faithrunner

On a hunch, I turned off an asphalt path to descend into a Kentucky creek bed that wandered through a grove of trees. October had announced the change of seasons and trees displayed their mustard-brown, golden fashions. Earth tones would be "in" again this year. I stopped on a slope, and overheard applause in the treetops. Trunks stood at attention during the ovation while others bent in awe of the Passerby. Laser-like rays of sunlight pinpointed the forest's floor through stained-glass patterns of leaf and limb. Wind gained momentum from the far end of the tree lined corridor like an ocean wave mounting an attack upon the beach. Leaves clapped in crescendo at center stage. As if on cue, tree after tree cast down golden, orange, and brown pieces of their best artwork like the followers of Jesus at his Triumphal Entry. The air was supercharged with falling color; A brisk autumn breeze bounced off rock, tree, and stream. Branch beat against branch, ...

Sunday was my last day as Senior Pastor with the people who are Legacy Church . They blessed my family and me beyond what we deserve or expected. My oldest daughter reflected on the event and her time at Legacy. I'll let her tell you... On 
Remembering 
Legacy ...
by Storey Wilkes Cook 
 Sunday, June 2, 2013, served as a beautiful tribute to my father on his last day as Senior Pastor of Legacy Church after 26 years . I was four years old when my daddy stepped into the position, I have witnessed changes, stretching, and growth of this body throughout my life from a front row seat. A constant I have observed through the years is the unwavering character and dedication of Gene Wilkes, my remarkable father, and his steadfast and supportive partner, my mom. Thank you, Greg Sankey for dubbing my daddy as ‘remarkable’. It is a befitting and well- earned title. Kendall Brown is a man who has weathered storm upon storm with my dad and has remained by his side. It is fitting that Kenda...

I am preparing again to summit Mt. Rainier . I gave it a go in 2011 but turned back on the top of Disappointment Cleaver.  This year my plans are to summit on August 12, my 60th birthday . I'll keep you posted and share the results, but I wanted to share some of the training I am doing to prepare for the climb and how that relates to my life-long spiritual training. I am climbing again with the best guides on the mountain , RMI Expeditions . As part of their support, they offer a 16-week training program to get you ready for your climb.  The foundation of the program is what they call, The Rainier Dozen .  Here's the list: 1.  Steam engine 2.  Three quarter squats 3.  Turkish Get Up 4.  Lunge 5.  Arm extender 6.  Triceps Dip 7.  Deep squat 8.  Steam engine laying down 9.  Mountain climber 10.  Push up 11.  Ranger crawl 12.  8 Point Body Builder These exercises can be done in ...

...but he changed how I follow Jesus. Dallas Willard went Home last week at age 77 . He touched many lives ( including Richard Foster , who influenced me too) through his teaching and writing. Here are a some ways he breathed life into my stale practices as a disciple of Jesus. Willard taught me that you have to practice the disciplines in order for them to change you . I liked his analogy of thinking I could hit like a big league baseball player if I behaved exactly as my favorite baseball star does in the game . ( Spirit of the Disciplines ) No, my favorite big league hitter is good because he has been swinging a bat since childhood, and he practices, practices, practices. We who follow Jesus fail in temptation and big-league problems because we think we can just step up and look like Jesus and knock the spiritual ball out of the park while in the game . No, we too must practice the disciplines Jesus taught us daily in order to live like Jesus. We can respond as Jesus would i...

I love the Psalms and reflections on them. The Psalms are prayers and songs that let us say things we are not sure we can say to God. They guide our hearts into the presence of God, and they allow our emotions to enter the worship chambers of eternity.  I was reading/singing through them this morning and these stanzas jumped out at me: Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. (Psalm 85:10; NKJV) Mercy and truth have met together. They are not strangers no matter how far apart we separate them. They have met like negotiators to resolve matters that could keep them apart and cause another war.  Truth tells the dark, blatant facts and unassailable realities that reveal our fallen nature and root of evil in our lives. Truth reveals the nonnegotiable facts of life and will not compromise. Truth shines light on reality and does not care to hand out sunglasses.  Mercy sits at the same table and does not deny the truth but offer...

This past Sunday I announced my retirement from the pastorate with Legacy Church . After 26 years of partnership with the people who are Legacy to help people trust Jesus , I am humbled to step onto the trail with B. H. Carroll Theological Institute in June to equip "men and women called to serve Christ in the diverse and global ministries of His church." B H Carroll was formed in 2004 , and I have been been a Resident Fellow with them since 2005. Soon after that, Legacy partnered with Carroll to join its nexus of Teaching Churches . In 2011, I was elected to the Board of Governors for the Institute . So, you see, I have been on the journey with them for some time. Their core strategy to return ministry training and theological education to the local church has made it possible for me to equip current and future church leaders while providing biblical and leadership studies for the local church community and the members of Legacy. Why would we make suc...

Church Service in West, TX Last week's bombings in Boston and fertilizer plant explosion in West, TX , along with a sudden death in our church fellowship have sent many of us who are Legacy Church reeling in sadness. Loss is a part of life , but we stagger out of them after events shatter what we think is 'normal' or take loved ones from us. We can't just write loss off as "that's the way life is" or act like they didn't happen. We must wrestle through them, but how we respond to those loses makes the difference in how we live the rest of our lives. Our natural response to loss at the hands of others is revenge and justice . Innocent people died at the hands of calculating, evil men. We want justice for the lost lives. We want somebody to do something. Now! In the middle of the loss of innocent life and injustice perpetrated in his day, Jesus declared, "Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy." ( Matthew 5:7 ) ...