faithrunner

I am home today because Legacy Church observes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with our nation. I always pause to reflect on the power of Dr. King's influence at least once on this day to remember the freedom that can come through the Good News of Jesus. I grew up in Southeast Texas in a predominately white neighborhood, and the events of the civil rights movement flew past me on the evening news--if I watched the news. It was not until I got into seminary and began to study the art and history of preaching did I realize the significance of Dr. King's impact on our nation as a Baptist preacher . We herald Dr. King as a leader of social justice these days, but we have forgotten he was first and foremost one who proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus and who challenged the status quo through non-violent resistance because of that Gospel. Dr. Mervyn A. Warren of Oakwood University began his book, King Came Preaching , by quoting King. He identified himself as, "...the son of a Bap...

I think the better title for the biblical collection of songs, or, psalms, should be "Songs in the Key of Life," the title of Stevie Wonder's 1976 album. But who am I to suggest something like that? The Book of Psalms earns that title for me because it reflects every human emotion--in the presence of God! Real people in real time express their fears, hopes, joys, worship and anger at God. No matter what I face or fear a song in Psalms expresses my heart to God. Last month, we offered a lunch at Legacy to encourage some of those who were entering the Christmas season without a job. Randy Youngling shared Psalm 27 with the group as a word of hope for all of us. Since that lunch, I have been living with that song in the key of life. I read and meditate on it almost every day, and since it is on my heart and mind I share it with people when they need a song of hope. Friday night, I went with some guys from the Friday morning men's group to lead worship with Victor Ga...

Four vital signs tell us if we are healthy or not. Our blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates, and body temperature make up the baseline of our health. If one of them is out of normal, something is wrong. Many New Year's resolutions usually have something to do with bettering our vital signs. Last year when I was teaching through 2 Peter I came across Peter's instructions to his readers to supply their faith with certain aspects of their life with Christ . (Check out 2 Peter 1:5-7 for his teaching.) What caught my eye was not the list of characteristics--there are plenty of those in the New Testament--but his promise that if these "qualities" were present "in ever increasing measure," we would be effective and productive in our relationship with Jesus . ( 2 Peter 1:8, 9 ) When I start a new season of growth I want to know about those things in my relationship with God that will make me effective and productive; that is, spiritually healthy. So, fo...

I saw the much heralded movie, Avatar , this week. It was everything they said it would be technologically. We saw it in 'real 3D'-no DLP or IMAX enhancements-and it was awesome. I'll go back to experience the environment of the film in one of those theaters just to be on Pandora again. You've got to see it for the CG effects and to experience the environment of the natives where the primary story takes place. The Avatar Program that inserts humans into the lives of the Na'vi is ingenious and mixes genome science and The Matrix technology of moving between the real world and the program that governs the sleeping. For the soul of a human to permanently dwell in a Na'vi at the sacred center of the planet reminded me of Neo's birth in the Matrix, too...only through nature. (I do dig the way the Na'vi communicated with the animals through the "receptors" in both.) There is nothing new about the story . It's an industry-military imperialistic ...

May Christmas quietly enter your home and heart as it did the first time God came as a baby laid in a manger on a star-lit, angel-choir-filled night. May the hope and joy Jesus brings --hope and joy proven by his sacrificial love, not our wishful thinking--flood your life no matter what it looks like now. May you trust that the Creator of the Universe who put on human flesh knows your name and has made possible your adoption into the family of God through His Son. Christmas quietly whispers you are loved. Merry Christmas from the Wilkes family : Graham, Gene, Kim, Ryan, Storey, Summer, and Cambell. I'm writing on "Leader's Led by Jesus" on Lynn Anderson's, Mentor Network site for the next four weeks. Join the dialogue, and I'll look for you there.

The Advent Conspiracy series at Legacy continues to have an effect on all we do this year. For example, last Sunday evening our LifeGroup gathered just to gather. (I love how everyone wants to stay together even after the semester has officially ended.) Kim had raised some money in her classes to help a family, and she had tons of wrapping to do. She told her story, and the group immediately cleared off two tables, tore into the wrapping materials, and began to wrap all the gifts for the family! What would have taken us the rest of the week to wrap, the group did it in about 45 minutes! That's what this whole Advent Conspiracy thing is about: with Jesus. for Jesus; Spend Less, Give More. I have heard story after story of how people have found new and creative ways to live out this Advent mission together. Here's a note from one of our members: Since becoming a Christian I have struggled with how to keep Jesus at the center of Christmas. I love the Advent Conspiracy series! I...

The Advent Conspiracy continues at Legacy Church this Sunday. I am so pleased with the people's response to both the message and the opportunities to Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All. this Advent season. Last Saturday, the staff and Leadership Team shared breakfast together then headed out to buy gifts for families who would not have gifts otherwise . We returned to wrap and deliver them. I'm proud to be part of a team who lives out God's call on our lives to love others in His name. You can see the response already to the New Orleans Mission clothes drive . And we just spoke about it this past Sunday! In the first two weeks we have sold over $778.00 of Bolevan Farms coffee , which includes individual bags, subscriptions and gift bags shown here. We have 7 new Compassion International sponsors, and we have not even talked about them in the services! We have also begun to see gifts show up under the Christmas tree set up for the Student Aged Parent Prog...