Evangelism

The Impact of a Life

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It has been a long time since I heard Dr. Dobson on the radio, but when I heard the news of his passing, I paused to remember all the blessings his life and ministry gave us. Thirty years ago, I often listened on my truck radio while I worked long hours, trimming apples trees in the fields, or driving home at lunch time. His interviews with such a wide-ranging group of guests impacted not only my own life, but also how Nancy and I raised our boys, and helped us make decisions that changed the course of our marriage. I am thankful for Dr. Dobson’s humility, integrity and courage to speak the truth in love. Year after year, decade after decade, Jim Dobson stuck to his guns. When issues arose or mistakes were made by those at Focus on the Family, he gave us an honest answer, without pretense. I am also thankful for the example Jim Dobson set as he promoted not only his own career but also that of others, launching ministries for men, women, children, the disabled, the elderly and so many more. So today, let’s not place Jim on a pedestal, or enshrine him in a hall of fame, but recall with thankfulness the passing of a brother who dedicated his life to Jesus Christ and remained faithful in what God called him to do till the very end. Oh, the world has changed so much over the last 40-50 years, but it is still a world that God loves and no matter how far from Him they run, He has commissioned us, to run after them with the love and message of Jesus Christ. I am posting this interview done with CBN back in 2018, as I believe it epitomizes the best way we can do that. May God bless the Dobson family during this time and may the debate over the life and ministry of Dr. Dobson be respectful and kind. We must have a faith in Christ that is unwavering in its courage, but in its outreach show respect for others and malice towards none.

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Disability Ministry

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‭ ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ Luke 14:21b ESV

We have followed the ministry of Joni Eareckson Tada for many years and the outreach that Joni and Friends has done around the world is inspiring. So I was delighted the other night to have the regional director for Central Florida come and present the pathway for building such a ministry at our church. Though our group was tiny compared to the size of our congregation, I believe a seed was planted and will in God’s time grow into what He desires for our community. This is our little huddle, minus yours truly who was taking the shot.

That is my dearest in silver and blue on the left and Amy Schipper the Florida director on the right. The night began with a touching story, that I share with you today as a call to consider such a ministry in your community.

Good-bye Pastor Rick and Kay

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I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:4 NIV

We have known for a year since Pastor Rick first announced his coming retirement, that this day was coming, yet on receiving the official announcement, I was still overwhelmed. No, Rick and Kay have not been perfect people, nor is Saddleback a church without fault, yet the impact they have made together has been tremendous. But rather than revisit old arguments back and forth over their Purpose Driven model; today might be a day of to put that aside and be thankful for the good they have done, the sacrifices made and the many who have come to know Jesus because of them.

I remember first opening a shiny new copy of the Purpose Driven Church back in 1995-96. Its concepts were simple, challenging and gave hope for reaching our communities for Christ. Too long we had either met between four walls, with minimal positive outreach, or gathered for stadium events, which though outwardly successful, seemed to have little impact in our own local churches. Sure, there are lots of things I wish were different with our own church which seems to follow closely their model, but we are at least in some areas truly growing, baptizing new believers and trying new things every year to serve our community.

But church politics aside, let’s pause and be thankful for Rick and Kay. Let’s pray for God to continue to keep them in His hands and bless them as a family that has been through much together in the service of Jesus. More than this, let’s realize that as Rick said of their replacements, “… God has prepared and chosen them to take up the baton and run the next leg of the Saddleback marathon.” God has also prepared and chosen each of us to either be passing or taking up the baton where we live (I’m in the passing generation). I learned from the track team on which I once ran, that winning the relay race was more than just running fast. Our team won first place in the state in 1965, not just because our guys were the quickest, but because every one of them passed the baton flawlessly on to the guy running the next leg of the race. The key was that the approaching runner could not slow down even a quarter second. He had to keep up the same pace as he stretched out his arm with the baton. The receiving runner could not just stand there waiting. He had to start running beforehand and then match his pace with the one behind him till they were almost side by side, then, with a seemingly effortless move he grasped on to the baton and took off alone to run his leg of the race. So, don’t slow down, if you are the one giving it your all to pass on the gift that God has given you. Run with all that is in you- not to – but through, the finish of your lap. For you who are waiting for the baton to reach you. Don’t just stand around waiting for it to be handed to you on a silver platter. Get going! Start running your best, till you match the pace of the one who is handing on to you what God has chosen for you to receive. We are all on the same team – Team Jesus! And when we finish our course, there is a victor’s crown that waits, which we will one day cast at the feet of Jesus – who loved us and gave His life so that we could run the race!

You can read my post from a year ago here