Reflections From Sunday Evening

One of the recent concepts in our time is "chatter". Chatter has been part of my vocabulary for many years. In little league baseball we were told to "chatter". Hey batter, hey batter, hey batter...swiiiing batter! (Maybe that was Ferris Buhler's Day Off). In elementary school there were many of us who might be called "chatter boxes" because we were more social than was allowed. But the term has taken on a different meaning from the conversational tone of an earlier time. Today "chatter" may refer to the communications that intelligence agencies pick up from terrorists. Amazingly there is someone out there monitoring practically every form of communication trying to discern chatter so as to stop violence. Chatter. This has me thinking about the chatter all around me. The sound of Joe Buck's voice on Sunday afternoons has become part of the background of American life. (He is an announcer for NFL games in case you didn't recognize the name). Today I heard the chatter of Rex Hudler and the announcers for the K.C. Royals. Among all this comes the continual chatter of advertisements. Listen for the noise in your life. There is background chatter practically all the time. Chatter, chatter, chatter. This becomes serious in the spiritual sense. In a world (and a life) filled with continual chatter it becomes increasingly difficult to hear and recognize the voice of God. God speaks to people in many different ways. Don't expect voices out of the heavens but God speaks. Many times people indicate that they do not believe God speaks to them. Perhaps people feel that way because of all the chatter that stifles the voice of God. So what could we do about this? Listen. It takes time and effort to listen. It is very difficult to hear and recognize the voice of God when we try to pick His voice out from all the others we have going all around us all day. We are invited to some intentional, focused time with God. Some like a few minutes in the morning or evening. It does not make much difference when the focused listening time comes as long as it is intentional. Don't try to pick up on God during the course of a busy day. That is a good time to pray and talk to God but not a good time to listen. Get quiet. Get focused. Listen. Jesus indicated that his sheep (those who love him and follow him) know his voice. Remember the Lord has more invested in communicating with you than you have invested in Him. So relax. Listen. Focus. Hear God's voice. Oh one other thing. Be careful. God does not always say what we expect Him to say. Be ready for a surprise or even a challenge. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Saturday evening Cindy, our kids and I went to a football game at Baker University. We like to get out at least once a year and remember where we went to college. It is always fun to walk across the campus and remember the classes we had in the various buildings. We look at the renovated science building and I remember my anatomy and physiology class. There is Parmenter Hall that was nearly condemned when we were there and now is renovated and re-purposed. Case Hall is where we took those education classes and the psychology courses. The library looks very different. Mabee Hall is where I had my physical education classes and was home to all the coaches offices and the basketball court. (I had my own key to that building. I used to wash the football uniforms each week but that is another story). Since we were there a new physical education building/gym has been constructed. The student union looks very different. (Much improved). There is a chapel on campus that was brought over from England. It is a chapel that Margaret Thatcher's father once preached in. We were there several years ago when it was dedicated. There have been many changes. Even with the changes the form of the campus remains. The mission is stronger than ever. The improvements are enhancing the educational experience at Baker University. There was another change. Baker played William Penn University. It was the third all time meeting between the two schools. I actually played in the previous two. The combined scores of those games back in the '70's was William Penn 111 - Baker 0. Believe me, I did my part! The big change came in the game last night. Baker 48 - William Penn 13. That was a definite change. Depending upon your perspective it was either a really good change. (The Baker perspective). Or...a really lousy change. (The William Penn perspective). I will go with the positive and leave it at that. We are experiencing change in and at our church. Depending upon your perspective...it is either great or a painful disturbance. Will the changes move us forward in our mission? Will the changes result in changed lives for decades to come? Will the changes contribute to many people giving their lives to Christ and experience saving grace and the promise of eternal life? This is why we introduce change. This is why we take risks. We will certainly recognize the previous form of our church and maintain great memories. We will also recognize something new and fresh that will enhance the mission of Jesus Christ. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. (Go Chiefs - Go Royals!) steve

Reflections (it's Monday rather than Sunday so a new name)

I think it was sometime in the spring of 1976. Cindy and I had been thinking, talking and praying about our next step. It seemed like taking a step into ministry was where we were heading but since there was no real frame of reference for a decision like that it was not easy. Discerning a call (or direction or practically anything else in the spiritual life) is not simple. Part of the complexity involves prayer, searching the scriptures, considering life situations and having conversations with others. There was a United Methodist evangelist who we had met a few months earlier. Cecil Williamson had a profound effect on us. We discovered that Cecil was going to be preaching at a church in Arkansas. We lived in south Missouri but he was closer than Mississippi where he lived. We decided to go to this little town in Arkansas and see him. We had a friend staying with us at the time so the three of us got in the car and headed out. (I believe we took the afternoon off from teaching since it was like a 5 hour drive). I have no idea how we got to this place but it seems like we drove over mountains and across rivers and where there were no roads! But we got there. We went to church. Then we went to the preacher's house where Cecil was staying and talked. I really do not remember the content of our conversation. No light bulbs came on. But the encouragement and the experience contributed to our decision. It took us most of the night to get home and after sleeping an hour or so we went to work. (Can't do stuff like that anymore!) I share that because tomorrow we anticipate Cecil and his wife Julie passing through Kansas City on their way out west. They will be spending the night and I am pretty jazzed for our conversation. Cecil is now retired. (If evangelists ever really retire) But he is still active and going strong. I look forward to seeing my mentor in ministry. Thinking about this reminds me of how blessed I have been to have people invest in me. There have been many. It strikes me that part of our Christian life includes investing ourselves in others. Who could you offer your time and life to? You never know. Your interest and presence could contribute to a changed life. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve