Thoughts on the Graham repose

Business had us in south Charlotte today. Our meeting ended early at 11 so we decided to enjoy a little Bucca di Beppo (Italian food). Since we were in the queen city and the Billy Graham repose was in its last day, we decided to visit the Billy Graham Library.

Parking was off of Nation's Ford Road at Samaritan's Purse distribution center. The line was probably 300 people. We were bused over. I had never visited the Library. The atmosphere was  solemn but yet you saw smiles on peoples' faces. The staff at the Billy Graham Library reminded me of Chic-fil-A employees, greeting us and thanking us for visiting. I bet I was thanked 20 times.

Something happened while I was in line that caused me to become uncomfortable. I'm not sure if its my age or the significance of a man who has literally shared the Gospel of Christ to millions. I became a little emotional. I never met Billy Graham, but probably like you, I knew about his celebrity. Celebrity, yet unlike the celebrity that the current generation is use to. Celebrity with humility. Reading the story of his life, and the love of his life made me look at Elizabeth and realize the fact we all know. We're not going to be together forever. One of us will die. That reality probably was part of the emotional serum that caused me to shed a few tears. But then I thought about how they lived a long, loving life and thought about the model they were for their children.

I hope if I live to be 99, my children will look at our marriage and say wow, what a love story. But more importantly, I hope they will say Mom and Dad pointed us to Christ in their  life and marriage.

Billy Graham is gone. He had an impact on a lot of people. I'm glad I was able to participated in some small way the memorial service of a humble servant of God.

It is Done

So often, the work I'm involved in doesn't have immediate gratification. I have weeks, sometimes months of putting the pieces together to a  point we call success. Of course when you have worked hard and cross the finish line, there's not a better feeling.

When spring time shows up however, I begin a few chores that provide me that immediate gratification. Yesterday,  I had 100 pounds of grass seed, 300 pounds of weed & feed and an 8 acre field that needed mowing (that is refined for bush hogging).

While the grass seed doesn't provide that immediate growth, the rows that I walked spreading it does. Walking over brown Bermuda grass, I broadcasted the seed with the exciting expectation of a green yard.  Then, the fertilizer. Once again, the rows that I create helps me see the end of my job circling the house. I know the first rain we have will turn the yard into a growing field over night.

Figuring out what "it is finished" means

Probably the most satisfying immediate gratification I get is found on the tractor. Circling the wide field, getting rid of the old growth, and then seeing the circles getting smaller and smaller. In other words, that first circle is the longest cycle and from that point forward it gets shorter and shorter. Tell me if I'm wrong: when you're making that mowed circle, whether on a tractor or lawn mower, you're doing mental math in your mind, "about ten more circles, about nine more circles". Tim Keller said "All work has dignity because it reflects God’s image in us and also because the material creation we are called to care for is good". While God created the earth and said it was good. I worked in my yard and looked at it and said "it is good".

Yesterday, I worked about 5 hours in the yard and on my tractor. When the day was done, I was dirty and tired. But as I looked at what I had accomplished, I was satisfied. Inside, I said, it is done. Its almost as though I am preparing my yard for the flourishing of Easter. The difference is when I said "it is done", that was only a temporary finish. When Christ said "it is finished" on that first Easter, it truly was finished, his final words on the cross.

I guess that's why God placed in each of our hearts the need to accomplish "things". Work in not a four letter word. Tim Keller in his book Every Good Endeavor said, "According to the Bible, we don’t merely need the money from work to survive; we need the work itself to survive and to live fully human lives."

I am thankful for the ability to work whether it be in my vocation or simply trying to make my yard and pastures look better.  My yard work is only temporarily done, but because of Christ work on the cross, what matters is truly done.

Billy Graham... I believe he would ask you this question.

"Have we lost our hunger?"

Tonight as I watch the tributes to Billy Graham, he was quoted as asking that very question. Over my fifty years, I feel like I have seen the demoralization of the country that I grew up thinking was a Christian Nation.

On reflection, Billy Graham was not only a pastor, but his leadership demonstrated servant-hood. As the scripture in Romans reads "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel". He used every platform he had to make Christ Jesus famous. He enjoyed a 60 year love affair with his childhood sweetheart.

I appreciate how his son Franklin continues his father's legacy and  his grandson Johnathan speaks to churches and groups about how Christ has impacted his life.

Now, as the family prepares his life dedication services, I believe his question for you who read this is "what will you do with Jesus Christ?" As Kathy Lee Gifford said this morning on NBC, we all have a malignancy of the soul, and there's only one way to rid yourself of this cancer.  It's Jesus Christ. What will you do with him?

The Supreme court ruled 7-2 against freedom...wow

I’m a proud American. Our founders created a wonderful nation. Although imperfect, they forged together a diverse group of people and created the experiment we call America. It’s quite amazing. In the continual process of creating this nation, we have had to make a number of course corrections.

Today in a board meeting, I learned of a fascinating fact that hit home to me.  Consider this, in the historic town of Fredericksburg, Virginia, at the corner of Charles and William Street, there is a reminder of America’s tattered past. On this corner lies a stone that is said to be an auction block. This solid piece of rock is where  a person would be placed for observation in front of a bidding public.  Human beings were sold to other human beings for the purpose of work, the purpose of property and for the purpose of being a slave.  Sadly, in this era, it was not looked upon as the horror it is. In fact, it was considered a right. In 1857, Dred Scott who's case went to the 

The Auction Block in Fredericksburg, VA

Supreme court, was a slave seeking his freedom.  His first attempt to go to trial to sue for his freedom was in 1847. Ten years later, after a decade of appeals and court reversals, his case was taken up by the United States Supreme Court. In this infamous case, the court decided that all people of African ancestry, slaves as well as those who were free could never become citizens of the United States and therefore could not sue in federal court. The court also ruled that the federal government did not have the power to prohibit slavery in its territories. Scott, needless to say, remained a slave. The amazing thing is the case was a 7-2 victory for the pro-slavery movement. Slavery supporters believed they had a victory. I'm sure pro-slavery people said, "That settles it, it's the law of the land".

Today, we ask ourselves how could a nation, founded on Christian principles, steer so far off course? The interesting fact about this stone is that it lies in the shadow of the steeple of St. George’s Episcopal Church, the home church of Mary Ball Washington, mother of our first president. In the view of the cross of Christ,  people would gather on Friday for a slave auction and attend church two blocks over on Sunday in good conscience.

But consider this, today, much like slavery of old, a tragedy has been happening under the same guise of “rights” similar to the argument of the  slave holders. It is Abortion. We become uncomfortable when we hear or even use the word. We don’t like it. In fact, many main stream Christian pastors and church leaders, even in my hometown, are afraid to confront it. Are we cowards or have we  just decided to cooperate with secular society. According to the CDC, “In 2014, 652,639 legal induced abortions were reported in the US from 49 reporting areas.* The abortion rate for 2014 was 12.1 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years, and the abortion ratio was 186 abortions per 1,000 live births.”

Whether your pro-life or pro-choice, these amounts are staggering. Again, notice the white wash on word usage by the names of both camps. Why not just say, "pro-abortion", "anti-abortion"?

Had I lived in the 1800s, I hope, amidst all the backlash, I would have had the courage to say slavery was wrong. By saying that, I would have been kicking against an institution. But thankfully,  there were people who said "No"! In fact, it was the church that awakened the anti-slavery movement; not to mention the brave slaves who sought their freedom.

Well it’s now 2018 and since Roe vs. Wade a case much like the Dred Scott case, which said a mother’s baby in her womb was not a person and therefore not a citizen and therefore without rights. It is estimated that there have been 60,069,971 abortions. Someday in the future, I believe people will read this blog and say, at least he had the courage to stand up against the surge of abortion, despite it being the law of the land since 1973.

We all know someone who may have had an abortion. Many were deceived or uniformed of what they were actually doing. I can only try to understand the emotional burden that must come with such a decision. Those persons will find no judgement, no condemnation from me. Instead, they will hear a message of hope and healing. I'm proud to support a ministry, Salem Pregnancy Care Center that offers programs such as Her Time to Heal.

To my African-American friends, praise God this nation changed and made a course-correction. Your heritage came hard. I admire your ancestors and Dr. King for their insistence on human rights.

**New Hampshire and California do not report abortions statistics.

Frustrated & Concerned

What can a country do when kids, crazed adults and sometimes foreign nationals decide to perpetrate a mass murder shooting. Where does this motivation come from? What is it the root cause of these actions?

As simplistic as it sounds, the true root of the problem is the heart. But how do you legislate or regulate the human heart. As a nation, has our hearts and minds collectively been turned over to a dark side? 

For sure, the narrative will be turned to the instrument that this troubled kid used. But can we not have  conversation about the heart....the root of the decision to use a gun to kill innocent people.

Does the media and video games have any culpability? Do they really have an influence over the minds of our kids? Have our children been desensitized to death and cruelty. For many of us middle aged folks, we don't understand games like Mortar Kombat or Resident Evil (Just to name a few). But they create an alternate reality where a gun is used to kill....kill....kill. Are you upset about that...or do you just call it fun and games or say "it's not real".

It will be easy...easy to politicize this mass murder. But when you uncover the real news about this most recent murderer, the signs, the social media post pointed to exactly what has happened. A troubled kid, a bullied killed who turned his angry passion toward violence and guns. 

As a parent, consider what you allow your children to consume their time with. The Proverb writer says " For as he thinks in his heart, so is he".  The writer also says " Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." What are we pouring into our children's heart?  

In the end, this kid was a disenfranchised young man. His heart was drawn to a dark-side. He was obviously depressed.

Debates are great. But in the end, I believe the indictment will land on the heart and all the influencing factors that go into shaping it. 

I am sad.....sad.

Blinded at twevle!

Recently, I took Elizabeth for a one night get-a-way to Charlotte, NC. Despite the drive is only one hour away from home, we stayed at the Westin on College Blvd. After enjoying an incredible culinary experience at The Palm, we took an Uber to the Spectrum Center for the main event of our romantic weekend.


Andre Bocelli was in concert. Whether you’re into his music or not (which we are), you've got to love his story. Born in 1958 in Lajatico, Tuscany Italy, he learned to play the piano, flute and saxaphone when he was young. At birth, he was visually imparied and by age 12, he became completely blind following a soccer injury.

"Besame Mucho"

Early in his life, his music was heard by the famed tenor, Luciano Pavarotti. From that point, he career began to soar.

With a full orchestra and choir, Andre walked up the stage steps and was met by the orchestra conductor who offered him an arm to the center stage. Some people have gifts that are heavenly. When Andre opened his mouth to begin singing... it was unreal. Angelic to say the least. His voice reminds you of the cliche, "the sound when heaven's gates are opened".

The concerted lasted about  two hours with three encores. He shared the stage with two other singers, one of whom was Kristin Chenoweth. Her voice too was equally angelic. She sang a song "Upon the Rock" which is a spiritual piece. Before she sang the song, she said "for those of you who are not believers, this song will be over in 4 minutes". I was impressed with her willingness to demonstrate her faith in an audience of 10,000 + people.

All of this to say, if you've never listen to Andre, consider it.... he is amazing....if you have heard Kristin Chenoweth....She too is amazing. I enjoyed another special memory with Elizabeth.