12:22.

Do Not Resuscitate

I must stop resuscitating sin already declared dead. Too often I find myself trying to keep alive something God sentenced to death. Romans 6:11 urges: “count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 

In Christ, the power of sin is broken. It can’t condemn or dominate anymore. It only has the control we give it. Your struggle may be with over-reacting, over-indulging, over-spending. You may be overwhelmed with fear, self-pity, worry, bitterness, or lust. You might allow some habit, hunger for approval, root of pride, or secret sin to stay alive.

Count yourself dead to that.  

5 Observations after Moving to Houston

We arrived here from Pennsylvania in mid-January 2014. I noticed the following:

1. Rather than simply doing what needs doing, people are always fixin’ to do it.  
2. On day one, I received a plaque with all the words to “Deep in the Heart of Texas”. It is sung loudly on multiple occasions.
3. People’s most frequent comment upon hearing I am a new arrival, “You are going to hate it here in August.”
4. Some of the craziest driving I have ever seen, and that includes countries I visited with no traffic laws.
5. Passion for football and college alma maters knows no bounds.

Courtside

A couple months ago, I was treated to courtside seats at a Houston Rockets game. The Rockets were headed to the playoffs, where they would eventually flame out. But we didn’t know that then, and this game was fantastic! 

James Harden almost ended up in my lap going for a loose ball. I talked to the ref. I exchanged pleasantries with the opposing coach. I told Jeremy Lin when to shoot. The Rockets won in overtime.

The problem is that now I’ve been spoiled by courtside seats. It’s like being bumped to first class. Don’t send me back to economy!

Why We Have Problems

The World Puzzle Championships draw contestants from 46 countries. They are among the tens of millions of people obsessed with puzzle games. Why?

Famed crossword editor Will Shortz says: "We're faced with problems every day, and we almost never get clarity ....With a human-made puzzle you have satisfaction you don't get much in real life. You feel in control, and that's a great feeling."

That is the reason we have problems beyond human solution. Problems remind us we are not in control, prompting us to cry out to God. In life's puzzles we hear Jesus’ words, "Apart from me you can do nothing."

Accidental Segregation

After two years of working toward a more diverse ministry, progress is being made.  however slowly.

Then someone pointed out one of the posters advertising our Wednesday evening class schedule. 

“White Women’s Class” was one of the options. Adrenaline rushed through me so fast, I got dizzy. Then I took a closer look… 

Simply a dreadfully unfortunate formatting issue.

Theoretically there could also have been a Black Discipleship Class… 

But accidents are not equal opportunity. 

Amy with a Capital "A"

Only heaven will reveal all God has done through obscure people.

I’ve written books, won awards, and gotten recognition. Two women made that possible.

My mother and my wife.

Recently, a church we served published articles about our ministry. Reading accolades from co-workers was humbling.

Mentioned once by name, “amy” was un-capitalized.

What I do could not be done without Amy behind-the-scenes.

God’s great works begin with the unnoticed, unknown, and the un-capitalized. Some who get all the credit deserve none. Jesus said, “Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”