A Commitment Fulfilled

Back in the summer of 2003, Amy and I didn’t know what God had in store for us. We had made the commitment to Wonder City to finish the year. By that time I would have also completed graduate school. But then what? We would be free to go anywhere in the country we felt God leading us. At the same time we weren’t sure God was calling us to leave. And we weren’t sure that he was calling us to stay long-term at Wonder City. So after praying about it and having several conversations, we made the decision to stay and go full-time with Wonder City in January, 2004. We decided that we would make a three-year commitment. We figured that would give us enough time to further seek God’s will, and would allow us to make necessary preparations if he was calling us to plant a church somewhere else .

The lessons that I have learned through this process over the past three years are patience and dependence upon God. There is a saying in the neighborhood, “God may not come when you want him, but he will always be right on time.” The first year-and-a-half was very tough for Amy and me. There was no financial backing to our full-time work from Missouri Street. I had to raise my whole salary. Things for several months didn’t look good. In fact, only a few people know that during the summer of 2004, I sent a resume to a church that was looking to hire an Outreach Minister. I didn’t see how Amy and I could make it the way things were looking. Nothing materialized out of that resume, and Missouri Street also stepped up with some money. We were making it, but barely. The three year commitment still loomed over us. Would we be able to fulfill it? Would we have to go elsewhere? We loved Wonder City, but also had to do what was best for our financial future and stability.

Then the news came in early June, 2005 that the Mauldin’s were leaving. That changed everything for us. The elders at Missouri Street asked me to be the Interim Director for Wonder City. With that came more compensation. Then in November, 2005, they asked me to remove Interim from my job title. Again, financially things looked even better for us. God was making himself known to us and what he wanted for Amy and me. It would have been nice to know what God’s will for us was back in 2003. But without the process, the ride wouldn’t have been as much fun and the lessons that Amy and I have learned would have gone unlearned.

As I was lying in bed Monday night, I realized that commitment we made has now been fulfilled. I haven’t thought about that commitment much since the summer of 2005 when the Mauldin’s told us they were leaving. We now know that God wants us here at Wonder City. How long, only God knows. But we are not looking to leave. We love being in Arkansas. We love being at Missouri Street. We love being at Wonder City.

The Pursuit of Happyness

Amy and I are normally suckers for movies with inspirational messages. We love movies like Remember the Titans; Radio; and Akeelah and the Bee. So when we first saw the previews for the new Will Smith movie, The Pursuit of Happyness, we both immediately wanted to see it. However, after seeing the movie this past Saturday, I wasn’t thrilled with it.

There are very positive messages in the movie. Will Smith’s character (Chris Gardner) talks about not knowing who his dad was until he was 28 years old but that his son would grow up knowing him. Throughout the movie Chris is making sure he maintains his relationship with his son—even when his wife/girlfriend (the movie never really tells) leaves and moves across the country. There is also a scene in the movie where Chris has just told his son, who loves basketball, that he will probably not be any good at it. Chris’ son immediately puts his ball away and is ready to leave the court. He realizes what he has done and then tells his son to never let anyone tell him he can’t do something—even his own dad.

However, the overall message of the movie is what I disagree with. The message of the movie is that money is the key to happiness. Do whatever it takes to be successful—including cheating and lying. The movie teaches that everything is up to you if you are going to be successful and happy.

These messages are all contrary to the gospel message. Christ teaches that because of sin we can’t do it by ourselves. Doing it ourselves and our way and not relying on God has gotten us into the mess we as a human race are in. Christianity is not a “pick yourself up by your bootstraps” religion. We are dependent upon God, the blood of Jesus, and fellowship of fellow Christians to be “successful.”

Jesus teaches that we cannot serve two masters. We cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). Those who have served money have stated how empty it left them feeling and no mater how much they had they always wanted more.

If the movie makers really wanted an inspirational story about the key to happiness they would have found one with a very Christian theme—forgiveness. According to a December, 2002, USA Today article “‘Materialism is toxic for happiness,’ says University of Illinois psychologist Ed Diener. Even rich materialists aren't as happy as those who care less about getting and spending. The article also quoted University of Michigan psychologist Christopher Peterson, who indicated forgiveness is the trait most strongly linked to happiness. Peterson said, ‘It's the queen of all virtues, and probably the hardest to come by.’ ”

Vacation

Last week I was on a much needed vacation. I did abosulely nothing!!!

Well that's not entirely true. I read a book Amy gave me for Christmas--Clive Cussler's The Treasure of Khan. (Cussler is my favorite author and has written many books with a central character--Dirk Pitt. His Pitt novel Sahara was turned into a major motion picture.) I also watched as much of the 4th day of 24 as I could. I love 24 and Jack Bauer. I was hoping to watch all of season 4 and 5 before this season starts, but I don't think I am going to make it. I still have 2.5 hours of day 4 to finish. And lots of ESPN! But other than that--nothing. Just books and TV. It was great!

Yesterday, it was back to the grind though. Although, I was ready to get back to work. So here I am back at work. This looks like one of the busiest January and Februarys in several years. More on that later.

Honoring My Grandma

Christmas week was tough, but God brought us through it. Now that a few days have passed I want to take a minute and honor my Grandma and tell the world why I love my Grandma so much. I originally wrote the following for the Missourit Street Church of Christ bulletin (Jan 7, 2007) slightly edited for the different context.

As the family gathered over Christmas week to honor and remember my Grandma several things stuck out to me. First, my Grandma was a person who deeply loved her family. This was demonstrated in many ways. She made it a point to be at anything that was important to her family. She was at both my graduation from college and graduate school and at my wedding to Amy. She did the same for my sisters. I heard other family members talk about their special events that she made it a point to be at. She also showed her love by sending us cards on our special days—birthdays, anniversaries, etc. She never missed one. In fact, my Grandma would mail over 1000 cards per year—all at her own expense.

Second, was her Christ-like character. She never complained. No one in the family ever remembers her complaining about anything. Even in her last days when she was in pain all she would say was, “God is in control.” When we were children running around her house, Grandma would never get on to us—Grandpa, that’s another story—but not Grandma. In fact, several of us made a decision while at Grandma’s celebrating her life that we were going to strive to follow her example more by not being complainers.

Why else did I love my Grandma. Well, simply because she was my Grandma! I will miss her. I will miss her enthusiasm for life and her humor. (Remind me to tell you the Y2K and “Happy New Ear” stories sometime.) I will miss her at all the important events in my life in the future. I will miss seeing Christ through her. However, I know that she is now with Christ, and I look forward to the day when I will see her again.

Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me and my family over the past two weeks.